'We love romance' declares Rom Con

Romance novelists gathered with readers at a Rom Con to discuss writing and publishing in the Mother City, at the weekend.

- FOUZIA VAN DER FORT

These discussions were had at Exclusive Books, Waterfront, on Saturday June 21.

Three panels of authors, from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, spoke with heart about their love of reading, writing and happily ever afters.

Author Rushdiyah Narker, from Kensington, said she started reading regency romance because it was the closest to what romance was like for Muslims.

“There's always this bruh, but I can’t let him know that I like him. Everybody must see me stare at him because my mom is going to scold,” she said.

Ms Narker's book entitled Some Unspoken Thing is available on pre-order from Loot and will be in stores on August 1.

“I read everything. I read thrillers, mysteries and romance. I always come back to romance because you know you're going to get a happy ending,” she said.

She explained that it was a form of “escapism”.

“With the world being so shit, why can’t we just have our happy endings? I don’t make excuses for reading romance. It’s what I enjoy; if you don’t like that, then bye,” she said.