We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Courtney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Courtney below.

Alright, Courtney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been creating Persephone’s Grove: A Midwinter Fantasy Ball here in Charlotte. A few years ago, I moved to the city as a new mother, and I found it surprisingly difficult to build community. Where do you go to meet new friends when your favorite hobbies are reading books and rewatching Lord of the Rings for the thousandth time?

That changed when I attended a fantasy ball in Nashville. It’s hard to put into words how magical it was—hundreds of people, men and women alike, living their brightest, most whimsical lives for a night. The decor, the performances, and the way everything was tied to literary themes—it all resonated so deeply with me. I knew immediately that Charlotte needed something like this, too.

Along the way, I’ve met so many incredible individuals—small fantasy businesses, authors, photographers, actors, cosplayers, and bookish enthusiasts. It’s been such a joy to realize there are so many people out there just like me who want to bring a little whimsy, beauty, and sparkle into a world that desperately needs it.

I also love that our event is designed through the female lens. Fantasy has often been told through a male perspective, but this ball is a place where women are encouraged to take up space, wear the tiara, and live unapologetically in their magic. It’s about celebrating femininity, creativity, and the power of stories to connect us.

That’s one of the reasons we chose Persephone as the heart of our first ball. Her story has been told for centuries as one of abduction and powerlessness, but we see it differently. To us, Persephone is not just the maiden dragged into the underworld—she’s the Queen who chooses to embrace both sides of herself, both the light and the dark. She represents transformation, balance, and the reclamation of power. Our ball reimagines her story as one of agency and empowerment, inviting every guest to step into their own duality—the softness and the strength, the bloom and the shadow.

This project is meaningful to me because it’s not just an event—it’s a community. It’s the kind of gathering I was searching for when I first moved here, and now I get to help create it for others. Watching people light up with joy and step into their most magical selves for a night—that’s what makes all of this worth it.

I feel incredibly lucky to be working on this project with my best friend of 23 years, Melinda Maves. She’s in the middle of writing her first novel, and her perspective as both a writer and a lifelong reader has given me such valuable insight into the bookish community we’re building this for. Having her alongside me in this process makes it all the more special—we’ve shared so many chapters of life together already, and now we get to co-create this magical new one.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When I was younger, I dreamed of being an Imagineer. I’m a Southern California native who grew up down the street from Disneyland; and no matter how many times I visited, I was always spellbound by getting to step into a real-life version of my favorite stories. It was more than rides and attractions—it was the magic of worldbuilding. That sense of wonder has stuck with me my whole life. Over the years, I’ve built a career in communications, marketing, wedding photography, and event planning—all skills that, in hindsight, became the perfect toolkit for where I’ve landed now with Booked & Bewitched.

At its heart, Booked & Bewitched is about creating immersive, story-driven events for book lovers, romantics, and dreamers. Our first event, Persephone’s Grove, brings Greek mythology to life through music, performances, décor, and character actors, all wrapped inside a formal ball. And the setting could not be more perfect: we’re partnering with the Crowe Mansion, a stunning estate in Lincolnton that’s been lovingly remodeled into a jewel of the town. We hope that from the moment guests step onto the property, they’ll feel like the main character in the story—swept up in the magic of the night.

What sets us apart is the way we tell a story. Many themed events lean on broader themes to accommodate fans across multiple fandoms, but ours aim to pull guests into a true retelling of stories they’ve known since childhood. For Persephone’s Grove, we’re reimagining Persephone not as a powerless maiden, but as a Queen who embraces both light and dark. That theme carries into every detail of the evening, from the décor and cocktails to the performances and side quests. Our approach is intentionally designed through the female lens—we want women to take up space, wear the tiara, and live unapologetically in their magic.

I’m most proud of the community that has gathered around this idea even before our first ball has taken place. I’ve met indie authors, small fantasy businesses, cosplayers, actors, and book lovers who share this same passion for whimsy and wonder. Together, we’re proving that there’s a huge appetite for this kind of imaginative, joy-filled experience.

And honestly, I think there are a lot of us who want more than nightclubs and surface-level interactions. We’re craving something more intentional—spaces where you can have deeper conversations, form lasting connections, and feel that spark of “these are my people.” That’s what Booked & Bewitched is really about.

For anyone who’s just discovering us, I want them to know that Booked & Bewitched isn’t just an event—it’s a movement toward creating community through storytelling. Whether you’re attending one of our balls, following along on social media, or collaborating as a vendor or performer, you’re part of something that celebrates imagination, belonging, and a little bit of magic in the everyday.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started building an audience for Booked & Bewitched, I knew how important it would be to invest in branding and visuals. Coming from a creative background, I understand how powerful imagery is in shaping the way people connect with a brand. That’s why one of the very first things we did was invest in a professional photo and video shoot centered around the story of Persephone and Hades. We wanted to set the tone for our very first ball with something cinematic and intentional.

As a small team, we’ve experimented with many tools to help us engage our audience—including AI. It’s been helpful for cleaning up copy and tackling complicated problems, but when it comes to creative writing and visuals like graphic design and videos, we’ve learned the hard way how important originality is. Early on, we tried incorporating AI imagery into some of our content, and the backlash was swift. What we hadn’t fully realized at the time was how AI often builds from the published work of artists without giving them credit. Once we understood that, we made the conscious choice to step away from artificially-created images and invest our energy into creating content ourselves—even if it takes longer, is less perfect, or requires more resources.

We also made a concerted effort to work with local, diverse actors, regardless of what kind of following they have. It was important to us to represent ourselves first and foremost as supporters of the North Carolina creative community. That decision not only helped us stay true to our values but also connected us with so many incredible local talents who have since become part of our extended family.

And that effort is paying off: one of our TikTok videos has already reached nearly 100,000 views. In such a saturated market for fantasy events, that kind of traction shows us our content is standing out and resonating—not because it’s the fastest or trendiest, but because it’s authentic and thoughtfully produced.

The other half of building an audience is relationships. Social media isn’t just about posting; it’s about engaging. I’m on there every day talking with members of the community, sharing their stories, commenting on their posts, and inviting them into ours. That kind of genuine back-and-forth builds trust and creates a two-way connection, rather than just broadcasting.

So if I had advice for anyone just starting out, it would be this: use the tools available to you, but don’t completely shortcut the creative process. Invest in high-quality, intentional visuals; uplift your local creative community; commit to original work; and show up consistently to engage with your audience. As people are flooded with AI-generated art, I believe we’ll see more and more appreciation for what’s authentic, human, and imaginative. That’s the kind of content—and the kind of community—we’re committed to creating.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

Yes—the majority of our profits come from ticket sales, and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the attraction to our VIP tier. Guests are willing to invest in a full, luxurious weekend experience when it’s multi-faceted—exclusive performances, intimate vendor access, curated dining, and extra touches that make them feel part of the story. That’s shown us that our audience values more than just the ball itself; they want an immersive getaway.

We also have supplementary revenue streams, including merchandise and partnerships. Our merchandise is small-scale for now, but it allows fans to carry a piece of the magic home with them. Partnerships with local vendors and creative businesses not only help offset costs but also bring additional value to our guests, creating a richer overall experience.

That said, at this point we’re less focused on profits and more focused on building something meaningful. The majority of what we make will simply be invested into the next ball. This isn’t about short-term gain—it’s about creating a sustainable, community-driven space for book lovers, fantasy fans, and dreamers to come together again and again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bookedbewitched.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booked_and_bewitched/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@booked.bewitched
  Discord: https://discord.com/invite/aaKCdjFEhg

Image Credits

Credit to The Feels Film Photography; Actors/Models: Alexa Ramirez and Christion Pierce