It was with some trepidation that I set out for London and the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Industry Awards on the 13th of November which were being held at the the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City. Having been shortlisted for the Indie Champion of the Year Award, twice, I wondered if 2023 would be my year.

Dear Reader, I’m please to say it was.

Accompanied by Adrienne Vaughan (who came up with the idea of the RNA Industry Awards when she was editor of Romance Matters ) we soon arrived in London. St Pancras had a wonderfully appropriate Christmas display waiting for us and Adrienne and I felt right at home among all the books.

Upon arrival, photographs were taken in the ‘green room’ where a glass of nerve-calming prosecco was on hand. After that, we headed for the dining room for the ceremony. It looked fabulous, all the tables laid out with white napery, candles and complimentary bottles of wine and water. The Leonardo staff brought round an array of canapes – which I was too nervous to eat – and we settled down for the ceremony itself. Nervously clutching my pre-prepared acceptance speech, I waited for my category – Indie Champion 2023 to be called.

Here is an abbreviated version of my acceptance speech

Thanks to everyone who has nominated or voted for me in this category. The RNA has been fundamental to my achieving the goal of becoming a published author.  As a former teacher it’s second nature to help and inspire others and, since joining the RNA in 2006, I’ve striven to give something back. Not only to help indie authors write the best book they can, but to champion and encourage others to keep going; even when the going gets tough. To this end I formed the Belmont Belles and Beaux which now has over sixty members, organised workshops and co-presented a talk on indie publishing at last year’s conference. Indie authors plough a lone furrow: writing, editing, finding proof readers and cover designers, having their work professionally formatted and relying on social media to get word of their novels out there. If I’ve been able to lighten the load for even one indie author, I feel that I will have earned this trophy.  

The trophy is mine to keep and is sitting in pride of place on my bookshelf next to my seven published novels- leaving just enough space to fit the Christmas novella I plan to publish in 2024. Will it feature a man in a kilt? You’d better believe it.

Then, just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, there was a knock on the door a few days later. My husband Dave came through with a parcel and asked, “Are you expecting anything from Amazon?” I opened the package to discover that my dear writer friend Madalyn Morgan – who has just had ten of her novels published by Storm Publishing – had generously sent these brownies. In case, you’re wondering, they are delicious. Thank you, Maddy. It seemed a shame to eat them, but we did.

It just remains for me to say a big thank you to everyone who’s supported me on my journey to becoming a successful indie author. I like the freedom being an indie affords me and I will carry on writing and helping others for as long as I can. Have a great Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year. Once I’ve published this blog post I’m heading back to the pc . . . after all, I have a novel to write.

(offical photos taken by Katie Hipkiss Visuals)