The Joan Hessayon Award 2015

On the 21st of May, the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) announced the winner of the Joan Hessayon Award. The event took place in the Royal Overseas League in London at the RNA Summer Party.

Two hundred romantic novelists (of whom only three were men!) gathered to meet with friends, old and new, exchange news and to support the contenders for the Award, Many congratulations to Brigid Coady, who was declared the winner with her novel No One Wants to be Miss Havisham.

I was thrilled to be one of the finalists for the Award with my novel What the Future Holds. Glasses of champagne contributed to the atmosphere of celebration, with the noise level rising as the evening progressed! As finalists, we each had our few minutes in the spotlight (literally, as our books were highlighted on a screen behind us!)

The RNA is unique in running the New Writers' Scheme (NWS) for unpublished romantic novelists. It offers members the opportunity to have their work critiqued and consequently to hone their writing skills. 'Graduation' from the NWS happens when the novel finds a publisher - quite a challenge in the publishing world today. I was delighted when Tirgearr Publishing offered to publish my debut novel.

Dr David Hessayon OBE generously sponsored the Award in honour of his late wife who was a long time member of the RNA and a great supporter of the New Writers' Scheme. My thanks go to him, and to all the readers and administrators of the NWS for making the evening so special for all of the finalists.