Schedule
Love as the Practice of Freedom?
Romance Fiction and American Culture
April 23-24, 2009
Current Schedule
All sessions will take place in Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture
Schedule update (4/20/09): Unfortunately Monica Jackson will be unable to join us on Friday's closing roundtable.
Thursday, April 23, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
7:30 pm Registration, Betts Auditorium
8:00 pm Conference welcome: William Gleason, Princeton University, and Eric Murphy Selinger, DePaul University
8:15 pm Keynote Roundtable, “Romance Fiction and American Culture”
- Tania Modleski, Dept. of English, USC
- Stephanie Coontz, Dept. of History, Evergreen State University
- Mary Bly [“Eloisa James”], Dept. of English, Fordham University, and romance author
- Jennifer Crusie, romance author and essayist on the genre
Friday, April 24, 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
8:00-8:30 Registration and refreshments, Betts Auditorium
8:30-10:15 Session I: Love and Faith: Romance and Religion
- Lynn S. Neal, Dept. of Religion, Wake Forest University
- Pamela Regis Dept. of English, McDaniel College
- R. Marie Griffith, Dept. of Religion, Princeton University
- Beth Pattillo, romance author and ordained minister
- Eric Murphy Selinger, Dept. of English, DePaul University
10:30-12:15 Session II: Memory and Desire: Romance, History, and Literary Tradition
- Margaret Doody, Dept. of English, University of Notre Dame; Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching, Princeton University
- Rita B. Dandridge, Dept. of Languages and Literature, Virginia State University
- Ann Herendeen, romance author
- Sally Goade, independent scholar
- Beverly Jenkins, romance author
12:15-1:15 Lunch for panelists and pre-registered conferees, Chancellor Green
1:30-3:15 Session III: The Sweetest Taboos: Romance and Sexuality
- Mary Bly [“Eloisa James”], Dept. of English, Fordham University, and romance author
- Sarah S. G. Frantz, Dept. of English and Foreign Languages, Fayetteville State University
- Julie E. Moody-Freeman, Dept. of African and Black Diaspora Studies, DePaul University
- Guy Mark Foster, Dept. of English and Africana Studies, Bowdoin College
3:30-5:15 Session IV: Whispers in the Dark: Romance and Race
- Gwendolyn Pough [“Gwyneth Bolton”], Dept. of Women’s Studies, Syracuse University, and romance author
- Emily Haddad, Dept. of English, University of South Dakota
- Esi Sogah, romance editor, Avon Books
- Dana Johnson [“P.J. MacAllister”], Dept. of English, USC, and Alison Umminger [“Grace Grant”], Dept. of English, University of West Georgia, and collaborating romance authors
5:30-6:30 Closing Roundtable: Romance Reads the Academy*
- Michelle Buonfiglio, columnist, blogger, and reviewer (Romance: B(u)y the Book)
- Sarah Wendell, critic, blogger, and reviewer (Smart Bitches Trashy Books)
- Diane Pershing, romance author, President, Romance Writers of America (2008-2009)
- *Monica Jackson, author, paranormal romance; contributor to “Blogging in Black” and other author websites
- Krista Stroever, editor, Harlequin Books
7:00 - Dinner for panelists and pre-registered conferees, Fine Hall
*Schedule update (4/20/09): Unfortunately Monica Jackson will be unable to join us on Friday’s closing roundtable.
