RNA New Writer's Award and Not Writing

Okay, things have gone terribly wrong on the writing front. I was so pleased I wrote on the plane and then wrote more in the past few days - maybe 2000 in total. Well something happened with the little notebook and the screen wouldn't come on. So I had to resort to removing the battery and beginning again. When the thing powered up no document - this i know was my fault and reflected how I felt about the words. You see I hadn't saved it. The other parts of the book were saved under my old working title and I dithered about what to save this under and if truth be told I knew the words were crap and just filling the space on the page. So they are gone forever. However I am at a real cross roads. I know how the story ends but this second half of the book doesn't seem ready to come out. I am going to take a few more days of not writing and hit the Donald Maass book which always sets ideas going and hope for the best.

Below is the official announcement of the award that was given last Wednesday. I can't wait to read it in October when it comes out!


Ex-Barrister Wins New Writers’ Award
with Romantic Novel set in Chambers


The winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon New Writer’s Award has clearly taken the adage “write what you know” to heart. With Tug of Love, published by Little Black Dress, Allie Spencer plumbed her career as a specialist in matrimonial law.

Her heroine is divorce lawyer Lucy. When Lucy meets Mark, it is love at first sight and would be the perfect match if his scary ex-wife, the PM’s divorce and an old flame don’t all get in the way.

Announcing the winner, judge and Chairman of the RNA, Catherine Jones, commented: “Laugh-out-loud funny, clever, and set in chambers by someone who obviously knows what she is talking about, this novel is sassy and believable with a wonderfully flawed heroine and a great supporting cast. It was a joy from first to last.”

The award was presented by bestselling author Katie Fforde at the RNA’s summer party on 13th May.

Allie felt “completely overwhelmed” and said she first got the idea for Tug of Love when she was a pupil barrister sitting outside a court in London in a very cramped waiting area. At the time, Allie had no idea she would abandon law for marriage and a career as a romantic novelist. Nor did she imagine her second full-length book would be snapped up by a publisher and go on to win an award.

Allie lives in Salisbury with her husband and two young sons. Her idols are authors PG Wodehouse and Douglas Adams and she nurtures a secret desire to be a stand-up comedian.

Meanwhile, Allie is thrilled to have won her award. “The RNA has been supremely supportive and nurturing of me, so this is extra special. Also the judges are both very experienced and successful writers so their vote of confidence counts for a lot.”

The RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme, which is generously sponsored by Dr David Hessayon in memory of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding member, gives unpublished authors of romantic fiction the opportunity to join the Association and submit a full-length manuscript for appraisal. Promising manuscripts, if deemed ready, are passed to a suitable professional. The Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Scheme Award is given to the best of the novels accepted and published that year.

For more information please contact the RNA’s Press Officer Liz Bailey at eabailey@tiscali.co.uk or on 01342 323991.