2026 Full Program
The programme for ‘Kiss ‘n’ Tell’ is below.
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 and house-keeping | |||
| 09:00 – 10:30 am | Keynote: Jennifer Hilt | Bodies, Secrets, and Slow Burns: Blending Crime Plots with Romance | ||
| 10:30 – 10:50 am | Morning tea | |||
| 10:50 am – 12:30 pm | Keynote: Jennifer Hilt | The Emotional Blueprint: How Tropes Create Character, Conflict, and Chemistry (Part 1) | ||
| 12:30 – 1:30 pm | Lunch | |||
| 1:30 – 3:00 pm | Keynote | Workshop | ||
|
The Emotional Blueprint: How Tropes Create Character, Conflict, and Chemistry (Part 2)
Keynote: Jennifer Hilt |
Book Visibility in the Age of AI
Workshop: James Blatch |
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| 3:00 – 3:30 pm | Afternoon tea | |||
| 3:30 – 5:00 pm | Panel: Hosted by Catherine Robertson | The Rise of Romantasy – with Ashley Anderson | ||
| 5:00 pm | Friday close | |||
| 5:00 – 6:30 pm | Registration (continued) | |||
| 6:30 – 7:00 pm | First timer get-together | |||
| 7:00 – 9:00 pm |
Cocktail PartyA wonderful chance to meet the people you’ll be attending conference with over the weekend. Enjoy tasty canapés and drinks while you socialise with friends and meet writers you can connect with. |
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Saturday 15th August
| Time | Description | ||
| 07:30 – 08:30 am | Registration opens | ||
| 08:30 – 9:00 am | Pōwhiri, opening welcome from Kelly Lyndon. House-keeping – special welcome to weekend attendees | ||
| 09:00 – 10:25 am | Keynote: TL Swann | The Heart of Storytelling: Character, Emotion & Plot | |
| 10:25 – 10:45 am | Morning tea | ||
| 10:45 – 11:30 am | Keynote: TL Swann | Choosing Your Publishing Path | |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Sarah Younger | The Ever Evolving Agent/Author Relationship | |
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Lunch | ||
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Workshop | ||
|
Bringing your Author Brand to Life (B)
Eileen Mueller |
Kindle Trends 2025–2026 (B)
Nat Connors |
Writing for $uccess (B)
Sarah Williams |
|
| 3:00 – 4:00 pm | Workshop | ||
|
Dialog with Snap, Sizzle and Pop (C)
Amy Blythe |
Covers and Comp Titles: Maximising Market Success (B)
Holly Dunn |
The Aligned Author, Designing Your Writing Life (B)
Rosie Evelyn |
|
| 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 DinnerJoin 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! |
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Sunday 16th August
| Time | Description | ||
| 8:50 – 9:00 am | Welcome / housekeeping | ||
| 9:00 – 10:25 am | Keynote: Nalini Singh | Foundations of a Long-Term Writing Career (Part 1) | |
| 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 – 12:00 pm | Jenny Nagle | NZ Society of Authors | |
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch | ||
| 12:45 – 1:45 pm | Workshop | ||
|
Creating an Immersive Reader Experience (C)
Eileen Mueller |
Business Basics for New Authors (B)
Lynda Tomalin |
The Successful Author Mindset
SPA Girls (Panel with Susan Sims) |
|
| 2:00 – 3:00 pm | Workshop | ||
|
Love Without Borders: A Practical Guide to Foreign Translations (B)
Bronwen Evans |
Use Theme Like A Queen (C)
Shannon Curtis |
From Sketch to Soul: Developing Characters and Settings that Feel Real (C)
Vianne Max |
|
| 3:00 – 3:20 pm | Afternoon tea | ||
| 3:20 – 4:05 pm | Keynote speaker panel with Susan Sims | ||
| 4:05 – 4:30 pm | Closing / raffle winners / 2026 conference | ||
Our Sponsors
RWNZ would like to thank our sponsors:
