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Mellten is a new quarterly comic for the children of Wales. Mainly aimed at children between the ages of 7 and 13, this is the first original Welsh comic to be published in decades. Edited by Wales’ best and most original cartoonist, Huw Aaron, Melten contains contributons from many artists, cartoonists and authors.
Between the pages the comic offers exciting new stories in a variety of genres, original characters, puzzles, jokes, competitions and advice on how to create your own comic and cartoons.
‘The idea was to create something original and new for children that would only be available in Welsh,’ says the editor Huw Aaron, ‘There will be an emphasis on the stories and the colourful artwork that will frighten, intrigue, inspire and cause children to laugh and capture their imaginations.’
Mellten will appear every three months with the second issue arriving on the 1 st of September. But, the fun will be continuing on the website with new content added weekly.
Within the comic there are memorable characters such as Gwil Garw, a hero from an age before history who loves collecting and fighting monsters, the world’s best footballer – Gari Pêl, Capten Clonc – the most handsome hero in the universe, Bloben and Iola, the young pilot who dreams of winning the Space Rally Competition but she is stuck on planet Cymru Newydd (New Wales) with no crew or spaceship...
Mellten wil be available to buy seperately or by subscription through the website, schools or local bookshops.
The first issue of Mellten will be available from Monday, the 30 th of May onwards.
In the normally sedate rural constituency of Ceredigion, the general election of 2015 exploded into sensationalist headlines and the dirtiest campaign in living memory. At the centre of the fray was Plaid Cymru’s English-born, first-time candidate, author and broadcaster Mike Parker.
The Greasy Poll is Mike’s witheringly honest diary of the campaign, in which he chronicles the exhilaration and exhaustion of this knife-edge fight, from the many moments of great hope to the controversies that saw him vilified in sensationalist newspaper headlines, and his ultimate defeat by three thousand votes to the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP.
‘As an incomer to Wales and an outsider in politics,’ says Mike Parker, ‘I wanted to find out for myself if our electoral system really was as broken as I feared.’
‘When I heard that Mike had been chosen as Plaid’s candidate in Ceredigion, I knew he would face some problems,’ says former Plaid Cymru President and musician, Dafydd Iwan, ‘He was not only from outside the county, but was from Kidderminster, had outspoken left-field radical views, was gay and – wait for it – sported an ear-ring. At the same time, I was elated at the news because I knew he would bring something different to Plaid’s cause.’
‘The fact that Mike is English born, and has learnt Welsh as a second language gives him a refreshingly different perspective on Wales and its people,’ added Dafydd.
The book throws a searching light on many aspects of contemporary Welsh and British politics, as well as the means by which the press and media deal with it.
‘He paid a harsh and high price as an individual and a writer for choosing to take a stand instead of grumbling from the sidelines,’ says author Dr Jasmine Donahaye, ‘But he returns as a writer with this damning, unflinching exposé of the foul practices of politicians, political parties and the press when an outsider threatens entrenched, corrupt power.’
From the perils of social media to the drumbeat rise of neo-fascism, The Greasy Poll details the splits, sags and soggy compromises of modern Welsh politics, and how badly it is failing us.
‘The rise of UKIP is based almost entirely on the increasing acceptability of racism in public life,’ says Mike Parker. ‘We see it happening all over the world, from Trump to Le Pen, and we need to call it out for what it is. But it’s not just UKIP. Our media and other political parties are playing their disreputable part in its rise.’
‘We need to discuss it far more, and with greater understanding of its historical context.’ he added.
Mike also touches upon the homophobia he experienced as a candidate, especially during the controversy, and the effect it had on his mental health.
‘Only after the election did I come to realise just how mentally battered I was by the whole experience,’ he says. ‘It’s one of the reasons that I wanted to try and understand what happened by unpicking and writing about it. Politics is a rough game, we all know that, but this shouldn’t be the norm. Small wonder that it tends to attract some odd and rather lost people.’
Based near Machynlleth in mid Wales but originally from Worcestershire, Mike Parker has written numerous critically acclaimed books inspired by his sense of place. In 25 years of self-employment, he's also been a columnist, TV and radio presenter and stand-up comedian.
The Greasy Poll – Diary of a Controversial Election will be launched at Wiff Waff Bar in Aberystwyth on the 19 th of May at 7pm.
On the 9th of June at 5.30pm Mike Parker will be in discussion with Adrian Masters at the Gallery at y Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.
Events will also be held on th e 7th of June at 7.30 pm at the Black Lion Hotel in Llanbed and on the 14th of June at 7.30pm at the Grosvenor in Cardigan.
The Greasy Poll – Diary of a Controversial Election by Mike Parker (£9.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.
Brexit Poll
Should the UK leave the EU? Current polls suggest that opinion is pretty evenly divided within the UK. What do our readers think?
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John Good's Tramor is joined by special guests champion Hoop Dancer, Derrick Suwaima Davis, and Ryon. Also featuring Jane Hilton and Billy Parker.
Travel writer John Harrison among longlist of nine for the New Welsh Writing Awards 2016: University of South Wales Prize for Travel Writing
New Welsh Review , in association with the University of South Wales and CADCentre, is delighted to announce the longlist of nine travel nonfiction essays for the New Welsh Writing Awards 2016: University of South Wales Prize for Travel Writing. Both new and established writers based in Wales, England and Ireland are in the running for the top prize including the award-winning travel writer John Harrison.
The Prize celebrates the best short form travel writing (5,000-30,000 words) from emerging and established writers based in the UK and Ireland plus those who have been educated in Wales. The judges are New Welsh Review editor Gwen Davies and award winning travel writer Rory MacLean.
Gwen Davies, editor of New Welsh Review said: ‘This prize has gone from strength to strength in its second year with an increased number of entries and an excellent standard of writing. Branching out from our previous theme of nature, this year’s longlist of travel nonfiction sees a move towards the political.’
Virginia Astley (Dorchester, England) Keeping the River
Evan Costigan (Kildare, Ireland) West Under a Blue Sky
Hannah Garrard (Norwich, England) No Situation is Permanent
John Harrison (London, England) The Rains of Titikaka
Gerald Hewitson (Holyhead, Wales) Oh my America
Julie Owen Moylan (Cardiff, Wales) Anxiety and Wet Wipes on Train Number Four
Nathan Llywelyn Munday (Cardiff, Wales) Seven Days: A Pyrenean Trek
Karen Phillips (Pembrokeshire, Wales) Stranger Shores
Mandy Sutter (Ilkley, England) Bush Meat: As My Mother Told Me
Davies continues: ‘Such essays follow the progress of a pioneering school from its refugee-camp origins in Ghana; a Nigerian domestic scene where subtle and interdependent racial and class issues are seething under a tight lid; the rise and fall of the pre-Columbian city of Tiwanaku in Bolivia and the underground (and underwater) currents of Mayan culture in the Yucatan, Mexico. In gentler pastures, meanwhile, language, geography, history, culture, religion and philosophy are given room to reflect in pieces that champion the humble Thames-side lock-keeper, the etiquette of the Trans-Siberian station pitstop; silence and spirituality on a Pennsylvanian Quaker residency, and the highs and lows of the grand narrative on trek through the Pyrenees.’
For more information about the long listed writers please visit the website here: http://www.
The shortlist will be announced at an event at Hay Festival on 1 June 2016 ( 3-4pm ) and the winner at a ceremony at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff on 7 July 2016 ( 6-8pm ).
First prize is £1,000 cash, e-publication by New Welsh Review on their New Welsh Rarebyte imprint in 2016, a positive critique by leading literary agent Cathryn Summerhayes at WME, as well as lunch with her in London. Second prize is a weeklong residential course in 2016 of the winner’s choice at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre in Gwynedd, north Wales. Third prize is a weekend stay at Gladstone’s Library in Flintshire, north Wales. All three winners will also receive a one-year subscription to the magazine. In addition New Welsh Review will consider the highly commended and shortlisted nominees for publication in a forthcoming edition of its creative magazine New Welsh Reader with an associated standard fee.
New Welsh Review have today also launched their Best Travel Book Poll inviting readers around the world to vote for their favourite all time travel book in the English language. A longlist of 20 titles have been selected by co-judges Gwen Davies and Rory MacLean with nominations from the students of the University of South Wales and librarians across Wales. The public can now vote for the shortlist and winner which will be revealed on 1 June and 7 July respectively.
For more information visit http://www.
Am Newid by Dana Edwards follows main protagonist Ceri who returns to her childhood home but has changed a lot since she left. She goes to join Merched y Wawr and despite being a woman, the fact that some still think of her as a ‘boy’ mean that it is not easy for them to accept her.
But Ceri isn’t the only one who’s changed. Over the past twenty-five years, her community’s language, culture and attitudes have also changed.
‘I wanted to write something that was contemporary but that would also demonstrate a timeless attitude shown towards people who are deemed different or who don’t conform to our idea of ‘normal’,’ said Dana Edwards.
‘Issues on gender and sex appear in the press almost daily – schools change their toilets to be unisex, policemen change their outfits to also become unisex, and the discussions on abolishing the need to state your sex in the next census. So I thought that writing about this would be both timely and relevant.’
The novel looks at how Ceri copes with the change in her world, how the world copes with Ceri, and the change that comes when she decides to settle down once again in west Wales.
‘In the past, Welsh novels have been accused of being old fashioned,’ said Dana, ‘but I do hope that Am Newid , amongst many other contemporary Welsh novels, prove that that isn’t true anymore.’
Said author Lleucu Roberts, ‘ Am Newid is a compelling, easy to read novel and Dana Edwards has shown herself to be a capable author who knows how to weave a plot and develop characters.’
The novel will be launched at the Winter Fair in Builth Wells on Monday 27 November at 2pm at the Merched y Wawr stall at Clwyd Morgannwg Exhibition Hall with Tegwen Morris, Merched y Wawr director, who will be in conversarion with Dana.
‘Its very appropriate to launch at the Merched y Wawr stall as the organisation is the backdrop to Ceri’s story,’ said Dana, ‘Merched y Wawr has a reputation for being a very welcoming and inclusive organisation, but how will Ceri be welcomed?’
During the launch, Carol Nixon will talk about her experiences of living as a trans woman in Wales and singer Siân James will perform a few songs that celebrate diversity. There will be a rainbow LGBT+ cake and mulled wine to close the launch party.
Dana Edwards is from Aberystwyth. Am Newid is her third novel following The Other Half (Accent Press, 2014) and Welsh novel Pam ? (Y Lolfa, 2016).
Am Newid will be launched at the Merched y Wawr stall at Clwyd Morgannwg Exhibition Hall at the Winter Fair in Builth Wells on Monday 27 th November at 2pm with Dana Edwards, Tegwen Morris, Carol Nixon and Siân James.
Am Newid by Dana Edwards (£7.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.
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Advance Event Notice
The Three Tenors - 2016 Ontario Welsh Festival, Ottowa
Friday April 22-24th 2016, @ Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
AmeriCymru: Hi Aled and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. Care to tell us a little about your history and background of the Three Welsh Tenors?
Aled: The Three Welsh Tenors (Tri Tenor Cymru) first came together in 2009 to sing as a trio for Celtfest in the Cardiff International Arena as part of a line-up of stars to entertain rugby fans prior to a Wales versus New Zealand match. Since receiving a standing ovation for their performance that day, they have performed together at several major festivals in Wales, corporate events and concerts and have appeared on radio and television programmes. The trio now comprises Aled Hall, Aled Wyn Davies and Rhys Meirion. All three of us are professional tenors, with solo careers in our own rights. We have contrasting voices and unique personalities which complement each other as we perform classics from opera, musicals, Welsh songs and hymns, contemporary compositions and medleys. The Three Welsh Tenors have set Wales on fire over the past seven years and the heat from that fire is now felt throughout Britain to North America, Canada and beyond.
I (Aled Wyn Davies), the new member of the trio, although a sheep farmer from day to day started my career as a folk-singer, but after winning all the important prizes in folk-singing at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1999 and the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2001, I broadened my horizons as a tenor soloist. One of my greatest achievements so far is that I have won the national tenor solo competition three times in succession in 2004, 2005 and 2006, then I won the ultimate accolade at the Swansea National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2006 – the famous Blue Riband vocal prize. I have had considerable success at all of our major eisteddfodau including “Singer of the Year” at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2005 and the prestigious Blue Riband at the Cardigan Musical Festival in July 2006.
AmeriCymru: This is not your first visit to Canada or the US? Care to tell us something about your previous experiences and performances in the 'Americas'?
Aled: I have been lucky enough to perform as a soloist on three occasions at the Welsh church in Los Angeles and at the North American Festival of Wales twice, once in Chicago in 2008 and again in 2011 at Cleveland, Ohio. I also sang in concerts in Toronto and Ottawa in 2009.
In 1997, Rhys Meirion sang as a soloist with the Dunvant choir tour to Florida. In 2014, he was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in the US premiere of Karl Jenkins’ The Bards of Wales to celebrate the composer’s 70th birthday. Both Rhys Meirion and Aled Hall took part in the NAFOW, Toronto, in 2013 and have also performed in Los Angeles and Seattle.
AmeriCymru: What will you be performing at the Ontario Welsh Festival? Any sneak previews?
Aled: I am very proud to say that we will be performing our first new song recorded together on my latest album called Erwau’r Daith which will be available to buy at the festival . Our brand new song called Y Goleuni, written by Caradog Williams, our fabulous resident accompanist, describes the lives of miners in south Wales and how they struggled against their circumstances by attempting to improve their education and broaden their horizons through building miners’ institutes. We are also looking forward to performing a bit of everything; from opera favourites, English classics to popular Welsh songs and hymns – we perform music to suit every taste and occasion. We might also throw in a rugby medley in the Noson Lawen on Friday night!
AmeriCymru: What can you tell us a little about your latest album Tarantella?
Aled: Tarantella is the second album by The Three Welsh Tenors. Tarantella was released in 2014, before I joined the line-up. The album contains a vast array of songs and provides a combination of the traditional and new, the popular and classical. Many of the songs on the album will be performed in both Ottawa and the USA.
AmeriCymru: What's next for the Three Welsh Tenors? Any new albums or tours coming up?
Aled: Hopefully, in the near future, a new album is on the cards and maybe another tour or two to other cities in Canada and the USA, perhaps – we’re open to offers!
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?
Aled: Following the fantastic welcome we received at the NAFOW in 2013, we’re looking forward to performing once more among friends. It is a tremendous honour to be invited to sing in Canada and the USA and we would like to thank the valued members and readers of AmeriCymru for their continuous friendship and support. Diolch yn fawr.
Here are a few links of some of our songs and performances which are available to watch on YouTube:
Glyn German has drawn together the latest scholarship to present a highly informative chronological survey of Welsh history. Readers who turn to it as a handy work of reference will soon find themselves hooked by the fascinating story it has to tell. Covering all aspects of welsh life, including the many contributions which the people of Wales have made in the wider world, it is an excellent introduction to a long and rich history."
Professor Dafydd Johnston, University of Wales Center for Advanced, Welsh and Celtic Studies
Glyn German lived most of his life in Brittany. He received his secondary education at the Lycee Chaptal in Quimper, Finistere and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Western Brittany.
