RAGT: an annual gathering
The next annual Reader & Author Get Together
will be held June 9-12, 2027 in Cincinnati!
A Little History
Historically, RAGT has a two-part mission: to bring together authors & readers, with other industry professionals in a very casual, friendly atmosphere with lots of time for visiting. While all these wonderful people are gathered, we also raise money and awareness for some very worthy causes, like the the Animal Adoption Foundation and CancerFree KIDS through the raffle baskets and of course, Lori Foster’s annual benefit book. Thanks to the readers and our book community’s generosity, RAGT is able to help fund some of our local, valuable organizations.
Main Activities
The ballroom is the heart of RAGT, where we meet for sponsored meals with wonderful raffle baskets lining the walls. It’s also where our featured authors are introduced and raffle winners are announced. Sponsored parties take place in the ballroom every night from Wednesday through Saturday, and you’ll also find our volunteer team at the Table of Contents whenever the ballroom is open. And while the ballroom always hums with activity, the nine fabulous boardrooms are only a few steps away, on the same floor, with four days of games, crafts, panels, discussions and workshops. Add in two multi-author book signings, one on Friday and one on Saturday, in the atrium just outside the ballroom, and there’s something for everyone!
Table of Contents
Boardrooms
Every year RAGT’s boardrooms are a big hit! Nine boardrooms, put on by sponsoring authors, are used for breakout workshops and presentations throughout Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They serve the dual purpose of entertaining and enlightening. Expect lots of promo, author information, games and more!
There is always up-to-date info about boardrooms over on the Boardrooms Section on the Sponsors page. Whether there are Boardrooms still available for you to sponsor, or if boardroom themes have been set, that’s the place to check.
Book Signings
There will be two book signings during the event: one on Friday afternoon and one on Saturday afternoon, each from 3:00 to 5:00.
See the Book Signing page for all the details →
Find out who is signing on Friday →
Find out who is signing on Saturday →
Most authors will participate in ONE signing only, but RAGT coordinators reserve the right to assign author signing days to better accommodate readers and to balance the two signings.
Both book signings are open to the public and admission to the signing itself is free — for every other part of RAGT you must be fully registered.
If you are a reader/fan coming in for the signing, mark your calendars for the date, note the hotel address, and be sure to join the RAGT Facebook group for any last minute changes in time. Exact times for the signings will be announced on the event schedule page, and of course, on Facebook.
The Event Hotel
RAGT26 will be held at the Holiday Inn, Cincinnati Airport in Erlanger, Kentucky. Information about booking your room, directions, and more can be found on the Hotel Info page.
Meals During the Event
Part of the fun of RAGT is that everyone eats together, turning meals into fun gatherings with new or old friends, authors and readers alike. Beginning with the Welcome pizza on Wednesday night, RAGT attendees enjoy Thursday,Friday and Saturday breakfasts, lunches, and dinners — and each meal and party offers a sponsorship opportunity.
Wednesday Welcome Pizza
Sponsored by Heather Bryce Thomas
*Subject to change based on availability.
Wednesday Party
Sponsored by E. Elizabeth Watson, Michelle Miles and Brenna Ash
SINGO PARTY
- E. Elizabeth Watson, Brenna Ash, and Michelle Miles cordially invite you to the Scottish Highlands for a night of music, revelry, and most importantly, SINGO! It’s a lot like Bingo, except instead of calling out numbers, our guest DJ will play snippets of songs and you’ll cover the titles on play cards.
- Your hosts will arrive in their finest Highlander dresses and tartans, and encourage you to do the same! Whether it be a full Outlander-inspired dress, a simple tartan scarf or hat, or just a touch of plaid, get creative and have fun with it.
- Aside from having a great time, there will be fabulous prizes to win. Get your music knowledge ready and join us for a night filled with awesome music. Sing, dance, be entered into our historical costume contest, and much more!
Thursday Breakfast
Sponsored by Kat Baxter and Emma Lee Jayne
The 80’s Breakfast Club Bash
- Step back into the totally radical world of big hair, mix tapes, and unexpected friendships with authors Emma Lee Jayne and Kat Baxter. Join us for a morning straight out of an 80’s rom-com—where mismatched personalities collide, sparks fly, secrets spill, and nobody leaves quite the same as they arrived. Grab your favorite neon accessory and enjoy an epic breakfast with fellow fans who love a good laugh, a sweet romance, and maybe even a freeze-frame ending.
- Our featured authors will be there too—ready to chat, laugh, overshare, and maybe help you discover your own epic coming-of-age moment. Think of it as that scene where everyone sits in a circle spilling secrets… but with coffee refills.
- Get ready for feels, fun, and a whole lotta 80’s flair.
- Don’t miss it—because in the world of rom-coms, the best moments always happen over breakfast.
- Eggs, a breakfast meat, hot potatoes, and the chef’s choice of French Toast, muffin or breakfast pastry.
*Subject to change based on availability.
Thursday Lunch
Sponsored by Nan Reinhardt, Carol Light, and J.C. Kenney (not attending)
Romance and Mystery in a Small Town
- Wanna get away from it all? Then, join best-selling romance writer, Nan Reinhardt, and mystery writer Carol Light for lunch with a small-town flavor that will make you happy you left the urban hustle and bustle in your rearview mirror!
- This cozy event will feature delicious food, while you have a blast creating fun stories. Will your tale be a light and bright romance or a dark and thrilling mystery? Either way, we guarantee you’ll leave with a smile and some wonderful memories. You--or someone at your table-- will go home with a beautiful centerpiece, while other lucky winners will leave with sets of signed books from your hosts. Come on down for lunch and small-town fun. We’ll see you soon!
- Chicken club, vegetarian sandwich, green salad, chips, watermelon/melon, cookie
*Subject to change based on availability.
Thursday Dinner
Sponsored by Jane Porter, Megan Crane, and CJ Carmichael
WRANGLIN’ HEARTS & STIRRIN’ TROUBLE
- Pull on your boots and dust off your hat—it’s time to saddle up for a night of romance, ranching, and rugged cowboys! Join USA Today bestselling authors Jane Porter, CJ Carmichael, and Megan Crane for a memorable Western-themed dinner that’s both heartfelt and branding iron-hot. Whether you're a fan of strong heroines, swoony cowboys, small towns, or second chances, this evening is for you.
- Expect fun games, signed books, raffles, and cowboy-worthy swag—and don’t be surprised if you leave with a new book boyfriend (or three).
- Western wear encouraged. Cowboy boots & hat optional, but highly recommended.
- Cowboy Western BBQ, tossed salad, rolls, dessert
*Subject to change based on availability.
Thursday Evening Party
Sponsored by Janet Leigh and Priscilla Oliveras
Mama Mia Madnesss
Celebrating Beachy Rom-Coms with Janet and Pris
- Grab your beach blanket, sunscreen, and summer fun vibes! Romance authors Janet Leigh and Priscilla Oliveras are planning an evening to celebrate swoony beach reads & rom-com glory! With "Mama Mia" on the big screen is it a movie night? Or a sing-along? Or a dance party? It's whatever your heart desires! OR At RAGT, it can be all three! Join Janet and Priscilla for popcorn, beach-themed swag, and memory-making!
Friday Breakfast
Sponsored by Dylann Crush/Eve London and Stephanie Harrell
BFF Breakfast
- We love making new friends.
- This is your chance to put us on the hot seat and to ask those questions you've always wondered as you read your favorite stories. We love to chat and laugh, so get ready for a fun-filled morning in our impromptu get-to-know-you session during breakfast with authors Dylann Crush/Eve London and Stephanie Harrell.
- What would you like to know about the secret lives of authors? Do you have burning questions about how we write those spicy scenes or how we come up with your next favorite book boyfriend? Join us for a fun, laid-back morning to get to know your fellow readers and us. Plus, you'll get a chance to win curated gifts from us!
- Eggs, a breakfast meat, hot potatoes, and the chef’s choice of French Toast, muffin or breakfast pastry.
*Subject to change based on availability.
Friday Lunch
Sponsored by Tonya Kappes, Tina DeSalvo, and Rochelle Bradley
Coffee, Community, Laughter & Lunch
- Authors Tonya Kappes, Tina DeSalvo & Rochelle Bradley invite y’all to step into the RAGT Ballroom to fill your Bellies and Souls with Lunch, Laughter and Community! Enjoy a warm (and spicy if you serve up extra jalapeños) meal of tortilla soup, corn cilantro salad, chips/salsa/guac, chicken, peppers/onions, tortillas, rice and beans! Yum! Tonya, Tina & Rochelle encourages you to sit with someone new and get to know each other. Truly be part of YOUR special Community. Southwestern Buffet, Games, Door Prizes and maybe a bit of Coffee, too!
- Southwestern buffet: Tortilla soup, corn cilantro salad, chips/salsa/guac, chicken, peppers/onions, tortillas, rice and beans
*Subject to change based on availability.
Friday Dinner
Sponsored by Lisa Childs, Anna J. Stewart, and Sarah Fischer
Black & White & Read All Over
- From sweet, small-town romance to edgy romantic suspense, to dark fantasy, authors Lisa Childs, Anna J. Stewart, and Sarah Fischer offer a diverse menu for your romance reading pleasure. Whether you like your love scenes behind closed doors or on the page, we are serving something for everyone! Join your fellow RAGT attendees at this Black & White themed dinner where you’ll have the chance to interact with these authors, win signed books, raffle tickets, and goodies galore.
- Baked Potato and Salad Bar: Field greens, grilled steak and chicken, assorted potato toppings, dessert
*Subject to change based on availability.
Friday Party
Sponsored by Megan Crane and Hazel Beck
Something wickedly romantic this way comes...
-
You're summoned to the Witching Hour Ball, a night of dark enchantment and irresistible seduction—celebrating the paranormal worlds of bestselling authors
Megan Crane and Hazel Beck.
- Grab your fangs, your corsets, your enchanted heels—and get ready to flirt with fate (and maybe that hot book boyfriend you summoned last full moon ).
- ❤ When: 8pm
- ❤ Where: Ballroom
- ❤ Dress Code: Witchy glam, dark romance, supernatural drama encouraged
- ❤ Expect: Music, magic, and maybe some mischief
- ✨This is your night to shine. Or smolder. Or cast a few love spells. We don’t judge.
- Whether you walk with witches, run with wolves, or fall for the dangerously undead—this is your night to revel.
- Come enchanted. Leave spellbound.
Saturday Breakfast
Sponsored by Jennie Marts, Diana Munoz-Stewart, Abbie Roads, and Sharon Wray
Breakfast, Book Boyfriends, and Bad Decisions
- Join authors Jennie Marts, Diana Munoz-Stewart, Sharon Wray and Abbie Roads for a fun-filled, games and prize-packed breakfast where you’ll be introduced to your next book boyfriends…and they are so worth it!
- We write romantic suspense, rom-coms, western romance and mysteries…everything from making out to murder, from handholding to homicide, so these heroes are hot and hunky, tough and tender, and oh-so-swoony! Hockey players, cowboys, and FBI agents…oh my!
- Come for the breakfast, then join in the chats, games, laughter, tons of prizes and leave with new friends and introductions to your next book boyfriends.
- ** Each reader will receive a special goodie bag filled with unique gifts from your next book boyfriend (think love notes, flowers, and jewelry) and a raffle ticket to win even more bookish prizes! Supplies are limited to the first 340, so don’t miss this fun breakfast and the chance to meet your next book boyfriends!
- Eggs, a breakfast meat, hot potatoes, and the chef’s choice of French Toast, muffin or breakfast pastry.
*Subject to change based on availability.
Saturday Lunch
Sponsored by TJ Logan, Val Clarizio, and Gracie Guy
HAVE LUNCH WITH THE SECRET SUSPENSE SOCIETY!
- Sharpen your sleuthing skills while we enjoy lunch.
- • Games
- • Author Q&A
- • 4 fun smaller raffle baskets and 3 awesome larger ones
- • Each amateur sleuth will receive a goodie bag which includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of the prizes!
- • There will be multiple chances to win additional tickets, including hidden raffle tickets!
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad: Bacon, roasted corn, tomatoes, mixed greens, honey BBQ ranch with chicken (This will be set up as a salad bar where you add your own toppings.)
*Subject to change based on availability.
Saturday Dinner
- Little Italy: Caesar salad, lasagna, baked ziti, chicken piccata, vegetables, breadsticks, dessert ((There is a gluten-free pasta option. Also, the chicken breast will have no breading.)
*Subject to change based on availability.
Saturday Evening Party
Sponsored by Jenn Stark & Toni Blake
9th Annual Booklovers' Bingo & Pajama Party
- The party’s not over yet! Join us for the 9th Annual Booklovers’ Bingo Bash for fun, laughter, and a whole lot of bouncing balls! Players wearing PJs (Family Friendly Only!) are welcome with special prizes awarded, along with giveaways and prizes for Bingo winners. We hope to see you there!
Thanks to these #RAGT26 sponsors:
Raffles
Raffles go on all weekend long and are always a big hit. The proceeds are given to CancerFree KIDS.
If you are interested in donating to the raffle, please note that the Raffle Coordinators have some guidelines in place to ensure that your generosity makes it to the right place.
Goody Bags
The always-fabulous RAGT Goody Bags are definitely something to look forward to. Over 430 bags, provided by Barbara Devlin and Summer Hanford are stuffed full of fun stuff, including FREE BOOKS, and handed out to all attendees.
If you are interested in donating goodies for the event, you must first please review our current policy for contributing materials for the Goody Bags!
Real-Time Updates
Don’t miss important announcements! Our Facebook Group & this site… Details are always being added. There’s a whole page dedicated to registration.
Precise registration dates will always be boldly displayed on the home page and various other parts of the site as soon as the dates are confirmed. If it isn’t posted, we don’t know yet.
Books to Anticipate
More Info for 2026
The next annual Reader & Author Get Together
will be held June 3-6, 2026
RAGT26 will be held at the Holiday Inn, Cincinnati Airport in Erlanger, Kentucky.