RomFest is fast approaching

I’ve faithfully participated in The Ashland (Massachusetts) Library Annual Romance Festival* for years—2025 excepted, since I was in London at the time. But this year I’m in Massachusetts, and looking forward to attending with my brilliant assistant, Jessica. She will, no doubt, keep the social media alerted while I spend time with readers and author friends.

Once upon a time, events like this happened frequently, all over the country, usually sponsored by local chapters of the Romance Writers of America. That organization has had an annual conference dating to the early days of my career, in the last century. But since the RWA upheaval and COVID, things have changed. Romance writers and readers have had fewer opportunities to gather and celebrate our multi-faceted genre. Yes, we’ve been getting together via Zoom, but it isn’t the same, is it?

Still, in the last year or so, I’ve been alerted to more events happening around the country. Some are library sponsored. Some regional  romance writer organizations are putting on their own events again. Romance friendly bookstores continue to hold panels and other gatherings of authors and readers. And new romance bookstores, which have been popping up all over the U.S., are holding multi-author events that go beyond book signings.

All of which is to say, if you’re not around to join us on 16 May, look around. There may be a romance fiction event near you. If you do happen to be in the vicinity, you might want to pay us a visit.

Romance Authors Festival 2026 ~ Ashland Public Library ~ 66 Front St ~ Ashland Massachusetts ~ Saturday 16 May ~ 10:00 AM—4:00 PM

You can read all about it at this link. And you can register by following this link. It’s free, but you are welcome to make a donation to the library.

And yes, we’ll have a bookseller on site. Aesop’s Fable has told me they’ll have all of my Difficult Dukes books on hand, as well as Lord of Scoundrels, and a few other titles from my backlist.

 *Previously RomCon

 

Women's work at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida

Georgia O’Keefe, “Poppy,” 1927

Here’s one more collection of art for you, in celebration of National Women’s History Month. While in St. Petersburg, I visited the MFA twice. On the second visit, I had time to focus on a special exhibition, “Creative Freedom | Women as Decorative Arts Entrepreneurs and Connoisseurs, c. 1900-1940.” In other words, the exhibit included splendid works of art by women as well as works collected by women. According to the museum’s website,

“The pioneering spirit of these women is the same spirit that built this museum. Our founder, Margaret Acheson Stuart (1898-1980), was a woman of this era, whose passion and independence created the legacy we all share.”

As you’ve no doubt noticed, when I take photos in museums, I try to include the information cards. It’s definitely a memory aid, and it’s particularly helpful when, as in this case, the museum does not have its collection online, and I can’t go back and gather information from their website. Also, with a plethora of photos, one can simply let the cards do most of the talking—not that anybody needs to read them to enjoy these beautiful works.

Unsurprisingly, the exhibit included Tiffany lamps and information about Clara Woolcott Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls.

Among other learning experiences, I discovered Marguerite Zorach and realized that a woman, Mariah Longworth Nichols Storer, founded Rookwood Pottery, which I’ve always loved (well, the names refers to ravens, after which I named one of my fictional heroes).

I also learned that it was a woman, Rose Cecil O’Neill, who created the Kewpie Doll and made a highly successful business with her invention. The rattles and teething rings were part of that business. This same woman created a number of works for the Suffragist Movement. The example below, of one of her postcards, is from the collection of the Missouri History Museum.

And finally, some impressive works in glass. The yellow vase deserved a 360° view. I apologize for the unsteadiness of my camera work.