Come Sail Away to a Fantasy Realm

We’ve all been there — those days where work or relationships or maybe even just the state of the world in general has us throwing up our hands and wishing that we could simply close our eyes, take a deep breath and step into a fantastical world where the handsome prince (or princess!) of our dreams comes riding up on a white steed to carry us away to the Land of Happily Ever After.

Alas … ‘tis only in the pages of books that such realms exist. Our favorite authors create worlds in which we can disappear for a few hours and let our imaginations roam to distant, fantastical lands, often populated with the beings and creatures of fairy tales who can whisk us away from the drear and drudgery of reality through the magic of the written word.

Or, in the case of Rachel Silberman of Adventure Awaits Events, the whisking away is in the form of the Fable & Flames Fantasy and Romance Gala — a magical weekend that is part convention, part gala and all immersive experience that will carry you away from the mundane and ho-hum as surely as Aladdin’s magic carpet. Think bestselling authors, ballgowns, burlesque, brunch and even a pool party with mermaids. Perusing numerous vendors with wares such as book-themed merchandise, handmade crafts and collectibles and other unique treasures. Joining panels and discussions, attending a writing workshop, bringing books from home to exchange for new ones and making new friends at tea parties. There will even be various themed rooms as well as a quiet room if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the plethora of activities and people.

In speaking with Silberman, I asked her how she came up with the idea for such an all-immersive weekend gala, especially one on such a grand scale. According to her, she’s always been drawn to the “romantasy” genre, and Silberman told me that the melding of romance and fantasy in writing has seen a veritable explosion in popularity in the past several years. She says that readers are not only passionate about the written material, but that “they also want to step into those worlds, dress up, meet their favorite authors and share the magic with others.” With that in mind, she decided that she wanted to create a unique immersive space, one “where people can feel like they’ve walked straight into the pages of their favorite story.”

Being part of this particular literary community through various organizations and groups, Silberman remarked that, as she was examining the various conventions that were popping up around the country in the genre, she felt that she could design a similar event here in Minnesota and improve upon it by making it even more spectacular and glamorous. She envisioned an event that would truly enchant those attending, enthrall their senses and allow people to “connect in ways that feel truly special”, something that certainly seems to be the case with Fables & Flames.

Silberman’s previous business, Luxjoy and Comfort, consisted of creating gifts and products that highlighted and celebrated those in the LGBTQ+ community who were often not widely represented when it came to the sort of mainstream items — coffee cups, travel mugs, stickers and the like — found in most stores or gift shops. While she found success in that endeavor, she stated that she eventually realized that although she enjoyed creating unique products, what she really found to be her passion was “curating experiences — bringing people together, creating spaces where they felt seen and building community through creativity and joy.”

These two realizations started her on her road into the event planning business. Silberman proudly states that Adventure Awaits Events “grew out of both my professional background in marketing and event management, and my personal love for books, geek culture and immersive experiences.”

After her highly successful first event, The Book Fair for Grownups, she decided to offer an even larger, more fully immersive event so that attendees could really get a chance to escape and connect with those who share their similar passions and flights of fancy. Building upon what she herself wanted in a convention, Silberman decided to take the tried-and-true bones of that kind of event and turn it up several notches into “a chance to connect with others who share their passions, and a memory they’ll carry long after the event ends. It’s about turning fandom, creativity and storytelling into shared experiences — and fostering the kind of community” that she wanted to be a part of.

With a capable, energetic and devoted team of 12, as well as some 40 volunteers supporting her, Silberman remarked that they have worked diligently for months to ensure that, not only does everything run smoothly behind the scenes, but the gala will be a spectacular and fantastical event for attendees from the moment that they step into the venue.

In addition to having a panel of well-known, established authors, the gala will also be providing new and emerging writers a unique chance to get their work seen alongside the heavy hitters in the genre. Giving fresh new voices a platform to be heard is very important to Silberman, who feels that doing such will only help the community to grow, thrive and evolve, and to build “bridges between readers, established authors and the next generation of storytellers — because those are the voices that will keep the genre alive and evolving.” Building a community between new and established writers, as well as between devoted fans and those new to the genre, will only serve to bring the romantasy world more fully into the mainstream.

Silberman also says that one of the things that she loves most about romantasy “is how much of it has been shaped and driven by women and LGBTQ+ voices. These are genres that have historically been overlooked or dismissed, but in reality, they’re some of the most innovative, inclusive and community-oriented corners of publishing.” Oftentimes, these writers tend to push boundaries and societal norms as they create their worlds, and in these worlds, “representation, identity and agency matter. You see themes of empowerment, chosen family and diverse relationships woven into the narratives, which really resonates with readers who might not have always seen themselves reflected in traditional fantasy or romance.”

Unsurprisingly, a number of the writers attending the gala will be members of the LGBTQ+ community, writing stories and creating worlds where being LGBTQ+ is not marginalized or looked down upon. The prince hidden away in the tower guarded by a dragon can just as easily be rescued by the prince of his dreams. Elves, sprites, nymphs and sirens can fall in love with one another without reprisal, the princesses can marry and rule together or the princess can ride out to fight the ogre army while the prince stays at home in the castle and tends the rose garden. Diversity, inclusivity, equality and acceptance often reign in the stories offered by these writers alongside the expected action, adventure, magic and heroism. This is a shift that Silberman applauds and hopes to see continue and grow.

So, if you are looking for a weekend of magical escape, a literary world filled with fantasy and romance shared with like minds, come out for the Fables & Flames Romantasy Gala and let your dreams soar!

For tickets to the Fables & Flames Romantasy Gala, visit their website at fablesandflames.com.

November 21-23 • DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis Airport • Ages 18+