Northamptonshire author shortlisted in Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2026
2/4/26 Northamptonshire author Lorna Marlow is a finalist in the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2026 and her novel, Finding Home, has been shortlisted in the category, Debut Romance Novel.
The Romance Novelists’ Association (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year Awards is an annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.
Lorna Marlow left a career as an English teacher in 2022 to focus on her writing and has not looked back. Finding Home is her first novel but she has already written two more and is currently working on her fourth novel.
Her first three have been set in Cornwall, a place Lorna knows and loves well, but book four is returning to her home county of Northamptonshire.
When not writing, Lorna enjoys playing badminton, supporting her local pub and trying to plough through her ever growing TBR pile of books.
She said: "To be shortlisted for my first novel is amazing. It has given me such a confidence boost to know that readers are enjoying my work.
"Writing can be such an isolating business and it is great to gain some validation. I am looking forward to the awards evening and to celebrating with my fellow finalists.
RNA chairman Seána Talbot said, “This year’s finalists represent the very best of what our romantic fiction community has to offer—from indie to traditionally published, from cosy to spicy and everything in between.
"We at the RNA are proud to recognise talented authors across the breadth of romance books, encompassing the full range of romance and romantic fiction subgenres. We look forward to celebrating with the romantic fiction community and can’t wait to announce the winners.”
The awards ceremony will be held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London on Monday, May 18.