SATURDAY
Saturday, February 17
~9:00-10:00 AM~
Registration + Check In Opens
~10:00-10:50 AM~
BALLROOM
Opening Keynote
Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Mariana Zapata
~11:00-11:50 AM~
BALLROOM
Romantasy
The place where romance and fantasy converge, creating tales of love set in magical realms.
Kate Dramis; Sharina Harris (M); Emily Thiede; Kimberly Lemming
MARY GAY
Business of Being a Writer
Conversation exploring the paths to publishing from agent to hybrid to traditional.
Taj McCoy; Paige Lavoie; Lauren Morrill; Vanessa Riley, Ginny Baird
HENRY OLIVER
Sex in YA
A discussion about the portrayal of intimacy in Young Adult romance novels, exploring the challenges and importance of handling this theme.
Adib Khorram; Shanna Miles; Mazey Eddings, Preeti Chhibber (M)
AUDITORIUM
YA Romance Landscape
Take a journey through the evolution of Young Adult romance, comparing the themes and trends from past to present.
Molly Horan; Marissa Eller; Swati Teerdhala
~12:00-12:50 PM~
BALLROOM
Setting the Mood
What does it take to set the mood in a scene and what makes characters (and us) swoon?
Alicia Thompson (M); Laura Piper Lee; Natalie Caña; Naima Simone; Celestine Martin
MARY GAY
In Another Time: Historical Romances
The allure and challenges of crafting love stories set in historical periods and exploring the richness of bygone eras.
Elizabeth Everett; Harper St. George; Vanessa Riley; Preet (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Neurodiversity in Romance
The importance of writing neurodiverse representation with authenticity and sensitivity.
Mazey Eddings; Serena Kaylor; Ashley Herring Blake, Marissa Eller (M)
AUDITORIUM
Agent + Author Relationship
Meet with agent Lauren Spieller and two of her authors as they discuss the agent and author relationship.
Brian D. Kennedy; Samantha Markum; Lauren Spieller
~1:00-1:50 PM~
BALLROOM
Fighting Cissexism and Heternormativity with Love
A discussion on how romance novels challenge and subvert cissexism and heteronormativity.
Brian Kennedy; Kelly Quindlen; RM Romero; Molly Horan, Meryl Wilsner (M), Ashley Herring Blake
MARY GAY
STEM: Smart Chicks do Romance
Stories at the intersection of love and science and how authors fuse the two together.
Denise Williams; Elizabeth Everett; Jen Devon; Serena Kaylor; Lauren Kung Jessesn (M)
HENRY OLIVER
The Ultimate Escape: What Romance Offers Readers and Writers
Uncover the unique allure of romance novels as both an escape for readers and a rewarding genre for writers.
Kristin Dwyer; Jenna Levine; Kimberly Lemming; Jenna Miller (M); Susan Lee
AUDITORIUM
Back to Basics
What does and doesn’t belong in romance and the building blocks of a romance book.
Sharon C. Cooper; Neely Tubati Alexander; Ginny Baird
~2:00-2:50 PM~
BALLROOM
Multicultural and Black Love
Explore the richness and depth of multicultural and Black love narratives that explore the vibrant tapestry of diverse relationships, cultural nuances, and emotional authenticity.
Sharon C. Cooper; Lauren Kung Jessen; Neely Tubati Alexander; Tati Richardson; Lauren Lacey; Natalie Caña (M)
MARY GAY
Go Sports!
Cheer on the love stories that unfold in the world of sports romance.
Tracy Solheim; Sierra Isley; Lauren Morrill (M); Alicia Thompson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips
HENRY OLIVER
Crafting Characters That Make Us Feel
How well-crafted characters evoke emotions and connect with readers on a profound level.
Swati Teerdhala; Lakita Wilson; Kristin Dwyer; Samantha Markhum; Tanvier Peart
AUDITORIUM
Co-writing & Collaborating
Explore the collaborative process of co-writing romance novels, discussing the benefits and challenges of working together.
Krista & Becca Ritchie; Taj Mccoy; Denise Williams
~3:00-3:50 PM~
BALLROOM
Queer Romance
Discussing the importance of authentic representation and exploring unique storytelling approaches.
Jeffrey K Davenport; Adib Khorram; Meryl Wilsner; Julian Winters; Kelly Quindlen; Jenna Miller (M)
MARY GAY
Genre Mashups
Discussing the fusion of romance with other genres, creating captivating narratives that transcend traditional boundaries and delight readers.
Carlie Walker; Jenna Levine; Jo Segura; Nikki Payne; Sierra Isley; Mia Tsai (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Celebrity and Reality TV
Tune in for glamorous and dramatic loves stories, discussing the unique challenges and appeal of these settings.
Seressia Glass; Falon Ballard; Kaitlyn Hill; Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jackson Pearce (M)
AUDITORIUM
From Page to List: Exploring the different stages of being a writer
Take a journey through the various stages of a writer's career, discussing both challenges and triumphs.
Jill Tew; Rebecca Ross; Angela Montoya
~4:00-4:50 PM~
BALLROOM
Let's Talk About Sex
An open and candid conversation about the portrayal of intimacy in romance novels and the ways authors handle the steamiest scenes.
Nikki Payne (M); Jo Segura; Naima Simone; Ashley Poston; Kate Goldbeck
MARY GAY
Single POV vs Dual POV
How narrative choices influence reader engagement and storytelling... and how to choose one POV over the other.
Harper St. George; Lauren Lacey; Falon Ballard; Mariana Zapata; Tracy Solheim (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Putting the Comedy in Romcoms
Discussing the art of infusing humor into romantic comedies and how laughter enhances the romantic elements, creating memorable love stories.
Samantha Markum; Lakita Wilson (M); Jen Comfort; Susan Lee; Kaitlyn Hill
AUDITORIUM
Setting the mood/scene
The importance of an atmospheric setting and how authors us it to create a immersive mood.
Kate Dramis, Mia Tsai, Sharina Harris, Jeffrey K. Davenport
~5:00-6:00 PM~
BALLROOM
YATL: Author Truth or Dare
Join us for a fun and totally not tortuous game of TRUTH OR DARE with some of your fave authors!
Vania Stoyanova (MC); Kelly Quindlen (MC); Ashley Poston; Angela Montoya; Julian Winters; Jill Tew; Jackson Pearce, Laura Piper Lee
MARY GAY
Tropes with a Twist
Discover the art of reinventing classic tropes in romance literature as seasoned authors share their secrets, exploring innovative twists that breathe new life into beloved storylines.
Celestine Martin; Kate Goldbeck; Jen Comfort; Seressia Glass; Paige Lavoie (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Best Ships
Dissect the anatomy of the most compelling and nuanced relationships in romance, offering insights into crafting authentic connections that resonate with readers' hearts.
Emily Thiede; RM Romero; Shanna Miles(M); Jenna Miller
AUDITORIUM
Tension, Baby!
Authors discuss the elements of good tensions, what raises the stakes and how to keep readers on the edge of their seat.
Carlie Walker; Tati Richardson; Jen Devon; Tanvier Peart