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 Media Star of the Year

Babs Wilkie

Reading has always been an escape for Babs and she has read extensively for as long as she can remember. Her main preferences are between romantic fiction and thrillers, but is increasingly finding joy in reading about happy ever afters. Babs is married with a grown-up daughter who only recently left home; she’s now discovering life as an empty nester. Despite her limited mobility, Babs has travelled the world through reading and attributes reading and blogging as saving her mental health during lockdown.

Babs says, ‘I know that it’s a hackneyed phrase, but I am genuinely honoured to have been noticed. I’m aware of past nominees and amazed to be considered as one of their peers.’

Fiona Lucas

Fiona Lucas is an award-winning author of romance and women’s fiction, who joined TikTok during lockdown and began making writing and book-related content after seeing lots of younger readers on the app, gathering under the hashtag #Booktok. Three years on, Fiona has over 30k followers and has great fun sharing writing tips and other bookish content. She also runs a Facebook group, ‘TikTok for Authors’, providing a friendly space where authors can come and learn what TikTok is all about, share strategies and support each other. She was also invited to be part of a panel about Booktok at London Book Fair and gives talks on how to navigate TikTok for authors.

Fiona says, ‘Seeing as I was a social media flop before joining TikTok, I’m both delighted and surprised to be nominated for Media Star of the Year. It just goes to show that if I can do it, anyone can!’

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.’