RNA-NWS Joan Hessayon Award 2017

This week the Romantic Novelists’ Association has announced a list of contenders shortlisted for the prestigious Joan Hessayon Award 2017.

The shortlist is made up of Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers Scheme members whose debut novels have been accepted for publication by traditional publishers following a critique assessment by a panel of skilled RNA authors.

Each year 250 New Writers Scheme places are offered to unpublished writers eager to learn more about the art of writing romantic fiction. Within that year, NWS members can write and submit a complete manuscript to a team of RNA authors and in return, they receive invaluable feedback and comments about their completed "work-in-progress".
NWS members are also encouraged to attend RNA events and Chapter meetings. Attending these events offers a wide range of opportunities such as networking with other NWS members or published authors, along with other literary professionals - including agents and publishers.

The Joan Hessayon Award will be presented at the RNA Summer Party on Thursday 18 May at The Royal Over-Seas League, Park Place, London SW1A 1LR at 19.15.

The Joan Hessayon Award is 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 supporter of its New Writers’ Scheme.

The full list of authors and their books for 2017 is:

Victoria Cornwall 
The Thief's Daughter - Choc Lit

Kate Field
The Magic of Rambling - Accent Press          

Terri Flemming
 Perception - Orion         

              

Jen GilroyThe Cottage at Firefly Lake - Forever, Grand                                                              Central, Hachette

Morton S. Gray
The Girl on The Beach - Choc Lit     

Vivien Hampshire 
How to Win Back Your Husband - HQ Digital

April Hardy
Sitting Pretty - Accent Press               

Emily Kerr
Who Does He Think He Is?  - Crooked Cat          

Abbey Macmunn

Touched - Tirgearr Publishing      

Arabella Sheen

Castell's Passion - Beachwalk Press Inc.

Lynda Stacey 

House of Secrets - Choc Lit      

Arabella Sheen says...
So thrilled my novel, Castell's Passion, published with Beachwalk Press has been shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award 2017.
Well done to all the RNA-NWS nominees for making it to publication. And a big thank you to our judges, Eileen Ramsey and Nicola Cornick for the many hours of romantic reading they had to 'endure'.
Thank you, everyone.
Good luck to all those entered for the Joan Hessayon Award and may this be the start of a long and prosperous writing career.

Happy romantic reading...