The Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) is delighted to announce the shortlists for their annual Industry Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate the hard work and talent of any person, group or organisation who has championed the broad genre of romantic fiction in a positive way.

Finalists for Agent of the Year 2023

Lina Langlee

Lina is from Sweden but moved to Scotland to study in her twenties and then never left. After working in publishing for a number of years, she realised that being a literary agent combined all her favourite bits of the book industry and so made the switch in 2018. She represents a wide list of fiction authors; what they all have in common is that they are first-rate storytellers who write with passion and heart.

Lina says, ‘It is an absolute honour to be shortlisted for the prestigious RNA Award in the Agent of the Year category, an award that is all about supporting and nurturing fantastic romance authors. There are few things in life that can move you more and provide more enjoyment than a really good love story, so these authors are really providing us all with a public service of escapism and enjoyment! To play a small part in spreading these stories is a privilege I don’t take lightly – and I am so grateful to have this recognised with this shortlisting.’

Hannah Schofield

Hannah Schofield is a literary agent at LBA agency in London, representing a wide-ranging list that can be summed up as ‘things she likes’ – which includes mostly commercial and book-club fiction, with select non-fiction and YA. And especially love stories! She won the Romantic Novelists’ Association Agent of the Year in 2022, less than three years after brokering her first book deal, and was selected as one of the winners of the Trailblazer Award 2023 at the London Book Fair. Hannah also believes she is the only Luxembourgish literary agent – but probably wouldn’t swear to it!

Hannah says, ‘Winning the RNA Agent of the Year in 2022 was a highlight of my career – and I am absolutely thrilled to be on the shortlist for the second year running, in such amazing company. Thank you to the RNA and to my wonderful authors, whose stories allow me to do what I love – read brilliant books, and never shut up about them!’

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 Monday 13th November 2023 at 6.30pm.

This year’s awards are sponsored by ProWritingAid, a manuscript editing software programme with in-app video learning for writers. Hayley Milliman, Head of Education at ProWritingAid said, ‘Congratulations to the finalists for the 2023 RNA Industry Awards! We applaud your accomplishments and hard work bringing beautiful stories to life.’