J. Kenner Shined at Boas & Tiaras 2016

One of my favorite annual Fresh Fiction reader events is Boas & Tiaras Afternoon Tea. When we started it nearly two decades ago our small group of fifteen met at a tea shop between Dallas and Fort Worth and used the gathering as an excuse to wear shiny tiaras and fluffy boas. We did not have any authors join us then, instead we used the occasion to talk about books and celebrate the second generation of book club members who were going off to college. From that moment it turned into an annual June afternoon where we would dress up, don our tiaras, and share our favorite summer books.

As years passed and our nerve increased, we invited authors to join us. They spread the word about Boas & Tiaras, inviting their readers to come, and helping us establish a name for ourselves. It was those early years of Boas & Tiaras that I cherish, as many friends were made and a great foundation for Fresh Fiction reader events was established.

On Saturday, June 12th we celebrated our 15th Boas & Tiaras with Linda Bolton, Kelli Ireland, Mari Madison, Emily McKay, Jan Moran, Susan Sheehey, Gena Showalter, C.A. Szarek, Tracy Wolff, and Keynote J. Kenner. Readers came from all over Texas and Oklahoma to the Adolphus Hotel for the afternoon, dined on delicious tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts, met authors, and listened to an interview with J. Kenner and local ABC Literary Contributor Gwen Reyes. Ms. Kenner was a gracious keynote and spent time with readers before and after the event—making sure everyone had a chance to get their books signed and their pictures taken.

The afternoon culminated with raffle basket drawings and a book signing for each author. Every attendee walked out with a bag full of books to take on her next vacation and a smile on her face.

No rest for the wicked, as planning for Boas & Tiaras 2017 is already underway. Visit our Flickr page to see all the pictures from Boas & Tiaras 2016.