Romantic Novelists' Association

Claire Wade

The RNA Industry Awards

Inclusion Award 2023

Sponsored by ProWritingAid

Claire has severe ME and was bedbound for six years, her only escape was through her imagination; she writes about people trying to break free from the constraints of their lives, a subject she’s deeply familiar with. Claire founded the group Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses (ADCI) to connect and support disabled authors and work towards better access and inclusivity in the publishing industry. She runs the ADCI online group and hosts monthly virtual meetings to connect disabled authors, organising speakers to teach members the skills they need to become successful authors while also managing their disabilities and chronic illnesses. Claire has twice guest edited The Bookseller, the leading trade magazine for the UK publishing industry, using the opportunity to speak directly to editors, agents and publishers about the obstacles facing disabled authors. She has also chaired numerous panels on disability and publishing, including an upcoming event for the Cheltenham Literature Festival.