Tucson Festival of Books

Regina Black



Katie Childs

Regina Black is a former litigator, current law school administrator, and lifelong romance reader who writes about art, identity, and love in the modern South. Her debut, "The Art of Scandal," was named a best romance book of 2023 by Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Audible, and the Chicago Public Library. Her second novel, "August Lane," was an instant USA Today bestseller and has been praised as a "powerhouse of the genre" by The New York Times Book Review. She currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband and daughter.

Visit website | Bluesky Substack Instagram

Communities: African American


Scheduled events:
Workshop: Writing Romance with Heart
Romance is an inherently sentimental genre. That is its power. The promise of hope, connection, and a happily-ever-after brings readers back for more, but sentimentality is often treated as a craft weakness, something writers should avoid or apologize for. Author Regina Black has some thoughts about that.

Integrated Learning Center Room 125AB (Seats 40, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Romance

Panelist: Regina Black
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Words, Women, and Wine Book Club
Smiling Through the Tears
Don't you just love a romance that gives you all the feels? In this session, three contemporary romance authors discuss the space of emotionally charged, serious romance, and how the genre has shifted with the increased focus on rom-coms.

Koffler Room 216 (Seats 89, Wheelchair accessible)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Romance
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Regina Black, Ali Rosen, JL Seegars
Moderator: Jocelynne Simone
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Research Corporation for Science Advancement, Sundt Construction, Inc.
Regina Black
August Lane: "The best romance I've read all year." —The New York Times Every Thursday night, former country music heartthrob Luke Randall has to sing “Another Love Song.” God, he hates that song. But performing his lone hit at an interstate motel lounge is the only regular money he still has. Following another lackluster performance at the rock bottom of his career, Luke receives the opportunity of his dreams, opening for his childhood idol—90’s era Black country music star, JoJo Lane, who’s being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But the concert is in Arcadia, Arkansas, the small hometown he swore he’d never see again. Going back means facing a painful past of abuse and neglect. It also means facing JoJo’s daughter, August Lane—the woman who wrote the lyrics he’s always claimed as his own. August also hates that song. But she hates Luke Randall even more. When he shows up ten years too late to apologize for his betrayal, she isn’t interested in making amends. Instead, she threatens to expose his lies unless he co-writes a new song with her and performs it at the concert, something she hopes will launch her out of her mother's shadow and into a songwriting career of her own. Desperate to keep his secret, Luke agrees to put on the rogue performance, despite the risk of losing his shot at a new record deal. When Luke’s guitar reunites with August’s soulful alto, neither can deny that the passionate bond they formed as teenagers is still there. As the concert nears, August will have to choose between an overdue public reckoning with the boy who betrayed her, or trusting the man he’s become to write a different love song.

Steamy Lit, Booth #114 (Seats 1)
Sun, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 1:40 pm
Romance

Author: Regina Black
That's Entertainment
Life in the spotlight is not always easy, especially when celebrities would like to be "normal" now and then. In this session, our authors will discuss their latest books and plot lines featuring people in show business.

UA Campus Store Stage (Seats 250)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Romance
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Regina Black, Cat Sebastian, Venessa Vida Kelley
Moderator: Jessica West
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity - Arizona Alpha Chapter, UA Campus Store

Books:
August Lane
Romance
Grand Central Publishing
July 2025
ISBN 9781538767528
336 pages
Buy now

The Art of Scandal
Romance
Grand Central Publishing
April 2024
ISBN 9781538722787
320 pages
Buy now