Where South African love stories begin
A volunteer-run, non-profit organisation founded to support and develop romance writers across Southern Africa. Every story ends happily – starting with yours.
About
Rosa
Great love stories don’t write themselves – but ROSA believes every writer deserves the community, resources and encouragement to tell theirs.
ROSA exists to champion romantic fiction in all its forms: from sweeping historical sagas to contemporary romance, from tender love stories to pulse-racing passion.
We celebrate the writers who pour their hearts onto the page, and the stories that remind readers why love matters.
ROSA is a registered Non-Profit Organisation that is volunteer-driven and governed by an elected EXCO – meaning every decision, every initiative, and every opportunity we create comes from writers who understand exactly what it means to sit down and craft a romance worth reading.
Whether you are working on your first manuscript or your fifteenth, ROSA is your home in the South African romantic fiction landscape.
NEW FROM ROSA AUTHORS
ROSA
BOOKSHELF
Imbali Award Entries
The Imbali Award is ROSA’s most prestigious annual literary honour, recognising excellence in romance writing by South African authors. The award is open to all South African published authors. Every entry must be an original work of romantic fiction — meaning the story must contain a central love story, with a resolution that is emotionally satisfying and optimistic.
The Imbali Award welcomes submissions in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, reflecting ROSA’s commitment to celebrating the full breadth of South African storytelling. Winners are announced at the ROSA Annual Awards Ceremony, and where sufficient entries are received, separate awards are presented to English and Afrikaans winners. read more
How to Work with an Editor
When I obtained my first book contract with a small e-book press, I didn’t realise how challenging it would be to work with editors. As I had more...
The State of the Industry Address
The flurry of the London Book Fair is rippling through social feeds and newsletters across the globe. Deals were struck, panels were held, a few...
2024 Imbali Award
And the winner is……(we all wait with bated breath)……Meg Chronis for The Seven Day Switch! Bosnimf and Liefde met ‘a uitklophou were worthy second...
What makes a Novel a Romance ?
A romance novel is defined by two essential elements. First, it must feature a central love story. The romantic relationship between the main characters is the heart of the book, driving the plot and shaping the characters’ emotional journeys. While other themes and subplots may exist, they always serve the development of the relationship.
Second, a romance novel promises an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Whether it is a Happily Ever After or a Happy For Now, the story concludes with the characters choosing love and overcoming the obstacles that once stood between them. Romance can take many forms — sweet or steamy, historical or contemporary, realistic or fantastical.
Romance Writers of America (RWA) is a United States–based, non‑profit professional association founded in 1980 to support and advocate for career‑focused romance writers.
RWA has historically provided resources, mentorship programs, local and online chapters, conferences, and industry recognition for both published and unpublished romance writers.
Romance
Genres
Based on setting, plot elements, time period and heat level (whether sweet romance or explicitly steamy), romance novels are divided into sub-genres. This list is by no means exhaustive as new genres continue to emerge and many novels cross genres.
Other genres include time travel/time slip, dystopian, steampunk, multicultural, sagas, sports romances, thrillers, mysteries, military romances…if you can imagine it, it probably exists.
Historical
Novels set in time periods as diverse as Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, the American west, the twentieth century, and of course the perennially popular Regency period.
Inspirational
Novels in which spiritual or religious beliefs are integral to the story. Though these can be any religion, they are predominantly Christian.
Paranormal
Stories involving werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, angels, faeries. Characters with extraordinary powers.
Fantasy & Sci FI
Time travel, futuristic or fantasy novels in which romance is central to the story.
Dark Romance
Romance with a darker edge, often including antiheroes, taboo subjects or elements of horror. “Not for the faint-hearted!”
Romantic Comedy
Light-hearted stories with humorous plot lines, but still focused on the central relationship.
Chick Lit
Novels featuring romantic elements but not exclusive to romance, often focusing on issues of family, friends and careers.
Erotic Romance
Though the central relationship is important, the explicit, erotic scenes are the novel’s primary focus.
Medical Romance
Romances set against a hospital backdrop or featuring medical practitioners – including alternate therapies. The Grey’s Anatomy of books.
Romantic Suspense
Novels in which the central relationship is set against a backdrop of danger and intrigue.
Young Adult
Aimed at readers aged 13-18 years. No sex, but no less intense, these explore the experience of coming of age.
New Adult
Aimed at readers aged approximately 19-28 years, often more angsty and intense than other contemporary novels, and focused on characters who are in college or their first jobs.
Copyright 2026
Website Designed by Madredp
Chapters:
Cape Town | Johannesburg | PretoriaÂ
Email: admin@romancewriters.co.za
Constitution  |  Non-Profit Certificate of Registration  |  Member Code of Conduct  |  Privacy Policy