The most romantic event at the Library returns August 8-10, 2024, at the Woodneath Library Center and Auditorium. Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton series, will be joining us to discuss the best-selling series (and top-watched show on Netflix), and sign copies of her books.

Get ready for a weekend of author panels, book signings, and opportunities to connect with fellow readers. Fans of every type of romance will find something to love. For writers, Romance GenreCon is an ideal platform to enhance your skills, refine your storytelling, and find inspiration for your craft.

Other events include the Lady KC Reading Salon hosted by Cathy Maxwell, a Romance State of the Union, author panels, a book fair, and more. Participants must register for each of the days they plan on attending, so stay tuned for daily schedules.

We can’t wait to see you there!

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

• Opening gathering and welcome

10:15 – 11:45 a.m.

• Sierra Simone – Crafting the Carnal (Auditorium)
  • Thinking of writing a spicy romance? Join romance author Sierra Simone as she walks participants through the process of writing emotionally resonant and delightfully indulgent romance, from designing settings that inspire intimacy to creating characters who demand it. Participants will leave with a solid framework on how to build a steamy story from start to finish, both on a foundational and a language level.
• Cathy Maxwell – Start Your Own Romance Book Club (Community Room 1)
  • Have you started a Romance Book Club? Do you want to start one? Come join Cathy Maxwell to discuss what works and what doesn’t while nabbing some great book recommendations.
• Angela Anderson – Social Media 102 (Community Room 2)
  • You have a social media presence now what? This workshop covers:
    • How to have an effective social media presence using the KLT factor.
    • Make your presence known and work for you in creating exposure for you, your books, and others in the book community. Bonus: Collaborating through social media with others to include readers, influencers, and industry leaders.

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

• Lunch Break

12:45 – 2:15 p.m.

• Shawntelle Madison – Unlocking Emotions to Strengthen Your Story (Auditorium)
  • Explore how to unpack your scenes at the sentence-level to strengthen emotion and conflict. Discuss moments to “zoom in the camera” versus keeping the descriptions at a minimum and when each strategy is most effective.
• Janna MacGregor – Marriage Regency Style: Everything You Thought You Knew But Didn’t (Community Room 1)
  • You’re invited to a Regency wedding. What do you wear? What exactly is marriage breakfast? What is the reading of the bans, special license, bishop’s license, and standard marriage license? Affinity, Consanguinity, Polygamy, and Matrimony – what do all these have in common besides ending in the letter “Y?” Why were they important during our favorite historical period? Spend time with Janna MacGregor as she explores the pitfalls and hurdles our favorite Regency female characters faced when they said, “I do.”
• Carmen Schober – 3 Creative Writing Exercises That Can Improve Your Entire Novel (Community Room 2)
  • Discover how three transformative creative writing exercises can drastically improve your novel and enrich your life at the same time. Internal and external goals are extremely important when crafting fiction while goal-setting plays a vital role in creating an exciting and fulfilling life, which is why Carmen Schober has spent much of her professional career testing the ways that creative writing and goal-setting converge and work together. Through guided exercises, you’ll unlock new perspectives, overcome writer’s block, and infuse your writing with fresh momentum. Perfect for writers at any stage, this course will not only improve your characterization skills but also inspire personal growth.
• Shari Golden from MCPL’s Midwest Genealogy Center – Romancing the Archives (Computer Lab)
  • Explore the intricate tapestry of our ancestors by delving deep into letters, diaries, and historical records research. Discover tales of hope, survival, hidden passions, loss, and true love among their stories. Are you a seasoned writer? An aspiring novelist? No matter where you are, join us to learn how and where to unearth these first-hand accounts of our ancestors in order to craft authentic historical tales that resonate with the heart.

2:30 – 4:00 p.m.

• Chloe Yotter from MCPL’s Square One Small Business – Developing a Social Media Mindset (Auditorium)
  • Navigating “bookstagram” can be fun – but overwhelming! Between deciding on a platform, figuring out who to follow, understanding how to post and interact with posts, learning about analytics and more – it can seem like too big of a task to take on. Join us as we dive into cultivating a social media mindset and capturing content in a way that aligns with you and your social media goals. Plus, learn some fun ways to follow your favorites and find fun content that introduces you to new books!
• Rachel Newhouse – Content Generation for Standalone Books (Community Room 1)
  • Content generation is easy when you’ve got a long series, but what if you only have one book–and it isn’t even published yet? Whether you’re promoting a standalone romance or marketing your first book, this program will give you tips and tricks for generating fresh content and building buzz without stretching yourself too thin. We’ll discuss exclusive content, reader magnets, content scheduling, and more. Program in collaboration with MCPL’s Story Center.
• Angela Anderson – Reader Connection through Newsletters and Reading Groups (Community Room 2)
  • The question is whether to have a newsletter or not! This workshop focuses on the importance of a newsletter, how to set one up, what to include in it, connecting to your audience and book readers, and utilizing reader groups.