Romance writer Heidi Swain wins readers' novel award

A decade on, romance novelist Heidi Swain is a best-selling author, has published 17 novels and works full-time as a writer. 

The 51-year-old, from the Dereham area, said: “I was coming up to a big birthday, and I just thought, you know what? It’s now or never.” 

Heidi Swain signing books at her book launch - Picture: Emma at Once Upon A Book Review (Image: Courtesy of Heidi Swain)

With a literature degree under her belt and a former career in advertising, it was an undertaking of creative writing courses at Wensum Lodge, in Norwich, which really started the ball rolling. 

She quickly became published with several her short stories appearing online. It was then when she decided to try her hand at novel writing. 

She joined the Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) new writer’s scheme and the rest, as they say, is history. 

The award-winning 'A Christmas Celebration' - Picture: RNA (Image: Heidi Swain)

The mother-of-two added: “By 2015, my first novel Cherry Tree Cafe was published. 

“Now I am a fulltime writer and I release two novels a year with publisher Simon and Schuster.” 

Previously, the novelist had been a teaching assistant in Long Stratton for a decade and would spend her lunch break writing in her car on top of waking at 5am every day to “up the word count.” 

Her hard work paid off and she is now a best-selling author and is currently working on her seventeenth novel. 

Heidi Swain - Picture: RNA (Image: Heidi Swain)

Recently, she has been announced as the winner of the Popular Romantic Fiction Award with her novel, A Christmas Celebration, as part of the RNA’s 2023 Romantic Novel Awards. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms. 

The awards have been held since their inception in 1960 and are judged entirely by readers. 

She will be presented with her trophy during the RNA’s Romantic Novel Awards ceremony in London on March 6. 

The cover of 'A Christmas Celebration' - Picture: RNA (Image: Heidi Swain)