Pure Passion Awards Lunch

Just recovered from a great party - a wonderful lunch, just like the Oscars only less longwinded.  Here's an extract from the Press Release:  'The Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) marked their 50th Anniversary by honouring two of the world's best-selling and much-loved authors, Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope, with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contributions to this ever popular genre. The winners were announced yesterday at the RNA's Pure Passion Awards lunch at the Royal Garden Hotel, hosted by critic and TV personality Barry Norman, with RNA Chairman, Katie Fforde (above).

The RNA's Romantic Novel of the Year and Love Story of the Year awards, highly respected within the publishing industry, were also presented. In honour of the 50th Anniversary, several new awards were introduced this year, including the Romantic Film of the Year, The Romantic Comedy Award and The People's Choice Award.

Winner of The Romantic Novel of the Year 2010, which recognises the best of the year's novels exploring the "deep mysteries of the human heart", is Lucy Dillon's Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts. The perfect story for our nation of dog lovers, the story focuses on the romantic sequence of events that occurs when abandoned strays are matched with new owners, whose lives become interwoven.

The RNA Romantic Film of the Year, celebrating the finest adaptation from a romantic novel to a film released in the UK during 2009, was selected by the public via www.lovereading.co.uk. The winner was An Education, by Lynn Barber (above, with Barry Norman). The film was scripted by Nick Hornby.'

More about the awards here.  Photos by Kate Hardy.  The shoe below was worn by Bex Leith. In case you think it might have become a worrying sort of party, I should add she only put it on the table at the request of the photographer, Stella Sykes.