Four writers Adrienne Vaughan, Lizzie Lamb, Mags Cullingford and June Kearns – all members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) New Writers’ Scheme – decided to take destiny into their own hands, form The New Romantics Press  and publish their novels in 2012.  Since then they’ve gone on from strength to strength, publishing no fewer than fourteen novels between them.

“Our novels are nothing like the 50 Shades genre,” says Adrienne Vaughan, who runs a busy PR practice located between Market Harborough and Lutterworth, when not writing, “The fact that the author initially published the story herself was a great boost to us working collaboratively to get our books off the ground. Fifty Shades had everyone reading and talking about reading was a brilliant spin-off, whatever you thought of the book itself.”

Lizzie Lamb considers the revolution in publishing the perfect breeding ground for new authors wanting to put their work ‘out there’. She believes the phrase SISTERS DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES captures what the NR4 have achieved in a short space of time. “We’ve kept each other focused with deadlines, targets and the commitment to achieve our dream. To be in complete control, from designing the cover to writing one’s own publicity, has been mind-blowing.There’s no feeling like actually holding a copy of your own book in your hands.”

All of the NRP are huge fiction fans and know readers love to meet authors and vice versa. Which is why June Kearns came up with the idea of “a  series of good old fashioned book launches, in a variety of places.” An idea the NR4 totally went for, re-visiting the role of story-teller which often took place in pubs and inns – and organising a series of Red Carpet Roadshows where authors and readers mingled over fizz canapes and book readings.

The final word goes to Mags Cullingford. “Romance is still the biggest selling genre, despite rarely having its own section in bookshops and libraries. We feel strongly about promoting stories women love to read, about bringing readers and writers together.  Many highly acclaimed novels feature a love story, because love is at the heart of everything that makes us human.”

Meet the New Romantics Press through the pages of this blog and sample their super new novels, which include a romantic comedy, an historical romance set in the Wild West, a dark, emotional drama and a roller coaster, love-story adventure. Let’s begin the journey together . . .

Listen to us talking about our books