THURROCK novelist, Virginia Heath, has been shortlisted in the Historical Romantic Novel Award category with her novel, The Marquess Next Door, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2022. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.
When lifelong insomniac Virginia was a little girl, she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. She did this every night for over forty years until one day she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Now, to her absolute delight and utter astonishment, her slightly racy Regency Romcoms are published in many languages all across the globe. Three Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations and twenty-four books later, it still takes Virginia forever to fall asleep.
She commented regarding her nomination, “I’m thrilled to bits! It’s such a strong category; it’s a real honour to have my book shortlisted amongst so many brilliant stories. This is my 3rd nomination, and so far I’ve only ever been the bridesmaid but never the bride, so I really hope it’s 3rd time lucky!”
Sharon Ibbotson, the Awards Coordinator for the Romantic Novelists’ Association, added, “During a difficult year, people needed escapism and romance more than ever. Our shortlisted authors, chosen by our readers, delivered both. The Romantic Novelists’ Association is proud to celebrate them and their achievement.”
Since their inception in 1960, the Romantic Novel Awards have recognised outstanding Romantic fiction and previous winners include Phillipa Gregory, Joanna Trollope and Rosamunde Pilcher.
The award categories for this year are as follows: The Fantasy Romantic Novel Award, the Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers, the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award, the Christmas / Festive Holiday Romantic Novel Award, the Shorter Romantic Novel Award, the Romantic Saga Award, the Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy, the Historical Romantic Novel Award, the Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, and the Popular Romantic Fiction Award (voted for by librarians, booksellers and book bloggers / reviewers). The Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented later this year.
The winners of the awards will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Novel Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, 8-14 Cooper’s Row, London EC3N 2BQ, on Monday 7th March 2022 at 6.30pm.
