About me!
Hello, and welcome to my little corner of fantasy.
My name is Laura Uenk, and I am an author from the Netherlands with a passion for creating magical worlds, unforgettable characters, and stories that leave a lasting mark on the heart. While I currently work in catering, writing has always been a part of who I am.
Ever since I was young, I found myself making up stories. While other children were daydreaming, I was creating entire worlds in my head, imagining adventures, romances, and characters with stories waiting to be told. In 2023, I finally decided to take that lifelong passion seriously and began writing novels.
Becoming an author wasn't originally the dream. For years, I dreamed of owning my own bookstore—a place filled with stories, imagination, and the comforting scent of books. But because I also loved writing, I eventually asked myself a simple question: why not try writing my own stories too? That single decision opened the door to an adventure I never expected.
I write fantasy, romance, and dark romance, often blending magic with darker themes and emotional journeys. My stories are inspired by the countless books I have read throughout my life. Every author, every fantasy world, and every unforgettable character has helped shape my own imagination. While my stories are uniquely mine, they are built upon a lifelong love for storytelling.
Although each story is different, they all share one thing: fantasy with a darker twist. I enjoy exploring themes of love, sacrifice, healing, and finding strength even in the darkest moments. My characters often face impossible choices, hidden dangers, and powerful emotions, but through it all, they continue moving forward.
As an author, my greatest hope is that readers find a piece of themselves within my books. Whether it's comfort, courage, inspiration, or simply a temporary escape from reality, I want my stories to leave something meaningful behind. And of course, I hope they finish the final page wanting more.
If there is one message I would like to share with my readers, it is this:
Never give up on your dreams. It doesn't matter how slowly you move forward, how impossible your goal seems, or how strange it may look to others. Every dream starts somewhere. I would rather look back and say, "At least I tried," than spend my life wondering, "What if I had?"
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope you enjoy exploring the worlds I create as much as I enjoy bringing them to life.
NOT Attending
FantasyXPO
30–31 January 2027 · Vijfhuizen
Location: Expo Greater Amsterdam · Indoors
Fantasy, anime, manga, steampunk, cosplay and more than 125 stands are advertised. A strong match for fantasy books and themed bookmarks.
Attending
't is boek'n tied
27 Februari 2027 - Deventer
Locatie: Van der Valk Hotel in Deventer - Indoors
'T is Boek'n Tied is een populair Nederlands boekenevenement dat draait om ontmoetingen tussen lezers en auteurs.
Not Attending
Fantasy Fest
27-28 February 2027 - Rijswijk
Location: The broodfabriek Rijswijk - Indoors
A fantasy market with more than 80 stands across a variety of categories, including books, gaming, graphics and costumes. Excellent potential for your books and bookmarks.
Not Attending
FantasyMarkt Midden-Nederland
13-14 March 2027 - Voorthuizen
Location: Roelenengweg 27 in Voorthuizen
Fantasymarkt Midden-Nederland (FMMN) is an annual, family-oriented fantasy market and entertainment event in Voorthuizen, Netherlands, combining themed vendors, costumes, live acts, activities, and food
Not Attending
Heroes made in Asia
20-21 March 2027 - Utrecht
Location: Jaarbeurs Utrecht - Indoors
Anime, manga, gaming and cosplay convention. This is less directly book-focused, but paranormal romance, fantasy merchandise and attractive bookmarks could appeal to visitors.
Not Attending
Fantasy Festival Ter Apel
3-4 April 2027 - Ter Apel
Location: Camping Moekesgat in Ter Apel
Fantasy Festival Ter Apel is an annual fantasy and alternative-culture festival held at Camping Moekesgat in Ter Apel, Netherlands, combining a themed market with music, workshops, street theater, crafts, and family activities.
Not Pending
AnimeCon
16-18 April 2027 - Rijswijk
Location: Broodfabriek, Rijswijk.
AnimeCon is a three-day Dutch convention celebrating anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese popular culture, organized largely by volunteers. It describes itself as the Netherlands’ longest-running anime convention and combines fan activities with performances, workshops, shopping, games, and cultural programming.
Not Attending
Pixie Spirit Fest
17-18 April - Beesd
Location: Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt, in Beesd, Gelderland
The festival combines a fantasy market, live music, entertainment, workshops, talks, and Dungeons & Dragons/gaming activities. Costumes and cosplay are encouraged but aren't required, and organizers describe the event as an all-ages experience designed to emphasize immersion and community rather than simply functioning as a marketplace or convention.
Not Attending
Elfia Vorden
1-2 mey - Vorden
Location: Castle Vorden
Elfia Vorden is a large fantasy and costume festival held at Castle Vorden (Kasteel Vorden) in Gelderland, the Netherlands. Part of the Kingdom of Elfia festival series, it turns the castle grounds into an immersive fantasy realm built around elaborate costumes, live entertainment, role-play, workshops, markets, and a highly participatory community atmosphere.
Not Attending
Runeheim
29-30 Mey, Appeltern
Location: Bloemenpark Appeltern
Runeheim is built around immersion rather than a conventional concert format: visitors wander through extensive gardens containing stages, merchants, food and drink, performances, and tucked-away spaces.
Not Attending
Drakenvuur Festijn
12-13 June - Frederiksoord
Location: De Tuinen in Frederiksoord
Rather than functioning mainly as a conventional fantasy fair, the festival emphasizes doing things: visitors can join D&D and other TTRPG one-shots, undertake interactive quests, attend workshops, explore themed areas, and come in costume. Beginners are explicitly welcomed, with dice provided for introductory tabletop sessions.
Pending
Heroes Dutch Comic Con
19-20 June - Utrecht
Location: Jaarbeurs Utrecht
Heroes Dutch Comic Con (HDCC) is the Netherlands' largest pop-culture convention, held twice annually at Jaarbeurs Utrecht. Bringing together tens of thousands of fans, the event celebrates comics, movies, television, anime, gaming, cosplay, and fantasy through celebrity appearances, interactive activities, exhibitions, and merchandise shopping.
Not Attending
Fable & Fantasy
26-27 June - Emmen
Location: Rensenpark, Former zoo emmen - Outdoors
Fable & Fantasy is a two-day outdoor fantasy festival held at Rensenpark, the former zoo grounds in Emmen, Netherlands. It blends cosplay, live music, fantasy and medieval culture, steampunk, workshops, activities, food, and a large fantasy fair, turning the park into an immersive setting rather than a conventional indoor convention.
Pending
Dordtse Boekenmarkt
4 July 2027 - Dordrecht
Location: Location: Historic city centre · Outdoors
A large book market featuring a broad range of books, from novels and poetry to comics. Worth investigating as an opportunity to sell directly to readers, although you should check whether the organiser accepts contemporary indie authors rather than only traditional book traders.
Not Attending
Midzomer Fair
Date TBC - July - Alphen aan de rijn.
Location: Archeon Hystory Museum - Outdoors
Midzomer Fair is a two-day history-and-fantasy festival held at Museumpark Archeon in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. The event blends Archeon’s reconstructed historical settings with live music, fantasy culture, reenactment, theater, workshops, costumes, and a large fantasy market, all loosely centered on midsummer traditions.
Pending
Deventer Boekenmartk
1 Augsust 2027 - Deventer
Location: Historic city centre · Outdoors
One of Europe's largest book markets, with hundreds of stalls and a large audience of book lovers. It may be useful for building visibility, but confirm the rules on selling your own published books and new merchandise.
Pending
CastleFest
5-8 August 2027 - Lisse
Location:
Castle grounds at Keukenhof · Outdoors
fantasy costumes, live music, artisan stalls, fantasy-themed shopping and an immersive atmosphere.
Not Attending
Abunai!
6-8 August - Verldhoven
Location: NH Koningshof
Abunai! is an annual three-day Japanese culture and anime convention in Veldhoven, Netherlands, organized by the volunteer-run Stichting Abunai!. Founded in 2003, it combines anime, manga, gaming and cosplay with traditional Japanese culture, workshops, art, music and festival-style activities.
Not Attenting
Middeleeuws Winschoten
20-22 August - Winschoten
Location:
Stadspark Winschoten in Groningen - Outdoors
Middeleeuws Winschoten is an annual medieval-and-fantasy festival held in Stadspark Winschoten in Groningen, the Netherlands. It combines historical re-enactment with fantasy, live entertainment, markets, workshops, and costumed festival culture; the organizers describe it as the largest Medieval & Fantasy Festival in the northern Netherlands.
Not Attending
Almera - BosFestival
29 August - almere
Location: Stadslandgoed De Kemphaan
Bosfestival Almera is a fantasy-themed forest festival held at Stadslandgoed De Kemphaan in Almere, Netherlands, combining nature, music, storytelling, cosplay, crafts, and participatory activities. Its first edition took place on August 23, 2026, drawing nearly 3,500 visitors; a second edition is planned for August 29, 2027.
Not Attending
Festival Historisch Zoetermeer
25-26 September
Location: Stadshart Zoetermeer - Outdoors
Festival Historisch Zoetermeer is an annual free history festival in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands, that brings roughly a thousand years of the city’s past to life through reenactments, performances, markets, music, and historical encampments. It has become a recurring local tradition, typically held during the last weekend of September.
Pending
Spicy & Steamy Book Event
25 September - Utrecht
Location: Beatrixgebouw, Utrecht
Ben jij gek op romance, romantasy, steamy scènes en onweerstaanbare boekpersonages? Tijdens het Spicy & Steamy Book Event brengen we lezers, auteurs, uitgevers en shops samen voor een onvergetelijke dag vol passie voor boeken.
Laat je favoriete boeken signeren, shop de mooiste bookish merchandise, maak praatjes met gelijkgestemde booklovers en duik in een warme, gastvrije community waar jouw boekverslaving voor 100% gevierd wordt!
Not Attending
Elfia Arcen
Date TBC - September - Arcen
Location: Castle Gardens of Arcen
Elfia combines a costume gathering with elements of a fantasy fair, music festival, historical festival, and participatory theater experience. Programming can include costume parades and competitions, folk and fantasy music, dancing, acrobatics, creative workshops, fantasy creatures, merchants, food, and interactive storytelling; the organizers also maintain an evolving fictional “Kingdom of Elfia” mythology around the festival.
Pending
Het Auteursfestival
26 September 2027 - Vught
Location: Kasteel Maurick · Indoor/outdoor
A festival specifically for authors and readers, with opportunities to buy books directly from writers, attend workshops and meet authors. Potentially one of the better choices for selling your novels to an audience that comes specifically for books.
Pending
Fantasy Fest
Date TBC - October - Rijswijk
Location: Broodfabriek Rijswijk
Fantasy Fest is het festival waar je heerlijk kunt genieten van alles wat te maken heeft met Fantasy, Cosplay, Gothic, Steampunk, Anime, Manga etc.
Struin langs de vele kraampjes met mooie producten, zoals kleding, sieraden, leuke snuisterijen of mooie accessoires voor in je huis. Daarnaast kun je volop genieten van entertainment. Beide dagen is er een uitgebreid entertainmentprogramma. Tevens kun je ook lekker eten halen bij de restaurantjes die aanwezig zijn bij Fantasy Fest.
Pending
Romantasy Fair
Date TBC - October - Rotterdam
Location: laurenskerk, rotterdam
Romantasy Fair is a place to discover new stories, meet authors in person, attend workshops, dance at a Fantasy Ball and spend a full evening surrounded by people who love romantasy just as much as you do. Whether you come alone or with friends, dressed in everyday clothes or full fantasy attire, Romantasy Fair is designed to feel welcoming, creative, and immersive.
Not Attending
Comic Con Holland
Date TBC - October - Amsterdam
Location: EXPO Greater Amsterdam
Comic Con Holland is a Dutch pop-culture convention celebrating comics, movies, television, anime, manga, gaming, cosplay, and science fiction. Known for celebrity appearances, fan activities, and its extensive merchandise market, the event brings together entertainment enthusiasts, collectors, and cosplayers for a weekend of interactive experiences and community gatherings.
Not Attending
Heroes Dutch Comic Con – Winter Edition
Date TBC - Novemeber/December - Utrecht
Location: Jaarbeurs Utrecht - Indoors.
Heroes Dutch Comic Con – Winter Edition is a large pop-culture convention held at Jaarbeurs Utrecht in the Netherlands, covering comics, film and TV, gaming, anime, cosplay, fantasy, and science fiction. The organizer describes HDCC as the Netherlands’ largest comic con, attracting more than 60,000 visitors per edition.
Not Attending
Fantastic Reads
Date TBC - Novemeber - Tilburg
Location: LocHal library in Tilburg - Indoors
The event centers on discovering and discussing speculative fiction rather than functioning as a general fantasy convention. Dozens of fantasy and science-fiction publishers participate alongside authors, while the market features books as well as bookish merchandise such as bookmarks, candles, cards, and jewelry.
Not Attending
Midwinter Fair
Date TBC - November/December - Alphen aan de rijn.
Location: Archeon Hystory Museum - Outdoors
Midzomer Fair is a two-day history-and-fantasy festival held at Museumpark Archeon in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. The event blends Archeon’s reconstructed historical settings with live music, fantasy culture, reenactment, theater, workshops, costumes, and a large fantasy market, all loosely centered on midsummer traditions.