Michael Arditti's Jubilee is the only book by a male author in the running
Michael Arditti ... romantic novelist of the year? Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian
Just in time for Valentine's Day, the contenders for the most romantic novel of the year have been announced – and just one male author is in the running.
Michael Arditti's Jubilate, the story of the affair between a film maker and a woman who visits Lourdes with her brain-damaged husband, is up against some of the biggest and bestselling names in romantic fiction, from Freya North to Jill Mansell and Katie Fforde. Arditti, an award-winning author better known for spiritual explorations in his writing, said he was "surprised and very pleased" to be in the running for the prize, first established in 1960.
"I'm not really known for my romantic writing," he said. "Jubilate is set on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and everybody who's written about the book has picked up largely on that. [But] it is a love story. It's asking what is the nature of miracles. It seems to me the real miracle at Lourdes is the love you find there, whether it's compassionate or sacrificial or in this case, romantic love. It's great that that aspect of the book has been recognised."
The 25 contenders for the award are chosen by a group of 80 readers.
Arditti is up for the "epic romantic novel" category of the prize, competing with names including Rosie Thomas and Deborah Lawrenson, while North, Mansell and Fforde are in the running for the "contemporary romance" of the year. With other categories including historical romance, romantic comedy and young adult romance, the winner of each will go on to contend for the overall award of Romantic Novel of the Year, won in the past by Philippa Gregory, Joanna Trollope, Jojo Moyes and Julia Gregson.
"It's interesting that I'm on the only man on the shortlist," said Arditti. "But the slightly clichéd view about the people who write romantic fiction is clearly completely wrong. It isn't just people knocking off rather conventional sagas. There really are people tackling all sorts of different issues here. Love is love is love is love, however it's expressed, between whomever it's expressed and wherever it's expressed."
The category winners will be announced on 5 March, with the overall winner to be revealed on 17 May. Romantic Novelists' Association chair Annie Ashurst said this year's contenders reflected "the wonderful quality and diversity of the world of romantic fiction".
The shortlists
Contemporary Romantic Novel
It Started with a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson
Summer of Love by Katie Fforde
The Untied Kingdom by Kate Johnson
To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell
Chances by Freya North
Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan
Epic Romantic Novel
Jubilate by Michael Arditti
That Liverpool Girl by Ruth Hamilton
The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
Crimson China by Betsy Tobin
Historical Romantic Novel
Highland Storms by Christina Courtenay
The Noble Assassin by Christie Dickason
Daughter of Siena by Marina Foriato
Perhaps Tomorrow by Jean Fullerton
A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore
Romantic Comedy Novel
The Look of Love by Judy Astley
Please Don't Stop the Music by Jane Lovering
Wrapped up in You by Carole Matthews
Who's Afraid of Mr Wolfe by Hazel Osmond
Lizzy Harrison Loses Control by Pippa Wright
Young Adult Romantic Novel
Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
Dark Ride by Caroline Green
My So-called Phantom Lovelife by Tamsyn Murray
Angel Fire by LA Weatherley
Michael Arditti's Jubilate, the story of the affair between a film maker and a woman who visits Lourdes with her brain-damaged husband, is up against some of the biggest and bestselling names in romantic fiction, from Freya North to Jill Mansell and Katie Fforde. Arditti, an award-winning author better known for spiritual explorations in his writing, said he was "surprised and very pleased" to be in the running for the prize, first established in 1960.
"I'm not really known for my romantic writing," he said. "Jubilate is set on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and everybody who's written about the book has picked up largely on that. [But] it is a love story. It's asking what is the nature of miracles. It seems to me the real miracle at Lourdes is the love you find there, whether it's compassionate or sacrificial or in this case, romantic love. It's great that that aspect of the book has been recognised."
The 25 contenders for the award are chosen by a group of 80 readers.
Arditti is up for the "epic romantic novel" category of the prize, competing with names including Rosie Thomas and Deborah Lawrenson, while North, Mansell and Fforde are in the running for the "contemporary romance" of the year. With other categories including historical romance, romantic comedy and young adult romance, the winner of each will go on to contend for the overall award of Romantic Novel of the Year, won in the past by Philippa Gregory, Joanna Trollope, Jojo Moyes and Julia Gregson.
"It's interesting that I'm on the only man on the shortlist," said Arditti. "But the slightly clichéd view about the people who write romantic fiction is clearly completely wrong. It isn't just people knocking off rather conventional sagas. There really are people tackling all sorts of different issues here. Love is love is love is love, however it's expressed, between whomever it's expressed and wherever it's expressed."
The category winners will be announced on 5 March, with the overall winner to be revealed on 17 May. Romantic Novelists' Association chair Annie Ashurst said this year's contenders reflected "the wonderful quality and diversity of the world of romantic fiction".
The shortlists
Contemporary Romantic Novel
It Started with a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson
Summer of Love by Katie Fforde
The Untied Kingdom by Kate Johnson
To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell
Chances by Freya North
Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan
Epic Romantic Novel
Jubilate by Michael Arditti
That Liverpool Girl by Ruth Hamilton
The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas
Crimson China by Betsy Tobin
Historical Romantic Novel
Highland Storms by Christina Courtenay
The Noble Assassin by Christie Dickason
Daughter of Siena by Marina Foriato
Perhaps Tomorrow by Jean Fullerton
A Gathering Storm by Rachel Hore
Romantic Comedy Novel
The Look of Love by Judy Astley
Please Don't Stop the Music by Jane Lovering
Wrapped up in You by Carole Matthews
Who's Afraid of Mr Wolfe by Hazel Osmond
Lizzy Harrison Loses Control by Pippa Wright
Young Adult Romantic Novel
Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
Dark Ride by Caroline Green
My So-called Phantom Lovelife by Tamsyn Murray
Angel Fire by LA Weatherley
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