Embargoed Until 20:00 GMT Monday 7Th March 2016

Embargoed until 20:00 GMT Monday 7th March 2016

Iona Grey’s Letters to the Lost wins The Goldsboro Books Romantic Novel of the Year 2016

Trophy and £5,000 prize presented by Fern Britton

Anita Burgh and Claire Lorrimer receive RNA Outstanding Achievement Awards

London, 7th March 2016: Iona Grey triumphed over fellow competing authors to win the Romantic Novelists' Association's highest accolade, The Goldsboro Books Romantic Novel of the Year, with Letters to the Lost, published by Simon & Schuster. Fern Britton presented Iona with her trophies and a cheque for £5000 at a star-studded event, compèred by Jane Wenham-Jones.

Iona Grey was the winner of the Historical Romance Novel of the Year category. Her book then went forward, along with those of the five other category winners – Contemporary, Epic, Romantic Comedy, RoNA Rose and Young Adult – to contest the Romantic Novelists' Association’s (RNA) most coveted award, the Goldsboro Books Romantic Novel of the Year.

A panel of independent judges read the six category winners’ novels before meeting to debate the finer points of each book. The panel included Matt Bates of WHSmith Travel; Sarah Broadhurst, formerly The Bookseller; novelist Elizabeth Buchan; Dorothy Burrows, Programme Director of the Wantage Literary Festival; Alison Flood, Guardian.co.uk; and Karin Stoecker, ex-Editorial Director, Harlequin Books.

The judges described Letters to the Lost as "A skilfully told story with captivating characters, convincing and compelling. Beautifully done."

Eileen Ramsay, Chairman of the RNA, said, "I loved this heart breaking love story, a worthy winner in an extremely professional shortlist. Absolutely perfect.” David Headley, Managing Director of Goldsboro Books, commented, “This wonderful range of books demonstrates the breadth and depth of the genre and illustrates its enduring popularity and appeal to a wide and discerning audience.”

Romantic Novel of the Year Category Winners Prior to announcing the overall award winner, Fern Britton revealed the winners of the individual categories and presented them with star-shaped crystal trophies.

The winners were:

Melanie Hudson, The Wedding Cake Tree, Choc Lit Winner Contemporary Category Romantic Novel of the Year (for mainstream romantic novels set post-1960, and can include chick lit, paranormal and romantic suspense)

Emma Hannigan, The Secrets We Share, Headline Review Winner Epic Category Romantic Novel of the Year (for novels containing serious issues or themes, including gritty, multi-generational stories)

Iona Grey, Letters to the Lost,Simon & Schuster Winner Historical Category Romantic Novel of the Year (for novels set in a period before 1960)

Milly Johnson, Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Café, Simon & Schuster Winner Romantic Comedy Category Romantic Novel of the Year (for consistently humorous or amusing novels)

Annie O'Neil, Doctor... To Duchess?, Mills & Boon Medical Romance Winner RoNA Rose Award (for category/series and shorter romance)

Lucy Inglis, Crow Mountain, Chicken House Winner Young Adult Category Romantic Novel of the Year (featuring protagonists who are teenagers or young adults)

Outstanding Achievement Awards Anita Burgh is the author of twenty three novels, all published after she reached 50. Claire Lorrimer, who has written more than 100 novels, is the daughter of the RNA’s first President, best-selling novelist Denise Robins. Both Anita and Claire were presented with outstanding achievement awards for their continued championing of the RNA and romantic fiction.

Author and cover images for all titles are available on request or can be downloaded from http://www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org/news/media_centre

The Postcard by Fern Britton will be published in hardback by HarperCollins in June, and A Good Catch will be published in paperback in April.

For further information please contact: [email protected] Or Katrina Power 07 963 962 538 or [email protected]

Notes to Editors:

About the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) The RNA was formed in 1960 to promote romantic fiction and encourage good writing and now represents more than 850 writers, agents, editors and other publishing professionals. The Romantic Novel of the Year Award was launched in the same year, and recognises excellence in romantic novels thereby enhancing the standing of the genre.

The RNA has always involved readers in judging the awards. Keen readers are asked to rate nominated books on a number of criteria including romantic content, readability, characters, plot, dialogue, style and ending. These readers' favourites are then presented to the expert independent judges, who decide the overall winners.

A list of past winners can be found at www.romanticnovelistsassociation.org

Goldsboro Books is the leading independent bookshop, specialising since 1999 in first editions, signed, collectable and exclusive books. Situated in Cecil Court in London’s West End, it has gained a reputation for championing debut authors, as well as creating the UK’s largest book collectors’ club and is influential in selling large quantities of hard-back fiction.