Re: Romance-Con

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I don’t do anything quickly.

Especially make decisions.

I watch. I listen. I learn.

And then I reflect.

I will not be at Romance Con in September.

This is not the event that it was supposed to be when I signed up to attend nearly a year ago. An event with ~250 authors that was billed to be a safe and inclusive space for all.

Actions showed it wasn’t. The result is an event that is a quarter the size as it was going to be.

I want to believe that none of the conference’s organizers intended to harm anyone in the trans community, that they believed they were doing good. But no matter the intent, impact matters. Harm was done. And I’d hoped to see efforts made to rectify that, though once harm occurs, I don’t think it’s possible to fully get back to where things were before said harm.

Efforts have been made, but it’s not enough, and often the steps forward were met with more steps backwards. They still have more work to do. I hope they do that work even beyond RC.

And I still have more work to do too. Listen more. Read more. Share more. Support more.

I also will not be in Milwaukee that weekend.

I contemplated still going as there are wonderful bookstores, businesses, and individuals who are stepping in to make an alternate event for those still coming into the area. Please do go visit that event and those individuals and businesses organizing it and the authors there. From the bits and pieces I have heard, it will be amazing.
Please also support the authors who will still be at Romance Con who can’t not go. I was so close to being one. Despite the privileges I have in life by being who I am, I don’t have the financial privilege to easily and immediately walk away from something that I’ve put chunks of money into as recently as a few weeks ago. I’m a tiny author and don’t make a lot at this point. And although it will be a struggle to pay some book-event related bills without recouping costs in Milwaukee, that struggle is nothing like that faced by others just to exist.

Still, my anxiety around money and travel and events and disharmony and really everything is such that I’m overloaded at this point from all of it, and not partaking in the RC or alternate events that weekend is the best course of action for me.

For my readers who have preordered, I have already sent emails or talked to you about next steps to get you your books and swag. To those who were bringing a book with them to be signed by me as either Rosalie or Rosie, please reach out, and I will send you some swag and a signed bookplate.

I am so bummed to not be meeting you in person in September. I really hope to meet you in person at a future event.

All the best, Rosalie

PS. During the time I spent writing this yesterday, the original con organizers announced they are stepping away from RC and bringing in new management. I wish the new management well, and I hope for the sake of the remaining authors, vendors, sponsors, and attendees who are still going that they pull off a great event. But I will not be a part of what remains.