Romantasy in the Library - Barnstaple Edition

Join the South West Order of Romantasy Novelists (SWORN) for a day of romantasy at Barnstaple Library. Meet local authors, explore the craft, chat all things romance and fantasy, and discover new books.Featuring local authors and a vendor's Romantasy Market, panel discussions, book stalls, and more! This is a day of readers and writers, celebrating the booming literary genre where romance fiction and fantasy collide.This is a free event, and no booking is required, but registering a place will give us an idea of how many to expect on the day.Attending authors:
We will have a Romantasy Market with stalls from local authors and vendors, including Jeanna Louise Skinner, Laurie Mather, Emelia Langstone, L Q Lark, Rhianne Williams, Sarah Bosters, and more authors to be announced soon, plus booksellers Moonlit Chapters and local book club Wings & Wangs.Programme:
Join us upstairs on the third floor of the library, for the following:11.00 - Romantasy Market opens for readers to browse (closes at 15.00).11.30-12.15: Strong Female Leads Who Don't Kick Ass, local authors panellist talk.13.00-13.45: Why Vampires are Sexier in Braille, and Other Accessible Formats with the
Royal Institute of Blind People (RNIB).14.00-14.45: Do we Love or Do we Wait? bookclub discussion with Wings & Wangs.For more information on each panellist talk, please see below:Strong Female Leads Who Don't Kick Ass:
Join SWORN founders and local authors Laurie Mather, Jeanna Louise Skinner, and Emelia Langstone to discuss strong female characters in romantasy. "Strong female characters" has often been a euphemism for a sword. How about their counterpart, the "strong male character", who's all possessive and over seven feet tall, rippling with muscle? This panel discusses women who lead through intelligence, patience, or other skills, and men who aren't afraid to shed a tear.Why Vampires are Sexier in Braille, and Other Accessible Formats:
Join the Royal Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) Engagement Manager, Lara Marshall, as she discusses why reading in braille, audio, large print and other accessible formats can transform the way we experience stories. From swoon-worthy vampires and irresistible romantasy heroes to the practical realities of making books accessible to everyone, this entertaining and thought-provoking session explores how format shapes imagination, connection and enjoyment.
Discover the world of accessible reading, challenge common misconceptions about disability and literature, and hear why some readers might argue that the most attractive fictional characters are found through touch rather than sight. Perfect for romantasy fans, book lovers and anyone curious about making reading more inclusive.Do We Love or Do We Wait?
Join local bookclub Wings & Wangs to discuss their favourite types of relationships in romantasy. There can be such a range in how the love scene plays out; should relationships be consummated, remain chaste, be filled with yearning, or something in between? What are reader's favourite ways for authors to show how their characters feel about each other?