Author Binchy honoured with award
Maeve Binchy's books have sold an estimated 45 million copies in 39 countries
Tuesday March 16 2010
Best-selling authors Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope received lifetime achievement awards for their services to romance.
Binchy's first novel, Light A Penny Candle, was published in 1982 and her books have gone on to sell an estimated 45 million copies in 39 countries.
The author, who received her award from the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) in Ireland, said: "I've always admired the Association because it's managed to make us believe that stories are important and that we can get lost in the lives of other people."
The lifetime achievement honour is the second prize that the organisation has bestowed on Trollope, who won the romantic novel of the year award 30 years ago for her book Parson Harding's Daughter.
She said: "I am amazed and thrilled to be given this, and so touched, too. Of course it means a lot in itself, but it means even more to me because I have such admiration and respect for the RNA."
The winners, selected by a mix of judges and members of the public, were announced at the RNA's Pure Passion Awards lunch in London, hosted by critic and TV personality Barry Norman.
In honour of the 50th anniversary, several new awards were introduced this year, alongside the regular prizes of romantic novel of the year and love story of the year.
An Education, Nick Hornby's adaptation of the the memoirs of journalist Lynn Barber starring Bafta winner Carey Mulligan, was named romantic film of the year by a public vote.
The romantic novel of the year award 2010 was won by Lucy Dillon's Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts, described as the "perfect story for our nation of dog lovers".
