Hello friend,
As mentioned a few weeks back, I recently had the pleasure of joining Autumn Crossman‑Serb and Kathleen Gros on the Prairie Comics Festival’s “Romance Comics” panel, guided with warmth and steady facilitation by Stephanie Guest. I arrived already grateful for the invitation, but I left feeling even more energized, reflective, and appreciative of the space we shared.
One of the richest parts of the experience was how varied our perspectives were. Autumn Crossman‑Serb brought a high‑energy love of contemporary romance storytelling, Kathleen spoke from a thoughtful, adult‑centered narrative approach, and I came in with my far less relatable fondness for vintage romance comics and autobiographical work. The variety made every topic feel more textured and interesting. It was a conversation where each of us came from a different direction, yet somehow everything fit together.
The rhythm of the panel was an interesting one. Autumn had such an enthusiastic, lively presence that I often found myself stepping back and simply listening as the discussion picked up speed. Instead of feeling the need to assert myself, I realized my place that afternoon was often to absorb, reflect, and speak when something naturally aligned with the moment. It ended up being a grounding, meaningful experience — a reminder to me that sometimes listening is the most generous contribution you can make in a shared creative space, and I did a whole bunch of listening.
Stephanie kept us flowing through an engaging mix of topics: the books that shaped us, the reputation romance comics still contend with, the vulnerability that comes with writing emotional material, and the very human process of shaping characters who feel sincere and flawed. I shared a bit about Waiting for Wednesday, including the basic premise of the story, and to my delight, several audience members came to my table afterward and purchased copies. That little surprise felt like a quiet gift at the end of an already‑fulfilling conversation.
We touched on writing tension, how relationships develop on the page, how our own experiences feed into our work, and the balance between openness and privacy in storytelling. Hearing Kathleen and Autumn talk through their own processes — both so different from mine — reminded me how many ways there are to approach the heart of a romance story. Those contrasts pushed me to reflect on my own habits and gave me new angles to consider moving forward.
We closed on an easy, playful note, talking about familiar storytelling patterns and the little narrative delights we each gravitate toward. I mentioned my fondness for some of the more dramatic quirks of old romance comics (yes, including the gloriously over‑the‑top mother‑in‑law stories), and it felt like the perfect blend of humor and reflection to end on.
Participating in this panel reinforced so much of why I love romance comics. They’re heartfelt, human, and endlessly surprising. And sharing the stage with creators who approach the craft so differently only made me more grateful for the genre’s breadth and for the festival that brought us together.
But in the words of the immortal bard, LeVar Burton, don’t take my word for it, watch the panel for yourself here:
I should have another book review post coming soon, an autobiography by one of my favourite performers.
Thanks for reading, I love you.