Jeevani Charika shortlisted for Romantic Novel Award

WEDNESDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2023 Former Musaeus College student, author Jeevani Charika, has been shortlisted in the Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy category with her novel, Playing For Love, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Jeevani writes heart-warming romcoms and multicultural women’s fiction. A former microbiologist, she also writes as Rhoda Baxter – named after the bacterium she used to study. She loves cake and Lego. She lives in Yorkshire with her young family. You can find out more about her (and get a free book) on her website: www.jeevanicharika.com.

She commented, ‘I’m so excited to be shortlisted for the romantic comedy award. I think in these difficult times, a lot of people, myself included, turn to romcoms for comfort and escape. I’ve always wanted to write fun books featuring people who look like me and it’s great to know that other people love them, too.’

Her book, Playing For Love, features a British-Sri Lankan heroine. Jean Fullerton, the RNA Chair, commented, ‘Once again, our lovely reader-judges have had the almost impossible task of creating award shortlists from what is an unbelievable number of cracking, page-turning novels. Thankfully they have, and I can only say this year’s shortlist books are the crème de la crème of romantic fiction.’

Sharon Ibbotson, the RNA Awards Coordinator, said, ‘Our genre continues to go from strength to strength, providing escapism, delight and delicious romance with the turn of every page. Our shortlisted books, voted for by real, everyday readers, are a testament to wordsmanship and the dedication of their authors, who we congratulate today.’

The awards, which have been held since 1960, are highly respected in the UK publishing industry. Previous winners include Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen and Milly Johnson. The awards are unique in that they are judged entirely by readers, without input from any industry professionals.

The award categories are as follows: The Fantasy Romantic Novel Award, the Jackie Collins Award for Romantic Thrillers, the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award, the Christmas/Festive Holiday Romantic Novel Award, the Shorter Romantic Novel Award, the Romantic Saga Award, the Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy, the Historical Romantic Novel Award, the Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, and the Popular Romantic Fiction Award (voted for by librarians, booksellers and book bloggers/reviewers).

The winners of the awards will be announced during the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Novel Awards ceremony, which is being held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, 8-14 Cooper’s Row, London EC3N 2BQ, on Monday 6th March 2023 at 6.30pm.