Romancing New England: local events for romance readers and authors

LIVE: Fall in Love New England

October 15-16, 2021
Boxborough Regency Hotel
242 Adams Pl.
Boxborough MA 01719

Festivities start at 2 pm on Friday with a selection of workshops and conclude in the evening with our Halloween dinner party and great basket giveaway. The two-day ticket will also include all the activities scheduled below in our one-day ticket option. A one-day ticket is for those who want to spend the full day with us on Saturday only. We are chock-a-block full of fun-fuelled entertainment including author panels, author spotlights, games, book crafts, our meet and greet charm brunch, author-decorated dinner tables, Yankee book swap, and early access to our fabulous book signing. Readers will receive a unique conference goodie bag at registration check-in. All Ticket sales end October 1, 2021, so don't wait!!

Advance Tickets Required

VIRTUAL: Contemporary Romance Roundtable at the Boston Book Festival with Alyssa Cole, Lana Harper, K.M. Jackson, and Farrah Rochon, hosted by Andrea Martucci

October 20, 2021
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Virtual Event: Hosted by Boston Book Festival 2021
Boston MA

The romance genre is staggeringly diverse; in this session we’ll take a deep dive into the variety just within the “contemporary romance” subcategory, with four stunningly talented masters of the genre. K. M. Jackson’s How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days effectively leavens heavy topics with a light rom-com feel, as a grieving Keanu super-fan sets off on a road trip accompanied by her long-time best friend in this friends-to-lovers heartwarmer. In The Dating Playbook, Farrah Rochon’s follow-up to The Boyfriend Project, a personal trainer has to weigh her professional ambitions against her growing attraction to her NFL-player client. Alyssa Cole’s latest installment in her Runaway Royals series recasts the story of Anastasia Romanov in the fictional African monarchy of Ibarania in “an effervescent queer romance,” according to Kirkus. Lana Harper adds a witchy twist to her queer rom-com, Payback’s a Witch, which blends mysticism, revenge, and attraction into what Publishers Weekly calls a “magical joyride” in a starred review. You’ll have plenty to add to your TBR list after this session, hosted by Andrea Martucci of the Shelf Love podcast. Sponsored by Emerson College Graduate Admission.

☆ BBF registration required

VIRTUAL: Paranormal Romance Panel with Maria Vale, Suleikha Snyder, Juliette Cross, and Holley Trent

October 21, 2021
7:00 PM
Virtual Meeting: Hosted by Ashland Public Library
Ashland MA

Shifters, Vampires, Dragons, Oh My! - Just in time for Halloween, we're having some spooky fun for adults! Join paranormal romance authors Maria Vale, Suleikha Snyder, Juliette Cross, and Holley Trent as they discuss the mysterious creatures in their books and how their characters find a happily ever after in their magical worlds. Bring your own candy corn :) The program is 7pm ET (Boston time). You can buy signed (by bookplate) books by our authors through Bank Square Books!

VIRTUAL - Romance Book Club: Read Nalini Singh

November 4, 2021
6:30 PM
Hosted by Ashland Public Library
66 Front St.
Ashland MA

To celebrate her newest release, "Archangel's Light" AND in anticipation of her virtual visit with us on Thursday November 18th, we are reading books by author Nalini Singh. Read any book by Nalini (you can't go wrong with any of her books!) and come ready to discuss (and add to your TBR pile).

VIRTUAL - K.M. Jackson with Mary Pauline Lowry

November 10, 2021
7:00 PM
Hosted by Belmont Books
Belmont MA

Join us for a lively discussion with K.M. Jackson about her latest rompy, rom-com How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days! Fellow Keanu fan and author, Mary Pauline Lowry will be in conversation. Books available for ordering.

VIRTUAL: Q&A with Nalini Singh

November 18, 2021
7:00 PM
Virtual Meeting: Hosted by Ashland Public Library
Ashland MA

Who else is a huge fan of Nalini Singh?!?! We're so thrilled to be able to spend an hour with her and ask.her.anything about her books and writing process. If you haven't read her Psy/Changeling or Guild Hunter series, you are in for so much of a treat. And, if you have, you already know what to expect. So, bring your own chocolate as we celebrate the accomplishments of one of our very favorite authors!

VIRTUAL: Women, Agency and Sex Positivity in Fantasy, featuring Scarlett St. Clair

December 1, 2021
7:00 PM
Virtual Meeting: Hosted by Ashland Public Library
Ashland MA

You know how we love book birthdays, right? Scarlett's new book, "King of Battle and Blood" is coming into the world on November 30th and we need to discuss! It is an epic fantasy novel filled with danger, darkness, and insatiable romance. And, Scarlett is the perfect person to talk about women, agency and sex positivity in the fantasy genre - we hope you'll join us for this very important discussion. You can buy the signed book at Bank Square Books. All About Scarlett: Scarlett St. Clair is the author of the HADES X PERSEPHONE SAGA, the HADES SAGA, KING OF BATTLE & BLOOD, and WHEN STARS COME OUT. She has a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Studies and a Bachelors in English Writing. She is obsessed with Greek Mythology, murder mysteries, and the afterlife. If you are obsessed with these things, then you'll like her books. You can find pictures of her adorable dog Adelaide on her Instagram at authorscarlettstclair. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library.

VIRTUAL - Romance Book Club: Read An Anthology, Any Anthology

December 2, 2021
6:30 PM
Hosted by Ashland Public Library
66 Front St.
Ashland MA

We're reading anthologies - have you noticed that there are always a ton of new anthologies around the holidays? - and come ready to discuss. Anthologies, IMHO, are the best way to find new authors in a quick and painless way :).

VIRTUAL - Romance Book Club: Holiday Anthologies for Romance Readers with Eva Moore, Preslaysa Williams, R.L. Merrill, and Kilby Blades

December 11, 2021
10:00 AM
Hosted by Ashland Public Library
Ashland MA

Who doesn't enjoy a good holiday anthology? Especially a great romance one! Join authors Eva Moore, Preslaysa Williams, R.L Merrill, and Kilby Blades - contributors of the well loved anthology "The Worst Holiday Ever" - as they talk about the appeals of anthologies, how they are created, and why the holidays are just the perfect time for a good one. Oh, and we'll make sure to spend some time talking about their upcoming books, too! You can buy signed book by any of our authors at Bank Square Books - including their backlists. Click on the link, buy, and say you want your books signed in the notes. Please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them, the email will be coming from ashlandprograms@minlib.net.

VIRTUAL - Romance Book Club: Read Helen Hoang

January 6, 2022
6:30 PM
Hosted by Ashland Public Library
66 Front St.
Ashland MA

This month, we're reading books by Helen Hoang, who leaped into our hearts with her first book "The Kiss Quotient). Be ready to discuss (and add to your TBR pile!). We'll have some copies of Helen's books at the library or you can order them from our online catalog. please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them, they will be coming from ashlandprograms@minlib.net.

VIRTUAL - Two Nerdy History Girls with Loretta Chase and Susan Holloway Scott

January 20, 2022
7:00 PM
Hosted by Ashland Public Library
Ashland MA

The Two Nerdy History Girls Ride Again! Fans of historical fiction - this one's for you! We welcome the original Two Nerdy History Girls to Ashland - authors Loretta Chase and Susan Holloway Scott were the originators of the blog and, although it is now inactive, we have Loretta and Susan here to answer all of our burning questions. How do they find interesting tidbits of historical lore, which libraries of the world have they visited, and how do they avoid the inescapable "rabbit hole"? We can't wait for what we think is going to be a fascinating conversation between these two friends and researchers. You can buy signed books by both authors at Bank Square Books - including their backlists. Click on the link, buy, and say you want your books signed in the notes. Please register for this event and you'll receive the link in the confirmation and reminder emails - make sure to check your spam folder for them, the email will be coming from ashlandprograms@minlib.net.