Quick Links: 2023 Authors | Venue | Shop | Schedule | Lodging | Travel | Attractions | Media Kit | Press Release
JustRead Rendezvous 2023 Event Information
2023 Authors
pictured left to right, row 1: Amanda Cox, Ann Elizabeth Fryer, Ann H. Gabhart, Barbara M. Britton, Danielle Grandinetti, Elly Gilbert, Erica Vetsch, Heather Greer; row 2: Janine Rosche, Jerusha Agen, Jocelyn Green, Karen Sargent, Kate Angelo, Kimberley Woodhouse, Kristi Ann Hunter, Lisa M. James; row 3: Lisa Phillips, Lorri Dudley, Megan Besing, Michelle Griep, Pat Simmons, Peggy Trotter, Pepper Basham, Rebecca Hemlock; row 4: Sarah Hanks, Shaen Layle, Stephenia H. McGee, Suzie Waltner, Tabitha Bouldin, Tamara Leigh
Jenny Rae, Nancy Mehl, and Regina Rudd Merrick were unable to join us.
Keynote Speakers
Jocelyn Green and Pepper Basham
Worship Leaders
Kimberley Woodhouse and Lisa Phillips
Additional Participating Authors
2023 Sponsors
Venue
Ballroom
Holiday Inn St Louis SW – Route 66
10709 Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63127
+1-314-821-6600
Directions on Google Maps
Shop
Featured titles each participating author provides will be available for purchase throughout the event. Cash, debit, and credit cards will be accepted. Receive a free retro JustRead tote bag with your purchase while supplies last.
The Book Bee sweet reads pop-up shop is a consignment event operated by JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC. All sales are final.
Schedule
Meet and Greet on Thursday, November 16
5 p.m. Sign-in & Bookshop Open
5:30 p.m. Worship
5:45 p.m. Welcome
6:00 p.m. Meet & Greet/Snacks
6:45 p.m. Giveaway
7 p.m. The Christy Award Winners Gala webcast
9 p.m. Bookshop Closes
JustRead Rendezvous on Friday, November 17
8:00 a.m. Sign-in & Bookshop Open
Light Breakfast available
9:00 a.m. Worship & Prayer
9:15 a.m. Welcome & Announcements
9:30 a.m. Speaker Session 1
10:00 a.m. Snack Break
10:15 a.m. Games & Giveaways
10:30 a.m. Author Panel 1
11:15 a.m. Small Groups Round 1
11:45 a.m. Lunch
12:45 p.m. Worship
1:00 p.m. Speed Chats Round 1
1:15 p.m. Speaker Session 2
1:45 p.m. Games & Giveaways
2:00 p.m. Speed Chats Round 2
2:15 p.m. Author Panel 2
3:00 p.m. Snack Break
3:15 p.m. Author Panel 3
4:00 p.m. Small Groups Round 2
4:30 p.m. Closing Worship & Prayer
4:45 p.m. Announcements including Grand Prize Winner
5:00 p.m. Book Signing
6:00 p.m. Bookshop Closes
The dress code for this event is casual. Wear whatever you are comfortable in (clothing is mandatory, style is optional). The volunteer crew will be in jeans and tees.
Menu
Thursday evening
snacks only (popcorn, pretzels, etc.) Be sure to grab an early evening meal if you plan to visit late.
Friday
breakfast Sliced Fresh Fruit, Yogurt, Granola & Fresh Berries, Assorted Pastries & Muffins, Sweet Cream Butter & Fruit Preserves, 1st Phorm Protein Bars
morning snack oatmeal raisin cookies, trail mix, granola bars
lunch St. Louis Regional BBQ Buffet Chicken, Potato Salad, Caesar Salad, Macaroni & Cheese, Green Beans, Sweet Corn Bread with Honey Butter, & Dessert
afternoon snack Cookies, 1st Phorm Protein Bars, Individual Bags of Chips
No outside food or beverages, please. All-day beverage service is provided on Friday. The registration fee does not include lodging, transportation, or parking. All reservations and accommodation costs, including taxes and incidentals, are the attendee’s responsibility.
Quick Links: 2023 Authors | Venue | Shop | Schedule | Lodging | Travel | Attractions | Media Kit | Press Release
Lodging
Holiday Inn St Louis SW – Route 66
10709 Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63127
+1-314-821-6600
Check-In: 3 p.m.
Check-Out: 11 a.m.
Discounted Room Block
Rate: $124 plus 17.238% tax
Dates: November 15-18 (call to reserve any additional dates)
Single King bed rooms or Two Queen beds rooms are available
Travel
St. Louis Lambert International Airport less than 20 miles
Amtrak Kirkwood train station 3 miles
Metro Transit bus stop [Lindbergh @ Sunset Office SB] less than 0.1 miles (approximately a 2-minute walk to venue entrance)
Uber
Attractions
Route 66
Gateway Arch
Union Station St. Louis
The Field House Museum
The National Museum of Transportation
Saint Louis Science Center
St. Louis Zoo
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Busch Stadium
Enterprise Center
Chain of Rocks Bridge
Lewis and Clark Camp River Dubois
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle
Media Kit
We hope you will share our vision to serve fiction readers and authors through this event by passing it along to interested community members. A media kit, including a press release, printable flyers, sample captions, and digital graphics, is provided for your convenience each year.
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Beth Erin, Event Coordinator
JustRead Rendezvous
beth@justreadtours.com
https://rendezvous.justreadtours.com/
Authors and Readers to gather at the inaugural JustRead Rendezvous in St. Louis on November 17, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. The event will celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads with food, giveaways, and books and will be held at the Holiday Inn St. Louis SW on Route 66.
Rendezvous will feature corporate worship, speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, and author signings. This event aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Keynote speakers are Jocelyn Green and Pepper Basham, with worship led by Kimberley Woodhouse and Lisa Phillips. Additional participating authors include Amanda Cox, Ann Fryer, Ann H. Gabhart, Barbara M. Britton, Danielle Grandinetti, Elly Gilbert, Erica Vetsch, Heather Greer, Janine Rosche, Jerusha Agen, Karen Sargent, Kate Angelo, Kristi Ann Hunter, Lisa M. James, Lorri Dudley, Megan Besing, Michelle Griep, Nancy Mehl, Pat Simmons, Peggy Trotter, Rebecca Hemlock, Regina Rudd Merrick, Sarah Hanks, Shaen Layle, Stephenia H. McGee, Suzie Waltner, Tabitha Bouldin, and Tamara Leigh.
The Christy Award Winners Gala Watch Party and preceding Meet and Greet event will be held at the same location on November 16 from 5:30 p.m. until the webcast conclusion. The evening’s activities include corporate worship, snacks, and giveaways. The Christy Award honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction and is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.
The JustRead Rendezvous is open to registered attendees only. The meet-and-greet watch party is an optional add-on. The 2023 event is sponsored by Baker Publishing Group fiction divisions (Bethany House Publishers and Revell Fiction), Kregel Publications, Ambassador International, Barbour Publishing, and JustRead Publicity Tours.