RNA Summer Party

One of these days I'll be sufficiently beforehand with the world to blog about things as they happen rather than as they were some time ago. The Romantic Novelists' Association Summer Party 2007 was its usual glittering self with excellent company, rather nice wine and pretty good nibbles. I'm so glad the chef at One Birdcage Walk decided to retain the tiny sausages with cheesy mash as one of the canapé options this year. He also retained the asparagus spears in Hollandaise sauce - sadly they all disappeared en route between the serving door and me. Never mind, enough of the tempura vegetables with chilli dipping sauce made it past the crowd to mollify me.

Part of the pleasure of these parties is the opportunity to catch up with friends, such as lovely Caroline ...

and equally lovely Kate (seen here on the right chatting to Jenny Haddon).








The highlight of the evening was the announcement of this year's RNA NWS winner. Dr David Hessayon sponsors this every year in memory of his late wife Joan (and gives us all a glass of fizz to boot!). I have an extremely soft spot for this award since I won it myself with Stage by Stage in 2005, so felt it entirely appropriate that Phillipa Ashley should greet her own win this year by shedding a few tears. I was with you all the way, Phillipa!










Left - Dave Hessayon. Right - Phillipa and her husband John, together with her book, Decent Exposure, and the trophy.

Seems a shame evenings like this can't go on for ever!

Romantic Novel of the Year and Romance Prize 2007

Posting shamefully late about this (excuse being that I've been working on the RNA Conference programme instead), but it was a lovely do at the Savoy to celebrate this year's Romantic Novel of the Year Award and the RNA Romance Prize for short romantic fiction.

The advantage of being the one with the camera is that I have nice shots of other people and none of me.

Above is Rosie Thomas just after Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson announced her novel Iris and Ruby as the winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year Award for 2007, and (right) Dame Tanni and Rosie with her crystal star.

Next up was the Romance Prize for short romantic fiction. Jean Chapman, a previous chairman of the Romantic Novelists' Association announced the winner as Nell Dixon, with Marrying Max, published by the People's Friend Story Collection. There was a short pause at this point during which various kind friends tried to persuade Nell that she wasn't hearing things and that she really had won.

All in all, it was a splendid luncheon with delicious food, some seriously nice outfits (see Jenny Haddon's to-die-for lace, right), and congenial companions.

On my table we had Jessica Hart, last year's Romance Prize winner, also Natasha Oakley and Fiona Loakes.


Natasha was one of the 2007 short-listed authors and Fiona is the current holder of the Joan Hessayon award (a very distinguished body of people)

And then, once all the food had been eaten and the drink had been, er, drunk, my friends and I ambled round the corner to the Coal Hole.


As I said, a very good day.


(Pictured are Judy Astley, Katie Fforde, Gilli Allan, Bernardine Kennedy, Lesley Cookman and Jenny Harper)

Had a lovely day on Monday 16th April when I travelled up to sunny Wigan to the launch of the NW Libraries Time to Read initiative featuring romantic fiction. Entitled Pure Passion, it will run in all 22 libraries of the partnership for the next year.

In the Atrium of Wigan Town Hall, we were served 'Pure Passion' cocktails (ribena and sparkling wine - very pretty) and I got a chance to catch up with lots of Romantic Novelists' Association pals, including Jenny Haddon, Melinda Hammond, Roger Sanderson, Penny Jordan, Trisha Ashley, June Francis, Eileen Ramsay and Angela Proctor.


Librarian-in-charge Jane Mathieson explained the scheme and thanked the RNA for their help in drawing up a shortlist of excellent modern romantic reading. Jenny Haddon (centre in this photo; RNA chairman) then spoke about the history of romantic fiction and the wide choice available to today's lucky readers of the genre.

She was followed by two writers whose books are on the suggested Pure Passion reading list: Erica James (right; current Romantic Novel of the Year holder with Gardens of Delight), and Linda Gillard (left) with Emotional Geology published by the lovely Transita. Both talked about their writing and read a short excerpt from their own book.

Then it was time to network with the gathered librarians, finish off the cakes and fruit platter that had been provided by the Time to Read team, and wend our way home.

Introducing...

Hi, I'm Jan Jones and I write Romantic Comedy, short stories and poetry.

I am a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association - a fine body of people!

My debut novel Stage by Stage won the Romantic Novelists' Association NWS Award in 2005.You can read more about it on my website.