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 The organisation also runs the New Writers' Scheme, under which unpublished authors receive an appraisal of their work from an experienced member of the Association.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
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
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
- Elizabeth Margaret Stevens O'Rourke (Betty O'Rourke)
- Tilly Armstrong (Tania Langley, Kate Alexander)
- Sheila O'Nions Walsh (Sheila Walsh, Sophie Leyton)
- Hilda Pressley Nickson (Hilda Nickson, Hilda Pressley, Hilary Preston)
- Noreen Ford Dilcock (Norrey Ford, Jill Christian, Christian Walford)
- Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge (Elizabeth Goudge)
- Evadne Price (Helen Zenna Smith )
- Netta Rachel Muskett (Netta Muskett, Anne Hill)
- Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (Barbara Cartland)
- Dorothy Delius Black MacLeish (Dorothy Black)
- 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
- Rosemary de Courcey
- Linda Evans
- Sue Fletcher
- John Hale
- Michael Legat
- Judy Piatkus
- Karin Stoecker
- Jane Wood
Committee Chairmen
- 2019–2021: Alison May
- 2017–2019: Nicola Cornick
- 2015–2017: Eileen Ainsworth Ramsay (Eileen Ramsay)
- 2013–2015: Pia Tapper Fenton (Christina Courtenay)
- 2011–2013: Anne Ashurst, née Bushell (Sara Craven)
- 2009–2011: Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming Fforde (Katie Fforde)
- 2007–2009: Catherine Jones (Kate Lace, Annie Jones)
- 2005–2007: Jenny Haddon (Sophie Weston)
- 2003–2005: Anthea Kenyon
- 2001–2003: Jean Chapman
- 1999–2001: Norma Curtis
- 1997–1999: Angela Arney
- 1995–1997: Elizabeth Mary Oakleigh-Walker Buchan (Elizabeth Buchan)
- 1993–1995: Jean Innes Saunders (Jean Saunders, Jean Innes, Rowena Summers, Sally Blake, Jodi Nicol, Rachel Moore)
- 1991–1993: Marina Oliver (Sally James, Donna Hunt, Bridget Thorn, Vesta Hathaway, Livvy West, Laura Hart)
- 1989–1991: Margaret Pemberton (Maggie Hudson, Carris Carlisle, Christina Harland, Rebecca Dean)
- 1987–1989: Tilly Armstrong (Tania Langley, Kate Alexander)
- 1985–1987: Sheila O'Nions Walsh (Sheila Walsh, Sophie Leyton)
- 1983–1985: Diana Morgan
- 1981–1983: Contance Fecher Heaven (Constance Fecher, Constance Heaven, Christina Merlin)
- 1979–1981: Clare Cavendish
- 1977–1979: Elizabeth Fancourt Harrison (Elizabeth Harrison)
- 1975–1977: Nancy Jean Buckingham Sawyer (Nancy Buckingham, Christina Abbey, Erica Quest, Nancy John, Hilary London)
- 1973–1975: Leila Antionette Sterling Mackinlay (Leila Mackinlay, Brenda Grey)
- 1971–1973: Alice Mary Chetwynd Humphrey Ley (Alice Chetwynd Ley)
- 1969–1971: Lois Dorothea Low (Dorothy Mackie Low, Lois Paxton, Zoë Cass)
- 1967–1969: Marjorie Bell Marshall (Stella March)
- 1965–1967: June Sylvia Thimblethorpe (Sylvia Thorpe)
- 1963–1965: Noreen Ford Dilcock (Norrey Ford, Jill Christian, Christian Walford)
- 1961–1963: Violet Vivian Finlay Stuart Mann (Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V.A. Stuart, William Stuart Long, Robyn Stuart)
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
- Past RNA Officers
- RNA Officers
- Bookworm on the Net online at bookwormonthenet.blogspot.com (accessed 4 April 2008)