Margaret James learns about love with the Romantic Novelists’ Association
I
t will soon be St Valentine’s
Day, so I decided to check
out the Romantic Novelists’
Association and find out
about the state of romantic fiction
in 2020. Luckily the current chair,
Alison May, was happy to chat to me.
‘The RNA is sixty years old
this year,’ Alison says. ‘When the
association was founded in 1960
its very first president, Denise
Robins, noted that while romantic
novels gave the most pleasure to
the most people, the writers almost
had to apologise for what they did.
Nowadays, the RNA celebrates
romantic fiction and our writers
never apologise for loving romance.
‘We have about a thousand
members who are mostly authors,
both traditionally and self-
published, alongside literary agents,
editors, booksellers and academics
with an interest in romantic fiction.
There are also about 300 as-yet-
unpublished authors on our New42 MARCH 2020 http://www.writers-online.co.ukFICTION FOCUS
Love is the answerWriters’ Scheme.
‘We know that in the past
mainstream romantic fiction hasn’t
always reflected the experiences of
all its readers, and also that if you
believe in the transformative power
of happy-ever-after – which the RNA
absolutely does – then it’s hugely
important that our fiction doesn’t
offer happy endings to only one
group in our society. The RNA is
working to ensure that we welcome
writers of all forms of romantic fiction
and from all kinds of backgrounds.
January 2019 saw the launch of a
brand new bursary scheme, funded
by donations from our existing
members, which will enable published
and as-yet-unpublished authorsfrom underrepresented groups to
join the RNA and attend our annual
Conference.
‘Julie Cohen, RNA vice-president,
founded the RNA’s Rainbow
Chapter back in 2018. This group
is specifically for RNA members
who identify as LGBTQIA+, and/or
write novels featuring LGBTQIA+
characters, and/or people who are
interested as allies and want to
learn more. The Rainbow Chapter
marched at Pride in London last
summer, with a banner proclaiming
Love Stories are for Everyone.
‘Last November, we presented
our inaugural Inclusion Award as
part of our annual Industry Awards.
The Inclusion Award celebrates an
individual or organisation in the
publishing industry who has taken
practical steps to be more inclusive
during the previous year.
‘We’re always working to make
sure we celebrate romantic fiction
across all its subgenres. Every March