Settings are more than time and place, or a location to plop down your book’s characters.  A setting can be a living, breathing entity whether it’s a small town or a brand new world. Settings limit or expand possibilities for your characters, are a catalyst for change, act as a pain trigger, or provide comfort. The possibilities are endless.

Bestselling, award-winning author Jeannie Moon will take you through the intricacies of creating a setting that will transport your readers to a world of your creation and make them want to return again and again.

 » Read more about: Creating a Living Setting  »

Romance readers are growing older and so are the heroes and heroines in the genre they love. This workshop will take you through the ins and outs of writing a seasoned romance from the physical realities of age to the subtleties of the older mindset. See how publishers are starting to embrace romances with more mature characters.

Topics covered will include both craft and marketing, so authors can explore issues surrounding age, including:

• The concept of love being ageless
• How intimacy between older characters can be sexy and fun
• The myth of eternal youth (and why we don’t need it)
• Tropes that work well with seasoned romance
• How to envision and pitch your book in a changing market
• Fighting ageism in the industry

 » Read more about: Beyond Stretch Marks and Hot Flashes: Writing the Seasoned Romance  »

Just as women have evolved over the decades, so have the romance heroines with whom they identify. No longer content to be rescued or domesticated, the modern romance heroine is made up of many different layers. In this class, attendees will be presented with examples of flat heroines and using techniques that incorporate backstory, internal and external conflict, speech, physical attributes, age, and outside influences, build a multifaceted woman ready to embark on her own journey and find happily ever after on her terms.

 » Read more about: The Layered Heroine  »