Joan
Hessayon Award winner Clare
Harvey triumphs
with debut novel The Gunner Girl
Nottingham-based author Clare Harvey has
triumphed with her wartime novel The
Gunner Girl,
published by Simon & Schuster UK, for which she has been
awarded The Romantic Novelists'
Association’s (RNA) prestigious Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Clare was
presented with her award and a cheque for £1,000 at the RNA’s Summer Party,
held today at the Royal Overseas League in London.
The judges were
unanimous in their decision to crown The
Gunner Girl the winner. The book was selected from a list of fourteen
contenders, all authors whose debut novels have been accepted for publication
after passing through the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers Scheme. Each
year 250 places are offered to unpublished writers writing in the romance genre.
RNA Chair Eileen
Ramsay said “The Gunner Girl by Clare
Harvey is a worthy winner; beautifully written, incredibly well-researched and
with a 'can't put this down' quality.”
The powerful story
of three teenage girl soldiers working on the anti-aircraft guns in
wartime London was inspired by Clare’s mother-in-law, who worked as a gunner
girl during the Second World War; and was written whilst her husband was away
in Afghanistan with the British Army. It’s a wartime drama, written from the
heart.
Devon-born Clare
has lived all over the world as the trailing spouse of a soldier. She’s now
settled in Nottingham with her husband, three children and German shepherd pup.
Commenting on achieving
publication and being shortlisted for the award, Clare said, “This is the third
time I’ve sent a manuscript through the NWS, and it’s third time lucky for me –
I’m so thankful for the advice and support offered by the scheme and thrilled
to finally have achieved my dream of being a published author.”
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.
The Award was
presented at the RNA Summer Party on Thursday 19th May at the Royal
Over-Seas League, Park Place, London SW1A 1LR at 19.15.
The full list of
contenders for 2016 is:
Her Forget-Me-Not Ex Sophie Claire Accent Press
Letting in Light Emma Davies Amazon Media
Take a Chance on Me Debbie Flint Choc Lit
A Street Café Named
Desire R J Gould Accent Press
The Gunner Girl Clare Harvey Simon & Schuster UK
Waiting for You Catherine Miller Carina
It Started at Sunset
Cottage Bella Osborne HarperImpulse
Remarkable Things Deirdre Palmer Crooked Cat Publishing
The Giants Look Down Sonja Price Robert Hale
Sense and French Ability Ros Rendle Endeavour Press
The Hidden Legacy Julie Roberts Accent Press
The Friendship Tree Helen J Rolfe Crooked Cat Publishing
French Kissing Lynne Shelby Accent Press
The Cherry Tree Café
Heidi Swain Simon & Schuster UK
Cover images for all the novels, together
with author photographs, can be found at: http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/news/media_centre
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. All eligible
books are judged by a panel of experienced RNA members who are already published
authors.
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