Category: Book News
Wales on This Day
Huw Rees and Sian Kilcoyne
20 October 2022
Hardback, £12.99, 200 pages
ISBN: 9781915279118, Calon
Did you know that the recipe of Tennessee's famous Jack Daniel's whiskey is rumoured to have originated in Llanelli?
Or that the world's first radio play was set in a Welsh coal mine?
Why was a showing of the Jurassic Park film in Carmarthen so special?
And how is Rupert Bear connected to Snowdonia?
Delve in to discover the stories that most history books leave out.
A fun collection of fascinating stories, facts and figures from the small country that definitely punches above its weight. Wales on This Day is a joyful insight into Wales’s national history, the major events and people that have made it the country it is today.
Huw Rees and Sian Kilcoyne run 'The History of Wales' Facebook page, now with over 170,000 followers. They are a brother and sister team, dedicated to improving their knowledge of their country and sharing it with a wider audience. Their aim is to provide objective and (hopefully!) interesting information, to help them and their readers better understand who we are as a nation, highlighting major past events, items of interest and the famous Welsh people that have shaped us into what we are today. Huw is a Welsh expat living in Wexford, Ireland. Sian lives in Caerphilly, Wales
https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfWales/
Wales is known for its stunning scenery and beautiful coastline. Created from several existing coastal paths – such as the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail – the Wales Coast Path has attracted thousands of tourists and walkers since its official launch in May 2012. This week sees the publication of Weatherman Walking – The Welsh Coast , the book accompanying BBC Wales’ beloved weatherman Derek Brockway’s twelfth series of the popular BBC programme. Originally broadcast on BBC Wales, all eight episodes of the series are now being shown on the BBC and are available on BBC iPlayer.
Wales is the first country in the world to have a continuous footpath stretching along its entire coastline – 870 miles or 1,400 km long. Weatherman Walking: The Welsh Coast contains 15 guided walks along the Wales Coast Path, each between 4 and 8 miles. They cover a good geographical spread of the coastal path around Wales, with walks in Pembrokeshire, the Llŷn Peninsula, Anglesey, Gower, Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Denbighshire and Ceredigion. [Full list of walks to be found below].
“I am so lucky to present a programme like Weatherman Walking . Not only do I visit many beautiful places but I also get to meet and work with lots of wonderful and talented people! Wales is such as beautiful country and each area has something unique to offer – from the light of Anglesey to the spectacular Pembrokeshire coastline, each section is full of history, myths and the wildlife. I hope you enjoy the book and the walks featured!” said Derek Brockway.
“This is the first time I have worked with ‘Derek the Weather’ and it’s been an absolute joy. His passion for Wales and walking has been infectious, and it’s been wonderful to see the great affection the Welsh public has for him,” says Julia Foot, the Series Producer of Weatherman Walking: The Welsh Coast for BBC Wales. “I have personally walked every one of the walks in this book, often with locals or path rangers who have given me a real understanding of the particular identity of that section of Coast Path, including the wildlife, history and secrets they hold. These people have helped bring the various coastal stretches to life, so they are no longer just 2D sections of an OS maps.”
Each walk has its own chapter and includes an OS route map and essential information for walkers as well as directions. Most walks can be paired, meaning that they can either be done separately or as one long continuous hike. Each chapter presents lots of interesting information about the landmarks that can be seen on each walk, as well as about unusual local activities or people that Derek came across in the related episode.
Derek Brockway
Derek Brockway was born in Barry, South Wales and has been passionately interested in the weather ever since he was a young boy. A qualified meteorologist, he was employed by the Met Office for 20 years and became the main weather forecaster for BBC Wales in 1997. He now presents a number of radio and television programmes, including Derek's Welsh Weather and Weatherman Walking . His leisure activities include walking, squash, skiing and leaning Welsh.
Julia Foot
Julia Foot has worked for the BBC for over 20 years as a researcher, Assistant Producer, Director and now Series Producer, and on a whole range of programmes, including with Ray Mears, DIY SOS , and for Comic Relief. In 2018 Julia was nominated for a BAFTA for an Antiques Roadshow special that she produced about the Holocaust.
List of walks
Where the walks are paired, they can be done together as one longer walk if preferred.
Abereiddy to Whitesands (Pembrokeshire)
Abersoch to Llanbedrog (Llŷn Peninsula)
Llanbedrog to Pwllheli (Llŷn Peninsula)
Beaumaris to Trwyn Du (Anglesey)
Trwyn Du to Red Wharf Bay (Anglesey)
Fall Bay to Port Eynon (Gower)
Port Eynon to Oxwich Bay (Gower)
Porthcawl to Merthyr Mawr (Glamorgan Heritage Coast)
Merthyr Mawr to Southerndown (Glamorgan Heritage Coast)
Saundersfoot to Amroth (Pembrokeshire)
Amroth to Pendine Sands (Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire)
Talacre to Prestatyn (Flintshire/Denbighshire)
Prestatyn to Rhyl (Denbighshire)
Ynyslas to Borth (Ceredigion)
Borth to Aberystwyth (Ceredigion)
AN “EXCITING BLUEPRINT FOR BUILDING A BETTER SOCIETY” – UTOPIAN VISION FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT WALES
By Ceri Shaw, 2021-02-24
“I don’t expect everyone to agree with everything in the book – it will be too radical for some, and for others it won’t be radical enough,” says author Llywelyn ap Gwilym about his new bilingual book, Llyfr Du Cymru Fydd / The Black Book of the New Wales (Y Lolfa), which is published this week.
The organiser of the AUOB Cymru rallies which attracted thousands to pro-independence marches in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Merthyr pre Covid-19 has written his vision of an independent Wales. Llywelyn ap Gwilym, who is also on the Central Committee of YesCymru, said:
“I’ve supported Welsh independence since I can remember, but without questioning why. Since the birth of my children and moving back to Wales, I’ve thought more deeply about the politics, economics and sociology behind it: I’ve thought more about the ‘why’. Whilst writing The Black Book of the New Wales, I started to think that perhaps I could encourage the discourse to develop.”
The book is an exploration of what a future independent Wales could look like. It is written in the spirit of utopian thinking: its purpose is to question what is, and to envision what could be. Some of the ideas presented are a radical departure from the status quo, while others are becoming part of orthodox leftist thinking. Similarly, there are some precedents in terms of current or former organisations and institutions, others have only been trialled, while some have not yet existed.
The book has been described as “an exciting blueprint for building a better society” by Dan Evans of Desolation Radio and Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru has said, “For the Indy curious, this is a must-read.”
The percentage of people in Wales supporting independence has almost tripled over the last six years from 12% in 2014 to 35% in 2020. The Welsh Independence movement is gathering momentum, with membership of YesCymru growing from 2,500 to 17,000 during 2020, and now gets regular attention in the UK media as well as further afield.
“I hope that the book will help expand further discussions so that more people start sharing ideas on what our values are, what kind of society we want to live in, and how independence for Wales is the most realistic path in order to achieve these changes. It would be tragic to lose the chance to ensure a better future for all who call Wales home and, on winning independence, just to recreate the inequality and unjustness that’s rife in the UK. The Black Book of New Wales is my contribution to ensuring a better future.”
The Black Book of the New Wales by Llywelyn ap Gwilym (£4.99, Y Lolfa) will be available by 1 st March.
Praise for The Black Book of the New Wales
“Concise, challenging, doable! There are radical ideas for the kind of Wales we can be, but we need independence, and independence of mind, to unlock that potential. It can’t come from Westminster. Better a Good Wales than a ‘Great’ Britain.”
Siôn T. Jobbins, YesCymru Chair
“… a cracking piece of work. Very clear thinking. Good, sound values base. I love the references you draw on – some of my favourites – Raymond Williams, Gramsci, Bookchin, Bell Hook, Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, the Preston stuff and Mondragon. And the way you bring all the thinking together… Your book outlines why it is not tenable for people in Wales to carry on as we are and offers an inclusive vision of real independence. For the Indy curious, this is a must-read.”
Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru
“A small book with big ideas! A welcome addition to the independence debate.”
Cian Ciarán, musician (Super Furry Animals), composer and YesCymru Vice-Chair
“Llywelyn ap Gwilym’s The Black Book of the New Wales doesn’t claim to have all the answers, it weaves together an empowering series of concepts and initiatives that are ready and willing to form new institutions and structures.”
Ben Gwalchmai, Founder of Labour for an Independent Wales
“An exciting blueprint for building a better society.”
Dan Evans, Desolation Radio
“Llywelyn ap Gwilym’s Llyfr Du is an essential contribution to the vision that will liberate Wales from the decaying British state.”
Sam Coates, Undod
Hi from North Wales
I hope that you’re all keeping safe and well.
I’ve got a special offer to share with you – perfect for a few enjoyable hours.
Audible have given me codes that allow FREE downloads of the audio version of my Inspector Drake novels. The great thing is that you DON’T need to have a subscription to Audible to enjoy the audio books.
I only have a LIMITED number of codes and they are only for the US and the UK so if you’re in Canada or Australia or elsewhere my apologies.
Some of you may have taken up the offer of codes for Brass in Pocket the 1 st Inspector Drake novel narrated by the super talented Richard Elfyn.
Now I’ve got FREE code for Worse than Dead the second Drake adventure. If you’d like one, then click on the link below.
I always enjoying hearing from my readers so do please get in touch.
Regards / Hwyl fawr
Stephen .
A Message From Welsh Crime Writer Stephen Puleston - Discover the John Marco mysteries
By Ceri Shaw, 2020-11-06
Hi from Wales
I hope that you’re all keeping safe and well.
My thanks to everyone who has bought Times Like These , the fourth Inspector Marco novel that was launched recently. I’m really pleased with the reviews and comments from readers.
“Stephen Puleston does for Cardiff what Rankin does for Edinburgh- uses a Capital city as a perfect backdrop to a series of gruesome murders. If you enjoy a good murder yarn you will love this book.” 5* Amazon review
“ This is a very intriguing read I really had no idea who was responsible and there are so many red herrings and dead ends. An absolutely gripping page-turner that will appeal to anyone who likes a good detective story.” 5* Amazon review
Grab your copy today by clicking this link. Times Like These - AMAZON .
Inspector Marco series
The lovely people at Book Bub are doing a promotion for Speechless the first Inspector Marco novel this weekend – it’s available for 99c/p . At the time I was writing the novel there was a lot of coverage in the press about human trafficking. A friend of mine mentioned a report by Amnesty containing the details of women and young girls trafficked into Wales – the numbers were shocking.
It gave me the basis of the theme to Speechless . It would have been encouraging to report that things have improved but sadly that is not the case.
Special Prices
So as part of the BookBub promotion all the Inspector Marco novels are discounted to £1.99/ $2.99 this weekend. If you haven’t read the novels then grab your copy using one of the clicks below.
Do please tell your friends and anyone who might like these books. Click on the link at the bottom.
Here is the link to buy Times Like These again [also at £1.99 $2.99]
I always enjoying hearing from my readers so do please get in touch.
Regards / Hwyl fawr
Stephen
Hi from Wales
I hope that you’re all keeping safe and well in these uncertain and difficult times.
Times Like These, the fourth Inspector Marco novel was launched last week, and I’m really pleased with the reviews and comments from readers.
“At times I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. ‘Times Like These’ is superbly written …” 5* Amazon review
“Mr Puleston has done it again and written a great well thought out book but also incorporated what is happening in the real world to help keep things feel real.” 5* Amazon review
Grab your copy today by clicking this link. Times Like These - AMAZON
Choosing the title
During May a cover version of the Foo Fighters song Times Like These reached number one in the charts. It was performed by the charity supergroup Live Lounge Allstars. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters who wrote the song referred to the lyrics as - ‘they're about hope and love and compassion’.
The song title and the lyrics seemed to resonate with the difficulties we were all facing.
I’m a Foo Fighters fan and Times Like These is a great song so once I’d settled on the title I didn’t contemplate anything else.
Here is a link to the BBC website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Cardiff – the capital of Wales
Detective Inspector Marco is based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.
The city’s history goes back to the Roman era. Since the end of the nineteenth century Cardiff’s success and prosperity were built on exporting coal from the South Wales valleys. The docks of the city brought in many people from all over the world creating a cosmopolitan and varied community.
I've added some photographs of Cardiff to a section about the city on my website – Marco’s Cardiff.
Here is the link to buy Times Like These again
I always enjoying hearing from my readers so do please get in touch.
Regards / Hwyl fawr
Stephen
Hi, The fourth Inspector Marco novel Times Like These is launched today!
Grab your copy today by clicking this link. Times Like These - AMAZON .
I'll probably have a quiet glass of something bubbly today and cross my fingers that the book will be a success.
...
...
Some of the background to Times Like These .
After the last Inspector Drake novel I wanted to revisit Detective Inspector Marco, based in Cardiff.
When I started to plot the novel it was at the start of the Covid 19 lockdown and it got me thinking about setting a novel set in the period immediately after the easing of restrictions. It would give me the chance of reflecting on how the pandemic had impacted on policing. And one of the issues raised in the news here in Wales was the impact of the restrictions on how the police deal with sexual and domestic violence, a problem the world over regrettably.
So I’m going to be sharing a bit about the background of the novel, where it is set and how I decided on the title in emails over the next few weeks so keep an eye out for them.
I hope you enjoy the novel. Here is the link to buy the book Times Like These again
I always enjoying hearing from my readers so do please get in touch.
Regards / Hwyl fawr
Stephen
Beca a Catrin is now available on Amazon.
(The Welsh version of Reba and Katherine/Messy Hair Game)
Softcover * 36 pages * 8.5 x 8.5
There is also a corresponding coloring book.
Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9781945669385
Available on Amazon: Beca A Catrin
About the book:
Reba and Katherine are two sisters who learn a lesson about patience and forgiveness as their choice create more work for Grandma. The story provides opportunity for interesting discussion about consequences and decision-making. You can listen to a free English audio version on the website. The book contains both English and Welsh text.
Author Gail Gritts
Gail grew up deep in the heart of the Ozarks in Missouri, USA. Life led her to England where she and her husband Tom raised their own family of five. Today, while she still lives in England, she relishes the opportunity to keep the family tradition of storytelling, including the mishaps and adventures of Reba and Katherine, with her thirteen grandchildren. Gail has been a freelance writer for many years writing magazine articles and devotional materials. Messy Hair Game is the first in her series about Reba and Katherine.
Illustrator Javier Duarte
Javier is a Uruguayan illustrator. He specializes in profession illustrations, portraits, cartoons, comics and children’s books and is currently working as a freelance artist locally and internationally.
Translator Emily Stirrup
My name is Emily. I am eight years old and I love Messy Hair Game! I live in North Wales in a town called Colwyn Bay. My mom and dad are both Welsh and I go to a Welsh school. I had a great time translating the story for my friends. I hope you enjoy the story, too.
Website: www.truestorykeepsake.com Email: truestorykeepsake@gmail.com
..
..
Mae Dyddiadur newydd A5 Y Lolfa newydd gael ei gyhoeddi. Gellir ei archebu yma am £5.99 (& £2 cludiant os yw’r archeb yn llai na £10). Bydd ein dyddiaduron eraill yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn fuan.
Y Lolfa’s new A5 blilingual Diary has just been released. It can be ordered here for £5.99 (& £2 if your order is less than £10). Our other diaries will be available soon.
..
..
MEMOIR THEME FOR NEW WELSH READER
New Welsh Reader Autumn Edition (115)
Publication date: 1 September 2017
The autumn edition of New Welsh Reader includes exclusive extracts from entries to the New Welsh Writing Awards 2017: Aberystwyth University Prize for Memoir. First place winner Catherine Haines’ memoir gives an insight into a young woman’s experience of anorexia while at Oxford University. As the Cambridge Weight Plan spins out of control, a post-grad’s academic subject, ‘the mind-body problem’, goes through an existential phase to become ‘extraordinary morality’ rather than a mental health problem. Second-placed ‘The Case’ by MJ Oliver tells the story of Jim, an emigrant from England to Canada, as he awaits release from a progressive mental hospital and reconciliation with his baby daughter. He is in turns hopeful migrant, stowaway, farmer, thief, hobo, rough poet and ever-loving brother. Third-placed ‘People, Places and Things: A Life With the Cold War’ Adam Somerset paints a sweeping landscape of the Eastern Bloc as experienced through the eyes of a British backpacker. Beginning the Highly Commended entries, ‘The Red Circle’ by Maria Apichella is the story of daughter’s Pennsylvania road-trip with her Italian-American father. ‘On Shifting Sands’ by Liz Jones; a true tale of family rift and reconciliation, and finally ‘Boystown, SA’ by Robert and Amanda Oosthuizen, a story told by a husband to his writer-wife. Also included is an essay on spirituality and landscape in recent travel and poetry titles from Welsh publishers, covering Jim Perrin, Nathan Llywelyn Munday, Biddy Wells, David Lloyd Owen & the poetry of Ruth Bidgood.
POETRY FROM Rosie Garland, Charlie Bird, Ashleigh Davies, Ben Wilkinson, Meg Eden, Chris Emery, Manash Firaq Bhattacaejee and Michael Derrick Hudson.