2025
Friday October 24, 2025
My Writing Origin Story - What Life Experiences and Passions Inspired Me to Write What I Write
Panelists: Andrea Jenelle, Nikki Lamers, Kristie Wolf, Lynn V. Letti
Andrea: I’m going to talk about my historical romance series and why I chose to write working class main characters and focus on the women’s rights movement.
Nikki Lamers: Nikki’s going to talk about her public health background and adoption experience.
Kristie Wolf: Kristie’s going to talk about growing up with a veteran and the nexus between service and technology.
Lynn V. Letti: Lynn is going to talk about mental health struggles and victories.
So you think you're a Sleuth:
Solve Mystery: Samantha Ann, K.M. Fawcett, Linda Parisi, Caridad Pineiro, Stacey Wilk
Join authors Samantha Ann, K.M. Fawcett, Linda Parisi, Caridad Pineiro, Stacey Wilk, and friends to solve an elusive and mysterious murder! Attendees will be presented with a crime scene and asked to review the clues and try to find out Who Did It!
It's all about the Wick:
Mia Michele, E.S. McMillian, Cheri Allan, Marianne Rice, JC Brown
Whether you are bringing the sweet steam or are burning the house down, we want you to get our wick wet! This panel will range from the sweetest of sweetheart style romance all the way to the blaze of a five-alarm-fire! This panel is limited to 4 writers, 1 of each style: 1 flame: sweetheart-no sex; 2 flames: side of spice (kissing, euphemism sexual language); 3 flames: sugar & spice (open sexual activity but within the confines of the story); or 4 flames: scorching & sexy (gratuitous and erotic).
Friday October 24, 2025
Non-Human Book Boyfriends and Why We Love Them
Thea Landen (moderator), JC Brown, Anna Lowe, Sabrina Silvers, Jamie K. Schmidt
This panel will feature discussion about writing romance with non-human love interests. The authors who have expressed interest write about a wide range of non-humans, including aliens, demons, cyborgs, vampires, and shifters.
Romance Novel Trivia
Samantha Ann, K.M. Fawcett, Linda Parisi, Caridad Pineiro, and Stacey Wilk
A fun session of testing your knowledge of romance novels and their authors. Attendees will split up into groups for five rounds of trivia questions. Prizes will be awarded at the end of each round!
Moderated Panel Call for Participants: Criminals, Cads, & Cocktails
Mia Michele, Emery Quinn, Lori DiAnni, Morgan Malone, Sara R. Stewart
Do you write main characters who have handcuffs on one hand and a cocktail in the other? Whether he’s done time in the past and is looking to do good or was falsely accused and needs to clear his name, grab your MCs favorite cocktail and join the party! Is he a bookie with a penchant for Manhattans? A drug cartel leader who kicks back with a margarita after a long day of drug-running? An embezzler with an Old Fashioned addiction? A winner with a wine bar in their man cave? We are ready to kick back with some literary sex on the beach while we handcuff ourselves to our newest book boyfriend.
Friday October 24, 2025
Building A Small Town
Andrea Jenelle, Nikki A. Lamers, Lori DiAnni, Cheri Allan
We’ll talk about the towns in our series, how we create an aesthetic, how we create background characters and settings, etc.
We’ll have a question and answer session where we ask the audience to tell us what elements of a small town they’d like to see in the stories we create.
Game Tagline: CHARACTER SPEED DATING!
Gia Cobie, Archer Atwood, Christine Donovan, Kristie Wolf, JC Brown, Marianne Morea
Back by popular demand Character Speed Dating is a fast, fun way to pick your newest book lover! Sexy and smokin’ hot, come meet the characters and the authors who brought them to life! We’ve got character trading cards for you to collect and pick who’d YOU love to date!
Moderated Panel Call for Participants: Beauties & Balls
Mia Michele, Emery Quinn, Megan Ryder, Regina Kyle, Stephanie Queen
Touchdown! Home Run! Goal! If you talk about sex the way newscasters talk about sports, then this is the panel for you! Bring us your sexiest sports stories and allow us to score with a book that will keep us needing a cold shower after we finish. This panel is looking for different sports to highlight: soccer, football, baseball, hockey, basketball- if you have the sports book, then we want to hear about it! Sexy soccer star? Alluring archer? Gorgeous golfer? Randy rugby winger? No matter what sport you’ve taken to the field, we want to hear all about it!
Friday October 24, 2025
What’s Romance Without A Little Action?
K.M. Fawcett, Caridad Pineiro, and Linda Parisi
Whether a romance turns physical between adversaries or between the sheets, a lot more goes into writing action than describing the choreography of fights or sex. Award winning authors K.M. Fawcett, Linda Parisi, and Caridad Pineiro share what makes their heart-pounding action scenes jump off the pages.
FILNE Battle Briefs
JB Schroeder, Nikki Lamers, Stacey Wilk, Marilynn Harper
Does Fourth Wing’s Violet save the citizens of Navarre, the dragon eggs in the vale, or Xaden—the man she is tied to for life? Welcome to the FILNE Battle Brief, where the audience decides!
World Building in Our World
M.J Etkind, E. A. Brady, Eliza Carter
A panel about world building in our world. This might be building a small town, a college/ university, a sports league , or a magic system that all fits into our world.
Paranormal Nights: Love Beyond the Veil
JC Brown, Lena Lane, Becca Fogg, Marianne Morea, Sabrina Silvers
Step into a world where passion defies the natural order and love transcends the boundaries of life, death, and everything in between. In this panel paranormal romance authors come together to explore the irresistible pull of the supernatural in romantic storytelling. From vampires and witches to shapeshifters and ghosts, these authors will discuss how they blend heart-pounding romance with the fantastical, magical, or otherworldly elements to create stories that thrill readers. Attendees will gain insight into world-building, character development, and the unique challenges and joys of writing love stories steeped in mystery, danger, and the unknown. Whether you're a reader enchanted by the genre or a writer looking to add a supernatural spark to your work, this panel will leave you spellbound.
Friday October 24, 2025
Friend or Foe? Naughty or Nice? Only the Author Knows For Sure!
Archer Atwood, Cheri Allan, Christine Donovan, Lori DiAnni
What is it about a character in a book that makes you want to follow their journey till the last page? What is it about them that makes you cheer for them, cry with them, laugh with them, or hate them?. How do Authors do that? Are they piecing together personality traits in a Dr. Frankenstein way, or do they allow their MC to evolve as the story challenges them? How do they keep track of multiple characters? In this panel we will explore the methods authors use to create character personalities that are unique and memorable. Come join us as we give you an inside peek to the process and a chance to help “profile” a new character.
Book Cover Bingo
Megan Ryder, Jamie K Schmidt, Regina Kyle, Anna Lowe, Marianne Rice/Emery Quinn
Think you know your romance tropes just by the cover? Come test your skills in Book Cover Bingo, the ultimate reader game where judging a book by its cover is highly encouraged! 📚💘
Join us for a lively panel where authors reveal their steamy, swoony, suspenseful (and sometimes scandalous) book covers. As we showcase each book, you’ll learn the juicy details behind the story and check off your bingo squares.
“Yes, Yes, YES!” An Honest Discussion of sex in romance.
Bring your fans and get ready for a discussion on the steamy bits of romance! Blushing allowed, but this is a safe space!
Author Panel: Skye McDonald, Thea Landen, Andrea Jenelle
Writing sex, talking sex, enjoying the sexy scenes. Join these romance authors for a frank discussion of how we write those steamy bits. Where do we get the ideas? How far is too far? What do readers like to see? --That’s what we want to ask you, so be ready to participate in a dynamic, interactive conversation!
Authors will also share steamy scenes from their novels, so bring your fans and get ready for the sizzle!
Friday October 24, 2025
Panel Title: Bros, Banter, and Bromance
Mia Michele, Emery Quinn, Morgan Malone, and Gia Cobie
Get ready to laugh, learn, and maybe even swoon a little. Join a lively panel of romance authors as we dive into the art of writing authentic, hilarious, and heartwarming dialogue between male characters. From locker room talk to late-night heart-to-hearts, we’ll explore how to create authentic, layered relationships between real men. Whether it’s the gruff older brother, the charming best friend, or the reluctant wingman, male relationships add depth, humor, and emotional resonance to any romance novel.
Build a Book Boyfriend
Lori DiAnni, Christine Donovan, JB Schroder, Cheri Allan, JC Brown
Build a Book Boyfriend is a fun, interactive panel where readers help create the ultimate romantic hero—one trait at a time. With fill-in-the-blank sheets, quickfire trope prompts, and audience participation, this lively game-style session celebrates the characters we love and the stories that bring them to life—across all romance genres and heat levels:
Sweet Heat + Spicy
Samantha Ann, Caridad Pineiro, K.M. Fawcett, and Lind J Parisi
Linda Parisi and mother/daughter duo Samantha Ann and Caridad Pineiro share their secrets of going from writing sweet to heat, to spicy things you wouldn’t want your mother (or daughter) to read.
Friday October 24, 2025
SUPPORTING CAST
Anna Lowe, JB Schroeder, Archer Atwood, Daphne James Huff, Becca Fogg
Grouchy butlers, spritely grandmothers, and best/worst friends. Join us as we explore the unsung heroes of our stories — quirky side characters who bring fresh perspectives, humor, and extra sparkle to a romance. We’ll dive into how these personalities enrich a romance and why how to keep them from stealing the spotlight!
CAMPFIRE BOOK EXCERPTS with S'MORES!
Marianne Morea, Gia Cobi, JC Brown, Lena Lane, Thea Landen, Skye McDonald
Want to hear excerpts from authors’ latest or greatest? Come join us for s’mores and a new TWIST on CAMPFIRE TALES on Friday! (I have electric s'more's makers specifically for indoors)
Lights, Camera, BookTok!
How Readers Can Create TikToks and Reels to Support Their Favorite Authors
Marianne Rice & Emery Quinn
Want to support your favorite authors but don’t know where to start with TikTok or Instagram Reels? This session is for you! Whether you love showing your face or prefer to stay behind the camera, we'll teach you how to create engaging, authentic video content that helps spread the word about the books you love. No fancy equipment or choreography is needed—just practical tips, content ideas, and ways to connect with fellow book lovers. Learn how to hook viewers, share book recommendations, and turn scrollers into followers—all while boosting your favorite authors’ visibility. Come ready to be creative and have fun supporting the authors who bring you joy!
The ABC's of LGBTQIA+
Dr. Daughter (Leah Hallow) and Morgan Malone
The issues that arise when a cis heterosexual author addresses LGBTQIA+ issues or writes about LGBTQIA+ characters. Dr. Daughter is the real star, answering questions ranging from what all the letters mean, to the use of plural instead of the singular, and more detailed analysis of sexual and gender identity and how to appropriately incorporate these elements in our stories.
Saturday October 25, 2025
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Anna Lowe, Marianne Morea, Cameron Garriepy, Liz Alden, Lori DiAnni
Sunrise over the savannah in South Africa, where lions and rhinos roam. Breakfast in a quaint cafe in small town Maine. Sunset over Sedona’s spectacular rocks and mysterious vortexes — or over Paris, London, or Rome. From the grit and magic that is New York City to a charming Vermont college town, location can set the mood and act as a character in a novel. Join us in discussing our favorite settings, how and why we select and research locations, and much more!
Can You Tell a Book by It’s Cover? A Closer look into Cover Trends, Tropes, and the Shirtless Man Debate
Gia Cobie, JB Schroeder, Nikki Lamers, Andrea Jenelle, JC Brown
Join us for a look at the visual love language of romance book covers. We’ll discuss current trends (illustrated covers vs. real models, objects or landscapes), cover redesigns, reader expectations, and the difference between self-published and traditionally published books. Plus, we’ll dive into your favorite covers and what makes you buy the book just because of the cover!
Saturday October 25, 2025
Being Superwoman and Balancing It All
Thea Landen (moderator), JC Brown, Marianne Rice, Kristie Wolf, Daphne James Huff
This panel will discuss the challenges of balancing writing and selling books with other responsibilities and obligations.
Questions and Answers about writing and balancing life, family, work.
Moderated Panel Call for Participants: Over the Rainbow
Mia Michele, Morgan Malone (& Dr. Daughter), Regina Kyle, Sara R. Stewart
Make us green with envy over the red-hot romance you bring to the LGBTQIA+ writing scene! If you write well-rounded characters that represent any part of the rainbow spectrum, then grab your pride flag of choice and drape it around her shoulders like a warm blanket while we read, relate, and relax with your book! This panel is looking for books with main characters that showcase the LGBT+ community with positive character representation and engaging storylines. Main characters can be lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, nonbinary, intersex, asexual, pansexual, or anywhere in between! If you have brought to life diverse characters with stories that are sure to bring readers on a romantic rollercoaster, then we can’t wait to fall for your favorites guys, girls, and genderfluid gentries!
Saturday October 25, 2025
Recipe for Romance: Finding Romance in the Kitchen
Lori DiAnni, E.S. McMillan and Marianne Rice
Cupcakes and kisses? Yes, please! In this cozy, feel-good panel, romance authors from across subgenres serve up stories where food takes center stage—bakeries, cafés, family dinners, and more. From meet cutes over muffins to love simmering in the kitchen, we’ll explore how food builds setting, deepens character, and stirs up swoon-worthy connection.
Expect a feast for the senses, perfect for fans of sweet, clean, or comfort-read romance. We’ll dish about fictional diners, favorite foodie tropes (baking competitions! surprise meals!), and how cooking scenes turn up the emotional heat.
Interactive and reader-friendly, this panel invites you to share your favorite food-filled love stories—and maybe pick up a few new cravings along the way.
Come hungry. Leave swooning.
SUSPENSE IN ROMANCE: Tension, Thrills, and Tender Moments
Anna Lowe, Christine Donovan, Marianne Morea, Gia Cobie, Kristie Wolf
Suspense can heighten emotion, drive a story forward, and makes falling in love even riskier — and sweeter. In this lively discussion, we’ll share why we love blending suspense with romance and how we build tension, raise the stakes, and keep hearts racing — both on and off the page.
Saturday October 25, 2025
Short & Spicy - the slump savior
Marilynn Harper
This panel will discuss the craft of welding quick reads that hit like a novel, What they are perfect for, and the flexibility it gives writers and readers.
Book Cover Puzzle & Prizes
Daphne James Huff, Jillian MacGregor, Christine Donovan, E.S. McMillan, Marianne Morea
Love sexy book covers? Come join us for custom Book Cover Puzzles and be entered to win prizes and fun swag
Saturday October 25, 2025
Moderated Panel Call for Participants: Booze, Babes, & Bad Boys
Author Mia Michele: Thea Landen (JJ) -Champagne, Archer Atwood -White, Jillian MacGregor -Rosé, Andrea Jenelle- Red
Our wine-paired chapters were a hit last year, so here we are again with a spin on Books & Booze with our Booze, Babes, & Bad Boys panel. Whether he’s a millionaire alpha male with a demure damsel in distress or she’s a high-powered career girl with a soft spot for the gardener in need of a second chance in life and in love, this is the panel where you give a lucky reader the chance to walk away with a hangover created by both your book and a bottle of wine. This panel is looking for a bubbly champagne love story, a roaring rosé romance, a wintry white wine wonderland, and a crime-filled crimson courtship. All spice levels, romance genres, and wine varietals welcome!
PETS IN ROMANCE: Characters that bark, purr, neigh, or quack!
Authors: Anna Lowe, Daphne James Huff, Cheri Allan, Liz Alden
Come hang out as we chat about the furry (and not-so-furry) companions we love to write and how they steal scenes—and hearts. We’ll discuss the pets in our stories, why we chose to tell their tales (get it?), and the joys and challenges of working animal companions into our characters’ lives.
Saturday October 25, 2025
Journey into our Literary Soap Opera
K.M. Fawcett and Stacey Wilk
Hop on a guided tour as we give you a little history about Candlewood Falls and how it grew from conception to happy endings.
Meet our sexy heroes and their smart, strong heroines. We’ll share with you our Candlewood Falls history, places, and quirky town folk.
Pull up a chair, sit down with the founders of the world, and become a part of our charming, small town.
Romance Bookish Family Feud
Authors: Andrea Jenelle, Nikki A. Lamers, Stephanie Kay, JB Schroeder, Kristi Wolf
We have a game format with 5 players on each side, 10 players total and everyone else will be in the audience. The players will be picked by all volunteers getting submitted and we will draw for players and teams. We will ask romance readers romance bookish questions we all put together and share with readers. The top answers will be on the board and will be played in the family feud style format. The team who wins the most points at the end will win a book. All 5 authors are providing one of their books for the game.
The Rhythm of Love: How music and dance set the mood and scene for love in romance stories.
E.S. McMillan, Judith Paolercio, Jillian MacGregor, Lori DiAnni, Marillynn Harper, Morgan Malone
Many writers incorporate music and dance into their stories. Music and dance set the mood for not only love but important scenes in the story. These three authors would like to discuss how music and dance help set up their key scenes and themes in their stories.
Sunday October 26, 2025
BETWEEN THE SHEETS: Creating Sizzling Love Scenes
Anna Lowe, Lisa Carlisle, JC Brown, Lena Lane
Ever wonder what goes into writing steamy scenes in romance? Join us for a lively conversation about the art of writing love scenes. From unusual locations to the emotional layers beneath the heat, we'll discuss what sets these moments apart from the rest of the book, what makes these things hard (and easy) to write, and how we balance passion, plot, and character. Expect laughter, a few blushes, and a lot of honesty.
Vendor Demonstrations and Talks