Celebrate Bookstore Romance Day!

Bookstore Romance Day is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community. There is an amazing slate of virtual events for every flavor of Romance fan, so check out the schedule below and register on eventbrite.  August 20th through 22nd receive 10% off Romance titles, while we donate 10% of all sales to Haven! 

Saturday August 21st

8:00am MT - Wake Up to Harlequin Women's Fiction with authors Sarah Morgan, JoAnn Ross, and RaeAnne Thayne.
Start your Bookstore Romance Day morning off with this trio of Harlequin women's fiction authors. Join Sarah Morgan, JoAnn Ross, and RaeAnne Thayne for coffee and conversation.

9:00am MT - Danger! Bang! with Jen Prokop, Sarah MacLean, Adriana Anders, Nana Malone, and KJ Charles
Join Jen Prokop (aka: Jen Reads Romance) and authors Sarah MacLean, Adriana Anders, Nana Malone, and KJ Charles to talk about the most logical response to finding your life in grave peril--the DANGER! BANG! Pinned down by gunmen? DANGER! BANG! Becalmed at sea with no instruments and no fresh water? DANGER! BANG! Trapped in a dingy motel while running from the mob? DANGER! BANG! You know it. You love it. You can't get enough of it, and this panel is right there with you. Join us for what is sure to be a b-a-n-a-n-a-s hour(-ish).

10:00am MT - A Little Bit Gothic - Susanna Kearsley, Diana Billier, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Laura Joh Rowland with moderator Emily Kelly of Third Street Books get spooky.
Sometimes, falling in love can be a little scary and sometimes it's just the ghosts. Authors Susanna Kearsley, Diana Biller, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Laura Joh Rowland aren't afraid to litter the road to love with ghosts and time slips and even murder. Moderator Emily Kelly, bookseller at Third Street Books in McMinnville, OR will talk with them about striking the right balance between the spooky and the swoony.

11:00am MT - Double The Fun With Cross-Genre Romance with SFWA President Jeffe Kennedy and authors Amanda Bouchet, Jennifer Estep, Grace Draven & Darynda Jones
As any Romance reader knows, the genre is not a monolith, but crosses over with every other conceivable genre. What may be less known is that the current president of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) is Fantasy Romance author Jeffe Kennedy. Jeffe will be joined by Amanda Bouchet, Jennfier Estep, Grace Draven, and Darynda Jones to talk all things cross-genre Romance.

1:00pm MT - Bookstore Romance Day Ambassadors Kit Rocha with Christina Lauren Two best-selling author teams, one great conversation. 
Christina Lauren (Christina and Lauren) will be in conversation with this year's Bookstore Romance Day Ambassador, Kit Rocha (Bree and Donna). Both writing teams got their start in the fanfiction community and have had great success in traditional publishing. While we may not know for sure what they'll talk about, the odds are good that fanfic and what it's like writing with a partner will be on the agenda.

2:00pm MT - Ghouls, Golems, and Giggles - Humor in paranormal and supernatural romance  with Gwenda Bond, Gail Carriger, Sarah Kuhn, & Angela Quarles and moderator Annie Carl of The Neverending Bookshop
If you're tired of brooding vampires, dour superheroes, and demons so evil they verge on caricature, we have your remedy. Join authors Gwenda Bond, Gail Carriger, Sarah Kuhn, and Angela Quarles as they talk about how to make a protagonist both intimidating (phenomenal cosmic powers) and relatable (itty bitty living space). Annie Carl, owner of The Neverending Bookshop, will moderate.

3:00pm MT - Love is Queer - with authors Olivia Waite, Adriana Herrera, Cat Sebastian, and Roan Parrish moderated by Shane P. Mullen of East Bank Books.
Love is love is love is love is love. Celebrate queer Romance with authors Olivia Waite, Adriana Herrara, Cat Sebastian, and Roan Parrish and moderated by Shane P. Mullen of East Bank Books.

4:00pm MT- Historical Mystery, with Love -  with Deanna Raybourn, Sherry Thomas, YS Lee, & Tasha Alexander moderated by BrocheAroe Fabian of River Dog Book
There is a significant overlap both in readership and even structure and tropes employed between historical mystery and Romance. Join authors Deanna Raybourn, Sherry Thomas, YS Lee, and Tasha Alexander as they discuss those commonalities with BrocheAroe Fabian, owner of River Dog Book Co.

5:00pm  MT - Harlequin Happy Hour with Marcella Bell, Audrey Carlan, Sheila Roberts, and Maisey Yates.
Pour yourself your drink of choice and kick back for a Happy Hour chat with authors Marcella Bell, Audrey Carlan, Sheila Roberts, and Maisey Yates.

7:00pm MT - Bookstore Romance Day After Dark - Join romance authors Xio Axelrod, Kristen Callihan, Robin Covington, Ann Aguirre, and Naima Simone for games, music, and more after all the fun of Bookstore Romance Day!

Sunday, August 22nd

10:00am MT- Small Town Romance with Harlequin - with Michelle Major, Lee Tobin McClain, Jo McNally, and Naima Simone
Join Michelle Major, Lee Tobin McClain, Jo McNally, and Naima Simone as they discuss the enduring appeal of the small town Romance.

11:00am MT - Soap Opera Drama with Harlequin - with Hudson Lin, Angelina M. Lopez, Mona Shroff, and Synithia Williams
Who doesn't love a little drama--or a lot of drama? Join Harlequin authors Hudson Lin, Angelina M. Lopez, Mona Shroff, and Synithia Williams as they dish all things High Drama, High Emotions, and Sky High Heels.

12:00pm MT - High Stakes/ High Emotions - with Sharon Lynn Fisher, Everina Maxwell, Jessie Mihalik, and Elizabeth Lim and moderator Candice Huber of Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Books
Authors Sharon Lynn Fisher, Everina Maxwell, Jessie Mihalik, and Elizabeth Lim explore the risks and rewards of falling in love while you're trying to save the realm/world/galaxy. Moderated by Candice Huber, owner of Tubby & Coo's Mid-City Books.

1:00pm MT- Young Adult Romance with Inkyard Press- featuring Tashie Bhuyian, Dana L. Davis, Abigail Johnson, Whitney D. Grandison, & moderator Eric Smith
We all love a good YA swoon-fest. Join moderator Eric Smith and authors Tashie Bhuyian, Dana L. Davis, Abigail Johnson, and Whitney D. Grandison from Harlequin's Inkyard Press for a discussion of the genre we never outgrow.

2:00pm MT - Book Your Perfect Match - with authors Jay Coles, Leah Johnson, Brianna Bourne, Molly Knox Ostertag, and Debbie Rigaud
Find your perfect book match Scholastic and I Read YA celebrates Bookstore Romance Day with Jay Coles, Leah Johnson, Brianna Bourne, Molly Knox Ostertag, and Debbie Rigaud.

This event will be hosted on the I Read YA YouTube. Links to come soon.