Literature of love to be celebrated at Rom Con
Oak Lawn Public Library to host free inaugural event Saturday
Love will be in the air Saturday at the Oak Lawn Public Library as fans and writers of romance novels gather for the facility’s first Rom Con, where they’ll have access to author panels, signed copies of books and raffle prizes.
“The overall goal is for people who enjoy romance to be able to connect with not only authors but also with each other and to really celebrate the genre that brings them to the library,” said programming librarian Kate Donley, who is coordinating the event.
It’s an opportunity, Donley said, to give some attention to the library’s “meat and potatoes” books.
“I enjoy romance novels very much and so do my colleagues in my department,” she told the director when pitching the idea. “Let’s have a big party for our romance readers in Oak Lawn.”
There are plenty of events celebrating literary fiction, Donley said, “but not every community is really into literary fiction.”
“What we see circulating here
is romance, so let’s connect with our patrons and our community and bring them some authors they will really enjoy,” she said.
Donley enlisted the help of Roseann Backlin, owner of Love’s
Sweet Arrow bookstore in Tinley Park.
“She was 100,000 percent in support of this,” Donley said.
Several Chicago area authors signed on, including bestselling writer Melonie Johnson, as well as Camille Baker, Kelly Farmer, AJ Pine, Ieshia Wiedlin, Kathy Douglas and Emily Hornburg.
“It went from a tiny idea and really became something much bigger than we had even dreamed,” Donley shared. “We’re over the moon to be expecting these famous authors and very excited about Rom Con.”
The event features panels starring the authors, a book-signing room and trivia. The 2019 movie “Isn’t It Romantic?” will be shown at 1:30 p.m., and raffle prizes will be drawn after the showing.
“We have had some really nice support from our community in Oak Lawn,” Donley said. “Avenue Flower Shop & Wine Bar is going to be partnering with us, giving us some flowers, and Katie’s Hallmark has given us two huge goody bags. Lover’s Lane will be sending us a full box of love-related item swag bags, and Nothing Bundt Cakes is going to supply some sweet treats that we’ll either raffle off or have here.”
Backlin said about 95% of
Love’s Sweet Arrow’s books are romance, so it was not hard to find authors to participate in Rom Con.
“I kind of have all the big five publishing house, an independent one, one who writes Harlequins, and one who writes e-book only. She’s such a good speaker and has such a good story that I’m inviting her too.”
It wasn’t hard to persuade the authors to participate in Rom Con. “They are all extroverts, honestly,” she said. “To talk to people about something that you wrote, that’s just what you live for.”
Johnson, whose fifth novel comes out at the end of the month, said she enjoys writing romance “because I enjoy reading it.”
“I’m fascinated with the magic of falling in love and am delighted that my job is to make that magic happen on the page,” she said. “I’m also drawn in to the promise of an HEA (happily ever after). Nothing in life is guaranteed, so it’s such a gift to escape into a romance novel knowing no matter how grim things get, by the end of the story, everything is going to turn out OK.”
It was a no-brainer to participate in Rom Con when Backlin asked, Johnson said.
“The romance community is wonderful, and I welcome every opportunity to meet with readers old and new and to connect with them over our shared passion for these stories,” she said. “I can’t wait to chat with readers at the book signing and pass out fun swag like bookmarks and stickers.”
She also plans to put together a few prize baskets that include signed copies of her books and “winter reading essentials like cozy socks and mugs.”
Johnson’s not surprised that romances are popular given that readers “crave happy endings” in their books.
“Love is at the heart of every romance novel, so it makes sense that it’s the highest-earning genre in fiction,” she said. “There’s a saying in publishing that romance keeps the lights on. And we do, even when — or perhaps especially when — we’re writing about what happens when the lights are off.”
Backlin believes romance novels offer an escape from the violence and grimness that can be part of daily news. She also praised more diverse characters in newer books.
“There are so many books out now with nonbinary characters, autistic characters, women with ADD. Romance is getting to the heart of all those matters, all those labels. They are just telling you how it is,” she said.
Donley recognizes that some people don’t have a high opinion about romance novels, and that doesn’t sit well with her.
“Perhaps because of sexism and a style of writing that is perceived as formulaic by some people, romances are sort of shrugged off. But they are a huge industry and I challenge the publishers to publish their literary fiction without the profits they make from the romance industry,” she said.
“I wish people wouldn’t look down on romance. It’s warm and lovely. It’s fun. It engages with the issues of today, with technology, with discrimination, what women want, pay disparity. I’ve been excited by the romances I’ve been reading.”
The librarian said she’s been “boning up for Rom Con” by reading books by the authors who are coming. “They are delightful. I’m so excited to meet them,” she said.
Donley said Baker’s novel includes a “very diverse cast of characters,” including the heroine’s brother, who is deaf. There are different cultures represented in the book and races and sexualities. To engage with topics that I think are important in society today — I think it’s just delightful.”
The librarian described herself as “kind of falling in love with contemporary romance again with what fun I’ve been having reading Melonie Johnson’s book. There are two more that I haven’t read. I have four books on my nightstand, two by AJ Pine, who is coming. She writes about sexy cowboys. Ieshia has a series called ‘Romancing the Doctors’
“Sexy cowboys and sexy doctors — I think I have a pretty good job!”
Rom Con is from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the lower level of the library, 9427 Raymond Ave.
The event is free, and participants don’t need to be from Oak Lawn or have a library card. The library is limiting the program to 100 people “so everyone will be able to talk to an author,” Donley said. Registration is at cal.olpl.org or 708-422-4990.