ROMANCE-CON – Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Welcome Romance Readers

Romance-Con

Saturday, November 7, 2026 | Main Library

Join us for the third annual Romance-Con as we welcome headlining authors Adriana Herrera and Ali Hazelwood for a full day celebrating the stories—and storytellers—you love.

Romance-Con is a free, public event designed for adult readers and fans of the romance genre. No ticket is required for entry which includes an Author Fair, author panel discussions, and activities. Headlining and Featured Author talks will be ticketed but free. View the Ticketed Author Talks button below for details.

Romance-Con ticketed author talks

Headlining and Featured Author talks featuring Adriana Herrera, Ali Hazelwood, Elizabeth Stephens, and Julian Winters will be ticketed but free.

Those tickets will go live to Toledo Library traditional cardholders at 9 a.m. on September 1. Tickets for digital cardholders and the general public will go live at 9 a.m. on September 2.

Don’t have a traditional (physical) Toledo Library card? Or are you an ecard holder? It’s free and easy to upgrade or sign up. If you think you have a card, or can’t remember your barcode or PIN, just call us at 419.259.5200 during Main Library’s open hours. We’re here to help!

The ticket request links will be available below according to the above schedule. Each Romance-Con author talk will be ticketed individually, and cardholders will be limited to two tickets for each talk. To add a second ticket to your reservation, select “add a guest” during registration.

Tickets are free, required for both the headlining and featured author programs, and available on a first come, first served basis. Day-of wait lines will be available to fill no-show tickets.

All other panels, workshops, and activities are not ticketed and will be first come, first served.

Romance Author Fair

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 9 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. | Main Library

Meet, mingle, and purchase your next favorite read by authors from across the country, including Romance-Con's featured authors and panelists. Exclusive merch from Jupmode will also be available.

Sensory (Quiet) Room

(Sa) November 7 | 9 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. | Main Library

Please visit our sensory room if you are in need of a quiet break from the Romance-Con crowd.

Toledo Library Romance-Con | Adriana Herrera & Ali Hazelwood

Presented with support from Destination Toledo

(Sa) November 7 | 10 — 11:15 a.m. | Main Library

USA Today bestselling author Adriana Herrera and No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood join us to discuss romance writing, collaboration, and friendship. Participant Q&A to follow.

Romance-Con Crafts and Activities

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 10 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. | Main Library

Construct a friendship bracelet, star in your own book cover photoshoot, color a bookmark, and more! For a full list of activities, see your passport or the full description.

Love at First Listen: Romance's Audiobook Era

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 10:15 — 11 a.m. | Main Library

Join our panelists and audiobook narrator Jason Clarke for a conversation about how narration brings characters to life, broadens accessibility, and how hearing their stories impacts authors.

Your Favorite Authors' Favorite Authors

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 11:15 a.m. — noon | Main Library

Behind every romance author is a bookshelf full of their favorites. Kate Robb will lead this panel as they share the authors and stories that influenced them, while you add to your growing TBR pile!

Swipe, Scroll, Swoon: Romance in the Age of Social Media

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 11:15 a.m. — noon | Main Library

Today's romance community extends far beyond the pages of a book. Led by Susan Lee, this panel will discuss how social media has affected their process and how they connect with readers.

Just One Bed: The Tropification of Romance

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 12:15 — 1 p.m. | Main Library

From "there's only one bed" to "who did this to you?," tropes have become synonymous with the romance genre. Join Jo Segura and panelists in a discussion about how tropes inform the books they write.

Heart or Market? Finding the Balance

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 12:15 — 1 p.m. | Main Library

Do you write the book of your heart or the book the market is asking for? Kathryn Moon will speak with panelists about the balance between creative fulfillment and commercial success.

Lights, Camera, HEA: Romance Screen Adaptations

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

(Sa) November 7 | 2 — 2:45 p.m. | Main Library

The rom-com is back, and we are here for it! Cara Tanamachi and panelists will explore how screen adaptations have helped boost the genre, influence publishing trends, and create new readers.

Romance-Con | Elizabeth Stephens & Julian Winters

Presented with support from Destination Toledo

(Sa) November 7 | 3 — 4:15 p.m. | Main Library

USA Today bestselling authors Elizabeth Stephens and Julian Winters will join Terreece M. Clarke in conversation. Participant Q&A to follow.

Romance-Con Presents Beverly Jenkins and Nikki Payne

Part of the broader Romance-Con experience, Romance-Con Presents is a dedicated author series welcoming local and national authors throughout the year.

Romance-Con Presents | Beverly Jenkins and Nikki Payne

Celebrating America 250

(W) September 30 | 6 — 8 p.m. | Main Library

Join living legend and 2017 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Beverly Jenkins, in conversation with Nikki Payne, for a discussion of her writing, impact and legacy.

Sign up for our Romance-Con newsletter

Stay updated and sign up for the Library’s Romance Newsletter. Published monthly, this newsletter features staff recommendations, upcoming romance author events and book clubs, and themed reading lists to match your mood!

Online Romance Book Club

The Open Era by Edward Schmit

(W) August 19 | 7 — 8 p.m. | Online Programs

Are you sick of being shamed for loving romance? Join our Online Romance Book Club! From enemies-to-lovers to regency era, fantasy to fake-relationship, we'll read and chat across the romance genre!

A Proposal They Can't Refuse by Natalie Caña

(W) September 23 | 7 — 8 p.m. | Online Programs

Are you sick of being shamed for loving romance? Join our Online Romance Book Club! From enemies-to-lovers to regency era, fantasy to fake-relationship, we'll read and chat across the romance genre!

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

(W) October 28 | 7 — 8 p.m. | Online Programs

Are you sick of being shamed for loving romance? Join our Online Romance Book Club! From enemies-to-lovers to regency era, fantasy to fake-relationship, we'll read and chat across the romance genre!

Something Wicked by Falon Ballard

(W) December 2 | 7 — 8 p.m. | Online Programs

Are you sick of being shamed for loving romance? Join our Online Romance Book Club! From enemies-to-lovers to regency era, fantasy to fake-relationship, we'll read and chat across the romance genre!

Headlining Authors:

Adriana Herrera

A USA Today Best Selling and Audie winning author Adriana was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last fifteen years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings. The New York Times once called her book “sweet, thoughtful, and delightfully filthy too.”

Ali Hazelwood

No. 1 New York Times Bestselling author, Ali is originally from Italy, lived in Japan and Germany, and eventually moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She was a professor for about three years, but in 2022 quit to write full time. When Ali isn’t writing you can find her prowling around AO3, binge-watching shows with her three feline overlords (and almost equally feline husband), crocheting, or eating candy.

Featured Authors:

Elizabeth Stephens

The top 10 USA Today bestselling author of All Superheroes Need PR in the Supers in the City series. Her work is best known for diverse casts, epic world-building, and villains—or beasts—who get the girl in guaranteed happily ever afters. When she isn’t tip-tap-typing away, you might find her enjoying the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest or traveling and making adventures of her own with her husband, tiny humans, and doggo, King Louis.

Julian Winters

Bestselling and award-winning author of acclaimed novels, including Running With Lions, a IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award winner; Right Where I Left You, a Georgia Peach Award nominee; as well as adult romances, I Think They Love You and Last First Kiss, a USA Today bestseller. A self-proclaimed comic book geek, Julian currently lives outside of Atlanta where he can be found swooning over rom-coms or watching the only two sports he can follow—volleyball and soccer.