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Fiction Readers Summit

August 13, 2019 By Julie Klassen

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in FRS 2019, a gathering of fiction readers and 14 Christian Fiction authors held in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the fabulous Baker Book House.

What a great bookstore!
Not sure I’ve seen that many Klassen books in one place before!

I met so many wonderful people. And what I especially loved was how interactive the event was. Instead of authors giving formal speeches, there was time to interact, both informally and in panels where readers could ask authors questions but also authors had a chance to ask readers questions too. So much fun and I learned a lot!

Authors: (back) Karen Barnett, Ann Gabhart, Catherine West, Sharlene MacLaren, Ronie Kendig, Valerie Luesse, Amanda Barratt, Jill Eileen Smith
(front) Cynthia Ruchti, Lynette Eason, Elizabeth Byler Younts, Kimberley Woodhouse, Katherine Reay, and Julie Klassen
So much fun to meet online friends, new readers, and the organizers, too! Thanks, Chris!

Chris Jager and her team did a great job planning the event and everything went smoothly. It was a weekend filled with good conversation, food, chocolate, prayer, laughter, and plenty of books. I think authors, readers, and organizers alike enjoyed themselves. I know I did!

Some of the Fiction Readers Summit attendees, authors, and organizers.

Have you attended a reader event before? Tell us what you liked about it!

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Julie Klassen

JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Comments

  1. Rebecca Maney says

    August 13, 2019 at 5:30 am

    It was such a pleasure to meet you and share dinner conversation. I have attended all three Christian Fiction Readers Retreats and have been blessed with many opportunities to inter-act with authors and readers in my local area. The Summit’s format encouraged small group conversations among a blend of readers, authors, editors, etc. I loved it. Thanks for participating! I am looking forward to your next book!

    • Julie Klassen says

      August 13, 2019 at 11:48 am

      I really enjoyed meeting you, too, Rebecca!

  2. Karen Witemeyer says

    August 13, 2019 at 7:16 am

    That looks like so much fun, Julie! I’d love to hear more about the questions you and the other authors asked the readers, and the answers you got. 🙂

  3. Becky Wade says

    August 13, 2019 at 8:08 am

    I saw some pictures of this event on social media! It looks wonderful. 🙂

  4. Kari Ringelberg says

    August 13, 2019 at 8:29 am

    Heard you met my mom, Diane, at the dinner Thursday night! Her friend Tammy Renich was there for the event. Wishing I could have been there!Glad it was such a great event – a wonderful cast of authors!

    • Julie Klassen says

      August 13, 2019 at 11:49 am

      Yes! I wish I would have had more time to talk with your mom. Thanks, Kari.

  5. Deborah Raney says

    August 13, 2019 at 8:54 am

    Looks like a blast, Julie! It’s hard to remember that there was a time that authors had very little access to and contact with their readers. I just love that we have that now!

  6. Elisa says

    August 13, 2019 at 11:52 am

    Wow, looks everyone had a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  7. Chris Jager says

    August 13, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    Thank you Julie. It was amazing meeting you. I love your books and 5his was something I had hoped to. Thank you for coming and giving of your time.

  8. BECCA WEIDEL says

    August 14, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    FRS was amazing! I loved meeting you and chatting! <3 I'm already hoping I can go next year 🙂

  9. Susan P says

    August 15, 2019 at 7:18 am

    It was great to meet you and hang out for those few days! Thank you for coming.

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