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Laura Ridgefield

@lauraridgefield.bsky.social

1.2K followers 930 following 94 posts

HEA forever. Romance novelist ("Under the Influencer" coming soon!) Board Member, Chicago North Romance Writers. #romancelandia PR practitioner, mom, bleeding heart. She/her

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Nov 20

#Romancelandia -- if you want to keep up with the antics and amazing writers of the renown @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social, I've assembled this handy-dandy starter pack. go.bsky.app/79Fbp47

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · 12d

This.

Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 12d

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day?

Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · 12d

In the US. I have watched SO many videos with POV on what's better, and I think I have it narrowed down to KDP and Ingram. Seems like such a huge hurdle to decide, but I suppose nothing is final.

Thank you!

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · 12d

Contemporary romance indie authors - trying to decide between KDP, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital and Barnes & Noble for self publishing. Leaning toward KDP, but would love to hear your thoughts! #indiepublishing #writingromance #amwriting

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · 17d

One of the best writing conferences around for romance writers! Registration just opened with early bird pricing, and you can choose in-person or online! (But I hope you choose in-person so we can meet!) #amwriting #writingromance #chicagospringfling

Chicago-North Romance Writers @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social · 18d

Chicago North Spring Fling Writers Conference 2026 registration is now available!
Workshops, agent pitch sessions, blogger bookseller meet and greet, book signing, gala, charity auction, networking! #Authorsky #romancewriters
www.chicagonorthromancewriters.com/spring-fling

Chicago North Spring Fling Writers Conference 2026 April 16-18, 2026 downtown Chicago and online. Registration now available!

Reposted by Laura Ridgefield

Bookstore Romance Day @handle.invalid · Sep 8

Authors of #Romancelandia! In an attempt to get a jump on Bookstore Romance Day planning for 2026, I have opened up the author registration form. This information is shared w/bookstores who want to do events for BRD & for Bookstore Romance Day-presented virtual panels & events. Link in next post.

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Aug 15

Today's the LAST DAY to submit a workshop proposal for Chicago-North Romance Writers' SPRING FLING conference in April 2026. You won't want to miss it!

Chicago-North Romance Writers @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social · Aug 14

Deadline: submit your workshop proposal by August 15!
#romancewriters #Chicagosky #Chicago
www.chicagonorthromancewriters.com

chicago north romance writers. now accepting workshop proposals. deadline aug 15, 2025. Spring fling 2026. writers conference April 16-18, 2026

chicago north romance writers. headling authors Adraian Herrera and Brenda Jackson. Spring fling 2026. writers conference April 16-18, 2026

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 22

Stained EVERYTHING

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 20

If the #StuffYourEReader event is too much to sift through -- @fatedmates.net have done the legwork for you. Just added these to my TBR! #romance

Fated Mates @fatedmates.net · Jun 20

Get these excellent romances for free today!

Jess K Hardy's LIPS LIKE SUGAR
amzn.to/4lf4boA
Nikki Sloane's THE INITIATION
amzn.to/3FKUxv6
www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...
Sara Whitney's TEMPTING HEAT
amzn.to/3HMfjeb
www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/...
Annika Martin's DARK MAFIA PRINCE
amzn.to/3HKcGtD

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 20

For those who want to GET ALL THE BOOKS -- a bunch of freebies for you! It's #StuffYourEReader day!

Mels @maimysantiago99.bsky.social · Jun 20

Hey nerds it's stuff your e-reader day over on romance bookworms

Romance Bookworms

Free romance ebooks, sorted by the retailer of your choice! No strings attached, just one-click and start reading! Your friends, the romance novel fairies.

www.romancebookworms.com

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 20

Confession - I hoard books (new, secondhand, library discards) like a miser. I have a very hard time getting rid of books. At last count, I had more than 1,100 in my shelves. Is that an excessive amount?

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 18

Can't argue with fashions...lol.

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 18

Agree, and think that's why regency is always so popular -- most restrictive, limited agency for women, the idea of being "ruined" by sex.

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 17

I'm normally not a fan of present-tense writing, but I just finished beta reading a fantasy novel from my agent-sibling, and it was SO good. I might have to rethink my bias.

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 16

Only 3 weeks away!

Chicago-North Romance Writers @chicagonorthrw.bsky.social · Jun 16

Where are the #Chicagoland romance readers?
Our Books in Bloom event:
8 author panels including romance book podcasts Fated Mates, Whoamance!, Cantina Book club, Midnight Ace podcast and Chicago's Last Chapter Bookshop!
Tea & book-themed fashion show
Book signing!
www.chicagobooksinbloom.com

books in bloom july 11-12 2025 reader event Sonest Chicago Ohare
Signing authors
Melonie Johnson, Katrina Bauer, J. Von Tobel, Carla Luna, Kelly Farmer,
Victoria Hamel, Rachelle Paige Campbell, Audrey Lynden, Sara Fujimura,
Khushi T. Saha, Charli Rahe, Stephanie C, Stephanie J. Scott/Stephanie Jayne,
Eveline Rose, Vanessa M. Knight, CJ Warrant/CJ Barlowe, Colette Dixon,
Kasey Kennedy, Brandy Blackmon, Jamie Lynn Miller, Phoebe Walker, Arden Joy,
Sara Biren, Brandy Shaw, Tracy Gray, Margaret Kay/Charlie Roberts/RK Cary,
Danielle Jackson, Kelly Garcia, Naleighna Kai, La Ammitai, Sara Whitney,
Tanya Agler

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 16

Me and my bsky bubble

John Cusack and other actors from the movie One Crazy Summer, lookin' like a buncha nerds.

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 5

Unbelievable....wait, completely believable. These companies have zero regard for the human element of creative expression. They can't fathom that the spark of humanity is necessary. It's repulsive.

Reposted by Laura Ridgefield

Steve Peterson @stevepeterson.mstdn.social.ap.brid.gy · Jun 4

Near Lauragh, #Ireland: Sean O's Hobbit-ish forge.

#StreetPhotography
#ivy
#door

An ivy covered single story fieldstone building. A wooded door with an iron latch sits in an opening that starts smaller at the bottom, then sweeps out towards the rounded top.

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 4

Also -- I discovered there's a town called Lauragh, which is obviously a place that I, Laura, need to go! And it's beautiful!

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 4

The biggest problem with writing a romance novel set in Ireland is that you can get completely, wistfully lost when researching vacation rentals. Now all I want to do is plan another vacation there!

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 4

Writers, name five of the authors who most impacted your writing style or philosophy:

Betty Smith
Jane Austen
Victoria Holt
Sharon Kay Penman
Jude Devereaux

Indie Book Spotlight @bookspotlight.bsky.social · Jun 3

Writers, name five of the authors who most impacted your writing style or philosophy:

JRR Tolkien
CS Lewis
Libba Bray
Ken Follett
Lemony Snicket

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 4

Ooh, good publishing news is always something to celebrate. Take the crumbs of joy you can find in this hellscape.

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 3

The teacher gave me full marks, but in the margins, he told me that my pen pal seemed to have the upper hand, debate-wise. LOL. I still have those letters somewhere in the basement, and never met the pen pal. He'd be about 52 now. (3/3)

Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 3

The letters started off fine, but veered over time into double entendres, snarkiness and what I thought was witty repartee. So, throwing caution to the wind, I hole-punched the letters and turned them in. (2/3)

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 3

Oh, you just brought back a core memory! I loved writing, but was not discplined (gee, not much changed!) so at the end of the semester, I panicked. Instead of my journal, I submitted a series of letters I wrote to a (male) pen pal in NJ. He was friends with the boy at my school I liked (1/3)

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Laura Ridgefield @lauraridgefield.bsky.social · Jun 3

Ah, we've reached that intersection of heat & humidity where I can't sit on any chair in shorts for more than a minute. My legs stick to the chair like a fruit rollup to its wrapper.

a man in a suit and tie is sitting on a couch and making a funny face while talking about fruit roll ups

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is sitting on a couch and making a funny face while talking about fruit roll ups

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