Press Release

Ten Hachette titles nominated at the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards11/02/2010

To celebrate of the Golden Anniversary of the founding of The Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA), they today announced the creation of The RNA's Pure Passion Awards, for which 10 Hachette titles have been shortlisted across the categories:

Romantic Novel of the Year
Chosen from a shortlist of six titles selected by the reading public from more than 150 nominated books. The winner is selected by three independent judges.

  • Passion, Louise Bagshawe (Headline Review)
  • Fairytale of New York, Miranda Dickinson (Avon, Harper Collins)
  • Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts, Lucy Dillon (Hodder & Stoughton)
  • A Glimpse at Happiness, Jean Fullerton (Orion)
  • The Glass Painter's Daughter, Rachel Hore (Pocket, Simon & Schuster)
  • The Italian Matchmaker, Santa Montefiore (Hodder & Stoughton)

Love Story of the Year
A shortlist of six titles chosen by the reading public, for a shorter romance with a strong emphasis on the developing central relationship with the winner selected by three judges.
 

  • The Notorious Mr. Hurst, Louise Allen (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • Animal Instincts, Nell Dixon (Little Black Dress)
  • Always the Bridesmaid, Nina Harrington (Harlequin Mills & Boon)
  • Fair Deception, Jan Jones (Robert Hale)
  • The Wedding Party, Sophie King (Hodder)
  • Claimed for the Italian's Revenge, Natalie Rivers (Harlequin Mills & Boon)

The People's Choice Award
Recognising key new or developing authors in the genre with paperbacks out in the spring.  Publishers were invited to make submissions and expert romantic writing buyers at key retailers were then asked to select their favourite six for the shortlist.

The winner of this award is then chosen by the public. Readers are invited to read as many of the new paperbacks as possible and vote for their favourite at the poll website www.lovereading.co.uk/purepassion.

  • Missing You, Louise Douglas (Pan)
  • Remembrance Day, Leah Fleming (Avon)
  • I Heart Hollywood, Lindsey Kelk (Harper)
  • Rich Girl Poor Girl, Lesley Lokko (Orion)
  • Heiresses, Lulu Taylor (Arrow)

Rom Com Award
Chosen from a shortlist of six titles selected by the reading public from more than 150 nominated books. The winner is chosen by a panel of writers and readers selected by the RNA.

  • Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, Jenny Colgan (Sphere)
  • The Nearly-Weds, Jane Costello (Simon & Schuster)
  • 50 Ways to Find a Lover, Lucy-Anne Holmes (Pan)
  • Rumour Has It, Jill Mansell (Headline Review)


RNA Romantic Film of the Year
For romantic adaptations released as a film in the UK during 2009.  A public vote at www.lovereading.co.uk/purepassion will be added to those of the RNA expert panel to select the winner.

  • Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella (Black Swan (Transworld)
  • An Education, Lyn Barber (Penguin)
  • The Time Traveller's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger (Vintage, Random House)
  • Twilight: New Moon, Stephanie Meyer (Atom, Little Brown) 

RNA Chair Katie Fforde said 'In our 50th year we are celebrating with more awards and more opportunities which provide a wonderful opportunity for readers to be introduced to writers they may not yet have heard of.  We are proud to showcase contemporary women's fiction, chic lit, sagas, and historical fiction. Some are written by newcomers and some by more established authors. What links them all is that they have been selected by discerning readers to be loved by everyone.'

The 50th Anniversary celebration and awards ceremony will take place on March 16th 2010 at the Royal Garden Hotel, London.