The World of Romantasy panel was a surprise in many ways, not least of which was the crowd that almost completely filled the large panel room even ten minutes before it began. Moderated by Aurora Dominguezthe World of Romantasy featured authors Analeigh Sbrana (Lore of the Wilds), Sydney Shields (The Honey Witch), Jeneane O’Riley (Infatuated Fae), and Mai Corland (Five Broken Blades).

The panelists discussed many aspects of both romances as an emerging genre and cultural force and their published and upcoming novels. When Dominguez asked how the authors felt about the rise of people reading these books that are considered to be a guilty pleasure, Shields said, “People are seeing themselves in these books in a way they haven’t before.”

O’Riley added, “I love that there’s so many different things for everybody.”

Corland stated that romances give the reader something to root for. “Even when I was watching the TitanicI was like, ‘I think this could work out!’” to laughter from the audience.

The authors discussed their writing processes, and how much they plan in advance when creating their stories. O’Riley explained that her stories rely heavily on twists and turns, so she “never lets her characters get away with anything,” while Shields and Sbrana both described their characters as influencing their plotting process heavily. Corland and Shields both start their worldbuilding process by drawing their own maps of their secondary worlds.

After half an hour of moderated questions, the floor opened up to questions from the audience. When asked what they wanted young readers to see in fifteen years, Sbrana stated, “I want to be able to walk into a bookstore and see books about people who look like me.” She credited the diversity in romances to the popularity of the genre on social media and the rise of booktok and bookstagram for showing publishers what people really want to buy, and are buying, in droves. The large audience cheered. O’Riley, who is an independent author, wanted to see more support for indie authors in traditional bookstores. Shields wants to see more stories about identities evolving in long-term relationships. Dominguez said, “more diversity in storytelling.”

Someone asked about whether the intimacy scenes in the authors’ romantic novels were in any way inspired by their current personal lives, or depicting intimate relationships they personally desired. All of the authors agreed it was all strictly fiction.

Sbrana’s Lore of the Wilds is a new adult romance with a love triangle and an enchanted library. Shield’s The Honey Witch is a cozy sapphic romanticism in a regency-inspired world about a beekeeping witch. O’Riley’s Infatuated Fae is an enemies-to-lovers story between a human biologist and a dark faerie. Corland’s Five Broken Blades is about five dangerous liars coming together to kill the God King.

When asked about their next projects, most of the panelists stated they are working on sequels to their currently published novels. O’Riley added that the dedication for book three of Infatuated Fae says, “I’m sorry.” Shields is working in a dark academy, with a love triangle that wasn’t supposed to be a love triangle.

Everyone on the panel seemed excited about romance, romance, fantasy, and the rise of the genre, and is confident that it will continue to rise for the foreseeable future. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and the audience seemed energized as well.