Popular Romance Fiction: the Literature of Hope is an exciting conference taking place at Yale on Friday, September 8 – Saturday, September 9, 2023! We bring leading romance writers together with scholars, readers, and the public for two days of conversation and interactive events about romance beyond surface appearances, examining its racial, feminist, material, political, and religious aspects and discussing romance as a unique literary site for the power and politics of hope.
Events include: “How to Write a Romance Novel” workshop led by writers Adriana Herrera and Sarah MacLean, documentary screening of Love Between the Covers (2015) and director talk-back with documentarian Laurie Kahn and authors from the film (Eloisa James, Beverly Jenkins, and Radclyffe), discussion panels, a community collaboration with theElm City LIT Fest, book signings with Possible Futures bookstore, Black historical romance exhibition at the Beinecke, and more!
A special keynote event will conclude the conference, featuring pioneering Black historical romance writer Beverly Jenkins in conversation with acclaimed writer and New York Times columnist Roxane Gay.
Learn more at the conference website: https://romancefictionconference.yale.edu/program-september-8-9-2023