Meet 3 of the local authors at this year’s Love Y’All romance book festival

A few decades ago, romance novels were stereotyped as bodice rippers with hand-painted covers relegated to a corner of the bookstore. Now multiple romance bookstores have opened across metro Atlanta and fill their shelves for every reader—from sports romance superfans to romantasy (aka romantic fantasy) devotees. Readers of all persuasions will gather in Decatur for the third year of Atlanta’s Love Y’All Romance Book Fest from February 13-15.

On Saturday and Sunday, attendees can hear 80 authors speak on panels about LGBTQIA+ representation in genre, forbidden love, and even how authors can best use social media. In between, there are dozens of book signings to meet favorite writers and chat with fellow fans while you wait in line. A few lucky fans can attend intimate author experiences including high tea and cemetery tours on Friday, February 13.

“I think it’s really important for readers to have an [real-life] space like Love Y’all because it reminds us that we’re not alone,” says Atlanta author Kate Dramis, who has attended every year of the festival and will give the opening keynote with Scarlett St. Clair. “I love that the internet can connect us, but nothing replaces that feeling of getting together in real time and celebrating romance. Additionally, as a queer author, I think it’s so incredibly important that we have a safe space like Love Y’all to come together and celebrate love in all its shapes and forms.”

Atlanta magazine spoke to three local authors who are festival mainstays or debut authors about why the festival matters and what to expect:

Photograph courtesy of Kate Dramis

Kate Dramis, author of The Odds of You

How many times have you been to Love Y’all and what makes it special?
I’ve been lucky to go every year since it was founded, and I absolutely adore it. I think the thing that makes Love Y’all so special is how it celebrates community. So many local Atlanta indie bookstores come together to help run it and participate, and I’ve never been to a festival like that before. I’m excited to see it continue to grow, and for people to experience how special the Atlanta reader community is.

You made your name in romantasy. What made you want to write a more contemporary book like The Odds of You?
The Odds of You snuck up on me. I had the idea for the opening scene while I was on a plane to Comic Con, and by the time I landed in San Diego, I was like, “Oh wow. This is a book!” It really just flew out of me. There are so many influences and inspirations that fueled The Odds of You, from my trip to the Isle of Skye with my best friend to my own fears and neuroses to Noah Kahan’s [song] “Stick Season.” But at its heart, The Odds of You was written with the desire to create something that made me, and hopefully others, feel as consumed as I had felt by my favorite book (Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston).

What’s your favorite trope?
My favorite micro trope is a rain scene/rain love confession. I feel like the rain makes everything so dramatic!

Photograph by Greta High

Ashley Jordan, author of Once Upon a Time in Dollywood

As a debut author, what’s your experience with Love Y’all?
I went the first year as an attendee right after I got my book deal. It feels a bit like a dream come true to return as an author this year because when I was there in 2024 I was  just soaking in what the authors were doing and hoping it would be me one day, and now it will be. I love that these festivals are really about diversity in romance, which I think is really important. Unfortunately, romance is often derided as a silly genre, so to have people who love it and take it seriously and understand it is really important to be able to celebrate in person.

Why is diversity important in the romance genre?
Love is a universal thing, so it doesn’t make sense that we had to see ourselves represented in whiteness because that has been what was available for so long. But now Black authors are getting book deals. Kennedy Ryan is the Beyoncé of romance. A lot of us are following in her footsteps and really getting to be out there. What I’ve heard from readers and what means the most to me is when they see themselves in my work, and I think that’s why I wanted to write in the first place—to see myself reflected. And that’s what all of us want really.

Your debut has heavy themes like miscarriage and divorce, but also spice. How do you achieve the right balance?
Romance is about reflecting real life. We don’t have light without dark. My book is not a rom-com; it’s contemporary romance. I hope readers cry, and I hope they laugh as well, but I do want to make them feel.

What’s your favorite trope?
Second-chance romance. There’s something really interesting and special about a couple together at one time, but they had to be apart to grow and become different and hopefully better people

Photograph by Lynda Louis Photography

Tati Richardson, author of Losing Sight

What do you love about the festival?
You can feel the Southern charm when you go. It’s intimate, not like a massive book con. There’s a level of diversity you don’t see with other conferences unless they’re marginalized group specific. It’s also one of the festivals that makes a point highlighting local authors. When people come up to me and say things like, “Your work makes me feel seen,” it reminds me that these books aren’t just words on a page.

What made you want to incorporate magical realism into your books?
I wanted to challenge myself creatively, but it’s a disability metaphor because disability representation is really important for me. People don’t think about glasses as disability or losing your voice and amnesia as temporary disabilities. But if a character is not able to see/hear/remember, how do they communicate feelings? And magical realism makes that more fun.

What’s your favorite trope?
I think I like to write friends-to-lovers. What I love to read is a good enemies-to-lovers.

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