Derry author shortlisted for a Romantic Novel Award 2023

Derry's Niamh Hargan, author of 'Twelve Days in May' has been shortlisted for a Romantic Novel Award 2023.

'Twelve Days in May' centres on Lizzy and Ciaran who were best friends twelve years ago, but haven’t spoken since.

Now, both working at the Cannes Film Festival, director Ciaran’s film runs into trouble, and there’s only one person he can turn to. Is twelve days enough to save the film, and also rekindle their spark?

Niamh has been nominated in the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award category of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s annual Romantic Novel Awards, which "celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms".

Niamh was born and raised in Derry and is currently based in Edinburgh.

An entertainment lawyer by profession, Niamh has been a regular attendee at the Cannes Film Festival over the past decade. However, when it became impossible to travel to Cannes in May 2020, she began to write about it instead.

Speaking about her nomination, Niamh said: "I'm thrilled to be shortlisted for this award. As a debut novelist, it's lovely to feel part of a community of writers, and I'm looking forward to celebrating all the shortlisted novels and authors in the run up to the Romantic Novelists' Association's awards."

Jean Fullerton, the Romantic Novelists' Association's chair, commented: "Once again, our lovely reader-judges have had the almost impossible task of creating award shortlists from what is an unbelievable number of cracking, page-turning novels. Thankfully they have, and I can only say this year’s shortlist books are the crème de la crème of romantic fiction."

Sharon Ibbotson, the Awards Coordinator, said: "Our genre continues to go from strength to strength, providing escapism, delight and delicious romance with the turn of every page. Our shortlisted books, voted for by real, everyday readers, are a testament to wordmanship and the dedication of their authors, who we congratulate today."

The awards, which have been held since their inception in 1960, are highly respected in the UK publishing industry. Previous winners include Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen and Milly Johnson. The awards are unique in that they are judged entirely by readers, without input from any industry professionals.

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, on March 6.