The man behind RNA-shortlisted author Jessica Blair

Bill Spence is the real name behind the pseudonym Jessica Blair, shortlisted in the RNA's epic romantic novel category
Bill/Jessica's shortlisted title is The Road Beneath Me. If it wins the overall Romantic Novel of the Year Award, 90-year-old Bill will be the first male prizewinner since it was set up in 1960.
Bill is a former RAF pilot and prolific author, with 44 books - Westerns, war stories and books about whaling and Yorkshire  - to his name as well as 22 Jessica Blair novels. Many of his books were published using pseudonyms.
Bill is an RNA member. This is the first time he has been shortlisted for the RNA Awards. He writes on his website that the Jessica Blair pseudonym was the idea of his publishers, Piatkus.
'I was delighted to be nominated,' he told The Independent. 'It was great recognition just to be on the shortlist. It would be very nice to win and be the first man to do so, but I’m up against a lot of strong competition.’

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