The Romance World panel was surprising in many ways, not least the fact that the crowd almost completely filled the large panel room ten minutes before it started. Moderator Aurora DominguezRomantic World Featured Writer Annalee Sbrana (legend of the wilderness), Sydney J. Shields (honey witch), Jenny O’Reilly (Infatuated Fairy), and Mae Curran (five broken blades).
The panelists discussed the many aspects of romance novels as an emerging genre and cultural force, as well as their published and upcoming novels. When Dominquez asked the author how he felt about more and more people reading these supposedly guilty pleasure books, Shields said, “People see themselves in these books in a way they never have before. “
O’Reilly added: “I love that there are so many different things for everyone.”
Romance stories give readers something to root for, Colan said. “Even when I watch Titanicand I was like, “I think this can work!”
The authors discuss their writing process and how much advance planning they do when creating their stories. O’Reilly explained that her story relies heavily on twists and turns, so she “never lets her characters get away with anything,” while Shields and Sbrana both described their characters as seriously affected Their plot progression. Both Colan and Shields begin their world-building process by drawing maps of their own secondary worlds.
After half an hour of questions from the host, the audience began to ask questions. When asked what she hopes young readers will see fifteen years from now, Sbrana said, “I hope to be able to walk into a bookstore and see books about people who look like me.” She cited diversity in romance novels Credit the popularity of the genre on social media, as well as the rise of booktok and bookstagram, as they show publishers what people actually want to buy and are buying in bulk. O’Reilly is an independent author who would like to see more support for independent authors from traditional bookstores. Shields would like to see more stories about the evolution of identity in long-term relationships. “There’s more diversity in storytelling,” Dominquez said.
Someone asked whether the intimate scenes in the authors’ romance novels were inspired by their actual personal lives or depicted the intimacy they personally longed for. All authors agree that this is entirely fiction.
Sbrana’s legend of the wilderness is a new adult romance novel about a love triangle and a magical library. shield honey witch is a heartwarming romantic love story about a beekeeping witch set in a Regency-style world. O’Reilly’s Infatuated Fairy It is a story about a human biologist and a dark elf from enemies to lovers. Colan’s five broken blades It tells the story of five dangerous con men who band together to assassinate the God-King.
When asked about their next projects, most panelists said they were working on sequels to currently published novels. O’Reilly added that dedication to the third book Infatuated Fairy Say “I’m Sorry.” Shields is delving into a dark world of academia, with a love triangle that shouldn’t be a love triangle.
Everyone on the panel seemed excited about romance, romance, fantasy, and the rise of the genre and believe it will continue to rise for the foreseeable future. Their enthusiasm was infectious and the audience seemed energized.
Stay tuned for more NYCC ’24 coverage from The Beat.
