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Who Reads Romance?
Join us this Friday, April 1st, at 12:00 noon for a panel discussion about the wonderful world of romance readers!
What: “Who Reads Romance?: Book Clubs, Book Stores, and Reader Communities”
Who: Es Davis of Golden Fig Books and La Sheera Lee of Read You Later
When: Friday, April 1, 12:00-1:00pm
Where: Zoom, pre-registration required, https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUocOmoqTguHdfwTvt7JZUOvf6LODNXIUGc
And on Friday April 8th, come celebrate with us as UNSUITABLE hosts its final event: “Feminism & Romance (Revisited)” with authors Alexis Daria, Sonali Dev, and Maya Rodale! Pre-register here: https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwldOurqDkuGNcAW7CVJZP21qIWVvcp5JcS
UNSUITABLE Wraps Up in 3 Exciting Events
Beginning this week, UNSUITABLE wraps up eight fabulous seasons of conversations about the romance fiction industry with three fantastic events. Join us on Friday, March 18th to learn about the “Hidden Histories” that acclaimed author Vanessa Riley weaves into her romance novels. On April 1st, Es Davis of Golden Fig Books and La Sheera Lee of Read You Later will share stories about their experiences supporting romance readers. Finally, on April 8th, join us for UNSUITABLE’s grand finale, with a reprise of our first0ever event, “Feminism and Romance,” in conversation with authors Alexis Daria, Sonali Dev, and Maya Rodale. All are welcome!
UNSUITABLE’s 2022 Season Begins Friday 1/21!
UNSUITABLE returns on Friday, January 21st, with a wonderful new season, beginning with author Deborah Fletcher Mello who will talk with us about What Characterizes a Romance Novel? Negotiating Industry Norms and Expectations.
All are welcome! Preregister here. UNSUITABLE events are free and open to the public.
Find the complete season’s schedule and preregistration links to each event here: https://sites.duke.edu/unsuitable/events/
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT – Wednesday, March 24 at noon!
Join us on Wednesday, March 24th at noon EST for a creative writing chat with bestselling and award-winning historical romance author Caroline Linden as she shares her wisdom about creating heroes and heroines who leap off the page. Pre-registration is required: https://fsp.duke.edu/events/unsuitable-34-caroline-linden/ All are welcome!
Save the Date: March 22
On March 22 at 7pm EST, in a special evening event UNSUITABLE will welcome bestselling author Tracy Deonn for “Re-mixing a Legend: Young Adult Fantasy Fiction, Arthurian Legend, and Southern Black Girl Magic.” In 2020, Deonn’s novel Legendborn was an instant bestseller. A North Carolina native and UNC graduate, Deonn set this brilliant and utterly unique story on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. On March 22, she will talk about researching and writing Legendborn, and what it means to re-imagine a medieval legend to speak so powerfully to our present moment.
This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required: https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqcuyoqTIjHdW5wS_vjbUy54gGWEFMc0oN
Schedule for Spring 2021
Join us this semester on Zoom as we celebrate diversity in romance fiction with special guests:
February 19, “Resistance Romance” with Robin Covington, USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance.
March 12, “Writing Closed-Door Romance” with Piper Huguley, award-winning author of historical fiction featuring African American characters.
March 24, “Made For Each Other?: Developing Romance Protagonists” with Caroline Linden, award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of historical romance.
March 31, “What Makes a Great Romance Novel?” with John R. Jacobson, freelance editor for Carina Press.
April 14, “Diversity in Romance Publishing: An Insider’s Perspective” with Latoya Smith, award-winning editor and literary agent of LCS Literary Services.
All events are open to the public by pre-registration only. Contact Katharine.Dubois@duke.edu.
Spring 2020 UNSUITABLE Event Schedule
The 2020 UNSUITABLE Series speakers have been announced! Join us this spring for exciting, informative and fun conversations with:
February 5th – Kimberly Whalen, president of The Whalen Agency
March 16 – Uzma Jalaluddin, author of Ayesha at Last
April 1 – Deborah Fletcher Mello, author of Reunited by the Badge
April 13 – Heather Demetrios, author of Little Universes
All events are 12-1pm and take place in the MicroWorlds Lab in 101 Classroom Building on Duke’s East Campus in Durham, NC. Seating is limited.
TODAY: Queer Romance Goes Mainstream
On March 23, UNSUITABLE welcomes author Damon Suede for a conversation about the rich and sometimes controversial history of gay romance, and the state of this popular sub-genre today. Join us at noon in 011 Old Chem on the campus of Duke University.
Our Spring ’17 Speakers are Here!
Join us on Duke’s West campus in January and February for three wonderful FREE & PUBLIC conversations about publishing, fiction and romance:
January 25, 6:30pm – “Marketing Digital Fiction” with HarperCollins Publishers’ Shawn Nicholls, Associate Publisher
February 8, 6:30pm – “Romance, Shakespeare & Popular Appeal” with New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James and Executive in Residence at Duke, John Forlines III
February 15, 6:30pm – “‘Colin Firth in Clingy Pants’: The Romance Appeal of Pride & Prejudice” with New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries.
More details here: https://sites.duke.edu/unsuitable/events/
Spring 2016 “UNSUITABLE” Series Speakers
Join us this Spring for a lineup of wonderful speakers and conversations about fiction, feminism, masculinity, and diversity in the world of romance fiction. Our events begin on February 3rd with Dabney Grinnan, publisher of the website All About Romance, discussing feminism and the romance blogosphere, and continue on February 24th with New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean chatting about “Old School Romance.” Click on this link for the entire Spring 2016 schedule of events.
UNSUITABLE events are free and open to the public.
