Thank You, Dragon Con 2026: 14 Years in the GwenSeven Universe
There are some conventions that feel like an event, and then there are conventions that feel like coming home.
For me, Dragon Con has always been the latter.
As I wrap up my 14th year at Dragon Con, I’m feeling incredibly grateful for another unforgettable Labor Day weekend in Atlanta. Thank you to the Dragon Con organizers, staff, volunteers, vendors, fellow creators, and most importantly, the thousands of fans who made Dragon Con 2026 so special.
Dragon Con celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026, bringing more than 75,000 fans to downtown Atlanta for five days of science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, film, cosplay, and everything in between.
14 Years of Dragon Con
I’ve been attending Dragon Con since the early days of my writing career, beginning with the release of Drawing the Dragon, the first book in what would eventually become the GwenSeven Saga.
I’ve watched the convention grow, change, expand, and become the incredible celebration of fandom that it is today. But one thing has remained the same: the people.
Dragon Con has always been about community. It’s a place where readers can meet authors, artists can connect with fans, cosplayers can become characters for a weekend, and complete strangers can bond over the books, shows, games, and stories they love.
That is exactly why I keep coming back.
200 Books. 65+ New Readers. One Incredible Weekend.
This year was especially exciting for the GwenSeven Saga.
We sold 200 books and welcomed more than 65 new readers into the GwenSeven universe.
For an indie author, those numbers mean so much more than sales.
Every book represents someone deciding to take a chance on a story they may not have known before. Every new reader is someone I hope will fall in love with the characters, the cyborganic dragons, the worlds, the friendships, the adventure, and the journey that has made the GwenSeven Saga such a meaningful part of my life.
And when someone comes back to the booth to tell me they finished a book, or better yet, the series, that is the kind of thing an author never forgets.
To everyone who stopped by our booth, picked up a book, asked questions, told me about your favorite characters, brought a friend, purchased the entire series, or simply took a few minutes to learn what GwenSeven is all about:
Thank you. You are the reason I get to keep telling these stories.
Thank You to the Dragon Con Community
A huge thank you to the Dragon Con organizers, staff, and volunteers for welcoming me back for my 14th year and for continuing to create one of the most unique fan experiences anywhere.
And thank you to the incredible vendors, artists, authors, creators, and exhibitors I had the opportunity to work alongside this year.
One of my favorite parts of Dragon Con is wandering the vendor halls and seeing just how many talented people are building something of their own. From incredible artwork and handmade creations to books, collectibles, jewelry, costumes, and fandom-inspired treasures, the creativity is everywhere.
It makes being part of the Dragon Con vendor community incredibly special.
And, of course, there were the readers.
So many readers.
Dragon Con attracts fans from all 50 states and countries around the world, and this year was no exception.
For five days, downtown Atlanta became a giant celebration of fandom!
More Than a Convention
One of the things I love most about Dragon Con is that it has never been just about selling books.
It’s about connection.
It’s about meeting someone who loves dragons as much as I do. Talking with a lifelong science fiction fan. Introducing a fantasy reader to a new series. Meeting another indie author and swapping stories about the wild world of publishing. Seeing an elaborate cosplay walk by and stopping to admire it. Hearing someone say, “Wait…dragons in SPACE?”
And Dragon Con is one of the places where that idea feels right at home.
This year also marked another incredible milestone for the convention itself. Dragon Con raised more than $320,000 for Hope Atlanta, its 2026 charity partner, while fans also donated more than 5,000 books for Georgia children and families without easy access to libraries.
That generosity says so much about the Dragon Con community.
So…What's Next for GwenSeven?
If you’re one of the 65+ new readers who discovered the GwenSeven universe at Dragon Con this year, welcome.
You have nine books of the saga waiting for you. And a universe filled with cyborganic dragons, humans, elves, artificial intelligence, found family, adventure, romance, and a whole lot of stars.
You can explore the GwenSeven Saga and find all of the books here:
And if you’re already a reader, thank you for coming along for the ride.
Thank you for buying my books.
Thank you for recommending them to your friends.
Thank you for posting about them, talking about them, and bringing them home from conventions.
And thank you for continuing to believe in this universe.
I’ll see you at the next one.
Until then, follow along on social media @authorapriladams for book news, behind-the-scenes content, convention announcements, and glimpses into the GwenSeven universe.
You can also join my newsletter at:
There’s always something happening in the GwenSeven universe.
And if you've made it this far, I’ll leave you with one little secret:
The series may be complete…
But then again, maybe it isn't.
Happy reading. 🐉✨
— April Adams
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