The First Ever Romantasy Illustrated Launch Party

A milestone event that solidified all our accomplishments. The Romantasy Illustrated Editorial team traveled down to Austin, Texas to gather with authors Abigail Owen (The Games Gods Play) and Kaven Hirning (A Forbidden Fate) and so many Romantasy Illustrated readers.

Volume 2 has been out for a few weeks now and the responses we have seen on social media have been proof that what we are doing and how we are bringing the bookish community together matters and is making an impact.

Volume 2 Launch Party - Austin, TX

Check out our Instagram Highlight from the Launch Party here.

Throwing a launch party was a dream come true and would not have been possible without the event sponsor Darling Embers. The biggest thank you goes out to Darling Embers for also having a one of a kind piece of jewelry for each guest who attended to take home. Having a party where we celebrated the launch and had so many of our friends and family surrounding us, along with readers of the magazine was incredibly special. We had several guests who traveled to Austin for the event, as well, and knowing they wanted to support the magazine the way they did was special. We will never be able to say thank you enough.

In all honesty, this was a dream, and it was one that we actually thought was going to fall through the cracks. We were having issues finding a location for the event and settling between Dallas and Austin as the location. The magazine launch was happening alongside our website development and launch, and planning the launch party to take place in a different city - which was a lot to manage at once - but all good things. But our Editor Rachel M. found the perfect spot, Simona's in The Parlor, which was a lofted, vibrant, but antique, library coffee and alcohol bar in the hotel. It was the perfect spot, with plenty of seating arrangements and it is surrounded by books - it was perfect. The space was everything we could have wanted and more. It was even more special because when we walked in Dangerous Hands by Austin Giorgio. It was kismet.

The event itself was special, getting to meet several featured creators in person for the first time, getting to see Abigail and Kaven again, and meet friends that they brought. We had a lot of authors including Lyn Moore (Madhouse Promenade), Christina Bacilieri (The Last Refuge), and Rocio Carranza (Blood of the Blackthorn), as well as many aspiring authors. It was rewarding to see groups of guests surrounding our authors, getting advice, guidance, and support from them. Abigail Owen gave many tips and words of encouragement to aspiring authors and you could immediately see how her words lifted them up. Abigail also did a reading from her New York Times Best Seller, The Games Gods Play, which was a very special moment for all in attendance.

We were all able to have special and intimate conversations, to get to know guests in deeper ways. When one of our Editors was having a conversation with Cody, husband to Kaven Hirning, he shared that he is in the process of writing his first book. Other Editors shared similar sentimanets, with guests sharing about their works in progress. Several guests sharing pieces of their stories, and many who attended alone admitted to fear in attending but thanked us for the opportuity and space that we created.

Step into the event here through our recap video posted to our YouTube!

All of the Editors were able to speak on the feelings of accomplishment that came with finding each other and building the brand that is Romantasy Illustrated. We were able to talk about what it took to bring Volume 3 together, the interviews, the creativity, the conversations, the collaborations and partnerships that blossomed from it. Overall, it was a special day for us and we cannot than everyone who showed up to support us enough.

We greatly look forward to growing, to featuring even more authors and creatives and throwing more parties to celebrate our milestone. January was a BIG month for Romantasy Illustrated and we have so much more to come. Romantasy is Real and we will continue to showcase that through our magazine and the brand that is Romantasy Illustrated.