Schofield and Virtue among winners at RNA Industry Awards

Hannah Schofield and Sara-Jade Virtue were among the winners at this year’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Industry Awards. 

This year’s ceremony was held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London on Friday 11th November.

Schofield, agent at LBA, was awarded the Agent of the Year, while Simon & Schuster’s Virtue triumphed in the Publisher and/or Editor of the Year category. 

Amy Richards from Words & Kisses scooped Romantic Bookseller of the Year, while Rebecca Slorach, senior editor at Mills & Boon, won the Inclusion Award. Indie Champion of the Year went to Clare Flynn, while Sharon Whitehouse from Dudley Libraries (GLL) snapped up the Librarian of the Year award.  

Emily Shelton Poole from Midnight Owl Editors was awarded Indie Editor of the Year, Lucy Murphy was named Cover Designer of the Year and Helen McAlpine won Narrator of the Year. Anne Williams scooped Media Star of the Year.  

Laura James, the RNA Industry Awards organiser, said: “Congratulations to the 2022 RNA Industry Awards winners. Thank you for your love, passion and continued support for romantic fiction.” 

Sue Moorcroft, head judge for the RNA Industry Awards, added: "With such a wonderful set of shortlists it was always certain that the judges of this year’s industry awards would return an outstanding list of winners. Choosing between excellent candidates was an exacting task and I enjoyed being a part of the stimulating discussion around each and every nomination. My thanks to my fellow judges for the hard work and detailed research that went into the selection process, and to Laura James and Melanie Griffiths from the RNA for their efficient organisation. They made my job easy. Most of all – congratulations to the winners of these wonderful awards.”