Afternoon lovies’ hope everyone has had a fantastic Mother’s day weekend.
On Wednesday, May 7th, Trinity, Paula Webb, and I packed up and hit the road from Atmore, Alabama, bound for Branson, Missouri, for our very first Tropicon experience. After a 10.5-hour drive, a few questionable gas station snacks, and a lot of laughter, we finally rolled into Branson, ready for an unforgettable adventure.
📚 Our First Tropicon: More Than Just a Con
This was not only mine and Trinity’s first time in Branson, but also our first time attending Tropicon — and let me just say, it did not disappoint. With over 100 authors in attendance, the atmosphere was electric with creativity, passion, and support for the indie book world. Readers came from all over to meet their favorite authors, discover new ones, and participate in some seriously fun activities.
On Thursday, we jumped right into action. Trinity and I had the honor of being “Kronks” (aka assistants) for the fabulous Paula Webb, an incredibly talented author of historical fiction and nonfiction based out of Mobile, AL. Her workshop, “Pursue, Capture, and Release,” was a crowd favorite — informative, insightful, and empowering for aspiring writers.
Later that night, the real fun began…
🍓 Moonshine, Mixes, and Our First Taste of Full Throttle
Thursday night, a group of us — Paula Webb, Rochelle Bradley, CJ Warrant, Trinity, K. Rose, and a few other brave souls — embarked on our flagship trip to Full Throttle Distillery. This wasn’t just a casual outing; it turned into a taste-testing adventure none of us will soon forget.
Rochelle and Mandie volunteered as our official moonshine guinea pigs, boldly ordering their first ever moonshine mixes. Rochelle went with the Strawberry Desire, while Mandie tried the one called (appropriately) Gummy Bear. Let’s just say the reactions were priceless — part delight, part “what even is this,” and a whole lot of laughter.
This was just the beginning of our Full Throttle love affair, but more on that in a minute…
🖤 Friday Shenanigans & Bookish Bonding
Friday was all about reconnection and good times. We met up with our dear friends Sara Cunningham, Nat, and fellow authors before heading back to Full Throttle for more espresso moonshine and mouthwatering burnt ends — so good, they might’ve ruined all other BBQ for us.
We also set up our traveling bookstore that evening, getting ready to show off new releases, sparkly merch, and everything in between.
📖 Saturday: Cosplay, Covers, and Community
Saturday brought a steady stream of readers, and it was an absolute joy to introduce them to our books. Trinity looked incredible cosplaying as Selina from The Left Hook — and she didn’t just look amazing, she also won the social media challenge with author Sammie Trinidad!
We also attended panels and games. Paula and Trinity were especially hooked on Blackjack for Bookstacks and Book Cover Bingo, which brought out everyone’s competitive (and hilarious) side.
One of the best parts? Meeting so many new and rising authors — including Thia Mackin, S.D. Sampley, Sammie Trinidad & Stone, T.L. Brooks, and more. Watching them step into their power and their passion was truly inspiring.
🦕 Sightseeing & Shenanigans
Even with a full con schedule, we managed to squeeze in a little sightseeing. Trinity, my dino-loving partner in crime, was thrilled to visit the Dinosaur Museum near our hotel. Her joy over prehistoric creatures? Pure magic.
Then there was Death Valley Hill — aka the insanely steep climb to the Farmhouse Restaurant that Trinity “casually” led me up. Not once. Not twice. But three times. My legs still haven’t forgiven me. Worth it? Honestly, yes. Their comfort food was that good. I highly recommend the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.
We also had a standout waiter at Full Throttle — a total character we nicknamed “Gummy Bear” after Mandie’s drink. He kept us laughing all evening.
🐾 Mocha’s, Meows & Magic
One of the most heartwarming detours was our visit to Mocha’s and Meows, a cozy cat café where we were surrounded by warm drinks, warm-hearted staff, and even warmer purring fluffballs. We were joined by authors Thia Mackin, Rochelle Bradley, CJ Warrant, Paula Webb, and our incredible PAs Sara, Nat, and my favorite human, Trinity.
Make sure to show them some love at https://mochasandmeows.com/
It was the perfect calm after the con storm.
💬 Looking Ahead
Tropicon ’25 gave us new friends, unforgettable experiences, and a whole lot of laughs. The indie author community showed up and showed out — and I’m so honored to be part of it.
We’re already prepping for the next stop on our journey:
📍 Blueberry Festival Brewton, AL on June 21st
📍 R.A.W.R. in Columbus, GA on June 28th
Mark your calendars, and come join us for the next chapter!
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