Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Seraffa on November 20, 2010 at 2:03am

Always have food and drink handy to attract more people. That always works; they will come back for ham sandwiches the next time - if nothing else. You can forgo the Welsh cookies; many people will think they are simply little scones that somehow got stepped on by mistake......although you could re-purpose them with the name "mini-Welsh-pancakes"

Also - make sure Americans know English first! You will have a losing battle on your hands, if you do not. Most poor souls of today do not comprehend the more complete, correct grammar of only 20 years ago, and therefore do not "speak the tongue". of anything in particular anymore, except for text messaging.

It is highly suspected this year that no-one knows know what the Hell anyone will be remotedly referring to anymore as "Anglo-Welsh Literature" despite the fact that they may first be made aware of it INSIDE a public library WHILST standing alongside a VERY large copy of Webster's Collegiate Dictionary WHILE being only steps away from the kindly (or crabby) Reference Librarian's Desk..... neither of which they will consult with..... because they see colorful movies and games that await them like little Welsh cookies Mama used to make, and no one wants to go home having to think about anything after they eat those delicious ham sandwiches you just gave them...unless what you're giving them to read can be transformed into a Wii interactive program to exercise with, in front of the telly.

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Permalink Reply by Wild Canary on December 30, 2010 at 5:46pm

Sad, but accurately stated.

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Permalink Reply by Dylan Thomas Priddy on December 12, 2010 at 11:28pm

whats free on Gutenberg?

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Permalink Reply by Ceri Shaw on December 12, 2010 at 11:42pm

 

They have Caradoc Evans ( well worth reading ) and other out of copyright stuff:-

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16823

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Permalink Reply by Seraffa on January 2, 2011 at 2:59pm

After my first depressing observation, I think I can only state that I do favor live events related to the different genres of literature that would be presented, but the power to do so in either a big or a small way is totally within the hands of the presenters, and (too oddly enough) based nowadays on "BUDGET" -- which is not how real culture develops within a society, and which is now something people totally overlook in the quest for a better life amid this economic crisis.

 

Ceri, you know if you took Americymru and made it into a MOVEMENT, .....where we had a chapter in most every State of the United States,...you would be very effective in this quest of yours. I think you should ponder this!

 

Now, no one wants to be cast in the role of "high command" for sure, but from a practical standpoint,..... if you took those 50 chapters, and each one knew which work is being featured, and each took the time to locally advertise and host a public reading of the Welsh literature......the effect will be both cumulative, and ....even eventually powerful. 

 

Modern man's drawback is that he has foreshortened his sights to that which is controlled by the media.....the temporal, fleeting, and everyday, the money-driven. Here in the USA, we are large,and not beset on all sides by our enemies (yet-- but the time is soon coming, if we don't turn back!) as was Wales, We have a strange proving-ground before us, being large, while wishing to convey the best of the intimacy,tenaciousness,warmth, creativity, and brilliance of Welsh culture.

 

I grew up during a time where no-one "needed" facebook, twitter or anything else to be creative, and become well-known.

 

And if there is but even one Welsh virtue or trait that can have a resounding influence upon America  that should be as vigorously underscored and promoted as as the Anglo-Welsh literature during the whole process. Take the thinking "out of the box" and "outside of St. David's Day" and let it become a real part of real life in America,

 

I just hope we can get our heads around the whole nightmare of travel and immigration and get past it. Governement has not been kind nor keen in throwing up all these obstacles to everyday life and culture in the name of fending off "enemies".

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Permalink Reply by Brian Stephen John on August 31, 2011 at 2:17pm

 

Not much discussion on this one, Ceri --  but for Welsh publishers and authors, getting into the American market is incredibly difficult.  Over the last decade I have written and published the seven novels of the "Angel Mountain" saga -- and sold a total of 60,000 copies in a very limited market.  The first novel, called "On Angel Mountain", has sold about 25,000 copies, which I suppose makes it something of a best-seller.  (I'm told that in Wales, if something sells 700 copies, it is counted as being a best seller......)

 

But apart from a few orders from out of the blue, I sell virtually nothing in the USA, and even the Welsh newspapers have been reluctant to publish reviews.  I'm not complaining -- it's a tough old world out there.  But it would be great to reach all those Welsh folks who are living in the USA, and try to convince even a small percentage of them that these novels should be on their "essential reading" lists.  Any suggestions?

 

By the way, here are two links that might be of interest:

http://www.angel-mountain.info/index.html

http://web.me.com/brianjohn4/brianjohn.co.uk/home.html

 

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Permalink Reply by Jen Delyth on August 31, 2011 at 3:36pm

I bought and loved your Angel Mountain Saga Brian!  I would happily sell it to my customers on my online site... If you know where I could buy it as reseller?

Thanks... Jen

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Permalink Reply by Brian Stephen John on September 1, 2011 at 1:48am

Thanks Jen.  The only wholesaler I use is the Welsh Books Council.  Do you buy from them?  If not, we could probably do a deal.....

 

Kind regards

 

Brian

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Permalink Reply by Ceri Shaw on September 11, 2011 at 8:51pm

Hi Brian

 

I missed this post ( on a train to Chicago at the time, no wi fi ) We would be more than happy to review the series on AC. Will do so as soon as the L.A. event is over and do whatever we can to help promote :)

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Permalink Reply by Brian Stephen John on September 12, 2011 at 12:09am

Thanks for the offer, Ceri.  Do you want me to send copies over for you to review?  There are seven novels in the series thus far.....

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Permalink Reply by Ceri Shaw on October 12, 2011 at 11:48pm

Hi Brian...a few review copies would be great :) Will email physical address.

 

Cheers

 

ceri

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Permalink Reply by Brian Stephen John on October 13, 2011 at 1:11am

By all means -- just send me the info!  The more reviews, the better -- as long as there is a good mechanism for bringing the reviews to the attention of readers and users of the site.  But your mechanisms for linking across the site and into other sites seem pretty good to me already.... well done!

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