14th April 2005
UNREQUITED LOVE WINS THROUGH TO SCOOP ROMANTIC FICTION PRIZE
Surprise winner beats Andrea Levy to win
FosterGrant Reading Glasses Romantic Novel of the Year Award
 A
tragi-comedy of unrequited love and misunderstanding has
beaten tales of predatory women, sexual ambivalence and
adultery to win the FosterGrant Reading Glasses Romantic
Novel of the Year Award.
First-time novelist Katharine Davies beat several acclaimed
authors to scoop this prestigious literary prize, awarded in
past years to popular writers like Joanna Trollope,
Rosamunde Pilcher and Cathy Kelly.
Katharine, a former English teacher, beat off competition
from a strong shortlist, which included celebrated novelist
Andrea Levy, to win the £10,000 FosterGrant award.
Katharine’s book ‘A Good Voyage’ is loosely based on
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It was described by the judges
as a “superbly constructed, magical story that brilliantly
contrasts the timelessness of romance with the grittiness of
reality”.
Chair of judges, book industry commentator Danuta Keane
said:
“’A Good Voyage’ takes readers back to the roots of
romantic fiction in all its joys and turmoil. It was a
clear winner in a strong field of titles that ranged
from domestic dramas to high politics. This is an
astonishingly well-crafted first novel, peopled with
believable, empathetic characters, and characterised by
a poise and lightness of touch that evokes the magic and
pathos of Shakespeare’s lovers and losers. It is a
wonderful illustration of romantic fiction at its best.”
The award was made today, April 14th 2005, at a ceremony
at the Savoy Hotel, London attended by over 300 guests from
the publishing industry.
The FosterGrant Romantic Novel of the Year Award was
established in 1960 and is one of Britain’s longest-running
literary competitions. Its object is to recognise excellence
in romantic fiction, amongst the UK’s most popular literary
genres, and the award is open to any book first published in
the UK in the last year which embraces romance in its widest
sense.
Successful romance writers can expect to sell 10,000
copies of a book within a week of publication, with many
past award winners achieving considerable literary and
commercial success.
This year’s winner Katharine Davies taught English
Language and Literature in secondary schools in the UK and
Sri Lanka, before moving to Wales to write.
‘A Good Voyage’ is published by Chatto and Windus, price
£12.99.
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The Romantic Novelists’ Association is the UK’s only
professional writers’ association specialising in
romantic fiction, and includes many best-selling writers
such as Joanna Trollope, Katie Fforde and Carole
Matthews among its members.
- The 2005 shortlist was:
- ·A Good Voyage by Katharine Davies (Chatto and
Windus)
- ·Love and Devotion by Erica James (Orion)
- ·Small Island by Andrea Levy (Headline)
- ·The Hornbeam Tree by Susan Lewis
(Heinemann-Random House)
- ·The Tenko Club by Elizabeth Noble (Hodder)
- ·Ghost Heart by Cecilia Samartin (Bantam
Transworld)
- Romantic fiction is among the UK’s most commercially
successful book categories, appearing under a variety of
publishers’ labels including general fiction, women’s
fiction, chick lit and historical sagas.
- FosterGrant Reading Glasses are sponsoring this
award for the first time in 2005. Their exclusive
collection of designer inspired men's and ladies styles
is ideal for reading and close-up work. They have an
extensive choice of contemporary and classic styles,
supplemented by super sleek ultra micro readers,
easy-to-use and compact fold-ups, simple readers and
two-in-one sun readers. All styles come ready-to-wear,
are available in the six most popular magnification
strengths and from only £12.99 to £19.99, represent
outstanding value for money.
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