The Maryland Romance Writers are proud to present three days of craft discussions, author readings, and hands-on how-to advice from some of the top authors in romantic fiction, the bestselling commercial fiction.
Maryland Romance Writers Stage
The mission of MRW is “to promote excellence in romantic fiction and advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy, dissemination of information, professional education, publications, and other appropriate activities and to provided continuing support for writers within the romance publishing industry.”
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Stage: Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Rash Field
Friday, September 22
Writing About the Past: Historical Novels
With Hamilton: An American Musical, Outlander, The White Queen, The Crown, and other pop culture historicals, history has never been more present. Bestselling authors explore the challenges and rewards of writing in other times.
Katharine Ashe
Laura Kamoie
Sarah MacLean
Maya Rodale
Mary K. Tilghman
E. Elizabeth Watson
Event Details
Out of This World Love: Science Fiction Romance
Outer space. Other planets. Other times. Bestselling and award-winning authors talk worldbuilding, science in fiction, crafting unique characters, and more.
Pintip Dunn
Michelle Howard
Chrsitine Manzari
Anne Renwick
M.D. Waters
Jasinda Wilder
Event Details
Health, Fitness and Writing Naked
Two New York Times bestselling romance authors cross into non-fiction (Jennifer Probst, Write Naked; Jasinda Wilder, Big Girls Do It Running) to share their personal stories, life advice, and writing journey and tips for writers (and readers!) in every genre.
Jennifer Probst
Jasinda Wilder
Event Details
Feminism and Romance
Romance is a billion-dollar genre in the publishing industry, and is largely written by women for women. These bestselling and award-winning authors explore romance as a feminist genre.
Magda Alexander
Katharine Ashe
Robin Covington
Dawn Ibanez
LaQuette
Sarah MacLean
Maya Rodale
Event Details
Writing Inclusively
Fostering acceptance and exploring diversity is one of the finest traditions in literature and may be more important now than ever before. These bestselling and award-winning authors write to reflect the diverse world we live in and share their stories, advice, and experiences.
Michele Arris
Xio Axelrod
Robin Covington
Andrew Grey
Tracey Livesay
L. Penelope
Ivy Quinn
Megan Erickson (Moderator)
Event Details
Writing Erotically
From sensual tension to explicit love scenes (and language), romance authors excel at writing erotically. Bestselling and award-winning authors share straight talk about writing hot.
Magda Alexander
Stoni Alexander
Michele Arris
Megan Erickson
Laura Kaye
Kelly Maher
Alisha Rai
Event Details
Saturday, September 23
Coming of Age Fiction: Young and New Adult
Coming-of-age fiction is all about the firsts--first crush, first kisses, first taste of independence, and beyond. Bestselling and award-winning YA and New Adult authors discuss how they craft these engaging stories about younger people.
Pintip Dunn
Alexa Jacobs
Brigid Kemmerer
Sarah MacLean
Christine Manzari
Lea Nolan
Elodie Nowodazki
Event Details
Love in the Real World: Contemporary Fiction
Contemporary fiction remains hot in the market - and these authors are sharing tips and tricks for crafting sexy, compelling stories based in the real world that feel like an escape from reality.
Xio Axelrod
Emily Duvall
Andrew Grey
Pamela Ferguson
Michele Mannon
Melinda Valentine
Irene Vartanoff
Laura Ward (Moderator)
Event Details
Books That Thrill: Romance and Suspense
High stakes and danger all around? It must be Romantic Suspense! Bestselling and award-winning authors share tips that will rev up the suspense in any genre to keep the pages turning and readers’ hearts pumping.
Laura Kaye
Elodie Nowodazkij
Amy Schisler
J.B. Schroeder
M.D. Waters
Nancy C. Weeks
Rebecca York
Pintip Dunn (Moderator)
Event Details
Love and Lies: Deception and Dishonesty in Fiction
Lies. Deception. Dishonesty. Bestselling and award-winning authors discuss how these elements can advance a plot, build characterization, create romantic conflict, and lead to a positive resolution. Sponsored by Avon Books.
Katharine Ashe
Christi Barth
Tracey Livesay
Sarah MacLean
Alisha Rai
Maya Rodale
Mia Sosa
Laura Kaye (Moderator)
Event Details
Crafting Characters
Alpha heroes! Strong heroines! Charming sidekicks! Dastardly villains! Bestselling and award-winning authors share their secrets to creating characters readers will love and remember.
Robin Covington
Emily Duvall
Riley Edgewood
Brigid Kemmerer
Tracey Livesay
Michele Mannon
Laura Ward
Jennifer Probst (Moderator)
Event Details
Romance as a Political Genre
Is art political? Should artists be political? How does romance fit into the current political climate? Bestselling and award-winning authors tackle the tough questions examining the political side of fiction and romance.
Katharine Ashe
Megan Erickson
Harper Miller
Sarah MacLean
Alisha Rai
Maya Rodale
Event Details
Journey to the New York Times Bestseller List
They hit the New York Times Bestsellers’ list, and now they’re sharing their journeys, advice, tips, triumphs--and pitfalls--on the way to the top.
Pintip Dunn
Laura Kaye
Sarah MacLean
Jennifer Probst
Jasinda Wilder
Rebecca York
Event Details
Writing Sensual Tension in any Genre
From closed-door to explicit sex, sensual tension creates conflict, drama, and page-turning reads in every genre.
Andie J. Christopher
Robin Covington
Riley Edgewood
Michele Mannon
Diana Quincy
Jennifer Probst
Joanna Shupe
Harper Miller (Moderator)
Event Details
Sunday, September 24
Self-Publish Like a Boss
Self-publishing provides exciting new opportunities for all authors at all levels. Join our superstar indies who’ve mastered the business and art of self-publishing like a boss and learn from the best.
Magda Alexander
LaQuette
Terri E. Laine
Kelly Maher
Harper Miller
Laura Ward
Jasinda and Jack Wilder
Robin Covington (Moderator)
Event Details
An Afternoon at the Improv: Interactive Plotting
Bestselling and award-winning authors share their top tips and tricks on plotting your novel. Bonus: audience ideas welcome for a round of flash plotting debate and discussion! Come see how it’s done!
Christi Barth
Alexa Jacobs
Brigid Kemmerer
Lea Nolan
L. Penelope
Maya Rodale
Mia Sosa
Event Details
Diverse Books: Own Voices in Fiction
Bestselling and award-winning authors talk about the importance of diverse self-representation in fiction and the publishing industry.
Andie J. Christopher
Pintip Dunn
Dawn Ibanez
LaQuette
J.L. Lora
Harper Miller
Mia Sosa
Event Details
The Craft of Writing
Bestselling and award-winning authors share their top craft tips and tricks to create books that will keep readers turning the page.
Christi Barth
Jamaila Brinkley
Brigid Kemmerer
Sarah MacLean
Lea Nolan
L. Penelope
Nancy Weeks
Tracey Livesay (Moderator)
Event Details
How Accurate Does Your Historical Novel Have to Be?
Bestselling and award-winning authors explore the challenges of research, readability, and fact in fiction in historical novels.
Laura Kamoie
Sarah MacLean
Diana Quincy
Maya Rodale
Joanna Shupe
E. Elizabeth Watson
Event Details
Otherworldly Romance: Writing Paranormal and Fantasy
Speculative fiction takes readers on an otherworldly journey full of unique creatures, fantastical worlds, and magical possibilities. Join authors discussing the challenges and possibilities of writing paranormal and fantasy stories.
Dawn Ibanez
Jean Murray
Lea Nolan
Andy Palmer
L. Penelope
Event Details
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