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Annual Romance Convention

Shades ofRomanceBookCon

Where every love story deserves to be celebrated — from the tender to the daring.

September 19 – 21 2025 · Dallas, Texas
Register Now View Schedule
A Tender Ruin
Crimson Hours
Shades of
Romance
BookCon
150+
Featured Authors
60+
Panels & Events
3
Days of Romance
5K+
Expected Readers
Our Story

Celebrating every shade of love

Shades of Romance BookCon was born from a simple belief: that romance fiction — in all its beautiful, complex, exhilarating forms — deserves a space as rich and varied as the stories it tells.

From sweet small-town love stories to steamy historical sagas, from queer romance to dark fiction, we celebrate the full spectrum of the genre. Three days of author signings, panels, workshops, and moments of pure, bookish joy.

Join the Celebration
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Plan Your Weekend

Weekend Schedule

10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Grand Opening Ceremony
Kick off the weekend with a celebration featuring our keynote authors, live music, and a champagne toast to romance.
Main Stage
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Romance Through the Decades
A panel exploring how romance fiction has evolved from the Gothic novels of the 1800s to today's diverse, inclusive stories.
Panel
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Author Speed Dating
Meet 30 debut authors in a whirlwind round-robin session — your next favorite writer is just a table away.
Interactive
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
VIP Welcome Reception
An exclusive cocktail hour for VIP and Platinum ticket holders — mingle with bestselling authors in an intimate setting.
VIP Only
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Dark & Daring: A Night Showcase
Celebrate the bolder, darker side of romance. Authors of dark fiction and morally complex love stories take the stage.
Main Stage
All Day
The Signing Hall Opens
The BookCon Signing Hall features over 80 authors available across both days for personalized book signings and photos.
Signing Hall
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Craft Workshop: Writing Heat
A hands-on workshop with bestselling authors on writing tension, chemistry, and intimacy that resonates with readers.
Workshop
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Queer Romance Spotlight
Celebrating the voices, stories, and authors who have shaped and continue to shape queer romance fiction.
Panel
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Big Book Market
Browse rare editions, exclusive merchandise, and signed copies from over 200 vendors in our sprawling book marketplace.
Marketplace
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
TikTok BookTok Live
Your favorite BookTok creators go live together in the convention's most-anticipated social media event of the year.
Social
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Romance Gala & Awards
A stunning black-tie gala honoring the best in romance fiction with the Shades of Romance Reader's Choice Awards.
VIP & Platinum
All Day
Cosplay as Your Fave Couple
Dress as your favorite fictional couple and enter our cosplay contest with prizes from top romance publishers.
Community
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Historical Romance Deep Dive
From Regency ballrooms to Highland castles — a love letter to the historical romance subgenre with top authors.
Panel
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Reader Lounge & Brunch
Relax, recharge, and connect with fellow readers over a catered brunch in our reader lounge. Exclusive for ticket holders.
Community
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
The Future of Romance Publishing
Editors, agents, and authors discuss where the industry is heading — and what readers want more of.
Industry
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Final Signing Session
One last opportunity to get your books signed before the weekend comes to a close. Don't miss your favorites!
Signing Hall
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Closing Ceremony & Farewell
Celebrate the weekend with heartfelt goodbyes, surprise announcements, and a look ahead to next year's convention.
Main Stage
All Day
Indie Author Showcase
Dedicated space for independent romance authors to connect directly with readers. Discover your next self-pub obsession.
Indie
Featured Guests

Meet the Authors

150+ romance authors across every subgenre, from debut novelists to #1 New York Times bestsellers.

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Vivienne LaRoux
Dark Romance · Historical
NYT Bestseller & creator of the beloved Thornwood Chronicles series.
MK
Marcus Kessler
Contemporary · Queer Romance
Award-winning author of "The Distance Between Heartbeats."
SA
Simone Adeyemi
Paranormal · Urban Fantasy
USA Today Bestseller known for her Midnight Fever universe.
EW
Elena Whitmore
Sweet Romance · Small Town
Beloved for her cozy Maple Falls series and warm storytelling.
JC
Julian Cross
Romantic Suspense · Thriller
Master of the slow-burn with a twist. 12 bestselling novels and counting.
NP
Naomi Park
Regency Historical
Breathes new life into Regency romance with diverse, complex heroines.
RM
Rosa Mendez
Latinx Romance · Contemporary
Champion of authentic representation in modern romance fiction.
TB
Theo Blackwell
MM Romance · New Adult
Debut sensation who took the genre by storm with "The Right Kind of Wrong."
Reserve Your Spot

Choose Your Experience

General
Reader Pass
$89
Per person · All 3 days
  • Full convention access
  • All panels & workshops
  • General signing sessions
  • Book marketplace access
  • Official tote bag & swag
Register
Most Popular
VIP Pass
$199
Per person · All 3 days
  • Everything in Reader Pass
  • VIP welcome reception
  • Priority signing access
  • Exclusive author meet & greet
  • VIP lounge access all weekend
  • Signed advance reader copies
Register Now
Platinum
Platinum Pass
$349
Per person · All 3 days
  • Everything in VIP Pass
  • Romance Gala black-tie dinner
  • Private author dinner (Saturday)
  • First-access signing slots
  • Curated book box (shipped ahead)
  • Name in official program
  • Lifetime alumni badge
Register
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Find Us

The Venue

Three unforgettable days at one of Dallas's most stunning convention venues — built for the scale and intimacy this event deserves.

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Venue

Dallas Convention Center
650 S Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202

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Dates

September 19 – 21, 2025
Doors open at 9:00 AM each day

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Hotel Block

Discounted rates at the adjacent Omni Dallas Hotel — book using code ROMANCE25 by August 1st.

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Getting Here

15 min from Dallas Love Field · 30 min from DFW Airport · DART rail access at Convention Center Station

Stay in the Loop

Author announcements, schedule updates, and early-bird ticket alerts — straight to your inbox.

© 2025 Shades of Romance BookCon. All rights reserved. Made with ❤ for romance readers everywhere.