Romance novels have historically been written by women, for women and about women. The genre has gone through many iterations over time, from the early romances of Jane Austen to the rise of the bodice-ripper to today’s increasingly diverse array of protagonists and plotlines. A panel of romance authors, editors and experts =will discuss the genre’s power as a tool for feminism, diversity and challenging the status quo, as well as its important value in providing a sense of comfort and community to its readers.