RoNA AWARDS 2016

We all love an excuse to dress up in our glad rags and enjoy a special event. The RoNA awards in March is one that every romantic novelist looks forward to attending. It's so exciting to watch and applaud as writers we admire accept awards for their novels. However, without entries there would be no awards event to attend.  Anne Stenhouse Graham has come along today to tell us more about the RoNAs and to remind us all to enter.

March 7^th 2016 will see many RNA members, agents and publishers gather in London’s glorious The Gladstone Library, Royal Horseguards for the presentation of the Association’s Annual Awards. By that time excitement will have been mounting. The publication of the shortlist earlier ensures that. Some rather nervous people will be assembled.

 

Last year's winners with special guest Barbara Taylor Bradford

However, Nicola Cornick and I hope to be a little more relaxed by then since you’ve all been very good and followed the rules/instructions/suggestions and made the deadlines.

Haven’t you?

The Awards recognise the effort of all our members. So if you’ve written the best contemporary, epic, historical, romantic comedy or young adult novel and it was published between 1^st January and 31^st December 2015, then consider submission, why don’t you? You know the adage - You’ve got to be in, to win.

Our outstanding achievement awards 2015 went to Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews

The RoNA Rose embraces the shorter novel where the focus of the book is on the relationship between the two central characters, and magazine serials. It shares the same dates as the others.

 

For the first time digital first books are eligible and because it’s the first time the dates are extended to include those books first published digitally between 1^st January 2014 and 31^st December 2015.



The magnificent Gladstone Library

The rules, submission buttons and all that sort of stuff are found on the website. Here:

http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/awards

Check it out - Sorry, but no title may be entered more than once.

The  Discipline of the Deadline:

We all, whatever we write, have deadlines and we’re very disciplined about meeting them. So that leads me to…

RoNA awards 2016

Closing Date 1^st October 2015 for the 2016 Awards…

Is your entry on its way?

Anne Stenhouse Graham

Thank you, Anne (and Nicola). We hope you will both be kept very busy processing entries and we look forward to news of shortlisted books in 2016.

If you would like to write for the RNA blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

All Roads Lead To York!

On behalf of members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, your intrepid bloggers set off for a long weekend in York, the highlight being the Tea Party at the Guildhall organised by Jane Lovering and Lynda Stacey. Two trips to Betty’s, a cruise on the Ouse and many miles walked around York and we are home and exhausted.

Thank you to Jane and Lynda for the following words and John Jackson for the images.

Lynda Stacey

It was a cold, windy day in York, but inside the Guildhall it was warm. More than ninety people came to the first RNA Afternoon Tea event, and of those, more than half had never attended an RNA Party before, so we were delighted that so many were prepared to come to York as their first introduction to partying, RNA-style!  They were greeted by glasses of Prosecco and the chance to mingle and chat, helped by the familiar RNA name badges and lanyards, which meant nobody had to ask that awkward question ‘I’m sorry, who are you?’

 

Grace was said by Kelvin Woolmer, husband of RNA Chapter Liaison, Jean Fullerton after which we drank tea out of vintage cups and saucers and ate sandwiches, savouries and cakes from gorgeous vintage china. The setting in the beautiful fifteenth century York Guildhall, with its vaulted ceiling and ancient beams was awe inspiring.



 

Milly Johnson, who gave a very funny talk on the subject of ‘The Northern Bird’, filled with

scurrilous remarks and observations. She then performed her own parody of the well-known Robert Burns poem, with her ‘Address to the Scone’, followed by the delivery to the tables of heaps of scones, with clotted cream and home-made jams.

The proceedings closed with a rush to the Pic n Mix table, where guests helped themselves to sweets for the journey home. Thanks to everyone who came, and to John Jackson for documenting the event so thoroughly in photographic form!

Thank you, Jane, Lynda and John.

So where to next? Cornwall, Scotland, Wales or the South Coast? It will soon be time for another RNA event. In the meantime don’t forget the RNA Winter Party on Wednesday 18^th November at the Royal Overseas League, Park Place, London. Click here for details and booking form.

The RNA blog is brought to you by,

Elaine Everest & Natalie Kleinman

If you would like to write for the blog please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com

Janice Preston: Joan Hessayon Award Contender 2015

Today we welcome Janice Preston to the blog. Janice is a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award 2015.

Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme, Janice. Can you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?

My childhood dream of being an author became lost in ‘real life’, apart from one attempt at writing a Regency romance in the year 2000 (I threw in everything—it ended up 165000 words!). Then, in 2009, I had a foot operation that prevented me driving or walking for several weeks and I began writing again from sheer boredom, beginning another Regency romance. The breakthrough came when I joined the RNA New Writers’ Scheme in 2012—I started to believe that early dream of mine was possible.

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

The Regency I started writing in 2009 was rejected by Harlequin Mills & Boon in 2011. Then, in January 2012, I joined the RNA and submitted that Regency to the NWS to find out what was wrong and how to fix it! I then used that assessment to help me write Mary and the Marquis, which was my second year’s submission, in 2013. I was offered a contract by HMB in November 2013.

How did you find your publisher?

Melanie Hilton (who was then the NWS organiser and who writes for HMB as Louise Allen) spoke to her editor on my behalf. As it happens, I had already pitched the unfinished Mary and the Marquis to that editor at the 2012 RNA conference, and she remembered me!

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

I promoted my novel online, through my new website and blog, and also on my existing Facebook page as well as setting up an author page. I shared links on Twitter and sent out a press release to local newspapers, two of which featured articles about me having my debut novel published at the age of 58. I don’t mind admitting that I find promotion a challenge, but I’m learning fast!

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

My second Regency romance for HMB, From Wallflower to Countess, was published in April 2015. I have signed a second two book contract with HMB and my third Regency (a rewrite of my first NWS submission, now titled Return of Scandal’s Son) will be published in October 2015. I won the Elizabeth Goudge trophy at last year’s RNA conference and I have also recently given my first talk as a published author.

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

My husband and I broke open a bottle of Champagne we had been saving for a special occasion, and what could be more special?

About Janice:

Janice Preston grew up in Wembley, North London, with a love of reading, writing stories and animals. She was a dairy farmer in Devon for twenty five years and, more recently, has worked as a police call-handler and a university administrator.

Janice now lives in the West Midlands with her second husband and two cats. She works part-time for a weight management counsellor, vainly trying to control her own weight despite her love of chocolate and wine.  When Janice isn’t writing she enjoys reading, gardening and the countryside. She also loves exploring old cities, and visiting museums and stately homes, always on the lookout for inspiration for her historical romances.

Links:

Amazon

Website

Thank you Janice and good luck with your writing career.

Ashlinn Craven: Joan Hessayon Award contender 2015

Today we welcome, Ashlinn Craven to the blog. Ashlinn is another of the contenders for this year’s Joan Hessayon Award.
 

Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?

Later than most, I suspect. Bedtime reading for much of my adult life meant computer manuals and other people’s theses … not much romance going on there. But one day, my “softer” side rebelled and I took up a course in creative writing which resulted in my first novel—a romance. My tutor suggested I join the wonderful NWS. Until I joined, I didn’t know that this was what I wanted to do. Now it seems obvious in hindsight. And, believe it or not, writing romance has crucial elements in common with programming complex algorithms.

 

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

Four years. The first submission (the aforementioned novel) was … interesting, shall we say, and my NWS reader, unfailingly polite. In year two there were glimpses of hope. My third year’s Half-Life got strongly positive feedback, and a rewritten version was published recently as Core Attraction. I graduated with Maybe Baby, in year four. So, to say the NWS scheme was useful is an understatement. More like life-changing!

 

How did you find your publisher?

I submitted Maybe Baby to US-based Crimson Romance who handle a wide breadth of topics in their romances. As my books contain offbeat subjects like egg-donation and nuclear power, I needed a publisher who might embrace that. Just before Christmas, I got the happy news that Maybe Baby had been accepted.

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

I self-organised a blog tour on friends’ sites and reached out via Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads to reviewers and bloggers. It worked reasonably well. But I was so engrossed in writing the next one I didn’t follow up as much as I should have. I’m savvier now and use professionals for blog tours at the least and send out timely newsletters to my followers.

 

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

I co-authored the Formula One romance, High Octane: Ignited, along with fellow Crimson writer, Rachel Cross, which was heaps of fun, and then we completed that trilogy by each writing a solo book, mine being High Octane: Unleashed. Just last week, I published Core Attraction. Now I’m onto my fifth. With all this madness, it’s comforting to have an organisation like the RNA behind me to assure me I’m not the only one.

 

How did you celebrate your first book sale?  

Husband cracked open a bottle of bubbly left over from Valentine’s day, and, together with our young son, we devoured cake from Sprüngli  (deluxe Swiss cake shop), and I probably succumbed to watching the Amazon sales rank until I was dragged off to play Lego or something.



 

About Ashlinn:

Irish author Ashlinn Craven writes about people who find love, themselves, and each other exactly when it’s least convenient for them to do so. She writes for busy women in the hope of putting big, silly smiles on their faces as they read. When she’s not writing, she’s working her hi-tech job or doing the lo-tech mom routine, or, if she’s really lucky, gazing at the Alps from a safe distance and letting the story ideas flow. Based in Zurich, she adores hearing from her readers from around the world. Unlike everyone else in Switzerland, she’s hopeless at skiing, so don’t even ask.

Links:

Maybe Baby on amazon.com

Maybe Baby on amazon.co.uk

Ashlinn Craven website

Thank you, Ashlinn and Good luck with your future writing career.

Caitlyn Callery: Joan Hessayon Award contender 2015

Today we welcome, Caitlyn Callery to the blog. Caitlyn is another of our contenders for the Joan Hessayon Award 2015

Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist? 

I have always wanted to be a writer, and my first love was romance, especially historical romance, so I wanted to put the two together from the start. I started writing at the age of eight and dreamed of the great love stories I would write. Of course, it wasn’t as simple as that. I had to learn about life and love in order to write about them, and I had to do my writing apprenticeship before I was anywhere near ready to unleash my work on an unsuspecting world.

 

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

I was really blessed. I only joined the NWS scheme in 2014 and put “The Bankrupt Viscount” through. The feedback I received was excellent and made the book a much better read, as well as picking up flaws in research and my writing style. I sold it to the first publisher I approached after taking the advice on board, which tells you all you need to know about the scheme, really.

 

How did you find your publisher?

I read a couple of books by authors I liked and noticed they were published by Museitup. I looked them up online and decided to go for it. It took some months to get a reply but it was worth the wait.

 

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

I use Twitter and Facebook, and encouraged readers to give honest reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. I gave a few people copies of the book in return for an honest review, which seems a popular promotion tool. I also have a website (hilarymackelden.com) with a page for Caitlyn Callery novels, and a Caitlyn Callery blog at Wordpress. I also did an interview for my local paper and have given talks to local writers’ groups.

 

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

I have sold two more books to Museitup, a dark novella entitled “The Last Word” and a second Regency Romance entitled “Incognito”. Both will be released as e-books shortly. I have also sold a Christian play to Eldridge Publishing in America and a pantomime to Lazy Bee Scripts here in the UK, both under the name Hilary Mackelden. As Caitlyn Callery, I am currently working on my third Regency Romance.

 

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

Would you believe with a cup of tea? Seriously, I phoned my writing friend, Karen, and she came to me. She brought cake, we hugged and toasted the book with tea. After that, I told everyone who would listen before taking a deep breath and getting on with book two.

 

About Caitlyn:

Born in Coventry and educated in Leicestershire, I have lived all my adult life in Sussex, between the Regency towns of Tunbridge Wells and Brighton. When I am not working as PR Officer for the charity, World In Need, I enjoy spending time with my three grown up children and my three wonderful grandsons. I love football and am involved with the local junior football club. I’m also part of my town’s horticultural society, although I’m not very green fingered. Other interests include historical research, swimming, church events, amateur dramatics and visits to the professional theatre and cinema, as well as knitting, crochet and reading. For World In Need, I visited Africa and fell in love. I look forward to returning one day.

 

 

Links:

Amazon

Website
 

 Thank you, Caitlyn and good luck with your future writing career.

Natalie Kleinman: Joan Hessayon Award Contender 2015

Today we welcome Natalie Kleinman, another of our contenders for the 2015 Joan Hessayon award

Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?

I didn’t so much make the decision as it was thrust upon me. I began writing short stories, initially targeting the WOMAG market, occasionally sending competition entries in other genres. However, it soon became apparent that my forte lay with romantic fiction with over twenty-five stories published within two years. The satisfaction was enormous but something crept in under my defences. Could I write something longer? A whole book? I joined the (oh so wonderful) New Writers’ Scheme in January 2013, anxiously submitted my manuscript and in November of the same year it was taken up by a publisher.

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

I was a member of the NWS for only twelve months. When I hit that button in January 2013 I had no idea what lay ahead. Determinedly I finished, read and re-read my manuscript before printing and posting. Making suggested changes I sent my ‘book’ to the outside world. Voyage of Desire (now Safe Harbour) was taken up and after only one year in the scheme I joined the RNA as a full member.

How did you find your publisher?  

The writing world is a wonderfully sharing community. I learned about Safkhet Publishing via the RNA and was impressed by their upbeat attitude. Applying online it seemed in no time I was signed up.

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

While feeling diffident, I knew I had to dive into the realms of social networking.

Grasping my courage in both hands I contacted other writers and organised a blog tour. I made my presence felt on Facebook, hopefully without irritating too many people. I turned to Twitter. I became part of a five-handed blogging group. Oh, and on publication day I hosted an online launch party…that was fun! I now run a single-handed blog.

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

Less than two months after ‘Safe Harbour’ my pocket novel ‘After All These Years’ was published. Next on my agenda was the RNA Conference. Can one be overly grateful to the RNA? I was lucky to have a one2one with Lisa Eveleigh of the Richford Becklow Literary Agency. She offered representation and I have recently submitted my completed manuscript to her. The pocket novel goes to large print this coming September. I’ve started book number four!

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

In true RNA fashion I indulged in a little wine drinking. My husband took me out to dinner (more wine). Online launch party…more wine, though only virtual this time. But in all honesty how does a writer celebrate the sale of a book? I started the next one of course.

About Natalie:

I began writing quite late in life, something I have since discovered isn’t unusual. I have been mother, teacher, Girl Friday and adoring slave to two dogs and a cat (now waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge). I studied general science with the Open University and joined art classes, subsequently abandoned because there are only so many hours in a day. My natural tendency is to throw myself completely into what I am doing, and never more so than with my writing. Together with my personal blog and my participation in the RNA Blog which I co-produce with Elaine Everest (though not this time of course), my writing is of paramount importance. I’ve never worked so hard in my life before and I’m loving it.

Links:

Amazon UK

Blog

Twitter: @natkleinman

Thank you, Natalie, and good luck with your writing career.

Kathy Jay: Joan Hessayon award contender 2015

Welcome to Kathy Jay, another of our fifteen contenders for this year’s Joan Hessayon Award.

Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when

you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?

Thank you! When I was a teenager I read a magazine article about a romantic novelist and decided that I’d like to write romance too. I sent for guidelines, and still have them. They’re a reminder that I held on to the dream. Success in a short story competition got me writing again.

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

I was a member of the New Writers’ Scheme for two years. I submitted two different manuscripts. I graduated with the first book.  

How did you find your publisher?

A few months after HarperCollins launched HarperImpulse, they announced a competition. That gave me the push I needed to submit.  I was one of the winners. They offered me a three-book contract and invited me for afternoon tea at Fortnum and Mason.

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

HarperImpulse are fabulous with all things promotion. But I have some catching up to do. I didn’t have a social media presence as a pre-published author. I now have a website, a Facebook page, and twitter.  

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

I had a revision letter to work through for What If He’s The One, followed by edits, and a cover brief. Then there was a proof-read for the epub, and another for the paperback. I’ve submitted the second book in my contract, and I’m writing the third.

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

I opened a bottle of Prosecco. Nothing beats a glass of fizz when there’s something to celebrate.

About Kathy:

I live in Cheshire with my family which includes a large dog and a cat. I love the changing seasons. I like pyjama days and cosy log fires in winter. In summer, my top things are strawberries and walking on the beautiful beaches in North Wales. I started writing my first romance on a vintage typewriter – way back when. Writing got put on hold while I studied for a degree in Drama and French. I’ve been an au pair, a teaching assistant, an office temp and a bilingual PA. I write fun, flirty romance for HarperImpulse.

Links:

Amazon

Website

Thank you, Kathy and good luck with your writing career. 

Nikki Moore: Joan Hessayon award contender 2015

Today we welcome Nikki Moore another of our contenders for this year’s Joan Hessayon Award.

Welcome, Nikki. Congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can

you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist?

Thank you - the day I became a full RNA member was a very happy one.

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I first learnt to read, at about five years old. I became addicted to getting lost in stories, being transported to different times and places, making new friends along the way in the characters and thought it’d be amazing to be able to make up stories of my own for a living. I read a lot of romance novels in my teens and simply put, love writing about love. I find it fascinating.

 

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

I was a member of the NWS for four years. I submitted two books, each of them twice. The book I graduated with in 2014 was my debut Crazy, Undercover, Love although it had a different title originally. I rewrote it several times, partially based on the reader’s critiques that I received, and this definitely made it a much better book. When I was published I sent my readers’ thank you cards.

 

How did you find your publisher?

I had a one to one appointment with Charlotte Ledger, editor with HarperImpulse (digital first romance imprint of HarperCollins) at the RNA Conference 2013. I’d sent her the first chapter of Crazy, Undercover, Love ahead of time. She told me she loved it and wanted to see the rest.

 

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

Promo has been one of my steepest learning curves and is much more time consuming than I imagined. For Crazy, Undercover, Love I had a blog tour with the wonderful Gosling Girls, and also had new release or guest posts on about thirty other blogs/websites I’d arranged myself. I also had a Facebook launch party, spent some time on Twitter and was in Writing Magazine. My next aim is to get into the local press.

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

It’s been amazing. Truly, Madly, Deeply, the RNA/Mills & Boon anthology I have a short story in, along with lots of other lovely RNA authors, became an Amazon bestseller. HarperImpulse commissioned me to write an eBook series called #LoveLondon, five stand alone short stories linked to my second novel Picnics in Hyde Park, and some of the #LoveLondon books have been in the Top 100 Short Story or Holiday charts on Amazon and Kobo.

 

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

I had a meal out with family a few weeks before Crazy,Undercover, Love was published. On release day I worked all day then caught up with the social media activity in the evening with a bottle of champagne and some nice food. My family sent me lovely flowers too.

 

About Nikki:

Nikki lives in beautiful Dorset not far from the beach with her two gorgeous children, and very happily has a lovely boyfriend too. She has a day job in Human Resources and very supportive colleagues. She loves writing romance and does it as often as possible, but can also be found reading and consuming white wine in hot baths on a regular basis. Nikki was a Novelicious Undiscovered finalist in 2013, and has also been a finalist in other writing competitions. She owes much of her success to the wonderful members of the RNA, and is very supportive of aspiring authors. Pop over for a chat about love, life, writing or reading:

 

Links:

Facebook

Amazon

Blog

Twitter @NikkiMoore_Auth

Thank you, Nikki and good luck with your writing career.

Brigid Coady: Joan Hessayon Contender 2015

Today we welcome Brigid Coady, another of our contenders for this year’s award.

Welcome, Brigid, congratulations on graduating the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. Can you tell us when you first decided that you wished to become a romantic novelist? 

I have always wanted to be a writer and also always read romance, so thirteen years ago when I started to take my writing seriously the stories I wanted to write were romantic. It seemed to click and no matter what genre I’ve tried to write there will always be a love story somewhere at the centre of it. I know that the support I’ve received from the RNA over the years has helped me realised I found the right home.

How many years were you a member of the NWS scheme and did you submit a different book each year? Which year’s book did you graduate with?

I was a member of the NWS scheme for ten years. I didn’t submit a different book every year, sometimes I sent the same book or a finished version of a book that I’d sent a partial in for a previous year. I was always sending my script in at the last minute. I think I was despaired of! ‘No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham’ was entered in the NWS in 2009.

How did you find your publisher?

Through the RNA! I met Kim Young when she worked at M&B; we talked about me submitting short stories. After her move to HarperCollins she was still interested so I sent her ‘The Last Kiss’. After writing more short stories, it was a logical step to submit to them.

Promotion is a big part of an author’s working life. How did you promote your novel?

I’m still at the beginning of the promotion and learning my way. I try and be active on social media platforms and start conversations with people. As my book is wedding themed I’m trying to promote through wedding sites and when I have a physical book I’ll be hitting the wedding fairs. I’m finding that it takes up a lot of my time. I’m open to any advice as I come closer to the publication date in June, all suggestions welcome.

What has happened to you as an author since that first sale?

Every one has been incredibly supportive. It has also reminded me that you really can’t give up and that your journey is your own and will take as long as it takes. I’m now writing my next novel and applying everything I learned from ‘No One Wants to Be Miss Havisham’.

How did you celebrate your first book sale?

I was living in Breckenridge so we celebrated in mountain fashion, first by going for a trail run, then drinking at the local bar. Not too much as the altitude makes you a cheap date. When I got back to the UK I celebrated again. In fact I’m still celebrating!

About author, Brigid Coady:

I was born in the UK but raised round the world and spent most of my childhood with my nose in a book. When I was seven I wrote my first proper story about a magic puddle that flipped up to reveal a secret world underground. I’m now a non-practicing engineer who works in project management. I write romance and young adult stories. I’ve been a voice-over and radio continuity artist. I love country music and used to have my own radio show. My boyfriend says I have an unhealthy obsession with Kenny Chesney. I live in London.

Links:

Website

Amazon

Publisher

 Thank you, Brigid and good luck with your writing career.