The Romance Writing Festival is a specialised, one-day event which offers dedicated sessions to help inspire, educate and inform romance writers on all things romance writing. Troubador is delighted to be attending The Romance Writing Festival 2026 in Bournemouth, hosting our own session on Why Romance Authors Thrive in Self-Publishing (and How To Do It Properly).
Romance is one of the most successful and fast-moving genres in publishing, and self-publishing sits at the heart of that success. This session explores why so many romance authors start (and stay) self-published, what readers now expect from romance books, and how authors can combine creative control with professional publishing standards to maximise reach, sales, and long-term potential.
1. The Romance Market Today (10 minutes)
- Why romance dominates self-publishing
- Reader behaviour: fast consumption, loyalty to authors, series reading
- Where romance readers actually buy books (Amazon as the primary driver)
- Brief success stories of romance authors who began self-published and scaled up
2. Creative Control: Why It Matters in Romance (10 minutes)
- Owning your vision: covers, branding, and reader expectations
- Current trends:
- Illustrated covers
- Romantasy aesthetics
- Consistent series branding
- The importance of not “messing with” key character elements (e.g. the MMC)
- How self-publishing protects author voice and reader trust
3. Format Is Everything: Ebook, Audio & Print (15 minutes)
- Why many romance titles start as ebook-only
- The critical importance of professional ebook formatting
- Audio’s growing role in romance consumption
- Print as a premium object:
- Beautiful finishes (sprayed edges, special editions)
- Why large publishers often can’t justify these early on
- How authors can scale formats as demand grows
4. Discoverability & Marketing in Romance (15 minutes)
- Romance as a social-media-driven genre
- Blog tours, influencers, and ARC readers
- Marketing materials that bloggers and reviewers expect
- The role of Amazon vs the growing importance of romance-focused bookshops
- Opportunities beyond retail:
- Subscriptions
- Special promotions
- Trade relationships
5. Bringing It All Together: Doing Self-Publishing Properly (10 minutes)
- The difference between “DIY” and professionally supported self-publishing
- Common mistakes romance readers notice immediately
- How authors can:
- Start lean (ebook-only if needed)
- Maintain quality
- Leave room for growth and opportunity
- Closing message: self-publishing as a launchpad, not a compromise
We are looking forward to seeing all the attendees at the Romance Writing Festival!
