We're looking forward to giving you our schedule for 2025.
Until then, here's what you may have missed for 2024

EVENT SCHEDULE

ENJOY THE 3-DAY VIRTUAL #BOOKLOVER EXPERIENCE

RSJ ONLINE ROMANCE BOOK CONVENTION

The RSJ Convention Is Run On East Coast Time.

THURSDAY, JULY 11

11

JULY

WELCOME TO RSJ: Let's Set Up Your Teams

Get An Overview On How To Navigate The RSJ Convention & What's To Come

Your RSJ Team

11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

LOVE UNSCRIPTED: A Surprise Collaborative Romance Short Story Adventure

Reference To This Will Happen All 3-Days Of Convention. Don't Miss The Set Up!

Melissa Collings ~ Author

12:00 pm - 12:50 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

SHORT BREAK - 10 MIN

12:50 pm - 1:00 pm

11

JULY

The Art To Romance Keywords and Categories

Learn Strategies To Become A Top-Selling Amazon Author

Hank Marcacci ~ Publisher Rocket

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

Quick Author Spotlight: New York Times Bestselling Author Belle Calhoune

Her New York Times Bestselling Book & Her Next Upcoming Book

Belle Calhoune ~ Harlequin Author / Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

2:00 pm - 2:05 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: Creating Emotional Intimacy In Your Romance Novel

Learn How To Show The Growing Bond Between Two Leads On Their Journey Of Falling In Love And Get Their Top Five Tips For Creating Solid Emotional Intimacy On The Page.

Deirdre McCluskey & Katie Gowrie ~ Harlequin Editors

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

SHORT BREAK - 15 MIN

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm

11

JULY

It's A Book Community!

Every author needs a tribe of super engaged fans. Enjoy this interactive workshop on the power of street teams, reviews, working with book reviewers, and more.

3:15 pm - 4:15 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

TOP MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR BOOK

This workshop will be a game-changer for anyone looking to be traditionally published, so come with your notebook and be ready to get an exclusive look into publishing.

Jessica Sharpe ~ Fiction Acquisitions Editor at Bethany House Publishers

4:15 pm - 5:15 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

11

JULY

DINNER BREAK - 45 MINUTES

5:15 pm - 6:00 pm

11

JULY

SCAVENGER HUNT GAME

Let's Have Some Fun. Who's Winning Prizes Tonight?

Stephanie Morris & Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

Writer for Harlequin - Pitch Sessions Available

The RSJ Convention Is Run On East Coast Time.

FRIDAY, JULY 12

12

JULY

WELCOME TO DAY 2: Meet & Greet Engagement, Networking, & Prizes

Meet Your Fellow Attendee: Authors, Aspiring Authors, & Readers

Your RSJ Team

11:00 am - 11:45 am - Online - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

ASPIRING AUTHOR WORKSHOP - PART 1 - For Beginning Authors

So, You Want To Be An Author? Let's Explore The Format For Writing Romance Books.

Miriam Pace ~ Co-author J.M. Jeffries

11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Mosely Room

CREATING A MARKETING PLAN - PART 1 - For Published Authors

From Spaghetti to Strategy - Creating a Marketing Plan That Works for You!

Jen Graybeal ~ Creative Coach

11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

SHORT BREAK - 15 MIN

12:45 pm - 1:00 pm

12

JULY

Book Talk with Author Siera London

Open book Talk On The Top Summer Romance Reads, What's Trending In Romancelandia, And Of Course Romance Book Recommendations.

Moderator: Angela Anderson

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

Question & Answers With Tyndale Publishing

Find Out More About What Tyndale Is Looking To Acquire

Elizabeth Jackson ~ Senior Acquisitions Editor at Tyndale

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

Let's Talk About Book Series

The Magic Of Book Series & Why We Love Them / Featured Authors TBA

Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

SHORT BREAK - 15 MINUTES

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm

12

JULY

LOVE AT FIRST WRITE: A Story Collaboration Workshop

Explore How Writing Groups Work And Participate In This Group Exercise On Story Development & Romance Book Writing.

Bonita Thornton & Marta Baez Petrocelli ~ Project Facilitators

3:15 pm - 4:15 pm - Mosley Room

ELEVATE YOUR AUTHOR BRAND: Strategies For Effective Bookfunnel Promotion

An exploration into how to navigate Bookfunnel for the best results.

Stephanie Morris ~ Three(3) times USA Today Bestselling Author

3:15 pm - 4:15 pm - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

CREATING HIGH-CONCEPT HOOKS

An Exploration Into What High-Concept Hooks Are And Why You'll Want To Create Them For Your Novels.

Cole Lanahan ~ Agent at The Seymour Agency

4:15 pm - 5:15 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

ASK AN EDITOR OR BOOK COACH ANYTHING PANEL - Learn From Industry Freelancers

Enjoy the Q&A Discussion

Stephanie Morris ~ Moderator

5:15 pm - 5:45 pm - Lovehall Room

12

JULY

DINNER BREAK - 45 MINUTES

5:45 pm - 6:30 pm

12

JULY

BOOKLOVERLAND GAME & CAFE CLIFFHANGER PJ NIGHT

Who's Winning Prizes Tonight? Listen and watch in your pajamas while cliffhangers from books are read in audiobook format to introduce you to your next great read. Get your drinks, snacks, and pajamas ready.

Booklover Event ~ Enjoy!

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

The RSJ Convention Is Run On East Coast Time.

SATURDAY, JULY 13

13

JULY

WELCOME TO DAY 3: Meet & Greet Engagement, Networking, & Prizes

Meet Your Fellow Attendee: Authors, Aspiring Authors, & Readers

Your RSJ Team

11:00 am - 11:30 am - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

GETTING THE BEST USE OUT OF AI: What Is It? Why Should You Care?

This Workshop Will Take You Through Interactive AI Examples So You Stay In The Know About Artificial Intelligence And Our World Today

11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

Meet & Greet: Have You Found Your Match Yet

Rules will be provided to all teams

~ Moderator: Stephanie Morris & Tiffany Jones

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR JACQUELIN THOMAS

A Celebration & Insights As She Sets Out To Publish Her 100th Book

Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

SHORT BREAK - 15 MIN

1:30 pm - 1:45 pm

13

JULY

FASCINATOR DAY!

Fascinator Day Officially Begins with the Historical Romance Panel

Best Fascinator Will Win.

Winner Will Be Announced At The End Of The Day

Starts At 1:45 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

HISTORICAL ROMANCE PANEL

Fascinator Day Officially Begins / Featured Authors TBA

Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

1:45 pm - 2:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

ASPIRING AUTHOR WORKSHOP - PART 2 - For Beginning Authors

So, You Want To Be An Author? Let's Explore The Format For Writing Romance Books.

Miriam Pace ~ Co-author J.M. Jeffries

2:30 pm - 3:45 pm - Mosely Room

CREATING A MARKETING PLAN - PART 2 - For Published Authors

From Spaghetti to Strategy - Creating a Marketing Plan That Works for You!

Jen Graybeal ~ Creative Coach

2:30 pm - 3:45 pm - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

Romantic Suspense Panel

Let's Get You On Pins & Needles and Reading Suspense

~ Moderator: Moni Boyce

3:45 pm - 4:15 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

SHORT BREAK - 15 MIN

4:15 pm - 4:30 pm

13

JULY

LOVE AT FIRST WRITE: A Story Collaboration Workshop

Explore How Writing Groups Work And Participate In This Group Exercise On Story Development & Romance Book Writing.

Bonita Thornton & Marta Baez Petrocelli ~ Project Facilitators

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm - Mosley Room

PANEL DISCUSSION: Time Management, Goals, & Finishing Your Book

How Do These Seasoned Authors Make It Work And Grow Their Backlist Fast

Author Stephanie Morris, Mel Walker, & Moni Boyce

Jen Graybeal ~ Moderator

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

BOOK HIGHLIGHT - Terri Ann Johnson

Her Book & Growing Into Series

~ Moderator: Angela Anderson Presents

5:30 pm - 5:35 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

Books, Books, And More Books

Book Club Picks, Drop Every Thing and Read Picks, You Had Me At The Book Cover Picks

5:35 pm - 6:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

MEET & GREETS: Networking - Meet Up With Your RSJ Team Mates Again

Team Challenge - Book Intros And Let's Create Our RSJ TBR List

Stephanie Morris & Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

RSJ ANNOUNCEMENTS & THANK YOU

What's New, What's To Come, and 2025 RSJ Convention

Your RSJ Team & DWRI.org Executive Team

7:00 pm - 7:30 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

13

JULY

DINNER BREAK - 30 MINUTES

7:30 pm - 8:00 pm

13

JULY

BOOK COVER BINGO

We'll Close The Night With Book Cover Bingo And Prizes.

Janice Kenner & Angela Anderson ~ Moderator

8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Online - Lovehall Room

2024 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS

You Will Not Want To Miss

Strategies To Sell More Books On Amazon

Are you looking to be a number-one bestselling author? Then, this is not the workshop to miss. Learn how to get your book in front of more Amazon shoppers so you can spend less time marketing and more time writing. Hank Marcacci of Publisher Rocket will show you the prime benefits of using the Publisher Rocket keyword research tool to help you understand how readers use Amazon and choose the books they buy. This workshop is to help authors successfully conquer digital marketing on the Amazon platform so they can win at publishing. 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS:

Creating Emotional Intimacy In Your Romance Novel

Do you want writing advice from industry experts at Harlequin Books? Join Harlequin editor Deirdre McCluskey to tackle the topic of emotional intimacy! This is central in a romance as it’s all about showing the growing bond between two leads on their journey of falling in love. Harlequin will share their top five tips for creating solid emotional intimacy on the page, whether your story is spicy or sweet—along with some potential pitfalls to avoid.

The Top Mistakes To Avoid When Submitting Your Book

Jessica Sharpe is a fiction acquisitions editor at Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. She has been editing fiction for over fifteen years and has worked with several best-selling and award-winning authors. She's seen many submissions pass through her desk, and we'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the top mistakes to avoid when submitting your book. This workshop will be a game-changer for anyone looking to be traditionally published, so come with your notebook and be ready to get an exclusive look into publishing.

Bookloverland Night

Hey, book lovers! Join us for an epic Readers Extravaganza filled with books, games, and awesome prizes! Come in your Pajamas because this is a Pajama Party where authors will delight your senses, and the best dress wins. Whether you're a reading fanatic or just love a good story, this event is for you.

♥ And don't miss out because this event includes Cliffhanger Night—where we'll read tantalizing snippets of romance novels that will leave you wanting more. See you there for a night of fun and literary excitement!

Cliffhanger Pajama Night

Readers and authors join together for a pajama party night where snippets of romance books are read aloud in an audiobook atmosphere tingling your ears and your senses to buy your next favorite book.

♥ Known as our Cafe Cliffhanger Night, one lucky pajama dressed creative attendee will win a prize for best dressed. Don't be afraid to sport your curlers, head scarfs, & masks. 😃

Fascinator Day! - Saturday, July 13th

♥ Fascinator Day officially begins at the start of our Historical Genre Panel on Saturday, July 13th. So get your British UK Hats ready and come prepared to represent.

Best Fascinator Wins!

Book Cover Bingo - Saturday Night

♥ We'll close out the convention with Book Cover Bingo leaving you yearning for more books. Some of you will even walk away with more prizes.

YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW THIS...

HEADS UP!

  • Don't miss the morning sessions for networking, meeting authors, and making a new friend.

  • Don't miss the evening fun and games where lots of prizes are given out.

  • And keep hold of your registration book box items because they are part of your RSJ Convention experience. You never know when you'll need an item from the box during your 3-days of romance booklover fun, games, and workshops.

YOUR BOOK BOX

Registered Attendees Are Shipped A Registration Book Box Full Of FREE BOOKS & Goodies.

Want to know what's inside your registration box? See Details Below or View Convention Highlights.

(International attendees outside the U.S. are sent free books via gift cards but can still expect their swag.)

FREE BOOKS

Get various books from publishers such as Harlequin Books, Entangled Publishing, Macmillan and more.

CONVENTION T-SHIRT

Be the envy of the bookish community in your graphic tee from the RSJ Romance Book Convention.

CONVENTION BAG

From the home, to the car, to groceries and more, you'll be able to represent your romance bookish lifestyle with class.

SURPRISE GIFTS

Each year RSJ puts their personal shopper to work to find great gifts to include in your convention box.

AMAZON KINDLE

Enjoy lots of Kindle drawings where you'll have a chance to win a new Amazon Kindle. A fabulous addition to any box.

SWEET SNACKS

Yummy, yum, yum! Treats to enjoy while you're reading in your favorite chair or writing your next book

PROMO ITEMS

Get bookish community promo items and content from published authors hoping to make you a fan of their books.

PRIZE DRAWINGS

Become a lucky winners to have your name drawn for a Prize, and you'll walk away with even more swag.

GIFT CARDS

You just might be a lucky winner of one or more of our Gift Card Drawings during the convention games or sessions.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

"I was thrilled to be going, even if it would only be online.  And Oh joy, oh delight! I can honestly say that I had the best time I’d had all year, and certainly since the last time I was away at a conference for readers and writers. I can’t wait for next year!" - K. T. Bond (Author)

"I have tons of notes from the excellent sessions and was able to connect with some great authors. What a fantastic conference! I can’t wait to attend next year!" - Jennifer Greybeal (Freelance Editor & Book Coach)

"I not only gained indispensable industry information and writing techniques, but I also gained new friends and a sense of community. I can’t wait for next year’s convention!." - Bonnie Gauss (Writer)

"I loved ALL the goodies and especially the free books! I can't wait to start reading. RSJ was truly fantastic; I really learned a lot and can't wait to participate again next year. I also used my gift card on some more good books." - Melissa (Reader & Aspiring Author)

"I love, love, love the convention box, one of the best Book Boxes I've ever received. It is setting the bar high for others–Amazing! And the bracelet I received, OMG!." - Dayna Reidenouer (freelance copyeditor)

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