The Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award 2016

This is the big event of the year for graduates of the Romantic Novelists Association’s New Writers’ Scheme. For authors who graduated with a book that went through the scheme they will be waiting to hear if they have won the prestigious Joan Hessayon Award.

The Joan Hessayon Award is eagerly followed by all RNA members. For many the event brings back memories of the time they too graduated to become full members of the RNA. Your blogging team recall their own graduation with fondness knowing how the contenders feel and what great times are in store for them as they become traditionally published authors.

The shortlist is made up of authors whose debut novels have been accepted for publication after passing through the Romantic Novelists Association's New Writers' Scheme. Each year 250 places are offered to unpublished writers writing in the romance genre. As part of the scheme, they can submit a complete manuscript for critique by one of the Association’s published authors as well as attend RNA events which offer opportunities to meet and network with publishers, agents and other published authors.

The Award will be presented at the RNA Summer Party on Thursday 19th May at the Royal Over-Seas League, Park Place, London SW1A 1LR

The Joan Hessayon Award is generously sponsored by gardening expert Dr. David Hessayon OBE, in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member of the RNA and a great supporter of its New Writers' Scheme.

Last year's winner: Brigid Coady

The New Writers' Scheme has been run by the RNA since 1962 and is

unique among professional writing associations. It aims to encourage

fresh talent in the writing of romantic novels that reflect all aspects of

love and life, contemporary or historical.

Manuscripts submitted under the scheme are from unpublished authors and are read by an experienced writer or editor who provides invaluable feedback. Any manuscript that is subsequently published as a debut novel is eligible for the Joan Hessayon Award.

This year we have fourteen worthy contenders for the award. Each author has been interviewed for the RNA blog and in the weeks leading up to the RNA Summer Party we will be running the interviews.

The full shortlist for 2016 is:

Heidi Swain

The Cherry Tree Cafe
(Simon & Schuster)

Deirdre Palmer

Remarkable Things
(Crooked Cat Publishing)

Bella Osborne

It Started at Sunset Cottage
(Harper Impulse)

Helen J Rolfe

The Friendship Tree

(Crooked Cat Publishing)

Julie Roberts

The Hidden Legacy
(Accent Press)

Clare Harvey

The Gunner Girls
(Simon & Schuster)

RJ Gould

A Street Cafe Named Desire

(Accent Press)

Lynne Shelby

French Kissing
(Accent Press)

Ros Rendle

Sense and French Ability
(Endeavour Press)

Catherine Miller

Waiting for You
(Carina)

Sonja Price

The Giants Look Down
(Robert Hale)

Sophie Claire

Her Forget-Me-Not Ex
(Accent Press)

Debbie Flint

Take a Chance on Me
(Choc Lit)

Emma Davies

Letting in Light
(Amazon Publishing)

Good luck to all contenders. We look forward to reading your interviews and cheering you on at the Summer Party.

Elaine & Natalie.