Newbury author in line for Romantic Novelist award

I FIRST spoke to the then-new author Charlotte Betts in 2011 about her debut novel The Apothecary’s Daughter, writes TRISH LEE. Since then Piatkus (an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group) has published all 10 of her books and Charlotte has become a multi-award-winning author of romantic historical novels.

Now the Newtown writer, who lives in a 17th-century cottage in the woods, has been shortlisted in the Historical Romantic Novel Award category with The Fading of the Light, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2022. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

“It’s always a lovely surprise to have one of my books shortlisted for an award,” Charlotte tells @newburytoday.

“I’ve been so busy writing the next book that I’d quite forgotten that my publisher entered The Fading of the Light for the award!

“It’s the second book in the Spindrift trilogy. The third book, Letting in the Light, was published in late January and each book is a standalone story.

“The news was a wonderful way to brighten up a dull winter day.”

Careful historical research enriches her writing with an evocative sense of time and place.

A member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, The Society of Authors and The Historical Novel Society, her books are set in various eras between the Restoration and the Great War and she draws inspiration from the stories of strong women at turning points in history. The Fading of the Light is set in Cornwall in 1902.

Charlotte picks up the story: “Years ago, I trained to be a designer and I’ve never forgotten the wonderful atmosphere of enthusiasm, encouragement and creativity among my fellow art students.

“Inspired by the artists’ colonies at St Ives and Newlyn, I decided to write about how, and why, a group of young artists from London founded their own Cornish community.

“And what, I wondered, would happen if one of the relationships went sour and how it would affect the rest of the community?”

Spindrift House, Cornwall. Edith Fairchild, deserted by her feckless husband Benedict eight years before, has established a thriving artists’ community by the sea and found deep and lasting love with Pascal.

They have accepted that they cannot marry but, when Benedict returns unexpectedly, all Edith and Pascal’s secret hopes and dreams of a joyous life together are overturned.

Benedict’s arrival shatters the peaceful and creative atmosphere of the close-knit community.

When Edith will not allow him back into her bed, the conflict escalates and he sets in motion a chain of tragic events that reverberate down the years and threatens the happiness of the community forever.

Charlotte has signed a contract with Piatkus for another three books, all to be set in Italy just after the First World War.

“The first will be The Venetian Inheritance. Each story will focus on a WWI widow and how they move on with their lives, sometimes following an unexpected path,” she says.

“There were almost two million war widows at this time, known as the ‘surplus’ women, because there simply weren’t enough able-bodied men left to go around.

“Women who’d been brought up to expect their role in life to be that of a wife and mother, suddenly had to fend for themselves.

“Some were left embittered but others were pragmatic and found joy in discovering new possibilities and freedoms never before considered.”

Having received so much success with romantic fiction, had she any ambition to write in another genre, I wondered.

“I really love writing historical novels because I adore researching and teaching myself about different times in history, but sometimes I’m tempted to write a psychological thriller.

“I’d have to write that under a pen name though as it might be too much of a surprise for my existing readership!

She commented: “Some fabulous novels have been shortlisted for this prestigious award and I’m thrilled and proud that The Fading of the Light is among them.

“I’m grateful for the continuing support and encouragement from the wonderful RNA.”

Sharon Ibbotson, the awards coordinator for the Romantic Novelists’ Association, added: “During a difficult year, people needed escapism and romance more than ever.

“Our shortlisted authors, chosen by our readers, delivered both.

“The Romantic Novelists’ Association is proud to celebrate them and their achievement.”

Since their inception in 1960, the Romantic Novel Awards have recognised outstanding romantic fiction and previous winners include Phillipa Gregory, Joanna Trollope and Rosamunde Pilcher.

The award categories for this year 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 Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented later this year.

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, London, on Monday, March 7, at 6.30pm.

ABOUT THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS’ ASSOCIATION:

The Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) is a professional body primarily for writers of romantic fiction.

Founded in 1960 to provide a voice for romance authors and to be a network for writers, it continues to raise the prestige of romantic fiction and encourage romantic authorship.

The 1,000-plus membership includes writers across the spectrum of commercial and women’s fiction, along with publishing industry professionals, booksellers, and book reviewers.

In addition to organising annual publishing awards, they also host a range of workshops, talks, networking events, a three-day annual conference, and provide support to unpublished authors through their New Writers’
Scheme.

For more information about the Romantic Novelists’ Association, visit the website https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org