The Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) is the professional body that represents authors of romantic fiction in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1960 by

Denise Robins Denise Robins (née Denise Naomi Klein; 1 February 1897 – 1 May 1985) was a prolific English romantic novelist and the first President of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1960–1966). She wrote under her first married name and under the ...

(first president),

Barbara Cartland Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland, (9 July 1901 – 21 May 2000) published as Barbara Cartland was an English writer, known as the Queen of Romance, who published both contemporary romance, contemporary and historical romance novels, the lat ...

(first vice-president),

Vivian Stuart Violet Vivian Stuart ( ''née'' Finlay; 2 January 1914 – 18 August 1986) was a British writer from 1953 to 1986. She published under different pen names: her romantic novels as Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, and Robyn ...

(first elected chairman), and other authors including

Elizabeth Goudge Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge FRSL (24 April 1900 – 1 April 1984) was an English writer of fiction and children's books. She won the Carnegie Medal for British children's books in 1946 for ''The Little White Horse''. Goudge was long a popular ...

Netta Muskett Netta Muskett (1887 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England – 29 May 1963 in Putney) was a British writer of more than 60 romance novels from 1927 to 1963, who also wrote under the pseudonym Anne Hill. Her novels have been translated to several languages, ...

Catherine Cookson Dame Catherine Ann Cookson, DBE (''née'' McMullen; 20 June 1906 – 11 June 1998) was a British writer. She is in the top 20 of the most widely read British novelists, with sales topping 100 million, while retaining a relatively low profile i ...

Rosamunde Pilcher Rosamunde Pilcher, OBE (''née'' Scott; 22 September 1924 – 6 February 2019) was a British writer of romance novels, mainstream fiction, and short stories, from 1949 until her retirement in 2000. Her novels sold over 60 million copies worldw ...

and Lucilla Andrews. The RNA has a membership approaching 1000, composed of authors and publishing professionals. It promotes and celebrates excellence in romantic fiction across all sub-genres. It offers a programme of events throughout the year including an annual conference and workshops/seminars on aspects of writing craft and the publishing industry. The organisations also supports a number of regional chapters, who meet regularly to discuss issues of concern to writers of romantic fiction. The organisation also runs the New Writers' Scheme, under which unpublished authors receive an appraisal of their work from an experienced member of the Association. Netta Muskett was co-founder and vice-president of the association and the Netta Muskett Award for new writers, now called the RNA New Writers Scheme, was created in her honour. Many of its members are best-selling and award-winning international authors and also speakers and creative writing tutors.

Awards

The RNA recognises excellence in romantic fiction through their annual Romantic Novel of the Year Awards. The Romantic Novel of the Year Awards cover several categories, including fantasy, contemporary and saga, and are unique in that they are judged solely by readers. Once a year, the RNA also awards a debut authors' prize sponsored by Dr David Hessayon. The RNA also holds an annual industry awards, recognising individuals and or companies who have promoted the genre of romantic fiction.

Staff

Officers

Source. Board of Directors Chair * 2021 – present: Jean Fullerton Education Officer * 2022 – present: Andrea Davies Website Coordinator * 2022 – present: Lisa Firth Member Services Officer * 2021 – present: Clare Flynn Press Officer * 2022 – present: Annette Hannah Romantic Novel of the Year Awards Organiser * 2022 – present: Sharon Ibbotson Industry Awards Organiser * 2022 – present: Laura E. James Events Coordinator * 2021 – present: Sue Merritt Governance Officer * 2022 – present: Seána Talbot ''Leadership Team'' Other senior volunteers (part of the wider Senior Leadership Team of the RNA). PA to the Board / RNA Event PR * 2022 – present: Melanie Griffiths Secretary * 2021 – present: Ali Henderson Diversity and Inclusion Officer * 2022 – present: Liam Livings

Presidents

* 2011– present: Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming Fforde (

Katie Fforde Katie Fforde, née Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming (born 27 September 1952), is a British romance novelist. Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is founder of the Katie Fforde Bursary for writers who have y ...

) * 1986–2011: Diane Margaret Pearson McClelland ( Diane Pearson) * 1966–1986:

Ida Cook Ida Cook (24 August 190422 December 1986) was a British campaigner for Jewish refugees and a romance novelist as Mary Burchell. Ida Cook and her sister Mary Louise Cook (1901–1991) rescued Jews from the Nazis during the 1930s. The sisters h ...

(

Mary Burchell Ida Cook (24 August 190422 December 1986) was a British campaigner for Jewish refugees and a romance novelist as Mary Burchell. Ida Cook and her sister Mary Louise Cook (1901–1991) rescued Jews from the Nazis during the 1930s. The sisters h ...

) * 1960–1966: Denise Naomi Klein Robins Pearson ( Denise Chesterton,

Hervey Hamilton Denise Robins (née Denise Naomi Klein; 1 February 1897 – 1 May 1985) was a prolific English people, English Romance novel, romantic novelist and the first President of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1960–1966). She wrote under her fi ...

, Francesca Wright, Ashley French,

Harriet Gray Denise Robins (née Denise Naomi Klein; 1 February 1897 – 1 May 1985) was a prolific English romantic novelist and the first President of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1960–1966). She wrote under her first married name and under the ...

, Julia Kane)Bookworm on the Net
online at bookwormonthenet.blogspot.com (accessed 4 April 2008)

Vice-Presidents

;Current Vice-Presidents *

Marina Oliver Marina Oliver (born 1934) is a British writer of romance novels. She has also written under the pseudonyms of Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn, Vesta Hathaway, Livvy West and Laura Hart. Marina also published writing books. Oliver was ele ...

( Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn,

Vesta Hathaway Marina Oliver (born 1934) is a British writer of romance novels. She has also written under the pseudonyms of Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn, Vesta Hathaway, Livvy West and Laura Hart. Marina also published writing books. Oliver was ele ...

Livvy West Marina Oliver (born 1934) is a British writer of romance novels. She has also written under the pseudonyms of Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn, Vesta Hathaway, Livvy West and Laura Hart. Marina also published writing books. Oliver was ele ...

Laura Hart Marina Oliver (born 1934) is a British writer of romance novels. She has also written under the pseudonyms of Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn, Vesta Hathaway, Livvy West and Laura Hart. Marina also published writing books. Oliver was ele ...

) * Nancy Jean Buckingham Sawyer ( Nancy Buckingham, Christina Abbey,

Erica Quest Nancy Jean Buckingham Sawyer (born 10 August 1924) is a British writer who co-authored over 45 gothic and romance novels in collaboration with her husband, John Sawyer (4 October 1919 – 19 September 1992). She became the eighth elected Chairma ...

Nancy John Nancy Jean Buckingham Sawyer (born 10 August 1924) is a British writer who co-authored over 45 gothic and romance novels in collaboration with her husband, John Sawyer (4 October 1919 – 19 September 1992). She became the eighth elected Chairman ...

, Hilary London) ;Former Vice-Presidents * Elizabeth Margaret Stevens O'Rourke ( Betty O'Rourke) * Tilly Armstrong (

Tania Langley Tilly Armstrong (8 April 1927 – 6 July 2010) was a British writer of romance novels from 1978 to 1998. She also wrote as Tania Langley and Kate Alexander. Armstrong was born in Sutton, Surrey. Before she began her writing career, she worke ...

, Kate Alexander) * Sheila O'Nions Walsh ( Sheila Walsh, Sophie Leyton) * Hilda Pressley Nickson (

Hilda Nickson Hilda Nickson, née Pressley (18 November 1912 – 1977) was a British writer of over 60 romance novels published from 1957 to 1977, under her married and maiden name, and as Hilda Pressley. She was vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Ass ...

, Hilda Pressley,

Hilary Preston Hilda Nickson, née Pressley (18 November 1912 – 1977) was a British writer of over 60 romance novels published from 1957 to 1977, under her married and maiden name, and as Hilda Pressley. She was vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Ass ...

) * Noreen Ford Dilcock (

Norrey Ford Noreen Ford Dilcock (born 28 March 1907 in Kingston upon Hull, England - d. 1985 in Walsall, England, United Kingdom) was a British writer of romance novels from 1952 to 1977 under different pseudonyms: Norrey Ford, Jill Christian and Christian ...

, Jill Christian, Christian Walford) * Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge (

) *

Evadne Price Evadne Price (28 August 1888 – 17 April 1985), probably born Eva Grace Price, was an Australian-British writer, actress, astrologer and media personality. She also wrote under the pseudonym Helen Zenna Smith. She is now best remembered fo ...

(Helen Zenna Smith ) * Netta Rachel Muskett (

, Anne Hill) * Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (

) * Dorothy Delius Black MacLeish ( Dorothy Black) ;Honorary Vice-Presidents * Ida Crowe Pollock ( Joan M. Allen, Susan Barrie,

Pamela Kent Ida Julia Pollock ( Crowe; 12 April 1908 – 3 December 2013) was a British writer of several short-stories and over 125 romance novels that were published under her married name, Ida Pollock, and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. ...

, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley,

Mary Whistler Ida Julia Pollock ( Crowe; 12 April 1908 – 3 December 2013) was a British writer of several short-stories and over 125 romance novels that were published under her married name, Ida Pollock, and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. ...

Ida Pollock Ida Julia Pollock ( Crowe; 12 April 1908 – 3 December 2013) was a British writer of several short-stories and over 125 romance novels that were published under her married name, Ida Pollock, and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. ...

Marguerite Bell Ida Julia Pollock ( Crowe; 12 April 1908 – 3 December 2013) was a British writer of several short-stories and over 125 romance novels that were published under her married name, Ida Pollock, and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. ...

) ;Associate Vice-Presidents * Rosemary de Courcey *

Linda Evans Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad; November 18, 1942) is an American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck) in the Western tel ...

Sue Fletcher Sue Fletcher is a professor and lecturer at the University of Western Australia and a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Murdoch University. She studies the field of molecular and cell biology and holds the position of chief scientific officer at ...

* John Hale *

Michael Legat Michael Legat (24 March 1923 – 15 August 2011) was a British writer of writers' guides and romance novels. He was Chairman of Swanwick writers' summer school and an associate vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association. Legat w ...

* Judy Piatkus *

Karin Stoecker Karin may refer to: *Karin (given name), a feminine name Fiction *Karin (manga), ''Karin'' (manga) or ''Chibi Vampire'', a Japanese media franchise *Karin Hanazono, title character of the manga and anime ''Kamichama Karin'' *Karin Kurosaki, a cha ...

Jane Wood Jane Wood (born 20 March 1968) is a British former professional tennis player. Wood, a native of Enfield Enfield may refer to: Places Australia * Enfield, New South Wales * Enfield, South Australia ** Electoral district of Enfield, a state ...

Committee

Committee Chair

* 2021 – present: Jean Fullerton (chair) * 2019–2021: Alison May * 2017–2019: Nicola Cornick * 2015–2017: Eileen Ainsworth Ramsay ( Eileen Ramsay) * 2013–2015: Pia Tapper Fenton ( Christina Courtenay) * 2011–2013: Anne Ashurst, née Bushell (

Sara Craven Anne Ashurst (née Bushell; October 1938 in Devon, England – 15 November 2017), who wrote using the pseudonym Sara Craven, was a British author of over 80 romance novels. Her novels were published by Mills & Boon from 1975. In 2010 she became ...

) * 2009–2011: Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming Fforde (

) * 2007–2009: Catherine Jones ( Kate Lace,

Annie Jones Ann Jones (or similar) may refer to: Writers *Ann Jones (author) (born 1937), American writer on women's issues *Anne Jones (writer) (born 1955), Australian editor and administrator * Anna Jones (food writer), columnist and cookbook author * Cat ...

) * 2005–2007: Jenny Haddon (

Sophie Weston Sophie is a version of the female given name Sophia, meaning "wise". People with the name Born in the Middle Ages * Sophie, Countess of Bar (c. 1004 or 1018–1093), sovereign Countess of Bar and lady of Mousson * Sophie of Thuringia, Duchess of ...

) * 2003–2005:

Anthea Kenyon Anthea ( grc-gre, Ἄνθεια), "blossom" in Greek, was an epithet of the Classical Greek goddess Hera, and is used as a female given name in English. It may refer to: *Anthea Askey (1933–1999), British actress *Anthea Bell (1936–2018), B ...

* 2001–2003:

Jean Chapman Jean Chapman (born 30 October 1929) is a British writer of romance novels since 1981 and a lecturer in creative writing. Her debut novel ''The Unreasoning Earth'' and ''The Red Pavilion'' were both shortlisted for the Parker Pen Romantic Novel ...

* 1999–2001: Norma Curtis * 1997–1999: Angela Arney * 1995–1997: Elizabeth Mary Oakleigh-Walker Buchan (

Elizabeth Buchan Elizabeth Buchan, née Oakleigh-Walker (born 21 May 1948) is a British writer of non-fiction and fiction books since 1985. In 1994, her novel ''Consider the Lily'' won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association, ...

) * 1993–1995: Jean Innes Saunders ( Jean Saunders,

Jean Innes Jean Saunders, née Jean Innes (8 February 1932 – 3 August 2011) was a British writer of romance novels from 1974 to 2010. She wrote under her married and maiden names, and also under the pseudonyms of Rowena Summers, Sally Blake, and Rachel ...

, Rowena Summers, Sally Blake, Jodi Nicol, Rachel Moore) * 1991–1993:

( Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn,

) * 1989–1991: Margaret Pemberton ( Maggie Hudson, Carris Carlisle,

Christina Harland Margaret Pemberton (née Hudson; born 10 April 1943) is a British writer of women's fiction since 1975. Beside her married name Margaret Pemberton, her writings have been published under her maiden name Maggie Hudson and the pseudonyms Carris Carl ...

, Rebecca Dean) * 1987–1989: Tilly Armstrong (

, Kate Alexander) * 1985–1987: Sheila O'Nions Walsh ( Sheila Walsh, Sophie Leyton) * 1983–1985: Diana Morgan * 1981–1983: Contance Fecher Heaven ( Constance Fecher, Constance Heaven, Christina Merlin) * 1979–1981: Clare Cavendish * 1977–1979: Elizabeth Fancourt Harrison ( Elizabeth Harrison) * 1975–1977: Nancy Jean Buckingham Sawyer ( Nancy Buckingham, Christina Abbey,

, Hilary London) * 1973–1975: Leila Antionette Sterling Mackinlay (

Leila Mackinlay Leila Antoinette Sterling Mackinlay (5 September 1910 – 13 April 1996) was a British writer of romance novels from 1930 to 1979 as Leila S. Mackinlay or Leila Mackinlay and also under the pseudonym Brenda Grey. Some of her novels are based on ...

Brenda Grey Leila Antoinette Sterling Mackinlay (5 September 1910 – 13 April 1996) was a British writer of romance novels from 1930 to 1979 as Leila S. Mackinlay or Leila Mackinlay and also under the pseudonym Brenda Grey. Some of her novels are based on ...

) * 1971–1973: Alice Mary Chetwynd Humphrey Ley ( Alice Chetwynd Ley) * 1969–1971: Lois Dorothea Low ( Dorothy Mackie Low, Lois Paxton,

Zoë Cass Lois Dorothea Low, née Pilkington (born 15 July 1916 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - d. 8 November 2002 in Hampshire, England, UK) was a British writer of romance novels from 1962 to 1983 under different pseudonyms Dorothy Mackie Low, Lois Paxton ...

) * 1967–1969: Marjorie Bell Marshall ( Stella March) * 1965–1967: June Sylvia Thimblethorpe ( Sylvia Thorpe) * 1963–1965: Noreen Ford Dilcock (

, Jill Christian, Christian Walford) * 1961–1963: Violet Vivian Finlay Stuart Mann (

, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V.A. Stuart, William Stuart Long,

Robyn Stuart Violet Vivian Stuart ( ''née'' Finlay; 2 January 1914 – 18 August 1986) was a British writer from 1953 to 1986. She published under different pen names: her romantic novels as Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, and Robyn ...

)

Current Committee

;Hon Treasurer * Sally Calder ;Hon Deputy Treasurer * Anna Scamans ;Hon Secretary * Julie Vince ;Others * Jean Fullerton * Jules Wake * Adrienne Vaughan * Alison Knight * Celia Anderson * Gill Stewart * Julie Stock * Katherine Garbera * Anne Stenhouse

Honor Life members

Sarah Broadhurst Sarah (born Sarai) is a Patriarchs (Bible)#Matriarchs, biblical matriarch and Prophet, prophetess, a major figure in Abrahamic religions. While different Abrahamic faiths portray her differently, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all depict her ...

* Edwin Buckhalter * David G. Hessayon (Dr.

D.G. Hessayon David Gerald Hessayon OBE (born 1928) is a British author and botanist of Cypriot descent who is known for a best-selling series of paperback gardening manuals known as the "Expert Guides" under his title Dr. D. G. Hessayon. The series started ...

) * Caroline Sheldon * June Sylvia Thimblethorpe ( Sylvia Thorpe)

References

External links

* {{official website , rna-uk.org * British writers' organisations 1960 establishments in England