The programme for ‘Kiss ‘n’ Tell’ is below.
Please note that this programme is still a draft and subject to change
Your MC for the weekend is Darian Smith
Friday 14th August
| Time | Description | |
| 07:30 – 08:30 am | Registration – come to the conference registration desk at the hotel and get your lanyard and goodie bag | |
| 08:30 – 09:00 am | Conference begins – Welcome from Kelly Lyndon (RWNZ President) and house-keeping | |
| 09:00 – 10:30 am | Keynote: Jennifer Hilt |
The Emotional Blueprint: How Tropes Create Character, Conflict, and Chemistry (Part 1) Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
| 10:30 – 10:50 am | Morning tea | |
| 10:50 – 12:30 pm | Keynote: Jennifer Hilt |
The Emotional Blueprint: How Tropes Create Character, Conflict, and Chemistry (Part 2) Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
| 12:30 – 1:30 pm | Lunch | |
| 1:30 – 3:00 pm | Keynote: Jennifer Hilt |
Bodies, Secrets, and Slow Burns: Blending Crime Plots with Romance Jean Batten 1 |
| OR | ||
| 1:30 – 3:00 pm | Workshop: James Blatch |
Book Visibility in the Age of AI Jean Batten 2 |
| 3:00 – 3:30 pm | Afternoon tea | |
| 3:30 – 5:00 pm | Panel: Hosted by Catherine Robertson with Ashley Andersen, Ivy Cliffwater, Sarah Younger (Nancy Yost Agency) and Lizzy Lockhart (Book Hero) |
The Rise of Romantasy Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
| 5:00 pm | Friday close | |
| 5:00 – 6:30 pm | Registration (continued) | |
| 6:30 – 7:00 | First timer get-together | |
| 7:00 – 9:00 pm |
Cocktail PartyTheme: Romantasy A wonderful chance to meet the people you’ll be attending the conference with over the weekend. Enjoy tasty canapés and drinks while you socialise with friends and meet writers you can connect with. |
|
Saturday 15th August
| Time | Description | ||
| 07:30 – 08:30 am | Registration opens | ||
| 08:30 – 9:00 am | Pōwhiri, opening welcome from Kelly Lyndon (RWNZ President). House-keeping – special welcome to weekend attendees | ||
| 09:00 – 10:25 am | Keynote: TL Swan |
The Heart of Storytelling: Character, Emotion & Plot Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
|
| 10:25 – 10:45 am | Morning tea | ||
| 10:45 – 11:30 am | Keynote: TL Swan |
Choosing Your Publishing Path Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
|
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Sarah Younger |
The Ever Evolving Agent/Author Relationship Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
|
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Lunch | ||
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Workshop 1 | ||
|
Bringing your Author Brand to Life (B) Jean Batten 3 |
Kindle Trends 2025–2026 (B) Jean Batten 2 |
Writing for $uccess (B) Jean Batten 1 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen Mueller | Nat Connors | Sarah Williams | |
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm | Workshop 2 | ||
|
Dialog with Snap, Sizzle and Pop (C) Jean Batten 3 |
Covers and Comp Titles: Maximising Market Success (B) Jean Batten 2 |
The Aligned Author, Designing Your Writing Life (B) Jean Batten 1 |
|
| Amy Blythe | Holly Dunn | Rosie Evylin | |
| 4:00 – 4:20 pm | Afternoon tea | ||
| 4:20 – 4:50 pm | RWNZ AGM | ||
| 4:50 – 5:15 pm | Saturday raffle drawing | ||
| 5:00 pm | Close | ||
| 7:00 pm |
RWNZ Awards DinnerMC: Verity Johnson Join your fellow RWNZ members in this fun event — celebrate storytelling with a room full of talented writers, enjoy a delicious three-course meal, and network during award presentations and speeches. Whether you’re a conference newbie or veteran, this is an event you don’t want to miss! |
||
Sunday 16th August
| Time | Description | ||
| 8:30 – 8:35 | Welcome / housekeeping | ||
| 8:35 – 9:00 am | Jenny Nagle (NZSA) | ||
| 9:00 – 10:25 am | Keynote: Nalini Singh |
Foundations of a Long-Term Writing Career (Part 1) Jean Batten 1 & 2 |
|
| 10:25 – 10:45 am | Morning tea | ||
| 10:45 – 11:30 am | Keynote: Nalini Singh | Foundations of a Long-Term Writing Career (Part 2) | |
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Jenny Nagle & Daniel Watterson | Authors and AI: Risk, Resilience, and Writing the Future | |
| 12:30 – 1:15 pm | Lunch | ||
| 1:15 – 2:15 pm | Workshop 3 | ||
|
Creating an Immersive Reader Experience (C) Jean Batten 2 |
Business Basics for New Authors (B) Jean Batten 3 |
The Successful Author Mindset (B) Jean Batten 1 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Eileen Mueller | Lynda Tomalin | SPA Girls (Panel with Catherine Robertson) | |
| 2:15 – 3:15 pm | Workshop 4 | ||
|
Love Without Borders: A Practical Guide to Foreign Translations (B) Jean Batten 3 |
Use Theme Like A Queen (C) Jean Batten 2 |
From Sketch to Soul: Developing Characters and Settings that Feel Real (C) Jean Batten 1 |
|
| Bronwen Evans | Shannon Curtis | Vianne Max | |
| 3:15 – 3:35 pm | Afternoon tea | ||
| 3:35 – 4:05 pm | Keynote speaker panel with Catherine Robertson | ||
| 4:05 – 4:30 pm | Closing / raffle winners / 2027 conference | ||
Our Sponsors
RWNZ would like to thank our sponsors.
