By Bruce Hennigan @bhennigan55
I recently took a big risk. In my region of the South, there is a large convention called “GeekD Con” featuring anime, superheroes, fantasy, cosplaying, and more. Average attendance over the three-day weekend is in the tens of thousands. Last year, I attended GeekD Con because my adult daughter wanted to cosplay an anime character. At the convention, I was surprised to discover a young woman, a Christian author, with her science fiction book. She sold a surprising number of books.
It raised the question for me: Should I attend GeekD con in August, 2026? I encouraged members of our Louisiana chapter of ACFW to join me, and two other authors brought their books. My grandchildren were in town, and they chose for me to show up dressed as Indiana Jones. That alone attracted many people to my booth because they wanted a photo with Indiana Jones!
Lesson one: If you attend one of these types of conventions, dress up as your favorite character. Or, better, a character from one of your books or stories!
Lesson two: Location, location, location. I chose a booth on the second floor of an immense convention center — fewer people made their way to the second floor, but it was much quieter and not as chaotic. I could talk with visitors. My booth was the very first one just inside the doors! I thought this was a great position, as everyone would see my booth the moment they entered. What I learned was that the traffic flow was through the doors on the opposite side, and I was positioned at the exit point! I had my back to the flow of traffic. If you have a chance to choose your booth, a corner booth is more open. But pay attention to the traffic flow and plan accordingly.
Lesson three: Paperback, hardbacks, ebooks, oh my! I use BookFunnel, and I had codes for every one of my 18 books, thinking people would gladly purchase an ebook cheaper than online. I also had my print books. The most common comment: “I read books.” I took this as granted. I mean, don’t we all read books? (Evidently TikTok, Reelz, etc. have supplanted reading.) But what they meant was they read “real books,” not ebooks. I was stunned. I had the impression from online news that the future is ebooks and audiobooks. Not a single person asked about an audiobook. No one purchased an ebook. I sold MANY paperbacks!
A recent survey revealed:
- 46% of Americans read at least one physical book
- 24% read at least one digital book
- 23% listened to at least one audiobook
- 23% read only physical books
- 5% preferred only digital books
And, in the United States, print remains the most popular format, with 46% of adults reading physical books in 2025, compared to 24% for eBooks and 23% for audiobooks.
My heart sang with joy! And following up after GeekD Con, I had a measurable uptick in print book sales AND eBook sales.
Lesson four: “I want to be a writer.” Many people who stopped in my booth shared the same story. They wanted to write a story or a book. They just didn’t know where to start. I wish I had been more prepared with flyers for our local chapter, which holds an “Aspiring Writer’s Workshop” each April. I spent time with each person, encouraging them to write. Not everyone was a Christian. But I sent many who identified as Christians to ACFW’s website.
Lesson five: “I have a son with epilepsy.” My adult daughter has epilepsy. Martha Boswell, my friend and member of ACFW, has a husband with traumatic brain injury. We were stunned at how many people just wandered up to our booth with similar life challenges from chronic illnesses. What started out as a desire to sell books quickly became a ministry! God knew who needed to speak to us. God knew those who needed encouragement. God knew who needed resources!
Despite the otherworldly focus of this “GeekD Con,” there was a need for our little local chapter. I want to encourage you to look for these conventions that may not fit your expectations. You will be surprised at how many attendees are looking for an encouraging, uplifting book. And be prepared for “divine appointments”!
Bruce Hennigan is a physician in the field of radiology and a member of the Scholar Community of Reasons to Believe. He is the author of over eighteen books. He speaks on a regular basis about his struggle with depression.