Overview

• A Million Lives Festival, held May 2–3 in Baltimore, promised a romantasy-themed experience but delivered barren venues, missing amenities, and sparse attendance.
• Organizers claimed 500–600 tickets were sold, but fewer than 100 attendees showed up, leaving authors with significant financial losses from unsold merchandise and travel expenses.
• Event organizer Grace Willows issued a public apology and, along with Archer Management, pledged to process refunds by May 31.
• The Baltimore Convention Center denied responsibility for missing supplies, stating they received no reports of issues from the event's organizers.
• Attendees and authors have mobilized online, creating support networks and petitions to seek accountability and financial recovery.