Clare set up the first Liverpool-based literary agency in 2020 to help address inequality and underrepresentation in the publishing industry. With more than 15 years’ experience of writing and editing professionally, including the publication of two novels, Definitions (2015) and We Are of Dust (2018 – which received development funding from the Liverpool Film Office for a TV adaptation), Clare also has a background in PR and marketing, alongside teaching on creative writing programmes.

She commented, ‘I’m so happy to be shortlisted for this prestigious award. I love representing romantic fiction and getting books in that genre from northern writers and those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds into the hands of readers. The genre has so much depth and is integral to the publishing industry and I will always champion it to get the respect it deserves.’

Laura James, the RNA Industry Awards organiser, added, ‘I congratulate each and every finalist and thank them and the industry for the unwavering love they show writers and readers of romantic fiction.’

The awards have been held for the past eight years and are highly respected in the UK publishing industry. The finalists are nominated by the full and probationary membership of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, with a panel of independent judges selecting the shortlists.

The award categories are: The Romantic Bookseller of the Year, Inclusion Award, Indie Champion of the Year, Library or Librarian of the Year, Indie Editor of the Year, Cover Designer of the Year, Narrator of the Year, Media Star of the Year, Agent of the Year, and Publisher and / or Editor of the Year.

The winners of the ten awards will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Winter Party and Industry Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, 8-14 Cooper’s Row, London EC3N 2BQ, on Friday 11th November 2022 at 6.30pm.

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Website: www.liverpool-literary.agency

This year’s awards are sponsored by ProWritingAid, a manuscript editing software programme with in-app video learning for writers.