Bodice ripper. Mommy porn. Smut. All three terms are often used to describe those forbidden paperbacks stacked on our mother’s nightstand. Local authors would like for you to take a step back and rethink those stereotypes about the largest segment of the book publishing industry. (Yes - largest.)

Would you be surprised to know that BookStats found the romance publishing industry to be sized at $1.08 billion USD? (Yup, that’s billion with a ‘b’.) Fueled by avid readers who often devour a book a day, sales of romance novels are bigger than science fiction, fantasy, and mystery combined.

Portland just happens to have a large concentration of romance authors.

In February, Rose City Romance Writers (RCRW), the Portland chapter of Romance Writers of America (RWA), will host a two-day event called: wRomance: a weekend of writing and love.

Saturday, February 20^th, at 9am at the University Place Hotel in Downtown Portland: For writers, two workshops will be held. Federal Forensic Investigator, Geoff Symon, will present “Forensics for Fiction: make your crime pay” during the morning session. Author branding guru, Damon Suede, will teach his hands-on “Half-day Brand Plan” during the afternoon session. Lunch, snacks, and admission to the evening cocktail hour are included with workshop registration fee.

Not a writer, but romance-curious? Come hang out with local authors during the Saturday evening cocktail hour. Romance readers and booklovers in general are all welcome to mix and mingle with the creators of prose that range from sweet and demure to hot and sexy. Cocktail hour tickets are available for individual purchase.

Sunday, February 21^st, at 3pm at the Venetian Theater and Bistro in Hillsboro:

RCRW in conjunction with Delilah Marvelle Productions, LLC, will host a one time local showing of the award-winning documentary Love Between the Covers.

Documentary filmmaker Laurie Kahn is no stranger to producing films focused on women-centric topics. Her other films, Tupperware! (2004) and A Midwife’s Tale (1997), both explored the empowerment and support created by communities of women for women. While filming Love Between the Covers, she and her team received unprecedented access to the inner workings of the romance publishing industry.

During the course of the film, viewers will meet top selling romance authors like Nora Roberts, Beverly Jenkins, Nalini Singh, Eloisa James, Jane Porter, and many others as they meet with readers, talk with peers, and plan their new works. Publishers like Harlequin and Sourcebooks open their doors to provide insights into the editorial process for romance book production, marketing, and sales. Reader interviews examine the depths of why readers love romance and why we all crave our own happily ever after.

All wRomance: a weekend of writing and love events are open to the general public with ticket purchase.

To purchase tickets and learn more about this event and other activities, visit our website: http://rosecityromancewriters.com

To join RCRW, you must first be a member of RWA. Visitors are welcome to attend two of our monthly meetings for a small fee. Unlike other writing organizations and advocacy groups, publication is not a requirement for membership of RWA or RCRW.

RCRW would like to extend a special thanks to Twigs Bistro at Bridgeport Village and Mark Montoya of Montoya Photography for their assistance with the production of the photograph for this piece.