A RAUNCHY historical novelist is hoping readers feel the love today as she celebrates being nominated for a prestigious literary award.

Jane Lark, 50, who used to live off Fleming Way, published her first novel The Illicit Love Of A Courtesan in 2014, and her bodice rippers have since gone down a storm with readers both in the UK and the USA.

Her latest work, The Reckless Love Of An Heir, has been nominated for the RNA’s award for Historical Romantic Fiction Novel of the year, with a glittering awards ceremony due to be held next month.

What makes Jane’s success even more remarkable is that she has been battling ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed.

Jane said: “I’m thrilled to be nominated. It’s the first time I’ve been shortlisted and it’s an incredible honour.”

Jane’s success has even seen her travel to America, where she met the queen of erotic fiction, 50 Shades Of Grey author ELJames

“I got an interest in writing passionate fiction because I would read books and always wonder what went on behind the bedroom door,” she said. “I love visiting historical places and they really do inspire me in the work they do so the two worlds came together. I always wanted to be a writer and I told myself that I would do it by the time I was 40.”

Jane juggles being an author with a full-time job in human resources and said the world of passionate fiction enables her to forget about the illness.

She said: “Because of my illness, I can’t really do what everyone else does. This is a form of escapism for me, it makes me happy, I just can’t do anything other than write.”