The Romantic Novelists' Association yesterday presented their awards in honour of the RNA's 50th anniversary. The winners were announced at the Pure Passion Awards lunch in London.
Authors Joanna Trollope and Maeve Binchy each picked up a Lifetime Acheivement Award for their contributions to the genre. Joanna Trollope said: "I am amazed and thrilled to be given this, and so touched, too. Of course it means a lot in itself, but it means even more to me because I have such admiration and respect for the RNA, which must be one of the most professional and supportive of literary associations around, as all its aspiring writer members know, and of course, I was one of them, once...So my pleasure and gratitude are very heartfelt."
Lucy Dillon scooped the Romantic Novel of the Year award for her book Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts, and Nell Dixon picked up the award for Love Story of the Year for Animal Instincts, published by Little Black Dress.
RNA Romantic Film of the Year, chosen by the general public via Lovereading.co.uk, was won by An Education (written by Lynn Barber, movie script by Nick Hornby.)
In addition, the Romantic Comedy Award was presented to Jane Costello for The Nearly-Weds, and the People's Choice Award - a new award which recognises new or developing authors - was won by Louise Douglas for Missing You.
Katie Fforde, Chair of the RNA, said: "The new awards introduced to celebrate the RNA's 50th year not only showcase this fantastic, best-selling and popular genre but also provide a wonderful excuse for readers to get to know new writers across the diversity of themes and plots that comprise the romantic fiction genre. 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. Clearly the public, who were invited to vote for their favourites for the first time in the new People's Choice and Romantic Film Awards, were equally as excited by the books as they pointed us to the clear winners."
Congratulations to all of the winners!