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Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside the 'Fyre Festival of BookTok' as US book festival is shrouded in chaos
A book festival hosted in Baltimore, US has turned into a social media storm as authors have recounted every awful detail of the event - while many claim they were lied to by the event's organiser Traumatised authors, thousands of lost dollars and a missing DJ: welcome to the " Fyre Festival" of BookTok. Over the past weekend, hundreds of authors flocked to Baltimore to attend what should have been the perfect event for fantasy book-lovers. Instead, it transformed into something closer to a horror fic. The A Million Lives book festival was held over May 2 and 3 and set up by Archer Management for fantasy authors and their readers. 'Romantasy' is viral on TikTok, with almost one million posts falling under the hashtag, and includes novels like the bestselling book series Acotar by Sarah J. Maas. Tickets for vendors cost between $50 to $250 (£37 to £186) and promised to be the "perfect event to make bookish friends". One of its most exciting draws was that it also promised a lavender-themed ball. But over the past few days, authors have been running to social media to detail what some are describing as the 'Fyre Festival of book festivals'. Accounts depict an event hall filled with chaos, with minimal staff or identity checks and, most notably, hardly any attendees – despite false promises made by the organiser. One author, Samantha Heil, told Newsweek that there were around 40 attendees on Friday, compared to about 100 authors. Saturday only improved to about 125 people coming to the event. However, this is in stark contrast to how many tickets the owner of Archer Management promised had been sold. Authors claimed online that Grace Marceau, a writer who runs Archer Management, told them personally that between 600 to 1400 tickets had been sold. But the videos showing a near-empty convention hall tell a wildly different story. The Mirror reached out to Archer Management for comment. Stephanie Combs, author of The Stars Would Curse Us, posted a now-viral TikTok, declaring: 'I survived A Million Lives book festival. Or should we call it: a million lies.' She continued: "That is one of my dreams, bucket goal lists. I wanna be invited as an author to an event like this. Where I get to meet readers and get to connect with other authors." However, the experience she was met with was a poorly-organised mess. She explained: 'We had no badges, because they apparently shattered in transit. People were just wandering around because there was no one checking badges or wristbands. It was just very unprofessional.' It also put many authors out of pocket, as those who had travelled long distances had had to pay for both transport and accommodation. Some have even claimed to have wasted 'thousands of dollars' on the event. But the most egregious disappointment was the ball. BookTok authors dressed up in their finest romantic gowns for what they had been told was a black tie event – only to be met with an almost empty ballroom, minimal decoration and no snacks or refreshments save for some cookies. There wasn't even any music. According to one report, the DJ was hospitalised pre-event and they couldn't find a replacement. One attendee came onto TikTok to claim that a security guard had felt sorry for them so he 'brought a shower speaker from his home' that they could use. Grace Marceau took to TikTok on May 5 to apologise to the authors affected. She said, 'I do understand that the ball tonight was not set up to standards. There were a lot of issues getting set up, and it was not set up well…If you would like a refund, please contact me and I will issue a refund immediately.' However, the apology was not enough for many commenters on TikTok, who have labelled the entire event 'a scam.' She failed to address the fact that many of the events participants claimed she lied about ticket numbers. Comments also pointed out that, given the thousands of dollars some authors spent on accommodation and transport, that a refund wasn't enough to cover damages.
New York Post
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Romantasy' ball blasted as epic scam over false promises, sparse turnout: ‘Fyre Festival of BookTok'
A fantasy romance novel convention quickly went from Velaris to very messy. Romantasy fans — the extremely popular book genre among millennials and Gen Z women that blends fantasy fiction with smutty romance tropes — were baffled when they arrived at the A Million Lives Book Festival in Baltimore on May 2 and 3. What was promoted as an immersive gathering of hundreds of book lovers, dozens of authors and publishers, and themed entertainment quickly devolved into what is being dubbed the 'Fyre Festival of BookTok.' 3 A Million Lives Book Festival sold only around 30 tickets. TikTok/@stephdevourerofbooks Advertisement Organized by Archer Management, A Million Lives promised author panels, romantasy cosplay meet-ups, a costume contest, a content creation room, a vendor hall stocked with new releases and bookish items, and a glistening ball taken right off the pages of Sarah J. Maas. Author and attendee Stephanie Combs mockingly shared a video of her and her friends strutting through the hotel lobby wearing floor-length ball gowns. 'When you're going to a bookish fantasy-themed ball,' she wrote in a TikTok post before showing a sparsely populated convention hall with no decorations. 'And this is what you get.' Advertisement Tables at the event were shockingly empty, with some lazily thrown fake rose petals and books on them. Guests dressed for a ball of epic proportions were sadly disappointed as they idled in the room, which didn't even have the lights dimmed. 'When you gotta laugh so you don't cry,' Stephanie joked. 'A million lives or a million lies? I was an attending author…at least we looked fantastic.' Perci Jay, an author attending the event, showed off the 'absolute chaos' of the ball, which only attendees who bought the most expensive ticket had access to. The affair cost $250 and had no food, with water and drinks for purchase at a cash bar. The only music at the ball was from a small speaker a security guard had on him. Advertisement 'So yes, friends, that means the plan for this ball was for us to stand in the giant empty room, with no food, a cash bar and stand there in silence,' she said on TikTok. Authors looking to sell their books were told that around 600 tickets were sold for the event. 3 The event's music was relegated to a small speaker in the corner. TikTok/@percijay_fantasyauthor Advertisement In reality, only about 30 guests attended. Romance author Kait Disney-Leugers blasted the festival as the 'worst event' she ever attended, adding that she did not make any money at A Million Lives, a huge blow saying authors usually pay for their own tables 'I barely made enough to cover my fucking parking for two days,' Disney-Leugers said in a TikTok, adding that 'It felt like Fyre Fest of book festivals,' referring to the disastrous 2017 music festival whose ritzy advertising ended up being a multi-million dollar scam. 'Advertised as something really awesome, but the actual execution of it was horrible. We were told there were more than 610 tickets sold, I did not see those people.' 3 The event did not deliver on it's promises of a glamorous ball. An author told The Cut that the conference's promise that authors' hotel rooms were comped was not met. Grace Willows, who organized the event, reached out to the author allegedly asking her to pay for her own room at a different hotel. Willows, an author, apologized for the event — which is being compared to the woeful Willy Wonka Glasgow and the scam 'Bridgerton' ball that had stripping fairies instead of Regency waltzes across the ballroom. Advertisement 'I am wanting to issue a formal apology. I do understand that the ball tonight was not set up to standard,' she said in a TikTok video on Sunday. 'There were a lot of issues with getting set up, and it was not handled well. I'd like to apologize. If you would like a refund, please contact me and I will issue a refund immediately.' Archer Management released a statement the next day saying that all attendees will be refunded by May 31.
News.com.au
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Ruined careers': Book festival ends in disaster
A book festival in Baltimore has been dubbed 'Fyre Festival 2.0' after leaving event-goers bitterly disappointed and thousands of dollars out of pocket. What was promised to be an enchanting weekend for romance-fantasy novel fans quickly turned into what people are describing as one of the worst events they have ever seen. The much-anticipated 'A Million Lives Book Festival', was set to take place over May 2-3 and promised attendees: Hundreds of fans, a vendor-packed hall, author panels, cosplay contests, and a glamorous 'Lavender Romantasy Ball.' In multiple clips shared to social media, excited event-goers can be seen frolicking through halls in elaborate ball gowns and dapper tuxedos. Their excitement can be seen quickly dissipating as they arrive to find a near-empty warehouse with blaring lights and some tables and chairs. In place of a DJ, a lone bluetooth speaker sits on a chair as attendees awkwardly stand around it. Panels for the festival also didn't have chairs or tables in their rooms, forcing people to sit on the floor. It was marketed as the ultimate escape into magical worlds and swoony stories. But by the end of day one, many were left wondering if they'd accidentally walked into an abandoned side quest. Weekend attendees were set to enjoy a vendor hall where they could meet their favourite authors, a cosplay meet-up event, access to a content creation room, panels, event swag bags and much more. Ticket prices ranged from $50 to $250, and book vendors were told to expect crowds of 500 to 1,000 people. But when the doors opened on the first day, a mere 30 people wandered in. On the second day, close to 100 showed up. Some authors reportedly sold fewer books than the cost of parking their car. Fantasy author and lawyer Perci Jay took to social media to share a four-part series exposing the event that she dubbed 'A Million Lies' and 'The Willy Wonka experience for books.' 'It was even worse than what you're seeing,' Ms Jay told her 54,000 followers. 'We put our deposits down 18 months ago. I even flew out from Texas.' She went on to reveal she had planned 'a lot of major life events around the festival,' including her pregnancy and her uncle-in-law's funeral. The mum-to-be stressed there was no food, the doors opened late and ticketholders were forced to pay $5 for 'tiny' cups of soft drink or water. 'People flew from outside the country, others are thousands of dollars in debt because of the lies, and it has ruined others' careers,' she said. Ms Jay told Metro UK that she spent around $2,000 on the event, including flights, books, art, table fees and event sponsorship. In an email sent to disappointed vendors and authors, organiser Grace Willows of Archer Fantasy Events said she 'wholeheartedly apologises for the failures of this weekend.' 'This event was unacceptable,' she stated. In a clip that now has 2.8 million views, the young event co-ordinator issued an apology to ticketholders. 'I understand the ball was not set up to standards, if you would like a refund please contact me and I will issue a refund immediately.' Viewers were quick to compare the disastrous book festival with the notorious Willy Wonka event of 2024, which saw children crying and police arriving at the venue. Similarly, the event promised a 'fantasy like never before' but when eager attendees arrived to the venue in Glasgow – they found a near-empty warehouse with a few decorations and chairs.
Fast Company
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘A Million Lives' shattered: This fantasy ball was just dubbed the Fyre Festival of BookTok—and authors are furious
A book festival took place over the weekend in Baltimore, but even if you're local, you likely didn't hear about it until after the fact. The event, called 'A Millions Lives Book Festival,' is now trending on social media, but for all the wrong reasons—it's being called 'The Fyre Festival' of book festivals, if that's any indication of just how disappointing it seems to have been. A Million Lives, organized by author Grace Willows and Archer Management company, came to Baltimore's Convention Center on May 2 and 3. While the event was allegedly described to authors as an extravagant fantasy-themed ball where they could promote their books to hundreds to thousands of attendees, videos on TikTok and Threads suggest that barely a handful of attendees showed up, and there hardly appeared to have been any set up done in terms of decor. Videos show what looks like a mostly empty room with some tables. The only real set-up appears to have come from the book vendors themselves and whatever books, signage, and display items they brought. In one of many recap videos posted to TikTok, one author explains that prior to heading to Baltimore, she was convinced the event was going to be absolutely massive. Author Perci Jay says she counted at least 120 vendors, authors, narrators, and speakers prior to attending. The numbers were so big, she cleared her schedule, and even planned huge life events around the book festival. 'I'm currently pregnant with twins,' Jay says in her recap video. 'I planned my pregnancy around this event like a clown.' Jay now says that doing so was a huge mistake. Not only did she not earn back the money she spent on the event from book sales, she lost a bundle. In addition to the $150 table fee she paid, she also shelled out $250 to sponsor the event in order to get extra author promotions, such as social media posts, her logo on the organizer's webpage, and more. She also traveled from Texas to Baltimore. However, according to Jay, none of what she signed up for ever came to fruition. She didn't get her logo on the site, no social media posts about her were made, and the event itself was a huge flop with almost no readers in sight. Beyond that, Jay claims there were issues with hotel bookings. According to her, 'featured authors' like herself were promised a free stay at the Hilton, which is connected to the Convention Center, but at the last minute were bumped to the Days Inn across the street. 'Does this look like I'm at the Hilton?' Jay jokes, panning the camera around her hotel room. Other authors reported not being able to check in to their hotel at all, or having to pay hotel fees they were promised were already covered. Author Luna Laurier, who also posted on TikTok, said that not only is she out thousands of dollars from the event, but the hotel actually called her in the middle of the night saying that she had to take over payment for her room, which she had been told would be covered by the organizers. 'I'm still kind of in shock,' she tells her audience in the post. 'I really cannot believe that it got as bad as it did.' Mikayla Horendo, an author who saw red flags prior to the event but decided to attend anyway because she used to live in Baltimore, was utterly disappointed, as well. Horendo shared her experience at the festival on TikTok, saying that her very 'generous' estimate was that 40 attendees in total showed up on Friday. Archer Fantasy Events did not respond to Fast Company 's request for comment, but did post an apology online, which directed vendors seeking refunds to reach out to them directly. 'I do understand that the ball tonight was not set up to standards,' organizer Grace Willows said. 'There were a lot of issues getting set up and it was not set up well . . . if you would like a refund, please contact me and I will issue a refund immediately.' Still, for many, the apology fell short. In the comments section of Instagram and TikTok, many flat out called the event a 'scam.' Multiple comments mentioned that Willows explicitly told them in emails that hundreds, if not thousands of tickets had been sold. 'In our correspondence, you told me you expected 1200 attendees; otherwise I wouldn't have paid the table fee, which I hope you refund,' one commenter vented. Other comments pointed to the thousands that some vendors spent to get there, with one suggesting that giving refunds may not be enough to make up the financial cost for some authors: 'Honestly, you need to be worried about litigation at this point given how many people are saying they were told a lie about how many tickets you sold,' it read.
CBS News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Authors say they were misled by Baltimore book festival as event organizers promise refunds
This past weekend, a book festival in downtown Baltimore promised to be the perfect event for book lovers, but instead, it's being described as one of the worst events people have seen. Accounts describing the A Million Lives Book Festival have gone viral on social media, especially on TikTok. Authors and vendors WJZ spoke to say they feel misled by event organizers, and they say the event didn't feel put together at all. The event, put on by Archer Management, was held on May 2 and May 3. Authors feel lied to Stephanie Combs's weekend at the Baltimore Convention Center was supposed to be a big one. The Maryland-based romantic fantasy author has been independently publishing books since 2023. The A Million Lives Book Festival was going to be her first one attending as an author. "That is one of my dreams, bucket goal lists," Combs said. "I wanna be invited as an author to an event like this. Where I get to meet readers and get to connect with other authors." Leading up to the festival, Combs said communication from organizers was sparse. She and other authors say there weren't clear directions on how to enter and bring their products into the center. There was even some confusion about whether authors and vendors would have their own tables. However, Combs said she remained optimistic because she was informed that between 500 to 600 tickets were sold for the event. On the first day, Combs estimates, around 20 to 30 people showed up. On the second day, close to 100 showed up. Panels for the festival also didn't have chairs or tables in their rooms, forcing people to sit on the floor. The festival closed out with the Lavender Romance Ball, which some paid $250 to attend. The event looked more like a high school cafeteria. "As an author, I felt bad for inviting my readers to this event because they were promised this amazing, wonderful, fantasy-themed ball, and I felt like they didn't really get what they paid for," Combs said. Archer Management posted a statement on social media Monday apologizing for how the festival went. "We are currently processing refunds as fast as we can. All refunds will be processed by May 31," the statement reads. Archer Management hasn't responded to requests for comment. Vendors take financial hit Author Perci Jay flew in from Texas to attend. Her videos about A Million Lives have garnered more than five million views on TikTok. She said authors, especially new ones, can take on a big financial burden because of these events. "Some of us went into debt to come to this event. Some of us took on expenses -- mitigating the risk of what we were promised -- and had to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, shipping unsold product back home," Jay said. Jay said she spent time at the festival encouraging new authors to keep going to these events. Combs said this hasn't deterred her completely, but she's going to be cautious with brand-new events like this one. "I know there's gonna be things that go wrong, it happens at every event, and I can be completely forgiving of that," Combs said. "It felt like in this case there were just a lot of excuses." It's unclear if Archer Management will help cover any other costs that authors and vendors had related to the festival.
