RomanceLahoma Schedule

OKRWG President, Sabrina Fish, will welcome attendees to RomanceLahoma 2023 & Introduce Our Speakers!

Are you interested in traditional publishing? In this session, you can ask editors, Rhonda Penders of The Wild Rose Press and Allison Lyons of Harlequin, as well as agents, Saint Gibson of Speilburg Literary and Amy Brewer of Metamorphosis Literary all your traditional publishing questions.

Writing is very creative and artistic but the idea of “writing to market” can be stressful, and typically makes many writers flustered. Candice Gilmer will explain how writing to the market still allows you to be creative, while giving the readers exactly what they want.

If you’ve ever dreamed of multiplying your time, energy, resources, and creativity while writing a novel, then a plotting community might be the best tool for you! After nine years of meeting annually with the same five best-selling, award-winning authors, Nicole is passionate about how brainstorming ideas inside a trusted community has strengthened her story conflicts and character arcs, as well as enriched her relationships with fellow storytellers.  

Romcoms are everywhere! But what separates a romcom from a contemporary romance? Is there a difference at all? Join author Jamie Wesley as she explores the essential elements of a great romcom, from meet cutes (or disasters) to dialogue to authorial voice and so much more!

Having trouble finding the time to accomplish all your work? Or maybe it’s motivation you’re lacking? Come learn how to write 50 books a year (or, seriously, a subset of 50) and get things done!

In the last 15 years, the book publishing industry witnessed not one, but two sea change events. The first was the democratization of the industry, circa 2008. The second was the merger of the two largest self-publishing platforms, Draft2Digital (from Oklahoma!) and Smashwords, in March 2022. The union of D2D and Smashwords created a self-publishing juggernaut overnight, legitimized the indie author movement, and ensured that even more writers will achieve their dreams of becoming published, globally distributed authors. But what does this mean to YOU? In this workshop you’ll learn: 

• What led to the democratization of the publishing industry 

• What led to the merger of two of the world’s largest self-publishing platforms 

• How the merger between D2D & Smashwords benefits you, the author 

• The advantages of self-publishing 

• The latest tools available to help you reach more readers and do it faster, easier and more professionally than ever

"Have you ever wondered how agents approach reading query letters for romance novels? What makes a query letter stand out from the crowd? Take a peek behind the curtain with an agent, and learn how to best utilize tropes, character details, stakes, and plot tentpoles in order to make your query shine."

In this workshop, Jennifer explores ways to add emotion to your story without becoming melodramatic. You will learn strategies that help you dig deeper into scenes and characters to create a heartfelt experience for readers, rather than simply describing what a character feels. Your readers will “feel all the feels” along with your characters, making for an unforgettable, richer, more meaningful read.  

Volunteers assigned to this event should report to Rooms A & B for set up.

Bring your questions and come ready to soak in the knowledge and experience of NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author, Jodi Thomas.

What are the most essential social medias to use to create a well-performing platform? What’s the difference between publicity and marketing? Amy Brewer will explain all, including how to anchor your platform with an author website and how to create Facebook author page. She'll show us why it’s important, and how to get those crucial followers. She’ll also cover Bookstagram’s importance in the romance genre and how to feel like you’re not screaming into the void on TikTok’s BookTok.

Speakers each host their own table. Table Guests receive Free Goodies.

Guests encouraged to bring a gift for their table host.

(Prior ticket purchase required, no walk-ins)

Have you ever thought about turning your books into audiobooks, but are unsure of where to start? Or have you looked into audiobooks, but weren't ready to jump in? Join Audiobook Narrator and TikTok's Book Blooper Queen, Laura Horowitz, as she explains the ins and outs of audiobook production. She will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the process from selecting your distributor, to casting you narrators, to marketing your finished audiobook. 

Today’s readers want different things in their romance books than what their mothers and grandmothers wanted. Yet, the draw to historical romance is still there. Combining accuracy with the past, yet writing characters that appeal can be a challenge. Using examples from my own books as well as quotes from my other historical authors, we’ll look at various ways we can hold a reader’s interest without re-writing history.

Does the thought of writing about S-E-X make you want to run and hide? Wonder if it’s too much… or not enough? Never fear. USA Today Bestselling Author Sarah Bale will guide you through the process, making your first time oh-so-special. Find out how to set the mood, words to use/not use, but most importantly how to get comfortable as your characters strip down and bare their emotions and love to each other.

Learn how to use literary devices you’ve never heard of—but likely have seen—and other simple tricks to improve the emotional impact of your prose. Each device will have examples from speeches, literature, and/or movies to illustrate how they can be used in all kinds of writing.

Interested in traditional publishing and have a book ready to go? Pitch your book to our visiting agents & editors. Pre-Sign ups allowed for 1 appointment per attendee allowed. Check to see what they are looking for and to sign up HERE

 Sweet romance and Christian romance are on the rise, but just because there are no love scenes doesn't mean it should be without sexual tension. Amy will share with you the 12 steps of intimacy and how to incorporate them into your books to add a little spark. (This class can also be beneficial to those who write sexy books.)

The flurry of excitement at their first meeting. But, what should your main characters say to each other?? Tamela has been crafting unforgettable dialogue- from witty banter to passionate, tearful declarations- for over a decade as a seasoned author. Spend time with her to  learn (or to refresh your sleeping writing mind!) how to create dialogue that sounds true to each character and will remain in the hearts of your readers long after they close your book. 

Booktok has revitalized the book buying business. Join author Mariah Ankenman as she helps you navigate the ever changing world of TikTok and the booktok community. Learn how to connect with readers, create engaging videos, and cross post to Instagram Reels for maximum exposure. Grab your book crown authors!

Cozy Mystery readers and Romance readers share an important commonality—they are often “whale readers,” reading 5+ books a week. In other words, they are both huge markets. It makes sense that successful Cozy Mysteries have a little Romance in them, and many successful Romances have a little Mystery in them. Some people choose to moan and groan about the situation, but smart authors realize they have discovered the most delicious pairing of all time. In this session, Moira will share the secrets to creating literary peanut butter cups—Cozy Mysteries with Romantic Elements, and Romance with Mystery Elements. 

Be sure to take advantage of the hotel's complimentary evening reception starting at 5:30pm (for those staying at the hotel).

It's a Masquerade! Our keynote will address us and food will be served!

Dress Code: Formal, Professional, or Sunday Best and a Mask

(Prizes will be given for Fanciest & Funniest Masks)

Informal, Come & Go, Board Games, Cards, & Dominoes

The bar is only steps away