"My Night of Posh Frocks and Glamour"

Creative Writer of the Year winner Stacey Dove

Posh frocks, glitz and glamour were on the cards when Team Books and the City left the office and headed to the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance ceremony, a prize for women’s fiction, held in June.

Two of our resident authors were nominated for the accolade - Milly Johnson for AN AUTUMN CRUSH and Jane Costello for GIRL ON THE RUN.

Jane said: “It’s fantastic to be nominated. It’s lovely that comedy, romance and chick-lit are being recognised.”

The other shortlisted ladies were Allie Spencer for SUMMER LOVING, Jenny Colgan for MEET ME AT THE CUPCAKE CAFE, Sarra Manning for YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME and Jane Lovering for PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC.

Speaking on the night about her nomination, Sunday Times best-selling author Milly said: “I’m stunned. I’m very excited to be here as I have never been nominated for anything like this before.

“Because Melissa was a very good friend of mine, it means something to be up for an award that is set up in this way.”

Melissa Nathan, author of chick-lit favourites Persuading Annie and Acting Up, outlined the criteria for the award herself, shortly before her death from breast cancer in 2006 aged 37. 

She wrote: “The first part of this award is for a book that is suffused with humour, where the jokes are not an added extra, but where the writer’s voice and the comedy are interdependent…

To create believable, sympathetic characters, with whom your readers desperately want to fall in love, is no easy feat. And so, the second part of this award is that the romance is utterly believable, and so important to the reader that the romance is a page-turner…

Together, the melding of these two great connectors should create a book that is witty, romantic and full of warmth.”

And who wouldn’t love a book like that?

Melissa’s husband, Andrew Saffron, founded the award in his wife’s honour, with the first prize going to Marian Keyes in 2007 for Anybody Out There.

Funny woman Jo Brand presented and helped judge the awards, with author of the Shopaholic series, Sophie Kinsella, best-selling novelist Joanna Trollope OBE, actress and writer Morwenna Banks, and book buyer for Waitrose, Freya Wright making up the rest of the judging panel.

Champagne, canapés, (large glasses, small portions), speeches and music later, the winner was announced as Jenny Colgan. Jenny’s 11^th book tells the story of Issy, a young woman who is made redundant from her City job and decides to open up her own café, armed with her grandfather’s recipes.

Jenny said: “I’m so chuffed to win, it’s brilliant. I love that there is an award that recognises comedy as well as romance, it’s such a wonderful legacy for Melissa herself.”

A huge ‘well done!’ from Books and the City to Jenny and all of the fabulous nominees, a great night was had by everyone celebrating the genre that we love the most - women’s fiction packed with life, love and laughter.

The Essence of a Romantic Meal by Milly Johnson

For me, there are few things more romantic than a partner cooking for you.  Food and sex have always been entwined and a partner who takes care to lovingly prepare a feast for you, well, you just suspect they’re going to be equally as good in the bedroom department. Mind you, the first romantic meal I ever made was garlic mushrooms, lasagne and then (cringe) Viennetta – although it did have fan-shaped wafers in it. Amazingly my boyfriend at the time was impressed, especially as it had taken me all day to write out the menu in italics. And if that teaches you one thing, let it be this: there are more elements to a romantic meal than just the food.  If you need further proof, well, this is being written by a recent winner of Come Dine With Me (surely you must know that – I’ve told everyone on the planet!). I was up against some serious chefs on that programme, and though my menu wasn’t as adventurous as some, combined with a ‘hearts and flowers’ theme, my overall package won the day. And here is why...
 

I didn’t go to town with oysters and monkey glands with a sprinkle of powdered rhino horn.  Personally, even the thought of eating a snotty oyster makes me retch – très romantic! I made heart-shaped potato scones, then on top placed a tower of black pudding (way to a Northern man’s heart) and a slice of goat’s cheese – all grilled until the cheese melted, served it with rocket leaves, pomegranate ‘rubies’ and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and honey mix. My main course was basically chicken in a white wine, gruyere and oyster mushroom sauce, served with ‘sweetheart potatoes’ – a dish – ahem – that I created... Dauphinoise potatoes with a layer of sliced sweet potato in the middle, served in heart-shaped dishes, accompanied by tiny puff pastry hearts, baby sweetcorn, tenderstem broccoli and that king of aphrodisiac veg – the phallic asparagus spears. Dessert was layers of heart-shaped shortcake biscuits sandwiched with mascarpone cheese mixed with cream, raspberries, and a dribble of raspberry coulis with one little bright mint leaf as garnish.  The setting was a room filled with heavily scented roses, red linen, and glittery heart decorations everywhere.  It was a jolly evening because my guests felt special, relaxed, cared for. It warms a dining room by degrees when your efforts shine through.
 

The ‘sum’ of a successful romantic meal is not set in stone. Food lovingly prepared that somehow goes wrong + drop-dead-gorgeous date + special offer Cava, can be much greater than the sum of fabulous food + intelligent conversation with nice-enough date + Cristal champagne. Personally I think the effort behind the food is the key – the more a date sweats about wanting to make an impression, the more I’ll love him whatever he delivers to the table.
 

A builder friend of mine was absolutely strapped for cash and not known for his culinary skills, but he was determined to feed his new girlfriend with some home-cooked grub. So he grabbed a bag of spuds and some mince from the supermarket shelves and made shepherds pie for the woman he fancied.  They’ve just celebrated their silver wedding. 
I rest my case.