About

A Bookish Event Built on Love, Stories, and Community

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April 30-May 1, 2027

Monona Terrace

Madison, WI

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Who we are

Hi, Romance Lovers.

Romancing the Midwest is bringing romance book enthusiasts together for a brand-new convention created with readers, authors, and the community at the center of it all.

Held April 30 – May 1, 2027, at Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin, this two-day event is designed for adults who love romance stories in all their forms. This is an 18+ event.

Romancing the Midwest is a space where readers can gather, authors can connect directly with their audience, and the shared love of romance novels takes center stage.

A Romance Book Convention Built for Readers

This bookish event is all about connection. Attendees can expect engaging panels, interactive workshops, and keynote speakers who understand the romance genre from the inside out.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll have opportunities to meet new authors, attend local author signings, browse book-related vendors, and connect with fellow readers who share your favorite tropes and characters. Whether you’re here to expand your TBR, support romance authors, or spend a weekend immersed in books, this is a place where readers truly belong.

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Our Beliefs and Values

All are welcome 

Romancing the Midwest believes in authentic human voices and meaningful connections. Kindness, respect, and inclusivity guide everything we do, not as a trend or a tagline, but as a shared value that will help make this event as great as it can possibly be.

We welcome readers and authors of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs. As a women-led event that proudly centers LGBTQIA2S+ voices, our approach to inclusivity is one of the many reasons this book event feels truly special. We respect all people, and we believe everyone deserves the right to be seen, heard, loved, and treated with dignity.

At its heart, Romancing the Midwest is rooted in care. That means care for stories, care for community, and care for one another. That spirit of openness and mutual respect is what makes this gathering more than a convention; it’s a space where the romance community can show up fully and feel at home.

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Meet the Owner, Mz Rylan

Mz Rylan with glasses and long wavy hair taking a selfie. She is lying on a surface with a black T-shirt. In the background, there are birthday candles, a gift bag, and a sticker that reads 'This Girl Reads SMUT.'

Meet the Woman Behind Romancing the Midwest

Mz Rylan is a Midwest dark romance author who understands this community from the inside out. She’s doing so much more than just planning an event. She’s building something she personally wants to attend.

With a degree in Project Management and hands-on experience running large-scale events, Mz Rylan brings clarity, organization, and thoughtful planning to Romancing the Midwest. Throughout 2025, she also hosted and supported smaller book-focused gatherings, gaining firsthand insight into what romance authors and readers value most at bookish events.

Her approach is rooted in respect for authors, enthusiasm for readers, and a genuine love for romance storytelling. From local author signings to opportunities for readers to meet new authors, her goal is simple: create a space where romance authors feel supported, and readers feel right at home.

Community Code of Conduct
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All attendees, volunteers, vendors, authors, sponsors, collaborators, and staff are expected to contribute to a respectful environment.

Romancing the Midwest Community Expectations

At Romancing the Midwest, we believe a welcoming, respectful environment starts with shared expectations that help everyone feel comfortable, valued, and heard.

  • Be curious

  • Treat one another with kindness and respect

  • Recognize that every human being has value

  • No touching without enthusiastic consent

Romancing the Midwest has zero tolerance for bullying, sexual harassment, hate speech, intolerance, or discrimination of any kind.

Reporting Concerns

If you witness or experience behavior that goes against these expectations, please report it immediately to event staff or venue staff. Concerns will be escalated to our leadership team and addressed promptly.

Respect for the Venue

All attendees are expected to respect the venue and the surrounding property. This includes Monona Terrace as well as nearby hotels, restaurants, retailers, places of worship, and public spaces. Damage, vandalism, or malicious behavior of any kind will not be tolerated.

Speaking with Authors and Vendors

Communications with Authors and Vendors will be done respectfully. Personal private questions will not be tolerated. Be kind, be curious and be respectful of boundaries.

  • Ask to take photos

  • Ask if hugs are ok

  • Consent is non-negotiable

Enforcement Policy

By purchasing a ticket, volunteering, vending, or collaborating with Romancing the Midwest, you agree to follow this Code of Conduct.

Anyone found engaging in prohibited behavior may be removed from the event without warning. Refunds will not be issued, and individuals may be restricted from future events.

Our Commitment to the Romance Community

The romance genre is passionate, emotional, and deeply personal. Romancing the Midwest exists to celebrate that passion and bring it together in one welcoming space.

With over 100 romance authors expected from across the United States, this event highlights a wide range of stories, perspectives, and voices. Panels, workshops, and keynote sessions round out a weekend celebrating books, connection, and community.

Let’s come together to celebrate the stories we love and the people who love them, too.


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Meet the Team

  • Image of Mz Rylan

    Mz Rylan

    Owner

    Midwest Queer Dark Romance Author

    Mzrylan.com

  • Haleigh PA - Newsletter and Substack

    Haleigh (@inkanddragonscales)

    Hi, I’m Haleigh (@inkanddragonscales). I love sharing about the books that have consumed me. My TBR is never-ending and I will talk your ear off about the books that I love. What started out as sharing my passion for reading quickly turned to supporting authors through ARC reading that eventually allowed me to expand into PA services for those in the bookish community.

    Ink and dragon scales

    RTM Substack

  • A smiling woman with short curly hair in a cream sweater, wearing red lipstick, hoop earrings, and a headband, inside a restaurant or cafe with black woven pendant lights and large windows.

    Destinee

    Influencer Manager

    Destinee is an avid reader and bookseller who has facilitated hundreds of book clubs and moderated dozens of panels with best-selling, globally esteemed authors. She has a background in education and large-scale program leadership, and enjoys designing and participating in events that build community. While she’ll read pretty much anything, romance novels have been her life-long love.

    You can find Destinee on Instagram

    She also runs a book club at Really Reading Romance!

  • Devon

    Devon Ross

    Volunteer Coordinator

    Devon is a collaborative leader in volunteer engagement and community impact. Professionally, Devon is Director of Partner Success at ZeeMee and previously served as Director of Admission at Augsburg University, where they supported student access and success.

    Outside of work, Devon is deeply committed to service—fostering dogs and cats and coaching youth sports, where they mentor young people in teamwork and confidence. Devon is driven by a passion for building connections and creating opportunities for others to thrive.

  • Image headshot of Christine Bollow

    Christine Bollow

    Lead of Inclusivity Panel

    Christine Bollow is a queer, disabled Filipina litizen who currently lives in Tucson. She’s co-owner of Loyalty Bookstores and is a book consultant for comic cons and bookish events. Christine was a Fiction Juror for the 2024 Kirkus Prize, a judge for the 2025 Lambda Literary Awards, and currently serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the American Booksellers Association. She is a recipient of the 2024 Duende-Word BIPOC Bookseller Leadership Award and a 2022 Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree. Christine is a graduate of Barnard College and can be found on Bookstagram @readingismagical or at christinebollow.com.

  • Ann Schreiber

    Ann Schreiber

    Website Content Copy editor

    Copywriting For You

    Ann is a copywriter and the owner of Copywriting For You, and she is also the author of four romance novels and two non-fiction books.

  • Bookworm Services logo

    RTM PA

    Chloe is a freelance editor and author PA from the U.K. She has worked with a number of indie authors and publishing companies over the last 3 years providing copyediting and proofreading services. She works with all genres, though has the most experience with Romance, Dark Romance and Romantasy. 

    In addition to her editing services, she also provides PA services such as help with general admin, content pulls and ARC/street team management. 

    Bookworm Links

Contact us

Have a concern or need to get ahold of us? Please fill out this form.

Follow Us on Social

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Help spread the word, one post at a time

One of the best ways to tell other readers about Romancing the Midwest is to scream it from the rooftops, and by rooftops, we mean social media.

Start by following us on Instagram and posting if you plan to attend. Every share, tag, and comment helps spread the word to fellow romance readers who don’t want to miss this bookish event in Madison, WI.

We’ll be posting on Instagram regularly to build excitement along the way, from sneak peeks at planned activities to spotlights on the romance authors joining us. If you love talking books online, this is where the countdown, conversations, and community really come to life.

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A decorative blackboard with a gold ornate frame, asking for submissions of favorite queer romances or authors, with the initials 'RM' and pink flowers at the bottom left.
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Decorative sign with the text "Romancing the Midwest," featuring handwritten notes, polaroid photos, and floral illustrations, emphasizing themes of love and planning trips in the Midwest.
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