Birmingham, Alabama · Targeting November 5–7, 2027
Leave ordinary life behind for a weekend among stories.
Once Upon a Novel is a new three-day book convention being developed for readers, authors, and the people who bring stories to life.
Partnership conversations are now underway for venue, bookselling, publishing, hospitality, media, and community support.
More than a signing hall.
Once Upon a Novel is being designed as a complete book-con experience—a vibrant show floor, a central stage, thoughtful conversations, personal discoveries, bookish shopping, live interviews, and opportunities to build meaningful relationships with the people who write, shape, publish, narrate, and champion stories.
The Experience
A whole world of books, in one place.
Meet the storytellers
Browse authors across genres, buy directly from creators, discover your next favorite book, and leave with stories made personal.
Hear stories come alive
Experience featured conversations, author and narrator appearances, live interviews, and central-stage programming designed to engage the entire convention floor.
Find your book people
Spend the weekend among readers, bookish businesses, podcasters, influencers, publishers, and creators who understand why stories matter.
Weekend Format
Three days. Two experiences. One shared love of stories.
Creator & Industry Day
A private educational day for registered authors and participating industry professionals.
Planned programming may include:
- Literary-agent panels
- Understanding the querying process
- Genres & categories agents represent
- Query etiquette
- Editorial roles & developmental editing
- Line & copy editing
- Pacing, structure & manuscript prep
- Publishing-industry conversations
- Narration & audiobook education
- Scheduled networking blocks
- Curated 10-minute connection appointments
Public Book Convention
Two full days open to readers, book lovers, and the public.
- Author signings
- Book sales
- Narrator & voice-actor appearances
- Central program stage
- Featured guest conversations
- Live podcast & influencer interviews
- Publisher showcases
- Bookish vendors
- Reader experiences
- Merchandise
- Community activities
- Multi-genre discovery
Planned Scale
What we're building toward.
These figures represent planning capacities, not confirmed participation. Final capacity will depend on venue configuration, programming, safety requirements, and confirmed partnerships.
Participate
Founding Event Participation Pricing
Applications are not yet open. Final table specifications and participation agreements will be published after the venue is confirmed.
Three-Day Author Experience
- Admission to Friday's private Creator & Industry Day
- Access to Friday's educational programming
- Eligibility for curated industry connection scheduling
- One author signing table for Saturday & Sunday
- Basic table and seating provided
- Space to sell books and approved author merchandise
- Author listing on the event website
- Opportunity to provide a preorder link
- Participant lanyard
- Access to the opt-in participant directory
- Public convention access for the participating author
Authors are generally responsible for their own inventory, payment processing, and legally required sales-tax obligations. An application does not guarantee acceptance — table fees will not be collected until an applicant has received an official invitation and participation agreement.
Weekend Bookish Vendor Space
- Vendor space during Saturday & Sunday
- One standard vendor space with a table and seating; final dimensions and furnishings will be confirmed with the venue
- Space to sell approved products
- Vendor listing on the event website
- Participant lanyard
- Access to the opt-in participant directory
- Public convention access for the registered vendor
Vendors are responsible for their own inventory, displays, payment processing, insurance where required, and legally required licenses or sales-tax obligations. An application does not guarantee acceptance — vendor fees will not be collected until an applicant has received an official invitation and participation agreement.
Participation pricing and terms for narrators, agents, editors, publishers, featured guests, podcasters, and influencers will be published once finalized. Table dimensions, assistant passes, electricity, Wi-Fi, draping, and premium placements are forthcoming and not yet guaranteed.
Volunteer with us
Volunteer opportunities are expected to become available as event operations are finalized. Roles, shifts, benefits, eligibility requirements, and application details will be announced later.
Participant directory
Participating authors, narrators, agents, editors, publishers, vendors, podcasters, influencers, and other approved floor participants may opt into a printed and/or digital participant directory intended to encourage professional connection after the event.
The featured stage
A central stage is planned within or directly connected to the convention floor, with room for featured-author conversations, publisher showcases, narrator performances, industry education, podcast recordings, reader conversations, brief sponsor acknowledgments, and opening and closing remarks.
Stories travel beyond the room
Once Upon a Novel plans to create dedicated interview spaces for book-focused podcasters and influencers — supporting scheduled conversations with authors, narrators, featured guests, publishers, and other participating professionals, and helping readers discover new books and creators before, during, and after the convention.
Community & conduct
Once Upon a Novel is being created as a welcoming gathering centered on books, creativity, curiosity, and respectful human connection. Participants may discuss their work, identity, experiences, and creative influences without attacking, belittling, or harassing others. Marketplace expectations include no harassment, no unrelated political campaigning, and responsible, clearly labeled presentation of mature material.
Partnerships
Help build Birmingham's annual celebration of books.
Once Upon a Novel is beginning conversations with organizations that want to help create a lasting literary experience in Birmingham. We are seeking partners who understand the value of connecting readers with authors, books, voices, ideas, and one another.
Presenting partnerships will be customized to create meaningful visibility while supporting the independent identity and long-term vision of Once Upon a Novel.
Community Impact
Books belong in every childhood.
Once Upon a Novel plans to invite attendees and participants to bring a new children's book for a Birmingham-area hospital, literacy organization, or community partner. Donated books will be collected during the convention and delivered following the event.
The final beneficiary, donation requirements, eligible book types, and distribution process will be announced after a community partnership is confirmed.
About
Why Birmingham. Why books. Why now.
Once Upon a Novel began with a straightforward idea: Birmingham deserves an annual weekend when readers can step away from ordinary life and enter a world built around stories.
Oak & Lantern Press is developing the event as a gathering where established voices and emerging creators can share the same room, readers can discover books they may never encounter through an algorithm, and the many people behind a story—from editors and agents to narrators, publishers, booksellers, and influencers—can form meaningful connections.
The goal is not simply to fill a convention hall. The goal is to create the kind of experience people recognize years later when they see the emblem on a shirt, tote, journal, or bookmark binder and say, "You were there too?"
Contact
Start a conversation.
Once Upon a Novel is currently seeking venue, bookselling, publishing, hospitality, media, community, and experience partners for its proposed Birmingham event.
Event updates are coming soon. Until the mailing list opens, authors, vendors, readers, media, and potential partners are invited to contact us directly.
Or reach out directly — derek@onceuponanovel.com