Write on Bowen runs Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, on Bowen Island -- it will be my first time there (and Saturday is my birthday, so come party with me)!

Early bird tickets are available now at their website: https://www.writeonbowen.com/festival-schedule

I will be participating in the Saturday evening Literary Cabaret (https://www.writeonbowen.com/literarycabaret) and then offering a ROMANCE workshop on Sunday (because of course I am). A bunch of my amazing word warrior friends will also be teaching during this weekend event, including Eileen Cook, Andrew Buckley, Lynne Melcombe, and Michelle Barker and David Brown of the Darling Axe! I'm so looking forward to hanging out and learning all the things.

For those interested in my Sunday session:

Writing Romance That Actually Works: Tension, Chemistry, and Emotional Payoff, with Jenn Sommersby

Time & Location: Sep 20, 2026, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Bowen Island Public Library Annex, 430 Bowen Island Trunk Rd, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0, Canada

About the Event

Romance is one of the most commercially powerful genres in publishing, yet it’s still often misunderstood, dismissed, or reduced to cliché. In this interactive workshop, author and editor Jenn Sommersby explores what actually makes a romantic storyline work on the page. We’ll look at the difference between attraction and chemistry, how tension grows through scene work and character dynamics, why emotional payoff has to be earned, and what common missteps weaken a love story. Ideal for romance writers and for fiction writers who want to create stronger emotional and relational arcs in any genre.

Let me know if you're going. We should grab a drink and catch up!

xo