Date: Saturday 15th February 2020

Time: 10AM-5PM

Location: The Anthony Burgess Foundation

Tickets: £10 - Available here

The “Love Writing Manchester” series launch event in celebration of the Romantic Novelists Association’s 60th Anniversary, with special guest author Debbie Johnson.

A celebration for Manchester Metropolitan University staff, students, RNA members, publishing professionals, authors and the general public.

If you love reading or writing romantic fiction, come along to meet authors, MMU academics and industry professionals in a day of talks and reading celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Follow #LoveWritingMCR on Twitter

Featuring a Q&A session with Special Guest Author Debbie Johnson, author of the internationally bestselling Comfort Food Café series.

Ticket includes morning refreshments, cupcake and bubbly/OJ. Lunch available locally at a charge.

Schedule: Romantic Novelists’ Association 60th Anniversary Celebration and #LoveWritingMCR launch event

Saturday 15th February 2020 at The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, in association with the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Manchester Metropolitan University’s Manchester Writing School.

10.00am Doors open.

10.00 -10.30am: Arrivals. Morning coffee/refreshments. Browse the Blackwell’s Manchester romantic fiction bookstall. Collect your goodie bags.

10.30 -10.45am: Welcome by Catherine Wilcox and Kirsty Bunting.

10.45- 11.15am: Alison May, Author and Romantic Novelists’ Association Chair: 'Romantic Novelists’ United - then, now and into the future'.

11.15-11.45am: Jeevani Charika/Rhoda Baxter, Author: 'How to write romantic comedy'

11.45-12.00 noon: Comfort break, 15 minutes.

12.00-12.30pm: Liam Livings, Author and RNA Diversity and Inclusion Officer: Title TBC

12.30pm: Lunch break. Event resumes at 1.30pm.

1.30-2.20pm: Kirsty Bunting in conversation with special guest Debbie Johnson with audience Q&A.

2.20-2.50pm: Catherine Wilcox: Troubleshooting the challenges facing fiction writers.

2.50-3.00pm: Comfort break, ten minutes.

3.00-3.50pm: Hera Books panel (Lindsay Mooney, Keshini Naidoo, Jeevani Charika, Kiley Dunbar, chaired by Alison May)

3.50pm: The Manchester Writing School’s One Thousand Word Meet Cute Competition prize winner announced.

4.00pm Closing remarks from Kirsty Bunting, Alison May and Catherine Wilcox.

Drinks and cupcakes 4.00-5.00pm

Venue closes: 5.00pm