Romantic Novelists' Association

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 (first president), Barbara Cartland (first vice-president), Vivian Stuart (first elected chairman), and other authors including Elizabeth Goudge, Netta Muskett, Catherine Cookson, Rosamunde Pilcher 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 The organisation also runs the New Writers' Scheme, under which unpublished authors receive an appraisal of their work from an experienced member of the Association.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[1] 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
Main article: Romantic Novelists' Association Awards

The RNA recognises outstanding authors and books with a series of yearly awards sponsored by Goldsboro Books. It also awards a debut authors' prize sponsored by Dr David Hessayon and industry awards.

Staff

Officers

Source.[1][2]

Presidents
  • 2011–Present: Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming Fforde (Katie Fforde)
  • 1986–2011: Diane Margaret Pearson McClelland (Diane Pearson)
  • 1966–1986: Ida Cook (Mary Burchell)[3]
  • 1960–1966: Denise Naomi Klein Robins Pearson (Denise Chesterton, Denise Robins, Hervey Hamilton, Francesca Wright, Ashley French, Harriet Gray, Julia Kane)[3]

Vice-Presidents
Current Vice-Presidents
  • Marina Oliver (Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn, Vesta Hathaway, Livvy West, Laura Hart)
  • Nancy Jean Buckingham Sawyer (Nancy Buckingham, Christina Abbey, Erica Quest, Nancy John, Hilary London)
Former Vice-Presidents
Honorary Vice-Presidents
  • Ida Crowe Pollock (Joan M. Allen, Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler, Ida Pollock, Marguerite Bell)
Associate Vice-Presidents

Committee

Committee Chairmen

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
  • Edwin Buckhalter
  • David G. Hessayon (Dr. D.G. Hessayon)
  • Caroline Sheldon
  • June Sylvia Thimblethorpe (Sylvia Thorpe)

References
  1. Past RNA Officers
  2. RNA Officers
  3. Bookworm on the Net online at bookwormonthenet.blogspot.com (accessed 4 April 2008)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.