Convention & Events — Meet Leonard Buford
Catch Leonard Buford at conventions, signings, and events throughout 2026.
LitRPG Con 2026
July 10-12, 2026 | Grand Hyatt Denver | Denver, Colorado
LitRPG Con is the largest gathering of LitRPG and progression fantasy authors, readers, and creators in the world. Over 1,300 attendees and 100+ authors descend on Denver for three days of panels, signings, gaming, and general nerding out. This year, I'll be there with a vendor booth, a stack of books, and more free merch than any reasonable person would bring to a convention.
Find me at:
- Vendor booth in the main exhibition hall (booth number TBA)
- Author panels (schedule TBA -- check back closer to the event)
What I'm bringing:
- Signed paperbacks of all three Nouscraft books -- free
- Exclusive convention merch -- free
- Character stat cards -- free
Signing policy: I'll sign anything you bring. Books, Kindles, body parts (within reason), napkins, whatever. If you want a personalized inscription, just ask. No purchase necessary, no line limits. If I'm at the booth, I'm signing.
Can't make it? Sign up for the newsletter and I'll send photos, recaps, and any leftover merch to subscribers after the event.
Past Events
No past events yet -- LitRPG Con 2026 will be our first! Check back after July for photos, recaps, and highlights.
What to Expect at the Booth
The 10-second pitch
"A rogue AI traps millions of people inside a mandatory VR zombie apocalypse. You have to survive, level up, and figure out why a superintelligent AI decided the best use of its power was to make you fight zombies. It's dark comedy meets survival horror meets LitRPG, and the trilogy is complete -- no cliffhangers, no waiting for sequels."
The vibe: Relaxed, nerdy, zero pressure. I'm not there to hard-sell you on anything. Come talk about LitRPG, zombie fiction, AI, game design, Project Zomboid, Dungeon Crawler Carl, or whatever else is on your mind. If you want a book, it's free. If you just want to chat, that's even better. The booth is a hangout spot, not a sales floor.
Merch Preview
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Signed Paperbacks | All three Nouscraft books, signed and personalized on request |
| Character Stat Cards | Trading-card-style stat blocks for major characters -- collectible set of 8 |
| NOUS Warning Stickers | "NOUS IS WATCHING" vinyl stickers for laptops, water bottles, and existential dread |
| Skill Tree Poster | Full-size poster of the Nouscraft skill tree system |
| Zombie Survival Checklist | Laminated pocket card with in-universe survival tips |
| Bookmarks | Metal bookmarks with character art and quotes |
| Enamel Pins | NOUS logo pin and zombie faction pin -- limited run |
| Patch | Velcro-backed "World 1 Survivor" morale patch |
| Art Prints | 5x7 prints of cover art and key scenes, signed |
| Dice Set | Custom Nouscraft-themed polyhedral dice set (d20 has the NOUS logo on the 1) |
| QR Code Cards | Quick-scan cards linking to the Kindle Unlimited editions and Codex |
| Mystery Envelopes | Sealed envelopes with a random mix of merch -- grab one and find out |
Everything is free. Seriously. Just come say hi.
Supplies are limited. First come, first served. The mystery envelopes will go fast.
Want Me at Your Event?
I'm open to conventions, signings, book club visits (in-person or virtual), podcast appearances, and anything else that involves talking about books, AI, zombies, or game design. If you're organizing an event and think I'd be a good fit, reach out via the author page contact form or DM me on Discord.
I'll respond within 48 hours.
Convention Calendar 2026
| Date | Event | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 10-12 | LitRPG Con 2026 | Denver, CO | Confirmed - Vendor Booth |
| July 31 - Aug 3 | Gen Con | Indianapolis, IN | Evaluating |
| Aug 28-31 | Dragon Con | Atlanta, GA | Evaluating |
| November (TBD) | Author Nation | Las Vegas, NV | Evaluating |
This calendar updates as events are confirmed. Follow me on Discord or subscribe to the newsletter for real-time announcements.