Romantic Novelists' Association marks 50 years with new awards

The Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) has created a new set of awards to mark its 50th anniversary, with supporting retail and marketing campaigns.

The Pure Passion Awards take place on 16 March at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London. The evening includes the RNA's Romantic Novel of the Year and Love Story of the Year prizes.

Today, the RNA announced shortlists for both awards. Three independent judges will pick winners from the shortlists chosen by the public.

RNA Chair Katie Fforde said 'In our 50th year we are celebrating with more awards and more opportunities which provide a wonderful opportunity for readers to be introduced to writers they may not yet have heard of.

We are proud to showcase contemporary women's fiction, chic lit, sagas, and historical fiction. Some are written by newcomers and some by more established authors. What links them all is that they have been selected by discerning readers to be loved by everyone.'

Amongst new prizes is The People's Choice award, which celebrates new or developing writers in the romantic genre with paperbacks out in the spring. Retail buyers selected the shortlist of six, with the winner to be chosen by the public in a link-up with the Love Reading website.

The Rom Com Award will recognise humorous romantic novels, with a shortlist decided by the public, and the winner picked by a panel of judges.

The final new category is the RNA Romantic Film of the Year, selected from film adaptations of romantic novels, with the winner picked by the RNA panel and the public.

The existing Harry Bowling Prize will also come under the umbrella, renamed the Harry Bowling Prize for New Writing. The biennial prize awards the best first chapter and synopsis submitted by an unpublished author; the novel must be urban set and have a romantic theme.

Two Lifetime Achievement Awards will also be presented to people who have made outstanding contributions to romantic fiction and the RNA.

The Pure Passion Awards will be promoted via banners, posters and stickered shortlisted titles and free catalogues in participating retailers and libraries.

An Anthology entitled "Loves Me, Loves Me Not " is published by Mira this month, with the RNA also planning a title about the organisation.
 
Further plans for the RNA's anniversary include an inaugural trade day including industry figures at the organisation's annual conference in July. Also readers of Women's Weekly get to vote for a shortlist for the nation's favourite romantic novel of the past 50 years from a longlist picked by library goers.

Romantic Novel of the Year shortlist

Passion - Louise Bagshawe (Headline Review)
Fairytale of NewYork - Miranda Dickinson (Avon/HarperCollins)
Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts - Lucy Dillon (Hodder & Stoughton)
A Glimpse at Happiness - Jean Fullerton (Orion)
The Glass Painter's Daughter - Rachel Hore (Pocket/Simon & Schuster)
The Italian Matchmaker - Santa Montefiore (Hodder & Stoughton)

Love Story of the Year shortlist

The Notorious Mr Hurst - Louise Allen (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Animal Instincts - Nell Dixon (Little Black Dress)
Always the Bridesmaid - Nina Harrington (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
Fair Deception - Jan Jones (Robert Hale)
The Wedding Party - Sophie King (Hodder)
Claimed for the Italian's Revenge - Natalie Rivers (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

The People's Choice shortlist

Missing You - Louise Douglas (Pan)
Remembrance Day - Leah Fleming (Avon)
I Heart Hollywood - Lindsey Kelk (Harper)
Rich Girl Poor Girl - Lesley Lokko (Orion)
Heiresses - Lulu Taylor (Arrow)

Rom Com Award shortlist

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend - Jenny Colgan (Sphere)
The Nearly-Weds - Jane Costello (Simon & Schuster)
50 Ways to Find a Lover - Lucy-Anne Holmes (Pan)
Rumour Has It - Jill Mansell (Headline Review)

RNA Romantic Film of the Year

Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella (Black Swan/Transworld)
An Education - Lynn Barber (Penguin)
The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (Vintage/Random House)
Twilight:New Moon - Stephanie Meyer (Atom/Little Brown)