Grace Marsceau’s A Million Lives book festival faced a series of alarming issues even before it began, with the event organizer scrambling to fill in for a missing DJ and facing financial troubles due to unsold room blocks. Despite reassurances from Marsceau, attending authors like Sarah Zane began to sense something was amiss. The festival, held at the Baltimore convention center, attracted about 100 authors who invested significant time and money to participate, hoping to promote and sell their books.
However, the event quickly unraveled as attendees discovered a lack of organization and essential amenities. Signage was absent, booths were not properly arranged, and promised features like badges were missing. Attendees were met with disappointments such as low turnout, poorly managed panels, and even a makeshift music setup for a scheduled ball event. Authors, including Kalista Neith, expressed frustration at the disarray and the impact on their reputation with readers.
As the festival progressed, attendees witnessed further failures, including the abrupt closure of a content room and unprofessional conduct by event staff. Questions arose about the legitimacy of Marsceau’s business entities, raising concerns about accountability. Despite Marsceau’s promises of ticket sales and refunds, authors estimated a dismal turnout compared to reported numbers. The event’s shortcomings left participants disillusioned and demanding accountability for the mismanagement and lack of fulfillment of promises made.
