For some time now, twitter and Facebook have been buzzing with talk about the RNA party that’s taking place tomorrow at The Royal Overseas League, in London – who’s going, what to wear, shoes, and so on. Clearly, therefore, tomorrow is a big day – but why?
Well, it’s one of the two annual parties thrown by the Romantic Novelists’ Association and they are always FUN, FUN, FUN!
But more than that, tomorrow’s party is special for TWO reasons:
The Royal Overseas League, Piccadilly
1) The winner of the Joan Hessayon award will be announced.
2) The winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2012 will be announced.
Each year, the RNA celebrates the best in romantic fiction with awards for both published and unpublished work. The Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Scheme Award and The Romantic Novel of the Year award are two of their three awards.
1) The Joan Hessayon Award
The award is generously sponsored by Dr David Hessayon, in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member of the RNA and a great supporter of the New Writers’ Scheme (the NWS).
Under the NWS, manuscripts submitted by unpublished writers are read by an experienced writer or editor who provides valuable feedback. Any manuscript that’s subsequently published as a debut novel is eligible for the award, which is judged by a panel of experienced RNA members.
The shortlisted authors for 2012 are:
Rhoda Baxter: Patently In Love, Uncial
Tanith Davenport: The Hand He Dealt, Total-e-Bound
Lynda Dunwell: Marrying The Admiral’s Daughter, Musa Publishing
Liz Fenwick: The Cornish House, Orion
Linda Mitchelmore: To Turn Full Circle, Choc Lit
Gina Rossi: The Wild Heart, Wild Rose Press
Evonne Wareham: Never Coming Home, published by Choc Lit
Scarlet Wilson: It Started With A Pregnancy, HMB
2) The Romantic Novel of the Year 2012 Award
In March, RoNAs (Romantic Novel Awards) were awarded to the winners of five specific categories of romantic novel. The winning titles then went forward to a panel of judges, and the overall winner will be announced tomorrow.
The shortlisted authors are:
Christina Courtenay: Highland Storms (The Historical Romantic Novel award), Choc Lit
Katie Fforde: Summer of Love (The Contemporary Romantic Novel award), Random House
Caroline Green: Dark Ride (The Young Adult Romantic Novel Award), Piccadilly Press
Jane Lovering: Please Don’t Stop the Music (The Romantic Comedy Award), Choc Lit
Rosie Thomas: The Kashmir Shawl (The Epic Romantic Novel award), HarperCollins
Whilst the overall winner will be announced on Thursday, just to be on the list is, in itself, winning, and all the shortlistees are to be congratulated.
This time next year, my novel, The Road Back, will have been entered for both awards. Now that’s a scary thought!
Next week, my blog will be full of pics of tomorrow’s celebration. See you then, I hope.
Dot’t forget Hats and Gloves!!! Enjoy.
I’m so glad that you reminded me to take my elbow-length gloves, John. Phew!!
It’s so exciting – and lovely to see so many friends up for awards. All best wishes to everyone – you’ve all done wonderfully well to get so far. See you there!
I, too, am so looking forward to tomorrow, Chrissie. And to Friday’s lunch, too. What a week!
So sorry I can’t be there, but it will be the ususal fab event, I’m sure. I wish everybody luck with the awards; being in the shortlist is aleady good.
Maybe next year, Alison! It’s a shame that you’ll miss the conference this year, too. Hopefully, we’ll catch up face to face (and I don’t mean Skype) before too long, though.
Look forward to hearing all about it and seeing the pics too. Don’t forget that camera.
The camera is by the door, waiting to be picked up 🙂
Look forward to seeing you there Liz! (and thanks for the reminder that the party will be in a different location from usual…!)
I wondr how many people forget. I shall be getting there for the AGM at 5pm. I always like to know what is going on. See you tomorrow.
Can’t wait for the party – looking forward to meeting you, Liz, and putting lots of faces to names. I’ll be the one hanging onto the wall – I have new heels…
Celia xxx
I’m looking forward to meeting you, Celia. Make sure you come over and say hello if I don’t bump into you!