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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.
​

​2021 Conferences/Conventions for
Romance Writers & Readers

SEPTEMBER 2021
​​annual Colorado Romance Writers Spring Retreat
September 3–5, 2021; Colorado Springs, CO, USA
for romance writers

annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference
September 10–11, 2021; VIRTUAL
for inspirational writers, not romance specific
​

32nd annual Novelists Inc (NINC) Conference 
September 22–26, 2021; St. Petersburg, FL, USA
for published fiction writers, not romance specific
​​​

OCTOBER 2021
​​​38th annual Moonlight & Magnolias Conference 
October 1–3, 2021​; Atlanta, GA, USA and VIRTUAL
for romance writers

9th annual GayRomLit Retreat (GRL) 
October 7–10, 2021; St. Louis, MO, USA
for LGBT romance writers and readers
​
ProWritingAid's Romance Writers' Week
October 11–15, 2021; VIRTUAL
FREE for all attendees Mon–Thurs, but Fri is reserved for premium subscribers
for romance writers

​4th biennial Fall in Love New England
October 15–16, 2021​; Boxborough, MA, USA
for romance writers and readers

annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA)
October 15–17, 2021; Chicago, IL, USA
for anyone interested in the Regency era

32nd annual Emerald City Writers' Conference
​October 15–17, 2021; VIRTUAL
for romance writers
​
annual Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference 
October 15–17, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA
for writers, not specific to romance
​​
​16th annual Buns & Roses Romance Tea for Literacy 
October 17, 2021; VIRTUAL
for romance readers
​
29th annual Surrey International Writers' Conference
​​October 18–24, 2021; VIRTUAL
for fiction writers, not romance specific
​​​
​73rd annual Frankfurt Book Fair
October 20–24, 2021; Frankfurt, GERMANY
for writers, not romance specific
​​​
​​inaugural Romancing the Gold Coast
October 21–24, 2021; Glen Cove, NY, USA
for historical romance readers

annual Writer's Digest Novel Writing Conference
October 21–24, 2021; Pasadena, CA, USA
for fiction writers
​​​
4th biennial Historical Novel Society Australasia Conference
October 22–24, 2021; VIRTUAL
for historical fiction writers

​annual SelfPubCon in association with ALLi
October 23–24, 2021; free VIRTUAL con
for indie writers


NOVEMBER 2021
4th annual Romance Author Mastermind
November 4–7, 2021; VIRTUAL
for experienced romance authors
​
7th annual KallypsoCon
November 4–7, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA
for romantic suspense readers

11th annual Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference 
(formerly called the Create Something Magical Conference)
November 6, 2021; Clark, NJ, USA
for romance writers and readers
​​
10th semiannual 20Booksto50k Educational and Networking Event
November 8–12, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA
for self-publishing authors, not romance specific
​
8th annual Indie Romance Convention (IRC) 
November 10–13, 2021; Lebanon, TN, USA
for romance readers & writers
​
5th annual Shameless Book Con
November 12–14, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA
​for romance readers
​
41st annual Romance Writers of America (RWA) Conference
November 18–20, 2021; VIRTUAL
for romance writers

annual Yallfest
November 22–23, 2021; Charleston, SC, USA
for YA writers and readers


DECEMBER 2021
2nd annual Book Lovers Con (a spin-off of the former RT Convention)
Dec 16–19, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA
for romance readers


​2022 Conferences/Conventions for
Romance Writers & Readers

FEBRUARY 2022
19th annual San Francisco Writers Conference
February 17–20, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA
for writers, not romance specific
​​
​10th annual Coastal Magic Convention
February 24–27, 2022; Daytona Beach, FL, USA
​for romance readers

​7th annual Wild Wicked Weekend
2022 details TBA; USA
for romance readers that are extra wild!


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


APRIL 2022
semiannual Romance Author & Reader Events presents RARE 22 Paris
April 2, 2022; Paris, FRANCE
for romance readers

London Book Fair
April 5–7, 2022; London, ENGLAND
for writers, not romance specific
​

19th annual Popular Culture Association (PCA) track for romance studies
April 13–22, 2022; Seattle, WA, USA
for anyone interested in the role of romance in pop culture

​annual Independent Book Publishers Association's Publishing University
April 27–28, 2022; VIRTUAL and April 29–30, 2022; Orlando, FL, USA
for self-publishing writers
​​​​
annual The Muse & the Marketplace
April 27–May 1, 2022; Boston, MA, USA and VIRTUAL
for writers, not romance specific
​
7th annual Interracial Romance Authors' Expo
April 28–30, 2022; Daytona Beach, FL, USA
for romance readers
​​
biennial Spring Fling Writers' Conference
April 28–30, 2022; Chicago, IL, US and VIRTUAL
for romance writers​
​​
annual YallWest
2022 details TBA
for YA writers and readers
​

37th annual Washington Romance Writers Retreat
2022 details TBA
for romance writers


MAY 2022
7th annual A Weekend with the Authors
May 11–15, 2022; Nashville, TN, USA
for readers, not romance specific
​
semiannual Romance Author & Reader Events presents RARE 22 Edinburgh
May 27–28, 2022; Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
for romance readers

19th annual Maine Romance Writers Retreat
May 2022 details TBA; Portland, ME, USA
for romance writers


​JUNE 2022
8th annual The Writer's Hotel Master Class in Fiction
​June 8–14, 2022; New York City, NY, USA
for fiction writers, not romance specific

16th annual Lori Foster's Reader & Author Get Together (RAGT)
June 9–11, 2022; Cincinnati, OH, USA
for romance readers

inaugural Lust in the Lowcountry Romancecon
June 10–11, 2022; Charleston, SC, USA
for romance writers and readers

5th annual Wild Deadwood Reads
June 18, 2022; Deadwood, SD, USA
for romance readers
​
​
JULY 2022
3rd annual Book Bonanza
July 8–9, 2022; Grapevine, TX, USA
for romance readers
​​
9th annual Imaginarium 
July 8–10, 2022; Louisville, KY, USA
for writers, not romance specific
​​
7th annual YA Literature Con at the London Film & Comic Con (YALC) 
July 8–10, 2022; London, ENGLAND
​
for YA writers & readers, not romance specific
​
annual Literary Love Savannah
July 20–24, 2022; Savannah, GA, USA
for romance readers
​
6th annual Sexy and Sassy Signing: Sinful Fairy Tales
July 28–31, 2022; Norfolk, VA, USA
for romance readers
​
6th annual Apollycon
July 28–31, ​2022; Washington, D.C., USA
for romance readers
​​
53rd annual Willamette Writers Conference 
2022 details TBA; Oregon, USA
​for writers, not romance specific
​
annual Romantic Novelists' Association Conference 
2022 details TBA; ENGLAND
for romance writers
​​

AUGUST 2022
11th annual When Words Collide 
August 12–14, 2022; Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
for writers & readers, not romance specific
​​
9th annual Orlando Reads Books
August 25–27, 2022; Orlando, FL, USA
for fiction writers and readers, not romance specific
​
annual Heather Graham's Writers for New Orleans
2022 details TBA; New Orleans, LA, USA
for romance writers

​​annual Romance GenreCon
2022 details TBA;​ Kansas City, MO, USA
for romance readers and writers
​​
27th RSJ Book Lovers' Convention
2022 details TBA
for romance readers & writers celebrating diversity in publishing
​
14th annual Writers' Police Academy MurderCon
2022 details TBA
​for writers of law-enforcement characters and suspense

28th annual Romance Writers of New Zealand 
2022 details TBA; NEW ZEALAND
​for romance writers

31st annual Romance Writers of Australia Conference 
2022 details TBA; AUSTRALIA
for romance writers
​

SEPTEMBER 2022
annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference
September 8–11, 2022; St Louis, MI, USA
for inspirational writers, not romance specific 
​
8th annual Penned Con 
September 22–24, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA
for readers & writers, not romance specific
​​
5th annual Historical Romance Retreat
September 28–October 2, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA
for historical romance readers
​
annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA)
September 30–October 2, 2022; Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA
for anyone interested in the Regency era
​
inaugural Black Women Swirl Literature Conference
September 2022; Niagara Falls, Ontario, CANADA
for interracial romance readers and writers
​

OCTOBER 2022
LoveNVegas
October 28–30, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA
for romance readers

​annual FAN EXPO Denver (formerly Denver Pop Culture Con)
October 29–31, 2021; Denver, CO, USA
for readers


NOVEMBER 2022
13th annual Readers & 'Ritas 
November 2022 details TBA; Allen, TX, USA
​for romance readers​
​​

To Be Announced 2022
Historical Novel Society UK Conference
2022 details TBA; Durham, ENGLAND

InD'Scribe Author & Reader Conference and RONE Awards
2022 details TBA; Peoria, IL, USA
for indie readers & writers

7th annual ROSA Con
2022 details TBA, SOUTH AFRICA
for romance writers

4th annual ROSA Western Cape Retreat
2022 details TBA, SOUTH AFRICA
for romance writers
​
​annual Writer's Digest Conference 
2022 details TBA, USA
for writers, not romance specific
​​
semi-annual Hearts in the Sand Conference
2022 details TBA; FL, USA
for romance writers
​

biennial Florida Romance Writers Fun in the Sun CRUISE
2022 details TBA
for romance writers
​
biennial Seymour Agency Writer’s Winter Escape Cruise
2022 details TBA
​for writers, not romance specific but romance is heavily represented
​
9th annual ErotiCon
2022 details TBA; London, ENGLAND
for erotica writers
​
annual Cleveland Rocks Romance
2022 details TBA; Cleveland, OH, USA
for romance writers
​​​
semiannual Avon Books KissCon Weekend Affair
2022 details TBA; Chicago, IL​, USA
for romance readers

6th annual Starfish Writers Conference
2022 details TBA​; Houston, TX, USA
for romance writers
​​​
​​​6th biennial Swirling the Big Easy
2022 details TBA; New Orleans, LA, USA
for IR romance readers

5th annual Festival New Romance
2022 details TBA, FRANCE
for romance readers 
​​​
Romancing Williamsburg 
2022 details TBA; Colonial Williamsburg, VA, USA
for historical romance readers
​
2nd East Coast Author Convention
2022 details TBA; Bucks County, PA, USA
for romance readers
​
​​annual New Jersey Romance Writers' Put Your Heart In a Book
2022 details TBA; Iselin, NJ, USA
for romance writers
​​
​6th Annual Cruising Writers
2022 details TBA
for fiction writers, not romance specific

​​​​annual Write Touch Conference
2022 details TBA; Green Bay, WI, USA
for genre fiction writers

23rd annual Shining the Light on Romance Agent and Editor Luncheon
​​2022 details TBA; Woodbury, NY, USA
​
annual BookCon, Book Expo America and the New York Rights Fair
2022 details TBA; New York City, NY, USA
for writers, not romance specific
​​
​
8th biennial International Conference on Popular Romance Studies
2022 details TBA
for romance writers and industry professionals

​semiannual Robert Mckee's Story Seminar
2022 details TBA
for writers, not romance specific


​2023 and Beyond!

2nd biennial Ballgowns and Books Event (BABE)
June 9–10, 2023; Sydney, Australia
for fantasy romance readers

biennial Historical Novel Society North America Conference
June, 2023; Sant Antonia, TX, USA
for historical fiction writers
​​
annual American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference
August 24–27, 2023; St Louis, MI, USA
for inspirational writers, not romance specific 
​
annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA)
October 27–29, 2023; Denver, CO, USA
for anyone interested in the Regency era

​3rd biennial Barbara Vey's Reader Cruise
2023 details TBA
for romance readers
​​

3rd biennial RomantiConn Author Signing Event
2022 details TBA; Trumbull, CT; 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
Book'd
California Dreamin' ​
CT Fiction Fest (put on by CT chapter of RWA)
​Desert Dreams Day of Workshops
​Erotic Romance Rendezvous
European LesFic Literary Conference (ELLCon)
Fictionally Yours, Melbourne
Historical Writers of America Conference
​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)
LoveLetter Convention
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
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If you'd like to find book signing events that don't include parties, games, or classes, your best bet is to search "romance book signings" on Facebook, where there are many groups devoted to these types of events.

For comprehensive lists of reader and writer conventions and conferences for general fiction and for various aspects of the industry, Author E.M.S., Poets and Writers Conferences and Residencies Database, and AWP Writers' Conferences and Centers Database are all great resources.
​

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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