Popular Romance Fiction: the “Literature of Hope” is a free, open to the public conference event occurring on Friday, September 8 - Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Yale University.

This interactive gathering brings bestselling romance writers together with scholars, students, readers, and the public for two days of conversation and events at Yale and in the New Haven community about the nation’s most popular literary genre, exploring its political, material, racial, feminist, and religious histories and manifestations. Confirmed speakers include Roxane Gay, Adriana Herrera, Eloisa James, Beverly Jenkins, Julie Moody-Freeman, Sarah MacLean, Radclyffe, and others.

Sarah will be teaching a workshop and speaking about the Fated Mates trailblazer series!

September 8, 2023

12:30 - 3:00 PM | How to Write a Romance Novel Workshop

Join bestselling and critically acclaimed romance authors Adriana Herrera and Sarah MacLean as they discuss their craft and how they approach writing emotional, evocative and compelling romance novels. Learn how to combine character, conflict and worldbuilding to tell big, bold, feminist stories that deliver the perfect happily ever after. If you plan to attend the workshop, you must register here.

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September 9, 2023

10:45 - 11:45 AM  | Panel 3: From Bodice Rippers to Bridgerton – Romance on the Public Stage

Panel will discuss the ground-breaking oral histories produced by the podcasts of romance writer Sarah MacLean (Fated Mates podcast, with Jen Prokop)  and Dr. Julie Moody-Freeman (Black Romance podcast), and will discuss romance’s varied public receptions, reputations, and material transformations over the decades.