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List of Romance Conferences and Conventions

Welcome to the internet's most complete list of romance conferences and conventions, listing romance writer and reader events in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, West Africa, and any other English-based event I hear about. If you know of a romance writer conference or romance reader book event that should be added to this list, please let me know!

If you've never been to a romance novel event, rubbing shoulders with your favorite romance authors, what are you waiting for? They're a blast! They're also a fantastic way for writers to make like-minded friends and have face time with agents, editors, publishers, bloggers, cover photographers, and artistic designers. (And maybe a cover model or two.) Chances are excellent you'll make a connection that will end up advancing your writing career.

This list also includes some events not specific to romance but rather fiction in general, so long as the romance genre has some distinct representation at the event or the event offers great value to fiction authors in general. For events covering broader fields and signing-only romance book events, please see the section below the conference listings.
​

​2020 Conferences/Conventions for
Romance Writers & Readers

OCTOBER 2020
InD'Scribe Author & Reader Conference and RONE Awards
October 8–10, 2020; Peoria, IL, USA
for indie readers & writers
​

annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA)
October 9–11, 2020; VIRTUAL
for anyone interested in the Regency era

72nd annual Frankfurt Book Fair
October 14–18, 2020; Frankfurt, GERMANY
for writers, not romance specific
​​​
7th annual The Writer's Hotel Master Class in Fiction
​October 14–20, 2020; VIRTUAL
for fiction writers, not romance specific

31st annual Emerald City Writers' Conference
​October 16–18, 2020; VIRTUAL
for romance writers

annual Passport to Romance at the Emerald City Writers' Conference
October 17, 2020; Bellevue, WA, USA
for romance readers

​semiannual SelfPubCon in conjunction with Frankfurt Book Fair
October 17, 2020; free VIRTUAL con!
for indie writers
​
15th annual Buns & Roses Romance Tea for Literacy 
October 18, 2020; VIRTUAL
for romance readers
​
28th annual Surrey International Writers' Conference
​​October 23–25, 2020; VIRTUAL
for fiction writers, not romance specific
​​
7th annual ROSA Con
October 24–25, 2020; Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
for romance writers

​
NOVEMBER 2020
annual Writer's Digest Conference 
November 5–7, 2020; VIRTUAL
for writers, not romance specific
​​
annual Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference
November 5–7, 2020; VIRTUAL
for fiction writers
​​
annual Yallfest
November 13–14, 2020; VIRTUAL
for YA writers and readers


DECEMBER 2020
3rd annual Romance Author Mastermind
December 3–6, 2020; Houston, TX, USA
for experienced romance authors

​

2021

JANUARY 2021
semi-annual Hearts in the Sand Conference
2021 details TBA; FL, USA
for romance writers

7th biennial Florida Romance Writers Fun in the Sun CRUISE
2021 details TBA
for romance writers


FEBRUARY 2021
​2nd biennial Barbara Vey's Reader Cruise
February 7–14, 2021; Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
for romance readers
​​

18th annual San Francisco Writers Conference
February 11–14, 2021; San Francisco, CA, USA
for writers, not romance specific

​9th annual Coastal Magic Convention
February 18–21, 2021; VIRTUAL
​for romance readers

​7th annual Wild Wicked Weekend
2021 details TBA (historically held in Feb); San Antonio, TX, USA
for romance readers that are extra wild!


MARCH 2021
​​54th annual Association of Writers & Writing Programs' Conference & Bookfair
March 3–6, 2021; Kansas City, MO, USA
for readers & writers, not romance-specific

London Book Fair
March 9–11, 2021; London, ENGLAND
for writers, not romance specific
​
​semiannual SelfPubCon in conjunction with ALLi and London Book Fair
2021 details TBA; free online con!
for indie writers

​​annual Colorado Romance Writers Spring Retreat
March 25–28, 2021; Colorado Springs, CO, USA
for romance writers

9th annual ErotiCon
2021 details TBD; London, ENGLAND
for erotica writers

4th annual ROSA Western Cape Retreat
2021 details TBA; Western Cape, SOUTH AFRICA
for romance writers

2nd biennial Surrey International Writers' Conference at Sea
2021 details TBA; Caribbean cruise departing Galveston, TX, USA
for writers, not romance specific

semi-annual Robert McKee's Story seminar
spring 2021 details TBA; Los Angeles, CA, USA
for fiction writers, not romance specific
​​
semi-annual Robert McKee's Story seminar
spring 2021 details TBA; NYC, NY, USA
for fiction writers, not romance specific

​semi-annual Robert McKee's Story seminar
spring 2021 details TBA; London, ​ENGLAND
for fiction writers, not romance specific
​
​
APRIL 2021
annual Write Touch Conference
April 4–7, 2021; Green Bay, WI, USA
for genre fiction writers
​
annual Independent Book Publishers Association's Publishing University
April 8–10, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA
for self-publishing writers
​
2nd annual Book Lovers Con (a spin-off of the former RT Convention)
April 8–11, 2020; Orlando, FL, USA
for romance readers
​​
6th annual Interracial Romance Authors' Expo
April 22–24, 2021; Daytona Beach, FL, USA
for romance readers
​
annual The Muse & the Marketplace
2021 details TBA; Boston, MA, USA
for writers, not romance specific

11th annual Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference 
(formerly called the Create Something Magical Conference)
2021 details TBA; Clark, NJ, USA
for romance writers and readers
​​
18th annual Popular Culture Association (PCA) track for romance studies
2021 details TBA
for anyone interested in the role of romance in pop culture

annual Let Your Imagination Take Flight
2021 details TBA; Woburn, MA, USA
for romance writers
​
36th annual Washington Romance Writers Retreat
2021 details TBA; Westminster, MD, USA
for romance writers


MAY 2021
23rd annual Shining the Light on Romance Agent and Editor Luncheon
​​2021 details TBA; Woodbury, NY, USA

19th annual Maine Romance Writers Retreat
2021 details TBA; Portland, ME, USA
for romance writers
​​
annual Book Expo America and the New York Rights Fair
Spring 2021 details TBA; New York City, NY, USA
for writers, not romance specific

annual BookCon
Spring 2021 details TBA; New York City, NY, USA
for readers and writers, not romance specific
​

annual YallWest
2021 details TBA; CA, USA
for YA writers and readers
​

annual Denver Pop Culture Conference
May 2021, details TBA; Denver, CO, USA
for readers


JUNE 2021
16th annual Lori Foster's Reader & Author Get Together (RAGT)
June 2–5, 2021; West Chester, OH, USA
for romance readers
​
inaugural I love Diverse Romance Retreat
June 4–6, 2021; Pine Mountain, GA, USA
for romance readers
​​
​Boas & Tiaras Afternoon Tea
June 12, 2021; Allen, TX, USA
for romance readers
​​
6th annual A Weekend with the Authors
June 17–20, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA
for readers, not romance specific
​​
3rd annual Book Bonanza
June 18–19, 2021; Grapevine, TX, USA
for romance readers
​
inaugural Lust in the Lowcountry Romancecon
June 18–21, 2021; Charleston, SC, USA
for romance writers and readers

4th annual Wild Deadwood Reads
June 19, 2021; Deadwood, SD, USA
for romance readers

biennial Historical Novel Society North America Conference
June 24–26, 2021; San Antonio, TX, USA
for historical fiction writers
​​
​
8th biennial International Conference on Popular Romance Studies
​Summer 2021 details TBA; CANARY ISLANDS
for romance writers and industry professionals

​inaugural Simply Romance Bookish Weekend
2021 details TBA; Gatlinburg, TN, USA
for romance readers

26th anniversary Romance Slam Jam
2021 details TBA
for romance readers & writers

7th annual KallypsoCon
2021 details TBA, USA
for romantic suspense readers


JULY 2021
6th annual Sexy and Sassy Signing: Sinful Fairy Tales
July 8–11, 2021; Norfolk, VA, USA
for romance readers

​41st annual Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference
July 14–17, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA
for romance writers

​semiannual Romance Author & Reader Events (RARE) Book Signing
Jul 16–18, 2021; Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
for romance readers

5th annual Writers on the River
July 17, 2021; Peoria, IL, USA
for romance readers (book signing and charity fundraiser)
​
annual Romantic Novelists' Association Conference 
2021 details TBA; ENGLAND
for romance writers
​​
​​4th annual All About the Indies book signing
2021 details TBA; Arlington, VA, USA
for indie authors and readers, not romance specific

8th annual YA Literature Con at the London Film & Comic Con (YALC) 
2021 details TBA; London, ENGLAND
​
for YA writers & readers, not romance specific

annual Literary Love Savannah
2021 details TBA; Savannah, GA, USA
for romance readers
​
​52nd annual Willamette Writers Conference 
2021 details TBA; Portland, OR, USA
​for writers, not romance specific
​

biennial Spring Fling Writers' Conference
2021 details TBA; Chicago, IL, US
for romance writers​
​

AUGUST 2021
​27th annual Romance Writers of New Zealand 
August 6–8, 2021; Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
for romance writers

30th annual Romance Writers of Australia Conference 
August 13–15, 2021; Gold Coast, Qld, AUSTRALIA
for romance writers
​
11th annual When Words Collide 
August 13–15, 2021; Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
for writers & readers, not romance specific

8th annual Orlando Reads Books
August 26–29, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA
for fiction writers and readers, not romance specific
​​
annual Cleveland Rocks Romance
2021 details TBA; Cleveland, OH, USA
for romance writers
​​​
semiannual AvonBooks' KissCon Weekend Affair
2021 details TBA; Chicago, IL​, USA
for romance readers
​​​
​annual Heather Graham's Writers for New Orleans
2021 details TBA; New Orleans, LA, USA
for romance writers

​​annual Romance GenreCon
2021 details TBA;​ Kansas City, MO, USA
for romance readers and writers
​
13th annual Writers' Police Academy MurderCon
2021 details TBA;​ Youngsville, NC, USA
for writers of law-enforcement characters and suspense

30th annual Romance Writers of Australia Conference 
2021 details TBA; AUSTRALIA
for romance writers​



SEPTEMBER 2021
annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference
September 9–12, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA
for inspirational writers, not romance specific 
​
inaugural Black Women Swirl Literature Conference
September 8–11, 2021; Niagara Falls, Ontario, CANADA
for interracial romance readers and writers

8th annual Penned Con 
September 9–11, 2021; St. Louis, MO, USA
for readers & writers, not romance specific
​
annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference
September 9–12, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA
for inspirational writers, not romance specific
​

​​38th annual Moonlight & Magnolias Conference 
September 30–October 3, 2021​; Atlanta, GA, USA
for romance writers

6th annual Starfish Writers Conference
2021 details TBA​; Houston, TX, USA
for romance writers
​​​
5th annual Historical Romance Retreat
2021 details TBA, USA
for historical romance readers

6th annual Swirling the Big Easy
2021 details TBA; New Orleans, LA, USA
for IR romance readers

Swirling the Big Easy AFTER PARTY CRUISE
2021 details TBA; departing New Orleans, LA, USA
for IR romance readers

Romancing Williamsburg 
2021 details TBA; Colonial Williamsburg, VA, USA
for historical romance readers
​
annual Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference 
2021 details TBA; Colorado, USA
for writers, not specific to romance
​
8​7th annual Imaginarium 
2021 details TBA
for writers, not romance specific
​​
32nd annual Novelists Inc (NINC) Conference 
2021 details TBA; St. Petersburg, FL, USA
for published fiction writers, not romance specific
​​​
5th annual Festival New Romance
2021 details TBA, FRANCE
for romance readers 
​​​

OCTOBER 2021
​​9th annual GayRomLit Retreat (GRL) 
October 7–10, 2021; St. Louis, MO, USA
for LGBT romance writers and readers

​​inaugural Romancing the Gold Coast
October 21–24, 2021; Glen Cove, NY, USA
for historical romance readers

annual Utah Readers Luncheon 
2021 details TBA; Layton, UT, USA
for romance readers
​​​
5th annual Historical Writers of America Conference
2021 details TBA; Colonial Williamsburg, VA, USA
for historical writers, some focus on romance
​
2nd biennial East Coast Author Convention
2021 details TBA; Bucks County, PA, USA
for romance readers
​
​​annual New Jersey Romance Writers' Put Your Heart In a Book
2021 details TBA; Iselin, NJ, USA
for romance writers
​
​4th biennial Fall in Love with New England
2021 details TBA​; Manchester, NH, USA
for romance writers and readers


NOVEMBER 2021
8th annual Indie Romance Convention (IRC) 
November 10–13, 2021; Lebanon, TN, USA
for romance readers & writers

13th annual Readers & 'ritas 
November 12, 2021; Allen, TX, USA
​for romance readers​
​​
5th annual Shameless Book Con
November 2021; Orlando, FL, USA
​for romance readers
​
6th Annual Cruising Writers
2021 details TBA
for fiction writers, not romance specific
​​

TO BE ANNOUNCED
4th biennial Historical Novel Society Australasian Conference
2021 details TBA; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA
for historical fiction writers

​9th annual LoveLetter Convention
2021 details TBA; Berlin, GERMANY
​for romance readers
​
Australian Romance Readers/A Romantic Rendezvous (ARRC)
2021 details TBA
for romance readers

​

2022 and Beyond!

​biennial Seymour Agency Writer’s Winter Escape Cruise
2022 details TBA (historically held in Feb)
for writers, not romance specific but romance is heavily represented
​
2nd biennial Ballgowns and Books Event (BABE)
2022 details TBA (historically held in Feb); Sydney, Australia
for fantasy romance readers

​55th annual Association of Writers & Writing Programs' Conference & Bookfair
March 23–26, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA
for readers & writers, not romance-specific

6th annual Apollycon (updates on their Facebook)
(2020 & 2021 events cancelled due to COVID-19)
​2022 details TBA; Washington, D.C., USA
for romance readers
​​
Historical Novel Society UK Conference
2022 details TBA; Durham, ENGLAND

LoveNVegas
2022 details TBA; Las Vegas, NV, USA
for romance readers

​

Events No Longer Running...

...but maybe they'll return someday?
​​
​805 Writers' Conference​
Arizona Dreamin'
Austin Author Affair
Author U Extravaganza
Authors After Dark 
​Babes On The Beach
Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Weekend
BDSM Writers Con
California Dreamin' ​
CT Fiction Fest (put on by CT chapter of RWA)
​Desert Dreams Day of Workshops
Book'd
​Erotic Romance Rendezvous
European LesFic Literary Conference (ELLCon)
Fictionally Yours, Melbourne
​Hot Mojave Knights 
How to Read a Dress 
​Indie Romance Writers Retreat
Lone Star LesFic Festival
Lora Leigh's Reader Appreciation Weekend
Love is Murder (LIMCon)
Love Stories Awards gala (formerly part of the Festival of Romance)
​Midwestern Book Lovers Unite
​The Novel Experience Event
​ORA Fiction Writers Conference
Passionate Pen Conference
​PubSense Summit
​Reading Until Dawn Con
Romance Novel Convention (RNC)
Romancing the Capital
Romancing the Snowy
RomCon Reader Weekend
RomFest
RomFest Africa: Romance Booklovers Festival
Rust City Book Convention
Salute with Love at Valley Forge–Military Romance Author Event
Self-Publishing Book Expo
SilverHart Writer's SWAT Academy
SSA Self-Publishing Expo
Utopia Con & Awards
When the Heart Dreams
Wicked Book Weekend
Wine and Writing Retreat
Women Writing Pleasure Conference
The Word Nerds Writers' Conference
Writers and Readers Intimate Retreat
Writer Unboxed Unconference
​​Written in the Stars Conference
Great reads from Romance Refined authors!
Book cover for A Dash of Romance by Paulett Golden, a Regency romance edited by Romance Refined editor Rachel Daven Skinner. Image of a gentleman in Regency period clothing staring at the viewer with a kind expression on his face.
Book cover for Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline, a sci-fi romance edited by Romance Refined editor Rachel Daven Skinner. Image of a muscular man's bank covered in swirling tattoos with his hands bound behind his back.
Book cover for Fake Fiancee by Ilsa Madden-Mills, a new adult romance book edited by Romance Refined editor Rachel Daven Skinner. Book cover shows a muscled man with long hair staring into the distance.
book cover for Dirty English by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for Filthy English by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Picture
Book cover for Styled by Piper Lawson
Book cover for Sealed by Piper Lawson
book cover for Schooled by Piper Lawson
book cover for Stripped by Piper Lawson
book cover for Dama X by J.T. Bock
Book cover for TimeTrap by J.T. Bock
book cover for The Art of Love by A.B. Michaels
book cover for The Depth of Beauty by A.B. Michaels
book cover for The Promise by A.B. Michaels
book cover for Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for What Rosie Found Next by Helen J Rolfe
book cover for Handle Me with Care by Helen J Rolfe
book cover for Rising Tides by Katy Haye
Picture
book cover for The Last Dreamseer by Katy Haye
book cover for The Frenchman by Lesley Young
book cover for The Australian by Lesley Young
book cover for Sinner's Grove by A.B. Michaels
book cover for The Lair by A.B. Michaels
book cover for Never Let Go by Anne Carol
Book cover for A Dash of Romance by Paulett Golden, a Regency romance edited by Romance Refined editor Rachel Daven Skinner. Image of a gentleman in Regency period clothing staring at the viewer with a kind expression on his face.
Book cover for Freeing Luka by Victoria Aveline, a sci-fi romance edited by Romance Refined editor Rachel Daven Skinner. Image of a muscular man's bank covered in swirling tattoos with his hands bound behind his back.
Book cover for Fake Fiancee by Ilsa Madden-Mills, a new adult romance book edited by Romance Refined editor Rachel Daven Skinner. Book cover shows a muscled man with long hair staring into the distance.
book cover for Dirty English by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for Filthy English by Ilsa Madden-Mills
Picture
Book cover for Styled by Piper Lawson
Book cover for Sealed by Piper Lawson
book cover for Schooled by Piper Lawson
book cover for Stripped by Piper Lawson
book cover for Dama X by J.T. Bock
Book cover for TimeTrap by J.T. Bock
book cover for The Art of Love by A.B. Michaels
book cover for The Depth of Beauty by A.B. Michaels
book cover for The Promise by A.B. Michaels
book cover for Very Wicked Beginnings by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills
book cover for What Rosie Found Next by Helen J Rolfe
book cover for Handle Me with Care by Helen J Rolfe
book cover for Rising Tides by Katy Haye
Picture
book cover for The Last Dreamseer by Katy Haye
book cover for The Frenchman by Lesley Young
book cover for The Australian by Lesley Young
book cover for Never Let Go by Anne Carol
Vertical Divider

For lists that focus on large-scale romance author signings (one-day events that have no social aspect or only an after-party), Under the Covers Book Blog, The Book Bar, and Darla G. Denton curate great lists.

For comprehensive lists of reader and writer conventions and conferences for general fiction, specific romance subgenres, or various aspects of the industry, Stacey O'Neale, Author E.M.S., Jodie Renner, Read Love Lust, and Publisher's Weekly all have great lists. Bookish Retreats has information on several multi-genre writing retreats around the US.

Kelly Eadon has a running list of events that have had negative reports against the event organizers.
​

My Upcoming Agenda

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Check back soon for updates!


You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke."
—Arthur Plotnik, editor, writer & industry expert
Site content and homepage banner image © Rachel Daven Skinner 2013-2017
Book covers used according to fair use policy.
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