RomanceLahoma Schedule

OKRWG President, Sabrina Fish, will welcome attendees to RomanceLahoma 2026 & Introduce Our Speakers!

OKRWG President, Sabrina Fish, will welcome attendees to RomanceLahoma 2025 & Introduce Our Speakers!

​In this session, you'll learn how to create an addictive shared universe where readers fall in love with the characters and delight in seeing them over and over again.

Stop guessing and start building tension that sizzles. This session explores how to build layers of physical and emotional intimacy to elevate your favorite romance tropes from predictable to unforgettable. From the first spark of awareness to the grand gesture, learn how to create a character connection that feels earned and authentic while hitting those essential trope expectations.

Authors often ask Harlequin editors about the differences between Harlequin Intrigue and Harlequin Romantic Suspense. These romance lines attract different readers through their distinct tone, storylines, characters, themes, and romantic intensity--so which one best suits the stories you want to write? If you love edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense with mystery, cliffhangers and explosive chemistry, join Susan Litman for a cross-examination of these thrilling Harlequin romance lines, and ask your questions about publishing with Harlequin.

The asshole hero perennially fascinates readers. Let’s explore the different types of asshole heroes, discuss how to make him compelling to the reader, and how to make him sympathetic without losing his edge.

Join C.M. as she tells you all about Non-Traditional Publishing Journeys for Beginners

Write and self-edit Butter Blurbs (delicious book descriptions) that SELL your stories to ANYONE!!!

Let’s retire the sidekick role for good. This session dives into writing plus-size and other underrepresented heroines as fully realized, desirable main characters—drawing from real-life experience and reader expectations. We’ll also cover how to responsibly write identities beyond your own, including when and how to bring in sensitivity readers or community feedback.

How to protect yourself and keep more of your own money in your pocket. How to advocate for yourself and sell your own books traditionally with the big five, foreign deals, and audio.

On this panel:

Romance Cover Model & Photographer, Wander Aguiar

Romance Audiobook Narrator, Tor Thom

In this session, you'll learn how to turn innocuous posts and articles into full on stories. Everything is a narrative if you look with the right lens.

Panel includes:

Bantam Editor, Lizzy Poteet

Harlequin Editor, Susan Litman

Wild Rose Press Editor, Ally Robertson

Root Literary Agent, Samantha Fabian

Bradford Literary Agent, Laura Bradford

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to turn an idea into a finished book, this class breaks it down into a simple, repeatable system that actually works. I’ll walk you through how I structure stories, use tropes and emotional beats, and keep my writing process streamlined so I can consistently finish projects without burnout. This is all about creating a workflow that takes you from “I have an idea” to “I finished my book” in a way that feels doable and sustainable.

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)

​Ready to turn up the heat? Make your next love scene memorable for all the right reasons. In this candid, no-nonsense workshop, we’ll break down the most common mistakes authors make that cause readers to wince instead of sigh by getting real about everything from emotional connection to the essential role of consent. Leave the awkwardness behind and gain the confidence to craft passionate, authentic scenes that stay with your readers long after the last page.

If your to-do list never ends, it’s time to level up. In this workshop, we’ll cover how to think like a CEO, what tasks to delegate first, and how to choose between freelancers, agencies, and employees. Plus: practical tips for finding, vetting, and managing people so you can grow your author business without burning out.

No, this is not a course about how to break into the hot orc and fae market. It’s about tapping into the secret reasons audiences enjoy our work and using that secret ingredient to craft stories that captivate and SELL. Are you ready to transform your writing and marketing life?

This class dives into how to build story worlds that keep readers coming back for more. I’ll share how I create and organize world bibles for interconnected books/series, track characters and timelines, and set up series that naturally lead to higher read-through. We’ll talk about both the tools (like Scrivener) and the mindset behind building a scalable story universe, so you can write faster, stay organized, and create worlds readers don’t want to leave.

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

Do you need a PA? What can you do on your own? Tools and Resources I use for free, and what I pay for.

Join C.M. as she tells you all about Patreon for authors

To make it in today’s competitive market, your book doesn’t just have to be good, it has to be perfect. Learn both revision and editing techniques in this workshop so that you can polish your manuscript to perfection for the editor or reader of your dreams.

Bring your questions for Sierra and Julie

Announcement of 2026 Heart Award Contest Winners

(Registration Required, Tickets Not Sold at Door)

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

The bar is only steps away