Love Is In The Air At The Oak Lawn Public Library's RomCom

OAK LAWN, IL – Love is in the air at the Oak Lawn Public Library’s upcoming RomCom on Saturday, Feb. 18. The library is partnering with Tinley Park’s independent romance bookstore Love’s Sweet Arrow for a free festival of romance. Eight romance authors will meet readers, sign books, answer questions and discuss romance. Advance registration is required.

“The RomCon’s book signings and author panels are going to be really entertaining, plus we’ll have trivia games and raffle prizes,” Oak Lawn librarian Kate Donley said in a news release.

This collaboration with an independent bookstore is a first for the Oak Lawn Public Library. Love’s Sweet Arrow drew on its connections to recruit the eight Chicago-area romance authors to be guests at the event.

Romance authors attending OLPL’s RomCon include USA Today bestselling author Melonie Johnson, plus Camille Baker, Kelly Farmer, Kathy Douglass, AJ Pine, Ieshia Wiedlin and Oak Lawn’s Emily Hornburg.

Author events will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. attendees will watch the 2019 flick “Isn’t it Romantic,” a romantic comedy film starring Rebel Wilson, on the library’s big screen.

“Romance is one of our highest-circulating adult fiction genres,” Donley said. “And not just at Oak Lawn. It’s the top earning genre of fiction and increasing in popularity.”

Oak Lawn Public Library has more than 7,500 romance novels in its collection, in addition to the jaw-dropping 100,000 romance e-books and e-audiobooks offered digitally through Libby and Hoopla.

Love’s Sweet Arrow will sell books at the event. Oak Lawn merchants Katie’s Hallmark and the Avenue Flower Shop and Wine Bar are also supporting the RomCon by donating merchandise for prizes and giveaways.

Roseann Backlin, owner of Love’s Sweet Arrow, said the biggest draw of the RomCon is that readers will get to meet romance authors in person. “It is so much fun talking romance with others, giving book recommendations and meeting others with similar interests,” Backlin added.

Kelly Farmer explains the draw of the RomCon for her as a writer.

“I’m really looking forward to celebrating joy and romance with the Oak Lawn Public Library. It’s always fun to talk about uplifting stories where everyone can find their happily ever after.”

Attendance for this event is limited to 100 registrants. Advance registration is required. Sign up for this celebration by phone at 708-422-4990 or on the Oak Lawn Public Library’s online calendar, or scan the QR code.