Have you ever been to a Taylor Swift concert, a fantasy event, a Renaissance Faire, or something Comic Con-esque?
If you haven’t, I highly recommend it, if not only for the fun experience, but for the positive vibes.
The energy these types of events radiate is infectious—genuine camaraderie and authentic alignment—everyone is happy and wants to be exactly where they are. How often can we say that about moments in life?
It’s rare these days, at least for me, to be in a social setting and feel like you’re all on the same team. In these unique circumstances, compliments fly rather than criticisms; smiles run rampant instead of scowls. There is a literal glow and sparkle to these events, and it’s not just because of body glitter, gems, sequins, or stunning outfits. Mirth wins out at these events, boosting camaraderie and kindness over everything else—we’re all in it together, and that brings a twinkle to everybody’s presence.
This feel-good vibe is what all gatherings should strive for—weddings, game nights, family reunions, etc.—and this is precisely the vibe my friends and I sought to create at the Storykeepers Ball.
One month ago today, my three business partner teammates and I hosted the first annual Storykeepers Ball to celebrate stories, characters, and the love of reading. This project was uncharted territory for our foursome of avid readers. Still, we each brought experience to the table from helping host festivals, social strolls, fundraisers, and more, but a bookish ball was brand-new to us.
Back in April 2025, the four of us met over coffee to discuss what an entry-level bookish ball could look like, what elements were vital, what we could do ourselves, what we would need help with, and so on. As a team, we possessed many of the skills necessary for bringing a ball to life: registration program knowledge, creativity, humor, an eye for design, marketing expertise, cocktail know-how, writing chops, the ability to work the problems that would undoubtedly arise, and, of course, a love of reading.
From there we opened a bank account, filed a DBA, made a Costco and thrift store runs, coordinated with vendors, sponsors, and volunteers, had numerous breakfast meetings, and still managed to handle our normal life responsibilities, like building a house, serving as a City Commissioner, running/managing businesses, planning weddings, and more. Yeah, you might call us small-town virtuosos or insomniacs.
The result of 13 months of planning and hard work was an evening of positive vibes from beginning to end. The day before, we got together, decorated, moved furniture, taped off vendor spots, and set up our themed centerpieces. As the day came to a close, we toasted over champagne and pizza. The day of saw vendors unloading their wares, sponsors decorating their tables, food and bar set-up, a DJ and his son unloading equipment, a photographer capturing the process, and our team of Storykeepers and trusted volunteers dressing up in their fantasy best to welcome our attendees.
We experienced one bump right before doors opened for our VIP ticket holders, but we smoothed it out in a flash—we even impressed ourselves with how well we kept our cool.
When the doors opened, in flowed evening wear, cocktail attire, and cosplay magic. Everyone understood the assignment and was thrilled to be part of a local bookish ball that was budget-friendly yet still fantastical. Attendees oooo’d over the centerpieces, participated in the book-centric scavenger hunt and trivia quest, shopped the vendor market, dined on delicious food while sipping on themed cocktails, and danced until the clock struck 11.
Throughout the night, the smiles and laughter didn’t stop. People asked when the 2027 Storykeepers Ball was happening—a date we’re still working to nail down. And other people shared that they made new friends and found new book clubs and groups to join, which, ultimately, was the whole point of this event—to connect community members through reading and celebrating the stories we hold near and dear. It was all about creating more positive vibes in our corner of the world.
As a partnership, this was our first foray into throwing a book-related event, and we’re already planning our next two events—Storykeepers Ball 2027 and an event that’s set to take place this fall…more details coming soon! With these upcoming events, we hope to bring even more book lovers together, stoke more positive vibes, and support literacy efforts in our Northern Michigan region by donating a portion of our proceeds to area nonprofits and organizations.
We’ve experienced the power of reading and how books can impact our lives, and we want to help ensure that area youth have the same opportunities to fall in love with reading and stories. The invaluable skill of reading can warm your heart, take you on an adventure, build your confidence, increase your knowledge, strengthen your compassion and empathy, and create more positive vibes in your life.
We hope you follow us as our story of creating more positive vibes continues to unfold in the coming months—we aim to bring people together under the umbrella of literacy, reading, camaraderie, and fun. Our events may not be as big as a TS Eras concert, but they definitely pack a positive punch that no one can deny!
As an aside, with so many positive things going on in this next quarter of 2026 (weddings, summer fun, deadlines, bookish events, and more), Organized Rambling is going to take a hiatus until later in the fall. I’ll return with gusto for posts in November and December on The Magician’s Nephew and The Lord of the Rings, respectively, to round out the year.
Until then, keep reading, writing, and expressing yourself through creative outlets—these actions keep us sane and create more positive vibes!
Next Post:
November 2026