SCHEDULE
Saturday
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Registration is Open
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Main Stage
Welcoming Remarks
Vania Stoyanova, Preet Singh, Hannah Morgan Teachout, Jo Schulte
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Main Stage
Opening Keynote
Sonora Reyes & Julian Winters -
Ballroom
Building a Multicultural Romance Canon
Expanding romance through diverse stories, cultures, and perspectives to create a truly inclusive genre.
Adib Khorram, Naina Kumar, Ava Rani, Ambar Cordova, Jessica Parra, Danica Nava (M)
MARY GAY
Heartstrings and Headspace
Exploring how mental health is woven into romance, highlighting how characters' inner struggles and growth are essential to their journey toward love.
Clare Osongco, Kristin Dwyer, Jenny L Howe, Lauren Connolly, Addie Woolridge (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Queer’s the Thing About Love…
Queer love in adult romance—breaking barriers, sparking passion, and rewriting the rules.
Allison Saft, Meryl Wilsner, Emma R. Albans, Karmen Lee, Rachel Runya Katz (M)
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BALLROOM
Five Chili Peppers
Authors discuss the art of writing scenes that sizzle with chemistry, passion, and character depth–without ever losing the plot.
Julie Soto, Jillian Meadows, Katie Duggan, Ashley Herring Blake, Tati Richardson, Laura Piper Lee (M)
MARY GAY
Friends to Lovers VS Enemies to Lovers
These two iconic tropes go head-to-head. Is love sweeter when it starts with a spark of rivalry or a foundation of friendship?
Faye Delacour, Riss M. Neilson, Jo Segura, Claire Legrand, Xio Axelrod (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Characters Who Live Rent-Free
How do authors create characters you can’t stop thinking about? Find out what makes them unforgettable.
Penny Reid, K.L. Walther, Kimberly Lemming, Alicia Thompson, Denise Williams (M)
AUDITORIUM
Ask a Bookseller Q&A (Part 1)
Pick a bookseller’s brain about the shelves, the sales, and everything in between from trends to tips to tea.
Katie (Parnassus), Tara (Parnassus), Vania (Brave +Kind), Emma Theriault
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BALLROOM
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE FIRST LOVE: YA AUTHORS ON WRITING SWOON-WORTHY ROMANCES
YA authors discuss the magic of crafting first loves—emotional depth, chemistry, and moments that make them unforgettable.
Angela Montoya, Jill Tew, Matthew Hubbard, KL Walther, Shelly Page, Jenny L. Howe , Vania Stoyanova (M)
MARY GAY
Surfing the Fanfic-to-Romance Pipeline
How fanfiction is fueling the romance genre—turning passion into published stories.
Preeti Chhibber, Meryl Wilsner, Xio Axelrod, Julie Soto, Ali Hazelwood, Julian Winters (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Love in the Limelight
Behind the scenes of celebrity romances—how authors mix fame, love, and drama for a page-turning experience.
Falon Ballard, Lauren Morrill, Kristina Forest, Ava Wilder, Susan Lee (M)
AUDITORIUM
INFLUENCER PANEL
Meet the influencers for a discussion on book influencing, the industry and social media.
Satoria, Brad, Jocelyn, Shanna, Kye, Niah (M)
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BALLROOM
Is Historical Romance History?
Explore the current state of historical romance—has it run its course, or is there a renaissance on the horizon?
TJ Alexander, Harper St George, Addy DuLac, Emma Theriault, Vanessa Riley, Elizabeth Everett (M)
MARY GAY
Funny Business
From quick banter to laugh-out-loud moments, authors dish on how humor brings their romance stories to life.
Sarah Adler, Danica Nava, Betty Corrello, Lindsey Kelk, Katie Duggan (M)
HENRY OLIVER
The Rollercoaster of Getting Published
Explore the highs, lows, and twists of the publishing journey—from the first draft to seeing your book on shelves.
Talia Tucker, Mackenzie Reed, Rachel Moore, Tati Richardson, Diana Biller (M)
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BALLROOM
Romantasy Is Here to Stay
The place where romance and fantasy converge, creating tales of love set in magical realms.
Angela Montoya, Gabi Burton, Claire Legrand, Kate Dramis, Allison Saft, Brigid Kemmerer (M)
MARY GAY
No steam? No problem.
Low spice doesn’t mean low stakes—explore the power of slow burns, tension, and the emotional connections that define closed-door romances.
Samantha Markum, Carlie Walker, Priscilla Oliveras, Farrah Rochon, Preet Singh (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Queer and Here for YA
Celebrating diverse queer love stories in YA that break barriers and redefine happily ever after.
Chatham Greenfield, Brian Kennedy, Tobias Madden, Erin Cotter, Hannah Morgan Teachout (M)
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BALLROOM
Holy Ships
Hop aboard as we talk about all things ships—favorite couples, wild pairings, and the ones that stole our hearts!
Ali Hazelwood, Kimberly Lemming, FT Lukens, Ashley Poston, Riss M. Neilson, Rachel Moore (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Love in Any World
Romance knows no limits! Explore how different settings and genres shape love stories.
Beth Revis, Etta Easton, Jill Tew, Constance Fay, Alexandra Vasti (M)
AUDITORIUMBanned Books
Join authors as they discuss the importance of protecting books against book bans.
Laura Piper Le, Susan Lee, TJ Alaxander, Sonora Reyes, Adib Khorram (M)
Sunday
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Registration is Open
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BALLROOM
SUNDAY OPENER: Truth or Dare, Battle of the Tropes, GIVEAWAY
Hosted by: Vania Stoyanova, Julian Winters, Laura Piper Lee.
Featuring: TJ Alexander, Tobias Madden, Angela Montoya, Jill Tew, Betty Corrello, and Susan Lee
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BALLROOM
The Hottest Takes
It's time to stir the pot with the spiciest opinions on romance—bring your fire extinguisher!
Julie Soto, Meryl Wilsner, Julian Winters, Preeti Chhibber, Ambar Cordova (M)
MARY GAY
It's the Family You Keep
Explore how family shapes romance—from found families to complex dynamics, and how love grows beyond blood.
Emma Theriault, Xio Axelrod, Mackenzie Reed, Sonora Reyes, Lauren Morrill (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Slow and Steady Wins the Heart
AVON SPONSORED: Why slow burn romances captivate us, making every moment worth the wait.
Etta Easton, Addie Woolridge, Emma R. Alban, Elizabeth Everett, Betty Corrello (M)
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BALLROOM
Historical vs Romantasy
Unpack the allure of historical romance and Romantasy, where love conquers everything from societal expectations to magical curses.
Kate Dramis, Gabi Burton, Lindsey Kelk, Addy Dulac, Alexandra Vasti, Erin Cotter, Vanessa Riley (M)
MARY GAY
It's All About the Chemistry
How authors create relationships that react on the page no matter the spice.
Diana Biller, Alicia Thompson, Talia Tucker, Rachel Runya Katz, Priscilla Oliveras (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Beam Me Up, Cupid!
The rise of sci-fi romance is here, fusing advanced tech, imaginative worlds, and love that transcends time and space.
Jill Tew, Constance Fay, Kimberly Lemming, Beth Revis, Vania Stoyanova (M)
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BALLROOM
The Road Less Romanced
How romance thrives in unexpected places, with unconventional characters and storylines that break all the rules.
FT Lukens, Ashley Poston, Sarah Adler, Brigid Kemmerer, Angela Montoya, Jo Schulte (M)
MARY GAY
Call HR!
When love enters the office, anything can happen—join these authors as they spill the tea on workplace romances.
Danica Nava, Shelly Page, Samantha Markum, Laura Piper Lee, Ava Rani (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Talk Dirty to Me
Authors and narrators discuss bringing romance novels to life through audio, from chemistry to character depth.
Will Damron, Karen Grey and January LaVoy, Linda Korn (M)
AUDITORIUM
INFLUENCER PANEL
Meet the influencers for a discussion on book influencing, the industry and social media
Kylee, Haley, Alex, Frank, Celese, Niah (M)
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BALLROOM
Love Interests and Industry Checklists
Crafting the love interest of our dreams while keeping industry trends and reader expectations in mind—how to make it all come together.
Faye Delacour, Brian D Kennedy, Jo Segura, Jessica Parra, Tobias Madden, Rachel Moore, Penny Reid (M)
MARY GAY
Romance for Every Body
Celebrating and discussing the importance of creating love stories that embrace every size, shape, and ability.
Katie Duggan, Chatham Greenfield, Sonora Reyes, Denise Williams, Jenny L. Howe (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Bi the Way…
Exploring the nuances of bisexual love stories and the importance of authentic representation in romance.
TJ Alexander, Ashley Herring Blake, Tati Richardson, Ava Wilder, Hannah Teachout (M)
AUDITORIUM
Ask a Bookseller Q&A (Part 2)
Pick a bookseller’s brain about the shelves, the sales, and everything in between from trends to tips to tea.
Preet (Eagle Eye), Kate (All the Tropes), Kira (Charis), Valentina (New Romantics)
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BALLROOM
The Real Crossover
Form teen love to adult romance—authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing in both Adult and Young Adult age categories.
Allison Saft, Claire Legrand, Farrah Rochon, Susan Lee, Adib Khorram, Beth Revis (M)
MARY GAY
From Heartache to Happily Ever After
Exploring love stories that tackle grief, mental health, and heartache—how do Sad Girls™ find their happy ending?
Kristin Dwyer, Lauren Connolly, Riss M. Neilson, Preeti Chhibber, Clare Osongco (M)
HENRY OLIVER
Again... But Better
What makes second chances so magnetic? Authors break down how to make readers fall in love again.
Jillian Meadows, K.L. Walther, Naina Kumar, Karmen Lee, Falon Ballard (M)
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BALLROOM
Closing Keynote & Signing
The Starlight Heir & The Deep End
AMALIE HOWARD & ALI HAZELWOOD