A Fantasy Ball Gone Wrong
A Million Lives Book Festival promised magic and romance but delivered chaos, leaving attendees stunned and frustrated. The A Million Lives Book Festival, held May 2–3, 2025, in Baltimore, drew dozens of authors and fans from across the country — only to greet them with a concrete room, dim lighting, and no signs of the magical experience they expected.
From Excitement to Embarrassment
The event was marketed as a “fantasy ball,” complete with a vendor hall, cosplay competition, content creation rooms, and more. Tickets ranged from $50 to $250. But when authors and attendees arrived, they were stunned. No signage, decorations, staff direction, or DJ—just one speaker playing music from a phone. The formal celebration ended up feeling more like an empty warehouse.
Authors Bear the Financial Burden
Romantic fantasy author Perci Jay spent over $2,000 flying from Texas to attend. Pregnant with twins, she made the trip only to discover what she called “a complete scam.” Authors like Stephanie Combs and Carmen Seantel also reported massive financial losses after ordering books in bulk, paying vendor fees, and receiving virtually no foot traffic.
“I feel like I vacillated between tears and laughter,” Combs said. “There’s no music, no décor — just people in gowns eating a few chocolates in a warehouse.”
Chaos at the Panels
Even the professional panels were chaotic. Narrator Carmen Seantel described leading a panel while sitting on the floor due to a lack of chairs, tables, microphones, and even air conditioning.
Social Media Backlash
TikTok and Instagram exploded with criticism. Many attendees now compare the event to infamous failures like Fyre Festival and the Willy Wonka “Chocolate Experience.” A spokesperson from the Baltimore Convention Center denied wrongdoing, stating they received no reports from the organizer about lost supplies.
Organizer Issues Apology
Grace Willows, the event’s organizer, posted a TikTok apology acknowledging the poor setup of the ball. Archer Management, her planning company, promised refunds by May 31. However, for many authors, a refund won’t cover their losses.
Authors Seek Justice and Support
In the aftermath, attendees have launched online campaigns to raise funds for affected indie authors. Some claim the event left over 100 creators financially crippled, with books unsold and shipping costs mounting.
Conclusion
For those who had spent months — even years — preparing, the A Million Lives Book Festival was a painful lesson in misplaced trust. What was supposed to be a dream turned out to be a logistical nightmare.
Source: NBC News
