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Conventions

9 Celebrity Authors Who Wowed at BookExpo and BookCon

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Susie Dumond

Senior Contributor

Susie (she/her) is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, now living in Washington, DC. She is the author of QUEERLY BELOVED and the forthcoming LOOKING FOR A SIGN from Dial Press/Random House. You can find her on Instagram @susiedoom.

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Once a year, book professionals and fans from around the country attend BookExpo and BookCon to celebrate their favorite authors and get a sneak peek at upcoming titles. And while big name authors like John Green, Tomi Adeyemi, and Cassandra Clare draw big audiences, attendees also flock to sessions featuring some of their favorite celebrities-turned-authors.

This year’s BookExpo and BookCon lineup featured a wide array of celebrities, from actors to musicians to athletes and beyond. Check out some of the new and upcoming titles from celebrities who put on their author hats and took the stage at BookCon this year.

Adam Rippon

Beautiful on the Outside coverIf you’re a fan of Olympic figure skating, you probably recognize bronze medal winner Adam Rippon. And even if you’re not an Olympics fan, between winning season 26 of Dancing with the Stars and making a splash on social media, you’ve probably seen him around. Rippon thrilled fans at BookCon while promoting his upcoming book, Beautiful on the Outside: A Memoir (October 15, Grand Central Publishing). His hilarious take on everything from growing up homeschooled to being America’s Sweetheart (self-proclaimed, of course) kept BookCon audiences laughing, and his memoir is sure to be just as enjoyable.

Marcus Samuelsson

Our Harlem coverWorld-class chef and cookbook author Marcus Samuelsson is a big name in the food world for his restaurants like Harlem’s Red Rooster. And if you’re a fan of foodie TV like Top Chef, Iron Chef America, and Chopped, you’ve probably seen him showing off his skills. Samuelsson’s 2012 memoir Yes, Chef gave fans insight into his culinary journey. At BookCon, he shared a preview of his new audiobook Our Harlem: Seven Days of Cooking, Music and Soul at the Red Rooster (June 27, Audible Studios). By following Samuelsson through a week at his award-winning restaurant, listeners will learn about the food, history, music, and people of an iconic New York neighborhood.

Neil Patrick Harris

The Magic Misfits coverNeil Patrick Harris has done it all. Between Doogie Howser, M.D., How I Met Your Mother, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and hosting numerous awards shows, just about everyone has seen him on the small screen. But beyond his TV and movie career, he’s also a stage performer, comedian, producer, singer, and magician. And in recent years, he’s also built quite a following for his writing. His 2014 book Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography played with form and got a lot of attention. Now, he’s focused on his bestselling middle grade series. Magic Misfits: The Minor Third (September 10, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) returns young readers to the adventurous Magic Misfits world they already love. His panel with Instagram fashion director and author Eva Chen was packed with enthusiastic fans, ready to find out where their favorite characters are headed next.

John Cena

Elbow Grease vs. Motozilla coverProfessional wrestler, actor, and rapper John Cena has dabbled successfully in a wide variety of entertainment categories. Now, he’s stepping into the literary ring with a series of children’s picture books. The first book in the series, Elbow Grease, introduced readers to a little monster truck with big guts. Now he’s back in Elbow Grease vs. Motozilla (October 8, Random House Books for Young Readers) to take on a monster machine with the help of his brothers. Cena fans filled seats at both BookExpo and BookCon to hear the wrestler offer a special reading and discuss his inspiration for the new book.

Tegan and Sara Quin

High School coverCanadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara have a huge fan following, and hits like “Closer” and “Everything is Awesome” are impossible to get out of your head. Now, they’re thrilling fans with a new coming-of-age memoir, High School (September 24, MCD). At BookCon, the twins sat down to discuss their high school years and the experience of writing a shared memoir. With stories of family conflict, identity, sexuality, and discovering their musical voice, High School will show a new side of the iconic musicians.

Susan Rice

Tough Love coverSusan Rice is one of the most prolific public officials from the Obama administration, serving as a National Security Advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Many BookExpo attendees were excited to learn more about her experience in government and her upcoming memoir, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For (October 8, Simon & Schuster). Rice’s intimate and honest book about her work in public service also gives an insider’s look at some of the most complex political issues of recent years.

Alyssa Milano

Project Middle School coverActress and activist Alyssa Milano is known for everything from Charmed to bringing attention to the #MeToo movement. Now she’s jumping into the children’s book world with a new series about Hope, an 11-year-old who is determined to change the world. She visited BookCon to talk about Project Middle School (October 1, Scholastic Inc.), written with Debbie Rigaud and illustrator Eric S. Keyes. Middle school is hard, even for a passionate young activist. Milano’s new book was created to inspire youngsters to make a big difference, even when they feel small.

Evangeline Lilly

 

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The Demise of Lorna the Lazy coverActress Evangeline Lilly has been charming viewers since Lost. More recently, she’s been winning hearts as the superhero Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans may be surprised to learn that Lilly began her career as a children’s book author in 2014. Her newest book in the Squickerwonkers series, The Demise of Lorna the Lazy (October 1, Quiet Cocoon) with illustrator Rodrigo Bastos Didier, drew the attention of many fans at BookCon. These dark, beautifully illustrated books are creepy, crawly, and delightful.

Akilah Hughes

Obviously coverComedian and social media celeb Akilah Hughes is hilarious and wonderful, so it’s no surprise that BookCon attendees rushed to hear about her upcoming essay collection. Hughes discussed her upcoming book Obviously: Stories from My Timeline (September 24, Razorbill) on panels and at autographing sessions, and fans can’t wait to get their hands on a copy. With stories of growing up in small town Kentucky, becoming a spelling bee champion, failed attempts at joining the cheerleading team, and pursuing her dream of becoming a performer, this essay collection is sure to have readers laughing out loud.

Did you see your favorite authors at BookCon this year? Tell us about it in the comments! You might also enjoy:

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