Seven authors on the schedule for book festival

Light some candles and get in the mood as the Vegas Valley Book Festival celebrates romance writing in America with seven best-selling romance authors.

Authors Ann Aguirre, Zoe Archer, Vivian Arend, Lauren Dane, Tessa Dare, Megan Hart and Courtney Milan will read short excerpts from their novels during a presentation at 9 p.m. March 17 at the Chapel of the Flowers, 1717 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The event is free and open to the public.

"The Romance of Words" event includes a contest to select a local couple to renew their wedding vows that evening. Interested couples are asked to write, in 200 words or less, their idea of the most romantic date in Las Vegas, real or imagined. To submit, contestants can visit www.lvcitylife.com.

The deadline for submission is March 5. The winner will be selected by the seven participating romance authors.

The winning couple will receive a renewal of vows ceremony at the chapel, wedding bouquet/boutonniere, a suite of professional photographs, wedding DVD and live Internet broadcast, a special wedding cake and round-trip limousine service (from downtown or the Strip.) In addition, the couple will receive a signed copy of each author's book.

The evening concludes with a book signing and reception in the Chapel of the Flowers' Glass Gardens. The authors' books will be for sale at the site.