INDUSTRY NEWS
Jenny Colgan has won the 2013 Romantic Novel of the Year for Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams. The award was presented at the Romantic Novelists' Association summer party on May 16. It is the first time Colgan has taken out the top honours. Her book, which was earlier awarded the Romantic Comedy Novel category win, was up against the other four RoNA award winners, including Rowan Coleman (Epic Romantic Novel); Mhairi McFarlane (Contemporary Romantic Novel); Charlotte Betts (Historical Romantic Novel) and Victoria Lamb (Young Adult Romantic Novel).
The Romantic Novelists' Association has announced the winners for its 2013 RoNA Awards. Katie Fforde won Contemporary Romantic Novel for Recipe for Love (later replaced by Mhairi McFarlane with You Had Me At Hello after Fforde was unable to attend the May ceremony); Rowan Coleman took home the Epic Romantic Novel prize for Dearest Rose while Jenny Colgan won Romantic Comedy Novel for Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams. Meanwhile, Sophie Kinsella was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award. The winners will now vie for RoNA Romantic Novel of the Year, which will be announced on May 16. For full award details head to the RNA website.
The Romantic Novelists' Association has announced the shortlist for its 2013 awards. Debut novelist Mhairi McFarlane is up for Contemporary Romantic Novel award for You Had Me At Hello. Others vying in that category are Katie Fforde, for Recipe for Love; Veronica Henry, The Long Weekend; Monica McInerney, The House of Memories; Sue Moorcroft, Dream a Little Dream; and Polly Williams, The Angel at No. 33. Rowan Coleman is nominated in The Epic Romantic Novel category for Dearest Rose. Up for the Romantic Comedy Novel award are Jenny Colgan, Welcome to Rosie Hopkin's Sweetshop of Dreams; Victoria Connelly, The Runaway Actress; Jane Costello, All the Single Ladies; Nicola Doherty, The Out of Office Girl; Belinda Jones, Winter Wonderland; and Jane Wenham-Jones, Prime Time. The category awards will be announced on February 26. The overall winner of the RoNA Romantic Novel of the Year will be announced on May 16.