Sunday, February 15, 2009

Ostrich Feathers and Scented Candles

Last week was quite a week.

On Monday, I went up to London to attend the RNA’s Romantic Novel of the Year Lunch which took place on Tuesday at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington. It was a great event and thoroughly enjoyable for everyone who was there.

In spite of the weather and the travel difficulties, the room was full and buzzing with excitement. Last year, the tables had been decorated with balloons and streamers, straining for the ceiling. This year, there were scented candles floating lazily in large glass bowls, and arrangements of red and black ostrich feathers in matt black candelabra, looking like exotic head-dresses at some rather off-beat ball.

There were video screens, too, where we saw the covers of all the short-listed books and heard their titles and stories as we waited for the moment when the winners were announced. First, the winner of the Romance Prize — India Grey, for Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire’s Pleasure. Then, the winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year — Julia Gregson, for East of the Sun. You can see the winning authors, and read more about them, and the other finalists, on the RNA’s website here.

The RNA — which celebrates its 50th birthday in 2010 — has also inaugurated a Lifetime Achievement Award. The first recipient of the engraved star trophy was Judy Piatkus, a publisher who really believes in romantic fiction, and who gave many RNA members their start in publishing. If the audience’s reaction was anything to go by, her award was hugely popular.

Many historical authors were at the lunch. Among others, I saw Louise Allen, Anne Herries, Carol Townend, Mary Nichols, and Elizabeth Bailey, who also does a fantastic job as the RNA’s volunteer press officer. If you’ve seen newspaper articles about the award, raising the profile of romantic fiction, Liz probably had a hand in them.

And when I eventually arrived home, late on Wednesday, a box of author copies was waiting for me — the US edition of His Reluctant Mistress, which will be published in North America in April and in the UK in June. I will admit to having taken some out and stroked them. It doesn’t matter how many books I write, it’s still a thrill to receive real, printed copies and to know that the book will actually be out there for readers, I hope, to enjoy.

Joanna
http://www.joannamaitland.com

5 comments:

Melinda Hammond/Sarah Mallory said...

Thanks for the info on the Awards lunch, Joanna: I wish I could have been there - the table decorations sound really decadent!

And congratulations on your latest publication - hope it does really well for you.

Carol Townend said...

I can confirm it was a lovely lunch and also that Joanna looked very glamorous! It's great to catch up with everyone, but why does it always go so quickly? Looking forward to reading His Reluctant Mistress...
All best
Carol

Elizabeth Bailey said...

It was a great lunch. And thank you for your kind words, Joanna. It's a privilege and a pleasure to do the PR for the terrific writers who grace the RNA.
love
Elizabeth Bailey

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the compliment, Carol. (Curtsying demurely, here in Hereford!) When I got home, I had to get out my needle and thread to stitch back the bits of the lace coat that had caught on things. Glamorous maybe; robust, no.

Yes, it was a great day. Maybe Melinda and others will make it next year? It's worth it. Or, to pinch a phrase from elsewhere -- You're worth it.

Joanna

Melinda Hammond/Sarah Mallory said...

Isn't 2010 the 50th anniversary of the Romantic Novelists Association? Their Awards ceremony next year should be REALLY good!