INDUSTRY NEWS
Lucy Dillon's Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts was named Romantic Novel of the Year at the Romantic Novelists' Association Pure Passion Awards in London. Nell Dixon's Animal Instincts clinched the Love Story of the Year category. RNA chairwoman Katie Fforde said: "These Pure Passion Awards have enjoyed a higher standard of entries than ever before but the judges were unanimously won over by Lucy Dillon and Nell Dixon, whose character development and storylines kept us hooked to the very last page." Jane Costello's The Nearly-Weds won the Romantic Comedy Novel award. In the public vote categories, Louise Douglas' Missing You was picked for the People's Choice Award and An Education was named Romantic Film of the Year. Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope received lifetime achievement awards, as the RNA marked its 50th anniversary.
The Romantic Novelists' Association has announced its shortlist for its Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2010. They are: Passion by Louise Bagshawe; Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson; Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon; A Glimpse at Happiness by Jean Fullerton; The Glass Painter's Daughter by Rachel Hore; and The Italian Matchmaker by Santa Montefiore. Up for the Romantic Comedy Award are: Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend by Jenny Colgan; The Nearly-Weds by Jane Costello; 50 Ways to Find a Lover by Lucy-Anne Holmes; and Rumour Has It by Jill Mansell.The RNA will also be awarding a People's Choice Award. Nominees are: Missing You, by Louise Douglas; Remembrance Day by Leah Fleming; I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey Kelk; Rich Girl Poor Girl by Lesley Lokko, and Heiresses by Lulu Taylor. Readers are invited to vote for their favourite at the poll website. You can also vote for your favourite romantic movie out of An Education; Confessions of a Shopaholic; Twilight: New Moon; and The Time Traveler's Wife. The winners will be announced at a London luncheon on March 16.
The Romantic Novelists' Association has announced its longlist for its Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2010. And many chick lit authors - including several with their debut title - are in the running for the award, which is celebrating its golden anniversary year. Books include Fairytale of New York, by Miranda Dickinson; Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon; A Single to Rome by Sarah Duncan; 10 Reasons Not to Fall in Love by Linda Green; Marriage and Other Games by Veronica Henry; I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk; One Thing Led to Another by Katy Regan and Last Christmas by Julia Williams. Nicholas Sparks is the only male to make the list, with The Last Song nominated. The shortlist of six novels will be announced on February 11, with the award ceremony in London on March 16. You can see the full list here.