02/03/2007  The Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance is launched

 

 

All of Melissa Nathan’s novels are both heart-warmingly romantic and very, very funny. THE NANNY and THE WAITRESS were also in the Top Ten bestseller lists. So it’s highly appropriate that, following her death from cancer at the age of just 37 in April 2006, a new literary award is being established in her memory.

The Melissa Nathan Award For Comedy Romance has been set up by Melissa’s husband, Andrew Saffron – honouring the criteria that Melissa drew up herself very shortly before she died. She wanted to encourage and reward writers who can combine in a novel the magical, life-enhancing elements of humour and love.

The Award Committee is delighted that the following have agreed to be judges of the very first award: Comedian Jo Brand, author Joanna Trollope, actress Jessica Stevenson, author Sophie Kinsella and Gaynor Allen, Head Book Buyer for Tesco.

A list of contenders for the award has been compiled with the help of the readers from the Romantic Novelists Association, and a shortlist will be announced on 15^th May 2007. The winner will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in London on 13^th June – Melissa’s birthday. The winner will receive a trophy and a cheque for £5000.

Nominations for the 2008 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance should be submitted by 1^st December 2007 to info@melissanathan.com. Books published between January and December 2007 will be eligible.

Announcing the Award, Andrew Saffron said: “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that we will be able to remember Melissa in such a positive and happy way. Of course Sam (our 3 year-old son) and I miss her and think about her every day, but an event like this will allow us to have a party to celebrate her life every year.”

For further information, please contact Alex Hippisley-Cox on 020 8488 3764 or email her at ahipcoxpr@btconnect.com

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