FOR THE LOVE OF
Romance
Book Convention
Rom Con
For Readers, Writers, and Lovers of Books
Second annual Rom Con Hosted at Newgate Mall, Ogden Utah.
Friday March 27, 3 - 8 pm and Saturday 28, 12-9pm
$15 day pass $20 Weekend Pass
​*Celebrate your love of classics
*Discover new Authors
*Connect with writers, publishers, and fans
Author panels, historical crafting, book discussion groups, and Author Alley
Author Alley: Meet emerging authors, publishers, and craftsmen to discover stories that enrich your mind and heart.
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Discussion Groups: Meet with other book fans to talk about your favorite authors, books, and stories.
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Author Panels: Hear authors present the drive behind their work with engaging speeches and interviews.
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Crafting Activities: Make simple projects of the bookish and historical sort
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Entertainment: Romantic era music ensembles, and soloists. Dramatic reading of Romantic literature.
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Full schedule below.
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Schedule
Day 1 Friday​
3-8 pm Author Alley opens. Newgate Mall common space. South Side by playground
Meet artisans and authors of multiple genres. Have great conversations and discover an incredible collection of very talented people.
No admission fee.
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Main Studio
All Studio events require Day or Weekend Pass
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​3:00 Welcome: Time and Place for Fiction by Janika Byington
From classic literature, to global and local stories, fiction is not frivolous. We need stories to spark our hearts and ignite our imagination.
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5:00 Historical Fact and Fiction? How do you know what's real and what's fun? By Jessica Baehr​
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7:00 Romance 'Round the World: Love that Crosses Borders: Marcella Baugh Discovering and encouraging fiction that represent multicultural people and relationships.
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8:00: Literaryoke. Open mic. Read passages from you favorite books to ambient music.
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Studio B Discussion Groups​
4:00 Best Books Debate Club. What are your top 5 favorite books? Be prepared to defend yourself.
6:00 Second Annual Meeting of the Twilight Fan Club. Where the hell you been loca? Mia Skembo will try to moderate y'all's passion for this series that made the face of romance sparkle.
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​Day 2 Saturday
12am-8pm Author Alley Another day of great authors and artists
No admission fee
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Main Studio:
All Studio events require Day or Weekend Pass
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1:00 Welcome: Janika Byington. Plan out your day with all the relevant information.
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3:00 Rolling Down the Yellow Brick road. K.D. McManis. Inclusive characters in fiction and real-life love.​​
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5:00: Jane Austen Connection. Mark Hobson is highly involved with Jane Austen events around Utah and the west. Learn how to join them in their national and international romantic adventures.
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7:00 Jessica Baehr: While Paris Burned: How the French Revolution shaped Regency romance. Context doesn't get more fun than this
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8:00 Dramatic Reading.
Take a walk into Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. A highly entertaining group of readers will enact select scenes from the romantic comedy, that set the stage for generations of romance writers.
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Studio B Craft Classes:
Supply fee for projects determined by instructors are paid directly to them before class. You may audit class with your regular day pass without doing the project.
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2:00: Men's watch FOB by Mark Hobson. This classic fashion accessory can add authenticity to your historical costumes or flair to contemporary fashion. $25 supply fee (includes pocket watch),
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4:00: Dorsett Button Making By Mark Hobson. Revive the cottage industry art of button making to uplevel your clothing ($15 supply fee)
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6:00 Fourth Wing Book Club: Discussion lead by Amber Roybal. Stop dragon your feet and get here to tell everyone what you love and hate most about this wonderful series.
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​See Panelist Bios Below.
Featured Panelists
Take advantage of years of talent & expertise
Don't miss this opportunity. Your $20 weekend pass gives you access to all activities.
Owner, Organizer, Educator
Janika Byington
"It's my goal to help creators make a living from their work. I create events to help them connect with audiences."
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Janika has a degree in psychology and hopes to help people understand their potential through writing and reading--especially with fiction, because we learn more from stories than we do with textbooks.
I Read England I Write France
Jessica Baehr, Keynote
Jessica was raised on Americana historical fiction. While she reads almost anything, history has since taken her around the world
Her degree in International Cultural Studies and Communications has added insight to her fiction and nonfiction as well
Her husband and her cats add to her insights on love.
Jane Austen Events
Mark and Shannah Hobson
Mark and Shannah can transport you to the world memorialized by Jane Austen's classic literature.
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They have frequently been part of the Annual Jane Austen festival in Bath, England, and Mark has sewn and created Regency historical clothing that is on display at the Provo library.
Diversity in Reading
Marcella Baugh
"My goal is to help people find the reads that reflect them, whether it’s earlier in their reading journey or later in life. I want everyone to have the transformative experience of being seen."
She has been married to her soulmate for 13.5 years. Their love story tropes are: brother’s best friend, slow burn, opposites attract, and second chance.
Rolling down the Yellow Brick Road to Find Wicked Love
K. D. McManis
In 2024, after two years of being a disability assistant, he was diagnosed with aggressive multiple sclerosis and developed even deeper compassion for those with physical and mental limitations.
This became the impetus for self-publishing 12 YA and middle-grade books featuring characters with disabilities. The love and support of his wife makes a challenging life great
Fourth Wing Book Group
Amber Roybal
Amber is a lover of all things romance. Between juggling work and being a mom of a boy and fur babies she reads and creates book content and reading. She has become a force in the book community with her abundant book recommendations gathered during her hours in bookstores, the library, or home book snuggling. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is in her top 5. Tropes to love: enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and tingling slow burn
Ask Anything Author Panel
Alyssa Kelso
Author of the Dreamcatcher Series, Alyssa's Passion for mental health and healing for victims of trauma informs her fiction in ways that help readers heal.
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She is an expert at being authentic to her own voice and mission, even in the face of criticism.