And the winner is...

I'm delighted to announce my win at the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year Awards!

What a week it's been! I heard back in February that I'd been picked as a finalist in the Romantic Saga Novel category of the RNA's Romantic Novel Awards 2024 (RoNAs for short), but I honestly didn't expect to be picking up the award.

I didn't even know that I'd been entered until I was contacted by the Romantic Novelists' Association, and it turned out that my publisher, Hera Books, had put forward A New Start at the Beach Hotel for the award. Thank you Hera!

Back in 2021, they entered Heartbreak in the Valleys, which ended up as a finalist in the Historical Romance category, but sadly, on that occasion, the ceremony could only be held online because of Covid. Not the same at all.

This time, the ceremony was held at the Royal Leonardo Hotel at Tower Hill, a lovely location for such an event. And a gorgeous day it was too: it was as if the weather knew that all us ladies attending would be stepping out in our posh frocks (and the men in their suits, of course,) and needed some sunshine for the occasion.

The finalists had to show up before the ceremony for a photo shoot of each group, which was a chance to chat with some of the other nominees. Apart from me, Hera had also entered two of their other authors, Helga Jensen (with Fly Me to Paris) and Ali Sinclair (with The Christmas Season).

At six-thirty, we found the table (number 13!), with some of the personnel from Hera, including my brilliant editor, Jennie Ayres. Presenting the awards, (if youhaven't already recognised him in the photo above!) was the amiable and fun Anton du Beke, no less.

The Romantic Saga Award was the sixth category to be announced, and I honestly didn't expect to be declared the winner, especially up against such other wonderful saga writers. It took me an age to reach the stage, being at the back of the room, but finally I got there and collected my trophy. And very beautiful it is, and currently sitting on display in my dining room.

My little speech was mainly thank yous: a big one to Hera, particularly Jennie and also Keshini Naidoo (who took me on after an RNA conference one-to-one), to the RNA for all their wonderful work with writers at all stages and for their New Writers' Scheme, and to all my writing friends who've been massively supportive over the years. Finally, I thanked my mum. She's been gone nearly forty years, but when I was a child, she used to make up stories for me, and that encouraged me to make up my own.

As it happened, 13 being our table number brought good luck, as there were two other winners sitting on that table!

You can see my accepting the award and my little speech HERE (it's only a couple of minutes long).