Romantic Novelists' Association

The Romantic Saga Award – Finalists

8 February 2023

Diane Allen – A Child of the Dales

Settle resident, author Diane Allen, has been shortlisted in the Romantic Saga Award category with her novel, A Child of the Dales, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Diane was born in Leeds but raised at her family’s farm deep in the Yorkshire Dales. She found her true niche in life by joining a large-print publishing firm in 1990. She now concentrates on her writing full-time. Diane and her husband live in the Dales market town of Settle.

She commented, ‘Being shortlisted is absolutely brilliant! Writing can be a lonely life and this along with my wonderful readers makes it all well worthwhile.’

A CHILD OF THE DALES (Publisher: Pan Macmillan)
Abandoned by her mother on the steps of a remote inn, Ruby Blake is raised by Martha Metcalfe. However, one stormy night Ruby is reunited with her father and discovers her heritage is not what she thought it was. Neither father nor daughter feel quite whole until they find their true roots.

Facebook: Diane Allen author

Vicki Beeby – A New Start for the Wrens

Newport-based author, Vicki Beeby, has been shortlisted in the Romantic Saga Award category with her novel, A New Start for the Wrens, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Vicki Beeby writes historical fiction about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War. Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write. In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves.

She commented, ‘I’m delighted that A New Start for the Wrens has made the shortlist. 2023 marks my tenth anniversary of joining the RNA under their New Writers’ Scheme, so it’s a particular honour and thrill to be nominated for an award this year.’

A NEW START FOR THE WRENS (Publisher: Canelo)
Spoiled, wealthy Iris Tredwick joins the WRNS and is sent to a remote posting in Orkney. Soon she meets mechanic Rob, but her domineering mother does not approve. Then tragedy strikes, and Iris fears the enemy is at work on the island. Can she and her friends prevent another disaster?

Facebook: facebook.com/VickiBeebyAuthor
Website: vickibeeby.co.uk
Twitter: @VickiBeeby

Soraya M. Lane – The London Girls

New Zealand author, Soraya M. Lane, who lives in Christchurch, has been shortlisted in the Romantic Saga Award category with her novel, The London Girls, for the UK-based Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Soraya graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, and her novel Wives of War was an Amazon Charts bestseller. Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four-legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

She commented, ‘It is an absolute honour to be shortlisted! I’m absolutely thrilled the judges enjoyed The London Girls, especially given the quality of novels submitted each year.’

THE LONDON GIRLS (Publisher: Lake Union Publishing)
From the bestselling author of The Last Correspondent comes a remarkable story of three young women who defy the bombs to do their bit for Britain. Will they survive the dark streets of London to see the Allies win the war?

Facebook: @SorayaLaneAuthor
Instagram: @SorayaLaneAuthor
Website: www.sorayalane.com

Betty Walker – Courage for the Cornish Girls

Bude author, Betty Walker, has been shortlisted in the Romantic Saga Award category with her novel, Courage for the Cornish Girls, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Betty writes the ‘Cornish Girls’ series of wartime sagas. A mother of five, she lives in Cornwall and loves discovering curious historical facts and investigating her family tree. She also writes contemporary thrillers and romance as Jane Holland.

She commented, ‘I’m thrilled and honoured to have been shortlisted for such a prestigious award!’

COURAGE FOR THE CORNISH GIRLS(Publisher: Avon)

(1942) Enemy gunfire on Penzance beach brings Demelza Lily and Violet rushing to the rescue. As the war rages around them, the biggest challenge facing each woman turns out to be one of the heart. Can the Cornish Girls help one another to open themselves up to love?

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CornishGirlsSagas/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CornishGirls
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jane_hollandwriter/
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@janehollandauthor

Mollie Walton – A Mother’s War

Waltham author, Mollie Walton, has been shortlisted in the Romantic Saga Award category with her novel, A Mother’s War, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Mollie Walton is the saga pen-name for historical novelist Rebecca Mascull. As Walton, she has written The Ironbridge Trilogy and is currently writing The Raven Hall Saga. As Mascull, she is the author of The Elements Quartet and wrote the final chapters of the late Vanessa Lafaye’s last novella Miss Marley. Rebecca has worked in education, has a Masters in Writing and lives by the sea in the east of England. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund, based at the University of Lincoln.

She commented, ‘I’m over the moon to be shortlisted for this RNA award! The work the RNA does with authors is so important and I’m thrilled to be honoured by such a wonderful organisation.’

A MOTHER’S WAR (Publisher: Welbeck Publishing Group)

North Yorkshire, September 1939. Rosina Calvert-Lazenby is the widowed matriarch of Raven Hall. When the RAF come to stay, Rosina is intrigued by their young, charismatic sergeant Harry. Grace is 21, the eldest of Rosina’s five daughters. Joining the Wrens, she trades the safety of home for acts of secrecy.

https://rebeccamascull.co.uk/
https://molliewalton.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaMascull
https://www.facebook.com/MollieWaltonbooks/
https://uk.pinterest.com/rebeccamascull/
https://www.instagram.com/beccamascull/