Romance Writers of Australia is dedicated to advancing
the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through
networking and advocacy.
FACTS ABOUT ROMANCE FICTION
What is a romance novel?
Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.
Romance Novel Formats
There are two formats for romance fiction:
Ø Series or "category" romances: books issued under a common imprint/series name that are usually numbered sequentially and released at regular intervals, usually monthly, with the same number of releases each time. These books are most commonly published by Harlequin/Silhouette.
Ø Single-title romances: longer romances released individually and not as part of a numbered series. Single-title romances may be released in hard cover, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback sizes. Novels with ‘Romantic Elements' are included in this format. These are longer romances that don't have the love story as the central theme of the book, but have a strong romance subplot. Genres include Women's Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romantic Comedy, Historical, Young Adult, Chick Lit, Fantasy and Romantic Suspense.
International Industry Facts
UK :
Ø 10 million books sold each year in the UK, of which over seven million are romance novels
Ø A Mills & Boon book is sold in the UK every 3 seconds
US:
Source: Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2009:
Ø Romance fiction generated $1.37 billion in sales in 2008
Ø 7,311 new romance titles were released in 2008
Ø In 2008, romance was the top performing category on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists
Ø Romance fiction sales are estimated at $1.36 billion for 2009
Ø 74.8 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008 (source: RWA Reader Survey)
Ø Romance fiction was the largest share of the consumer market in 2008 at 13.5 percent (source: Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2009 )
Ø A readership survey conduct by RWA (Romance Writers of America) indicates that 50% of readers are married, 8% widowed, 4% divorced and 1% separated. Also, 75% are under the age of 54. And 22% of romance readers are men. 23% of readers reported having a high school diploma, while 42% have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Other:
Ø Harlequin Enterprises Limited (known as Harlequin Mills & Boon in Australia) is the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, with titles issued worldwide in 28 languages and sold in 114 international markets. The company produces over 120 titles monthly and publishes more than 1,100 authors from around the world.
Ø Approximately one in every six mass-market paperbacks sold in North America is a Harlequin or Silhouette novel. More than one-third of American females have read a book published by Harlequin Enterprises at some point in their lives.
Ø Harlequin sold 131 million books worldwide last year, or just over 4.1 books per second.
For further information please contact: media@romanceaustralia.com
To contact a romance author near you , please contact: pal@romanceaustralia.com
Romance Media Award
Romance Writers of Australia, Inc. announced the inaugural ROMA (Romance Media Award) in 2006, an award for the best media coverage of romance writing in Australia.
We see this as a positive step towards the encouragement of improved media relations between romance writers and the media. The original idea came from RWA member, journalist, Elliot Hannay, and the name of the award was suggested by author, Valerie Parv.
Both Australian print and electronic media are eligible. Qualifying articles or programs must focus on some aspect of romance novels, romance writing, or romance publishing and must be published some time during the financial year prior to the RWA annual conference. Thus, articles considered for the 2010 ROMA must be published between 1/7/09 and 30/6/10.
Nominations for the ROMA can come from any member of RWA, or outside person. All entries are examined and a short list is prepared by the ROMA Committee, which includes at least one published romance author, a member of the RWA Committee, and a professional journalist. Send a letter and a copy of the article to:
Romance Writers of Australia
ROMA AWARD
PO Box 1236
Neutral Bay
NSW 2089
Australia
or contact the Published Author Liaison at pal@romanceaustralia.com
ROMA Finalists 2010
Romance Writers of Australia, Inc. (RWA) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2010 ROMA (Romance Media Award). The award is for the best media coverage of romance writing in Australia.
Both print and electronic media are eligible. Qualifying articles or programs must focus on some aspect of romance novels, romance writing, or romance publishing and must be published some time during the financial year prior to the RWA annual conference. Thus, articles considered for the 2010 ROMA must be published between 1/7/09 and 30/6/10.
The winner was Robert Hayward, Art Nation, ABC Arts & Entertainment:
My Secret Art Life: Romance Writer
The finalists (in no particular order) were:
Thrills and boom in writing racy reads, Deborah Bogle, The Daily Telegraph
Romance a career for local author, Adelaide hills Weekender
My Secret Art Life: Romance Writer, Robert Hayward, Art Nation, ABC Arts & Entertainment
Feminists read between loins, Kate Emery, The West Australian
Rewriting Mills & boom, Sarina Talip, The Canberra Times
ROMA Finalists 2009 
Four articles were shortlisted for the 2009 ROMA and were displayed at the 2009 annual RWAconference.
The winners were announced at the Annual RWA Awards Dinner on Saturday 15th August, 2009 at the Citigate Sebel Hotel in Brisbane, and a press release sent out.
The winners were Lisa Chant & Michelle McLochlan of The Weekender, Sunshine Coast Publishing Pty. Ltd. ( 22/1/ 2009) "True Romantic"
The ROMA 2009 Finalists: (in no particular order) were:
1) (TV):
Evelyn Ek ( Segment Producer)
Kim Watkins, Steven Quartermain (presenters)
9am with David and Kim, Channel 10 Friday 8th May 2009 "Interview with Anne Gracie"
2) (Print)
Lisa Chant & Michelle McLochlan of
The Weekender Sunshine Coast Publishing Pty. Ltd. ( 22/1/ 2009) "True Romantic"
3) (Print)
Margaret Burin ,
Williamstown Advertiser , 21/1/09 "Novel Way to Woo Readers."
4) (Print)
Fiona Purdon The Courier Mail, Brisbane 19/07/09 "Fans Thirsty for Blood."
ROMA Finalists 2008
Eight articles were shortlisted for the 2008 ROMA and were displayed at the 2008 annual RWAconference.
The winner was announced at the Annual RWA Awards Dinner on Saturday 23rd August, 2008 in Melbourne, and a press release sent out.
The winner was:
Martin King, (A Current Affair ) for the interview he did with Ally Blake, aired on Thurs 27th December 2007
ROMA 2008 Finalists: (in no particular order) are:
1) Belle Taylor, The West Weekend Magazine (the West Australian Newspapers) "The Language of Love" article 17 May 2008
2) Sarah-Jane Burton That's Life! Special. "Recipe For Fiction"
Summer 2008
3) Lou Robson The Sunday Mail. "Renouf My Pulp Fiction Pinup"
Dec 16th 2007
4) Kate Cuthbert, The Courier-Mail, Brisbane. "Recognition for the Romantics in Us All" August 25-26, 2007
5) Martin King, Interview with Ally Blake for A Current Affair
Thurs 27th December 2007
6) Claire Low Canberra Times. "Reaffirming Romance Joins Final Fantasies"
7) Jane Sullivan - The Age. "Remember to Pack Writing Paper" November 24 2007
8) Nicholas Price, Series Producer, Jennifer Byrne Presents
ABC TV. Tuesday June 24th 2008
ROMA - The 2007 Results:
Winner ~
Kate Cuthbert, The Courier-Mail,
Runner-up ~ Nerida Blok, The Northern Star (Weekender)
An honorable mention to:
Judith Johnson, RWA member who decided to go all out to promote better understanding of romance writing in her local community, resulting in a major full-page spread.
Judges' comments:
The winner was chosen because the journalist has brought her in-depth knowledge of romance publishing and the romance writing community to a wide general audience, demonstrating over time the huge variety and range of fiction that is romance, and thereby challenging assumptions about the genre.
The eight articles shortlisted for the 2007 ROMA were:
1) Sian Briggs , Sunday Times magazine, March 2007, Two of Us
2) Linda Smith, The Mercury, Hobart, "Love in the Royal a bestseller." Feb 15th 2007.
3) Kate Cuthbert, The Courier-Mail, Brisbane. The fortnightly "Romance" series of articles
4) Jane Sullivan, The Age , Melbourne. "A vampire ripped my bodice" Feb 10th 2007.
5) Harriet Spooner, Mandurah Mail , "Award for romance writer" August 24th 2006,
6) Nerida Blok, The Northern Star (Weekender), "Romancing the Pen" Nov. 25th 2006
7) Nelina Choahan - the Tweed Daily News, "Love, Sex and passion...tools of a romance writer" August 19th 2006
8) Lisa Symonds, The Courier, Sth Australia, August 30th 2006 "Hills writer has hot topics"
WINNERS OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS OF
ROMANCE WRITING ANNOUNCED (2010 press release)
The winners of the RUBY Award – The Romantic Book of the Year Award
– were announced on the weekend at the Romance Writers of Australia
conference being held at the Coogee Beach Crowne Plaza in Sydney.
Romance Writers of Australia (RWA), Senior Vice President, Louise
Reynolds said the RUBY awards were like the academy awards of the
Australian romance writing world. “The RUBY award is now in
its 12 th year and is the largest reader judged writers competition
in Australia.”
“RWA developed the RUBY Award to celebrate the very best Australian
and New Zealand romance fiction.”
The winners are:
Ø Romantic Elements Category:
Tracey O'Hara - Night's Cold Kiss, published by Eos Books,
an imprint of HarperCollins
Ø Long Romance Category:
Sophia James – Mistletoe Magic, Harlequin Mills and Boon Historical
Ø Short Sexy Category:
Amy Andrews – A Doctor, A Nurse: A Christmas Baby. Harlequin
Mills and Boon
Ø Short Sweet Category:
Sharon Archer – Marriage Reunited: Baby On The Way, Harlequin Mills
and Boon
“The RUBY attracted entries from over 150 Australasian authors
represented by most of the major publishing houses including including
Allen & Unwin, Penguin, Harper Collins, Hachette Australia,
Harlequin Mills and Boon and Berkley Sensation, covering sub-genres
including historical, fantasy, paranormal, young adult, romantic
suspense and more.”
Tracey O'Hara is a computer programmer by day and novelist by night.
Night's Cold Kiss is a vampire thriller which was also
shortlisted for the Aurealis SciFi/Fantasy Awards, Best Horror Novel
in December 2009.
With a degree in History and English from Auckland University and
an Education Diploma, New Zealander, Sophia James spent years teaching
before becoming a full-time writer. Ms James has written eight
books for Harlequin Historical.
Amy Andrews, a paediatric intensive care nurse with 16 years experience,
has written 22 novels for Harlequin's Medical line. She has
sold three quarters of a million books and been translated into
13 different languages.
Before writing, Sharon Archer trained and worked as a medical technologist.
She has written three books for Harlequin Mills & Boon.
RWA ( http://www.romanceaustralia.
com/ ) was formed in 1991 to promote romance writing in Australia
and to help aspiring authors achieve publishing success.
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