Do romance novels exploit women or empower them? How do authors work within the genre's expectation of a HEA (Happily-Ever-After)? Why is romance the best-selling genre in publishing? You may find the answers to these and other questions at the library's screening of the documentary film Love Between the Covers, written, produced and directed by Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Laurie Kahn. 

The film documents three years in the lives of five published romance writers (including best-selling authors Eloisa James and Beverly Jenkins), as well as one unpublished author trying to make a name for herself. 

What many people don't realize is just how popular romance is. Every year it outsells mystery, sci-fi, and fantasy combined. Yet until Kahn turned her camera on the genre, no filmmaker had ever taken an honest look at the amazing global community that romance writers and readers have built. 

Following the film three local romance writers, Amy Jo Cousins, Kate Meader, and Julie Ann Walker, will be on hand for a panel discussion moderated by romance scholar, Professor Eric Selinger, of DePaul University. Come for the film, but stay for the Q&A and the chance to ask all your burning questions about contemporary romance novels. There'll also be giveaways as well as a chance to buy books and talk to the authors.