About The Event

RAGT: an annual gathering

The next annual Reader & Author Get Together
will be held June 5-8, 2024


One Big Fundraiser

Overall, the RAGT is a fan-friendly event meant for readers, and open to everyone, readers, authors, and industry alike, in different ratios! However, in the process, the event also raises funds for many local causes. The incredible raffles garner thousands, and each year Lori Foster puts out a novella with proceeds earmarked for direct donation. Combined, the event and the novella go to benefit very worthwhile local charities.

There have been many benefit books over the years. And after each event, Lori is thrilled to turn over a big check.


Here are some of the Benefit Books from Previous RAGTs:



Main Activities

The ballroom is always open for socializing with readers and authors alike. Think of it as a giant tea party with other book lovers! It’s where conference meals will be served, with raffle baskets lining the walls and where raffle winners are announced. Sponsored parties for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night take place in the ballroom. It is truly the heart of the Get Together, yet the boardrooms are only a few steps away, on the same floor, with a wide range of fun activities provided. Add in two multi-author book fairs, one on Friday and one on Saturday, in the atrium just outside the ballroom, and there’s something for everyone!


Boardrooms

Every year RAGT’s boardrooms are a big hit! Seven boardrooms, put on by sponsoring publishers and authors, are used for breakout workshops and presentations throughout 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 Fairs

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 Bookfairs 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 fairs are open to the public and admission to the fair 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 Like the RAGT page on Facebook 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

RAGT24 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 annual welcoming party on Thursday night, RAGT attendees enjoy Friday and Saturday breakfasts, lunches, and dinners — and each meal and party offers a sponsorship opportunity.

Depending upon how close to the event we are, the Meals & Parties schedule will either be full and descriptive, or clearly indicating where you can step in and sponsor if you want! If you’re interested in sponsoring a meal/party, please contact Lori.

Wednesday Party Sponsored by Gracie Guy and Wendi Zwaduk

SINGO EARLY BIRD PARTY
    Gracie Guy and Wendi Zwaduk invite you to play 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. We’ll have some singalongs, dance contests and lots of prizes to win. And don’t tell anybody, but this year you’ll be enjoying this RAGT24 early bird kickoff even more with the yummy surprise we have planned!

Thursday Evening Party Sponsored by Barbara Devlin and Summer Hanford.

MONARCH MADNESS! RAGT24 WELCOME PARTY
    Embrace your inner monarch at our Monarch Madness Welcome Party. Hosted by Barbara Devlin and Summer Hanford, at this year’s welcome party everyone gets a tiara. That’s right, you get a tiara, and you get a tiara, and you get a tiara!
    Your inner monarch will shine with our games, raffles and amazing prizes, and your outer monarch can shine in our Be Your Favorite Monarch Costume Contest. Come dressed to impress as your favorite imaginary, historical, or contemporary monarch. We’ll have snacks and a cash bar, and when we’re done with the games and giveaways, your favorite RAGT DJ will be there to keep the party going.

Friday Breakfast
    Chilled juices, sliced fresh fruit, assorted danish, muffins & bagels with cream cheese, scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, home fried potatoes, jellies, butter, coffee, tea, decaf coffee and creamer.
*Subject to change based on availability.

Friday Lunch
    Taco bar, chicken tortilla soup, salad, seasoned beef, hard & soft taco shells, beans, rice, cheese, tomato, sour cream, salsa & cinnamon crisps.
*Subject to change based on availability.

Friday Dinner Sponsored by Irene Lawless

RAGT 2024 Book Club Bonanza!
    Join us for Kentucky’s largest (and best!) book club ever – the RAGT 2024 Book Club Bonanza. Sit with your friends or make new ones at trope specific tables. Enjoy activities such as a book white elephant exchange, book speed dating, and four fun raffles throughout the dinner.
    Bring a wrapped book from one of your favorite authors for the white elephant book exchange.
    Learn about new authors and great book gems through Book Speed Dating! With a list of provided tropes available, such as paranormal, regency, mafia, sports, military, etc., be ready to discuss your top 10 favorite authors and books with other romance enthusiasts. Help spread the love for the romance genre!
    The RAGT 2024 Book Club Bonanza is your chance to share and expand your love of Romancelandia and a great opportunity to meet new literary friends.
    Kentucky buffet - biscuits, cornbread, bibb lettuce salad, Kentucky burgoo, fried pork chops, country fried steak, green beans, red skins, derby pie.
*Subject to change based on availability.

Friday Party Sponsored by Jessica Lemmon and Annie Rains

Sweet Treats Dance Party
    Join Jessica Lemmon and Annie Rains for a Sweet Treats Dance Party! Jessica and Annie encourage you to dress as your favorite sweet treat, whether it’s a candy bar or a cupcake, or you can surprise us with a unique costume! There will be giveaways, a DJ, plenty of dancing and a cash bar.

Saturday Breakfast Sponsored by Tonya Kappes, Sam Cheever, and Carolyn Ridder Aspenson (not attending)

    Blurb coming soon!
    Chilled juices, sliced fresh fruit, assorted danish, muffins & bagels with cream cheese, scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, home fried potatoes, jellies, butter, coffee, tea, decaf coffee and creamer.
*Subject to change based on availability.

Saturday Lunch Sponsored by PJ Fiala, Sharon Hamilton, TJ Logan and Val Clarizio

Lunch With The Secret Suspense Society!
    Sharpen your sleuthing skills while we enjoy lunch.
  • Trivia
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Author Q&A
  • After teasing your brains, we'll be giving away prizes!
  • Each amateur sleuth will also receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of four amazing raffle baskets.
    Southern buffet, garden salad, potato salad, cole slaw, fried chicken, mini pulled pork sandwiches, mashed potatoes, green beans, cheddar cornbread.
*Subject to change based on availability.

Saturday Dinner

    MENU: Pizza and cupcakes
*Subject to change based on availability.

Saturday Evening Party
Sponsored by Jenn Stark & Toni Blake

7th Annual Booklovers' Bingo & Pajama Party
    The party’s not over yet! Join us for the 7th 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 #RAGT24 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 475 bags, provided by Monette Michaels, Paige Tyler & Maddy Barone 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, Twitter, & this site… Details are always being added. There’s a whole page dedicated to registration. And now, you can also sign up for the Twitter feed that will give specific info for current and upcoming RAGT events.



Costs

Registration fees haven’t changed in a very long time, but because other costs have risen, we must include a slight increase in registration. Please be aware of those changes.

Authors & Industry – $170

(Authors, publishers, publicists, agents, author assistants)

Readers – $150

(Readers, bloggers, husbands)

Hotel room per night – $140

. . . . . . .

PLEASE NOTE:

No one can register until their respective official registration openings:
Preregistration (by invitation only) for sponsors is always early January
General registration (for everyone else) will be mid January in 2024

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. To be notified, be sure to be on either/both the Twitter feed and the Facebook page — signup links to each are on the home page and pretty much every page on this site. Thanks!


Books to Anticipate




More Info for 2024

The next annual Reader & Author Get Together
will be held June 5-8, 2024

RAGT24 will be held at the Holiday Inn, Cincinnati Airport in Erlanger, Kentucky.

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