Love Story of the Year Award 2010

 I am delighted to be finally able to share with you that my debut novel for the Mills and Boon Romance Line, ‘Always the Bridesmaid’ has been shortlisted for the Love Story of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

 I can’t tell you how thrilled and humbled I am to be shortlisted for this prestigious Award for my debut book.

 The Love Story of the Year is for a shorter romance where there is a strong emphasis on the developing central relationship.

A shortlist of six is again chosen by the reading public, with the winner selected by three judges.

The shortlist is:

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)

 I am excited, delighted, and more than a little stunned and in awe at the talent and skill of the other shortlisted authors, and can’t wait to congratulate them in person at the Awards Luncheon in March in London.

 One of my fondest childhood memories is visiting the Public Library with my mother, and staring in awe at the shelves packed with wonderful bright covers. Books opened up to me a world of excitement, danger and romance, and I have been a compulsive reader ever since.

That sense of wonder has never left me.

 It was a distant dream that I would one day join their ranks – and after six years of hard work, that dream has come true when I took the call from my wonderful editor at Richmond, who had not given up on me, but worked patiently until I had created a novel we could both be proud of.

Thank you to Mills and Boon for giving my story such a wonderful home and taking a chance with an unknown and unpublished author.

 

‘Always the Bridesmaid’ will always be a very special book for me, and I have a great many people for their help and support, including the RNA.

It was through the New Writer’s Scheme that my work found its way to the desk of an editor at Mills and Boon, and I have made so many wonderful friends through the RNA, including the great team of ladies in the Reading Chapter, as well as my online friends and authors, published and pre-published. Writers united.

Perhaps the Dedication in this book can sum it up for me?

‘To all the wonderful writers in the Romantic Novelists’ Association, who made this book possible.’

Thank you to all of the readers who have voted for Amy and Jared’s story. It means so much to me. [Sniff.]