Two titles from Storm Publishing shortlisted for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award

Two Storm Publishing titles have been nominated for the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers. 

Imogen Martin’s Under a Gilded Sky and Hannah Langdon’s Christmas with the Lords are shortlisted from Storm Publishing. Helen Hawkins’ A Concert for Christmas (Allison & Busby) is also in contention for the prize alongside The Near Miss (Bookouture) by Lily Joseph, Claire McCauley’s The Wedding Hitch (Joffe Books) and Kristina Thornton’s Claire Morris is Completely Lost (Northodox Press). 

All the shortlistees are authors whose books have been accepted for publication after going through the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme. The scheme provides support to unpublished romantic fiction authors who can submit their manuscripts for critique and assessment by published authors. The 250 members of the scheme can attend RNA events and participate in members-only activities.

Melissa Oliver, the RNA Joan Hessayon Award organiser and winner of the award in 2020, commented: "Many congratulations to the 2024 contenders of the prestigious RNA Joan Hessayon Award. The authors who have graduated from the brilliant New Writers’ Scheme to secure publishing contracts this year are not only a testament to the success of the scheme but also to the enduring appeal of the romance genre. Well done to all of you."

RNA chair Jean Fullerton added: "Congratulations to all of the 2024 contenders for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award for graduates of the most excellent New Writers’ Scheme. Once again, the judges have the almost impossible task of picking a winner due to the quality of the books."

The award is sponsored by Dr David Hessayon in honour of his late wife Joan, who was a longstanding RNA member. This year’s winner will be announced at the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s annual conference Gala Dinner at Royal Holloway, University of London on 10th August 2024.