As much as I love wandering the aisles of a bookstore or attending an in-person book event, the reality is that it isn’t always possible. Travel, cost, and scheduling can all get in the way. That’s why I was excited to learn about the inaugural Phictly Global Digital Book Festival, presented by Shelf Awareness.
Taking place on July 25, the festival will feature more than 80 authors across 11 genres, along with live readings, author panels, virtual signings, and more. Readers can browse the festival for free through the Phictly app, while VIP tickets include extras like private video chats with participating authors (subject to availability), signed bookplates, and a digital swag bag.
I love seeing new ways for readers and authors to connect. While nothing quite replaces the atmosphere of an in-person book festival, events like this make the experience accessible to people who might never have the opportunity to attend otherwise. Whether you live hundreds of miles from the nearest literary event or simply enjoy participating from the comfort of your favorite reading chair, a virtual festival opens the door to discovering new books and meeting authors from anywhere.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one to see how it goes. If it’s successful, I’d love to see more digital book festivals in the future.
Let’s Discuss
Would you attend a virtual book festival, or do you prefer the experience of meeting authors and browsing booths in person? If you’ve attended one before, I’d love to hear what you thought!