Inspiring Conversations with Samantha Alvarez of Myths and Muses Events

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Alvarez.

Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Samantha Alvarez. I’m a 31, New Jersey Sagittarius and I am a lover of all things fantasy, mythical, and literary. I am the founder of Myths and Muses Events, an event company created to bring together and foster a community for readers, writers, and creatives. I have been a reader for as long as I can remember. Books have always been a source of inspiration, comfort, and community for me. Sometimes it’s fantasy, sometimes it’s horror, and sometimes it’s romance. But no matter the genre, stories have always been a place where I could escape, imagine, and feel connected.

My love for storytelling eventually turned into writing. I started writing as a teenager, first through poetry, then short stories, and now I am working on my first series, which I hope to have finished by the end of this year. Being an aspiring author myself has made me even more passionate about creating spaces for other readers, writers, and creatives. I know how powerful it can be to be surrounded by people who understand the creative process and remind you that everyone starts somewhere.

After COVID, I also found my way into cosplay, especially with the rise of BookTok and the growing online book community. Like many others, I found inspiration in seeing people bring their favorite characters, stories, and fantasy worlds to life. Cosplay became another way for me to express my creativity and step into the stories I love.

At my core, I am someone who loves stories in every form. That is a big part of why I created Myths and Muses. I want people to feel seen, inspired, and welcomed into a community where creativity is celebrated. Whether someone is a reader, writer, cosplayer, or just someone looking for a place to belong, I want them to know there is space for them here.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges has been building something from the ground up while balancing a full-time career, school, personal responsibilities, and my own creative goals. Unfortunately, in the beginning being a creative just doesn’t pay the bills. When you are starting something on your own, you wear every hat. You are the planner, marketer, coordinator, customer service contact, researcher, problem solver, and decision-maker. It can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming trying to give everything the time and energy it deserves.

Another challenge has been learning the business side of creativity. Having ideas is one thing, but bringing them to life requires budgeting, pricing, vendor communication, venue research, contracts, marketing, ticketing, and logistics. Every event has taught me something new about what works, what needs improvement, and how to create a better experience for guests.

Rebranding from The Literary Society Social Club to Myths and Muses Events was also a major step. It required me to look at the bigger picture and ask myself what I truly wanted this organization to become. The original name was connected to where I started, but Myths and Muses feels more connected to where I am going. It gives the brand more room to grow into fantasy events, literary experiences, writer retreats, release parties, and creative community gatherings.

On the cosplay side, one of my personal challenges has been learning not to compare myself to other creators. As a plus-size woman, body image can sometimes be difficult in creative spaces, especially online where it is easy to feel like everyone else looks more polished, more confident, or more accepted. I have had to remind myself that I do not need to look a certain way to participate in something I love. I deserve to dress up, create, take photos, and be part of the fantasy community exactly as I am. It can be easy to focus on likes, views, or how other people respond to what you create, but I try to remind myself that creativity has to come from a real place first. You have to do things for you, not just for the likes. If you only create for approval, it can take away the joy that made you start in the first place.

Overall, the biggest lesson has been that everyone starts somewhere. I also could not do any of this without the people around me. I have an amazing group of friends who support me, encourage me, show up for me, and remind me why I started. Shout out to Tiddles! Having a creative support system makes such a difference. I am also very lucky to have a family who supports me and everything I do, even when my ideas are big, chaotic, or a little outside the box. Having people who believe in you makes it easier to believe in yourself, and that has been one of the most important parts of this journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of Myths and Muses Events . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My work started with themed book club meetings through The Literary Society Social Club. Our meetings did not revolve around one assigned book. Instead, each gathering centered around a genre, trope, or theme, such as “enemies to lovers,” “rebellion,” or “pride.” This gave people the freedom to bring different books, recommendations, and perspectives into the conversation while still connecting through a shared idea.

Those meetings were never just about reading. They were about bringing people together through stories, recommendations, crafts, activities, and conversation. I have always believed that books are a doorway into community, and those early gatherings helped shape the heart of what Myths and Muses would eventually become.

The Literary Society Social Club originally began as a joint venture between my friend Jenn and me. After Jenn moved and my vision grew, I realized I wanted to move from a club into something that could become more of a business. That is when I began bringing Myths and Muses to life.

Another major turning point for me was hosting a five-day writer’s retreat in 2025. The retreat was not connected to The Literary Society or Myths and Muses at the time, but it showed me how much I loved creating larger, more immersive experiences for writers and creatives. After that retreat, I knew I wanted to keep doing events like this, and it helped confirm the direction I wanted to take with Myths and Muses.

During the writer’s retreat, we hosted panels with various authors who spoke about different parts of the writing journey, from where to start to the querying process. My favorite panel was called “Pitch Perfect,” because it gave writers a chance to think about how to present their stories with more confidence. We also had writing sprints throughout the retreat, giving attendees time to focus on their work while still being surrounded by other creatives.

At night, the retreat shifted into community activities like karaoke, game night, Family Feud, and PowerPoint night. That balance between learning, creating, and connecting is really important to me. Writing can feel lonely, and being an adult can make it hard to meet new friends. The bookish community has brought me some of my closest friendships, and I want to help other people experience that same feeling of belonging.

Through Myths and Muses, I am continuing to build on everything I have learned through bookish gatherings, photoshoots, creative events, and the writer’s retreat. I handle the planning and coordination for each event, from the overall concept to the behind-the-scenes details. That includes organizing timelines, communicating with guests and vendors, planning activities, managing logistics, solving problems, and making sure the event feels thoughtful and welcoming from start to finish.

To me, Myths and Muses is less about one specific genre or one specific event and more about creating safe, creative spaces where people can feel seen, inspired, and welcomed. I want people to leave feeling that they were part of something special.

Looking ahead, I am excited to incorporate book release parties for authors, continue building writer retreats, and host another retreat in summer 2027 details on that will be available soon. A long-term goal is to eventually create a book market or book fair that feels fun, whimsical, and affordable. Times are hard, and I want people from any budget bracket to be able to experience a little magic. Ultimately, I want Myths and Muses to be known for safe creative spaces, meaningful community, and events that make people feel like they are stepping into a story.

What makes you happy?
Happiness, for me, is my community and doing things that bring me joy. There is something special about being around people who make you feel seen and inspired. I have learned that happiness does not always have to be something big or complicated. Sometimes it is a good book, a conversation with friends, or watching people connect in a space I helped create. It is doing the things that make me feel like myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mythsandmusesevents.com/
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/mythsandmuses