I meant to use my next blog to cover a few hints on Finding Your Voice but the short list for the Shorter Romantic Novel Award elbowed it out of the way. (In case you didn’t know, the Romantic Novelists’ Association announced the short list for their suite of awards for romantic fiction last Monday.) For Libertà Books are sponsoring that award again this year.
As you may imagine, the whole hive are proud enthusiasts for the genre, both as writers and readers. So many, many congratulations to our short listers.
The Libertà Books Shorter Romantic Novel Award
A Will, a Wish and a Wedding, Kate Hardy, Mills & Boon True Love
The Warrior Knight and the Widow, Ella Matthews, Mills & Boon Historical
The Day That Changed Everything, Catherine Miller, Bookouture
Second Chance for the Single Mum, Sophie Pembroke, Mills & Boon True Love
The Return of the Disappearing Duke, Lara Temple, Mills & Boon Historical
Cinderella and the Surgeon, Scarlet Wilson, Mills & Boon Medical
The Shorter Romantic Novel Award
But in the noughties it became clear that a significant proportion of RNA Membership felt disenfranchised. Mills and Boon had become virtually a monopoly publisher of short romance in the UK. No Mills & Boon had appeared on the main award short list for more than thirty years – the whole writing lifetime of many authors.
Di maintained this for 5 years, chairing the judging panel herself and writing the short list adjudications herself.
Her books, largely hospital-set romances, still endure, 20 years after she died.
Indeed, while writing this I found another serious Betty-enthusing website. It’s lovely. The woman was truly unique and her writing has a gentle, practical tone which is timeless.
Sponsoring the Shorter Romantic Novel Award
Chumocracy has become a well-recognised and justifiably despised concept over this last year. All of us want to steer clear of that.
But we did want to help celebrate the shorter romantic novel because it is still a bit of a hidden gem. And there are times when no other sort of book will do.
This is where some people say “escapism” — and sneer. But, in this time of Third Lockdown, I’m all for escapism. It doesn’t mean you deny reality. How could you?
It means you go somewhere else for a brief period of time, where you are completely absorbed, where the good end happily and you have the time to get your breath back before plunging back into The Fight.
The Shorter Romantic Novel and Lockdown Me
No.
I was climbing the walls within a week.
And yes, I could concentrate on those shorter books because it was generally one single story and it was very intense. My concentration lasted until I found out what happened.
Slowly, I got my equilibrium back. I also knew a lot more about elves in modern popular fiction, always a bonus.
And yes, back I went into the fray.
Eventually, I tied a scarf round my lower face (before we were told to wear masks, mind you) and hit the supermarket. It was quite bright outside, so I added sunglasses. “Is that you?” said a friend and neighbour, startled. “Wow, love the terrorist chic!”
I was coping again.
Many thanks to all our short listers, whose books I am now going to bundle into like nobody’s business.
Also to you, dear wonderful authors who, just sometimes, break us out of that cycle of despair. Here’s to you.
Looks like a fabulous selection of titles. Huge congratulations to all the shortlisted authors.
Yes, indeed. A lovely wide selection, which I am already bundling into like a labrador off the lead.
And thank you for covering for me yesterday, too. The internet connection was garbage all day.
Yes, huge congratulations to them all. I am still envious of those who can write romantic fiction. I tried, but I just couldn’t. Sophie knows, and luckily both she and another friend, Hilary Johnson, told me so and told me I should write in a genre I knew. But I lose no opportunity to praise and support the writers in the genre to others, as I consider the wider public’s opinion is ill-informed and lazy. Sorry, I’ll shut up, now.
I hope I didn’t say you couldn’t write romantic fiction, Lesley! I might have said you loved your marvellous cast of characters and it seemed a pity not to let them off the leash. But that was wholly in the context of Mills & Boon and came from editors saying to me, “Keep the minor characters under control.”
And indeed, you are a great reader-supporter of the genre, and much valued for it.
A wonderful selection of novels on the short-list, even more to add to the teetering TBR pile! Well done to all of them, and keep up the good work, because they are very necessary: as Sophie says, there are times when no other sort of book will do.
They really are truly necessary, aren’t they, Linda? I am so grateful for them over this last year.
Many congratulations to all those on the short list this year. These lovely books are like having a hug and I’m really looking forward to reading them all.
Like having a hug is exactly right, Liz.
Congratulations to all on the shortlist and to Liberta for sponsoring. I had to go to Google for chumocracy. Never thought of chum, was going choo.. choo? yes, you don’t want any of that! Some choice choices there, Sophie.
A new-to-me word I very much like, chumocracy, and intend to use freely in the context of our present leaders.
(Also apolaustic, which the Birdwatcher found in C P Snow and I feel hits the nail squarely on the head. It means dedicated to enjoyment, self-indulgent. Am sure I can shoe-horn that in somewhere. With the pretentious buffoon and his classicist pretensions, it is somehow just so right.)
On behalf of Sophie, apologies to all for her lack of replies to comments here. Her internet connection has fallen over and she’s not able to get onto the blog. But she’s with you all in spirit, at least.
Thank you, Joanna. My connection is now back and my router is no longer blinking evilly at me.
Congratulations on the short list. Some enticing titles there. I agree that sometimes you want a read which you know is going to have an uplifting ending. Enough dark days at the moment without making yourself feel depressed!
A fabulous weapon in the army against depression, Gail, I agree.
Congratulations to all on the shortlist, what a wonderful collection!
Ah, I remember when you won the forerunner of this prize when Di Pearson first set it up, Julie. That was such a cracker of a book, too. Is it out there as an e-book now?