This weekend is the RomanceLahoma romance writing conference and the Red Dirt Romance Book Event, where you can get signed books and buy fun, bookish merch. I’m sure these events are already on your calendar, but just in case, I thought I’d take a second to make sure you were aware...
If you didn’t know, there are a lot of romance writers in the great state of Oklahoma. I know a lot of people enjoy hating on the genre, but I also think a lot of those people haven’t examined how much misogyny plays a role in that thinking. Romance is written primarily by women, mostly for women – which apparently makes it easier for people to dismiss.
The genre also contains far more variety than people give it credit for. I often hear someone say they read one romance novel, hated it and will never try another. That’s like saying you listened to one Billy Joel song and didn’t like it, so now you don’t listen to rock ’n’ roll.
So take it from me, Red Dirt Romance is a good place to find out just how weird, smart, specific and hot romance can be. These are five new kinks you’ll add to your repertoire at the event this weekend...
Unholy Urges to Fuck a Priest
Call it your Fleabag Season 2 Era. I am one generation removed from officially being culturally Catholic, but even so, I find myself attracted to stories of women boning down with priests. Fleabag’s second season really stoked those flames. But Sierra Simone’s Priest turned it into an all-out wildfire.
Simone will be at Red Dirt Romance signing books, and if you haven’t read Priest yet, now is your chance. I bet you can guess what they do with that anointing oil on the altar… but you can’t guess HOW they do it?
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Burning Desire to Become Monster Bait
One of the best romance series I’ve read in the past few years started with a book about a woman who finishes grad school only to find no jobs in her field and no affordable place to live near the few opportunities that do exist. She takes a factory job processing biological materials into pharmaceuticals – and slowly falls in love with one of the donors. The series is well-written, funny, sexy and surprisingly thoughtful about student debt, housing costs, accessibility, body differences and family trauma.
And yeah. The first book I mentioned is about minotaur milking. I’m sure you’ve heard someone malign this book in some way. But it’s great. I absolutely recommend this series to everyone. Seriously. Marisa seal of approval.
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Getting Off on a Good Trope
You know how horror movies always have the slasher who kills horny teens, or how the call is coming from inside the house? Well, romance novels do that too. But these tropes are sexier.
Like when the Duke and well-bred lady arrive at the inn and must pretend they are married and are forced to share a bed. Or when two people are forced to marry even though they don’t love each other so they can complete whatever the plot requires. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I love to see a good story trope play out.
And don’t pretend like you don’t like story tropes. I bet you’ve spent a lot of time rewatching that movie about the orphan with the humble background who goes on a quest only to find he’s the one that can stop the evil that plagues the story world. Am I talking about Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter? YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW BECAUSE YOU LOVE TROPES SO MUCH.
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Pajama Partying with Strangers
Red Dirt Romance is the signature book event of the RomanceLahoma writing conference. And here’s where it gets a little kinky: the conference keynote is a pajama party featuring a talk from Sierra Simone, author of Priest, the book I mentioned earlier.
If you purchase a General Admission Plus or VIP ticket, you get to attend the pajama party keynote – just try to keep it on the legal side of public decency, folks. I may or may not be there in an old lady nightgown complete with memaw-style house coat and slippers.
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Full Submission to Bookish Consumerism
Red Dirt Romance has over 50 authors there to sign books. Plus, you can buy from other vendors who are selling cute clothes or candles or whatever. But the real thing your wallet needs to worry about is all the stuff you’ll hear while standing in line. Because undoubtedly, these feral readers will mention a book series they’ve been reading, and you’ll immediately add it to your Bookshop cart. And of course, you’re going to see someone carrying an adorable tote bag or using a precious book journal to write down their To Be Read list.
You’re going to want all these things, gang. And the longer you spend eye-fucking the wares, the more completely you’ll be dominated by the desire to buy everything. You’ve been warned.
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So, did I convince you to go to Red Dirt Romance? You should. It helps a local nonprofit, and you can piss off your conservative lawmakers. Two birds, one stone, gang.
Drop your favorite book or movie in the comments so I can give you a personalized romance novel rec...
