Speed Dating

On Thursday, October 22nd at 7AM, authors will have the opportunity to pitch their books to fans!

How does it work? There will be 20 tables in the room: 18 regular round tables (each holding ten people) plus two tables for the authors. There will be two authors at every regular table, and up to 8 audience members — your potential readers. The fans remain at the tables; the authors move from table to table. At each table, the first author has two minutes to pitch the fans. At the end of two minutes, the MC will ring a bell. The second author then has two minutes to pitch to the readers. Distributing flyers, bookmarks, and any inexpensive “swag” items is encouraged. At the end of the second two minutes, the MC sounds the bell again, and the authors have one minute to move to the next table.

Debut Authors’ Breakfast

First time authors with books published between Bouchercon 2025 and Bouchercon 2026 can apply for the Debut Authors’ Breakfast, held on Friday October 23 at 7AM.

What happens at the breakfast? Debut authors will be introduced by a Guest of Honour and will have one minute to tell attendees about their novel. A hot breakfast is provided to the debut authors and the first 200 attendees. Debut authors will also be included in an event brochure and are welcome to bring any promotional materials to give out to the fans.

The Author Fair

If you’re an indie, self-published, or small press author—if your books are not traditionally published and routinely distributed to bookstores—and if your books are not available in the Book Room, then you can apply for a table in the Author Fair. It will be held on Friday evening, October 23, from 7-8:30 p.m. You must apply and have a confirmed acceptance from the organizer to get a spot.

Twenty on the Twenty

We will have sixty, twenty-minute time slots in the schedule from Thursday to Saturday between 9AM and 3:40PM for authors, editors, agents, or subject matter experts to engage with readers. Less formal than panels, the Twenty-on-the-Twenty space will have seating for 25, a podium and microphone. You must apply and have a confirmed acceptance to get a free spot. Applications are now closed.