Blogs

The Portland Lovespoon 2012 Draw ends at midnight ( Pacific Time ) on Friday 12th October. We need time to make tickets for the draw If you want a chance to win this unique work of art please donate now. All proceeds go to cover West Coast Eisteddfod costs.

( NOTE ON DONATING: Go to the 'Donate' button in the right hand column on this page. A PayPal dialog page will open. Select your amount ... 1 dollar = 1 ticket in the draw. The draw will be held publicly at the West Coast Eisteddfod at the Multnomah Arts Center on October 13th in Portland Oregon.. The winner will receive their prize by mail unless they are present in the audience. We hope to film the draw and post the video on AmeriCymru. If you live in Portland and wish to buy tickets for the WCE please go to this page :- West Coast Eisteddfod 2012 )

Friends at Wa r , published by Pont Books is a heart-warming story of friendship and loyalty amidst the adversity of war.

It is the summer of 1940, the country is at war and three young boys in the South Wales Valleys, Robert and his friends Aldo and Freddo Moretti, are all desperately waiting for news of their fathers. All three are born and bred in the valleys but Aldo and Freddos family is Italian.

No one has heard from Roberts father since a naval battle with the Germans off the coast of Norway. When an official-looking letter arrives, he is desperate to open it, but scared of what it might say.

Aldo and Freddo are also waiting to hear from their father when news arrives that a large ship, the Arandora Star has been torpedoed by a German U-boat

War is complicated and so is friendship. Roberts loyalty to his best friends is tested when a German prisoner of war helps the Moretti brothers.

In June 1940, when Italy declared war on the British and French forces, Italians who lived in the UK were branded as enemy aliens. In time of war, fear and insecurities often led to anger and hatred and life changed for many Welsh-Italian families in the South Wales Valleys. Welsh-Italian men, both young and old, were arrested and taken from their homes and interned, tearing families apart and splitting communities. On the 2nd of July 1940, the Arandora Star, was attacked by a German U-boat whilst transporting a number of internees to Canada, and more than 800 people tragically lost their lives.

In July 2010, and 70 years since the tragedy, a memorial was unveiled at St Davids Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral, Cardiff in memory of the innocent Welsh-Italians who lost their lives when the ship sank off the coast of Ireland.

A valuable resource for schools, Friends at War, would be an ideal text to use as part of WWII themed lessons. Not only does the story give a strong sense of history and highlights a forgotten wartime tragedy the sinking of the Arandora Star, children between 9 and 12 years old will be able to identify with the three boys. The story would also be ideal to use as inspiration for creative tasks.

Readers were first introduced to Robert and Freddo in Alan Lamberts first novel for children, Robertos War. The rough treatment experienced by some of the Italian families living and working in the Valleys during the Second World War inspired Alan to write the original story, Robertos War and the themes of friendship and growing up in a close community are present in both novels.

Alan Lambert grew up in the Merthyr Valley but now lives in London. He is a former teacher and has also worked for the BBC as Commissioning Executive for primary school programmes. His first novel, Robertos War, was published by Pont Books in 2009.


Friends at War is available to buy from all good bookshops and online retailers.



Bibliographical Information:

Friends at War ISBN: 9781848514669 Price: 5.99 pb

Alan Lambert

.

Judy Brown shortlisted for the FENTON Aldeburgh First Collection Prize 2012

Congratulations to Judy Brown! Her poetry collection Loudness has been shortlisted for the FENTON Aldeburgh First Collection Prize 2012. Judy is shortlisted along side Sean Borodale. Olivia McCannon. Richard Meier and Jacob Sam-Las Rose. The winner will be announced on the Friday 2nd November, during the weekend of the 24th Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. Robert Seatter (Chair) who published his third collection in 2011 and is Head of BBC History said: The shortlist was as usual very hard won, measuring the reflective, the searing voices against the incisive and the witty, but all united in their brave and defining use of concentrated language. "This is a terrific debut collection..." - Poetry London

Patrick McGuinness shortlisted for the 2012 Writers Guild Award for Best Fiction Book

Award-winning novel The Last Hundred Days has been shortlisted for the 2012 Writers Guild Award for 'Best Fiction Book' - Patrick's debut novel is listed along side two other titles for this award. Winners will be announced on Wednesday 14th November at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill. "engaging" The New York Times Book Review "stunning" The Times "an assured performance" The Literary Review

The xx womens writing festival 2012

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff on Saturday 27th October 2012 The xx womens writing festival will showcase writing by and for women from Wales and the world. An afternoon and evening of fiction, poetry, interviews and entertainment will feature award-winning Seren poets Rhian Edwards and Emily Hinshelwood . Also featured are novelists Nikita Lalwani, Rachel Trezise, Roshi Fernando, and many others.

This inaugural event aims to bring together readers and new and established writers, plus editors and critics, to enjoy the burgeoning range and depth of writing by women from Wales in English. To enjoy everything from cutting-edge performance at our literary salon to the launch of new books by classic authors, plus bookstalls, eating and drinking, join us from 2.30pm til late on Saturday 27th October price 15 day ticket or 4 per event.

For more details contact Chapter Arts Centre www.chapter.org

This festival is organised by Penny Thomas (Fiction Editor at Seren), Amy Wack (Poetry Editor at Seren), Susie Wild (Associate Editor at Parthian) and Carole Burns (Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Winchester and author of Off The Page ). Funders and supporters for the festival include Chapter Arts Centre, Literature Wales, The Co-operative, Seren, Mslexia , Honno, Parthian, Gomer and WM (the womens supplement of the Western Mail).

Ellie Evans (1942-2012)

It was sad to hear that poet Ellie Evans passed away on Monday 17th September 2012. Ellie had published her debut poetry collection The Ivy Hides the Fig Ripe Duchess with us in 2011. Ellie was a very talented and wonderful person and we all here at Seren feel very lucky to have worked with her. Ellie's poem The Living Goddess is our October Poem of the Month.

New Titles

On Becoming a Fish by Emily Hinshelwood On Becoming a Fish was inspired by a series of walks around the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in West Wales, known for its spectacular views from cliffside paths skirting the Irish sea and the Bristol Channel. Deeply engaged with environmental issues through her work in community energy and climate change, the author is also a keen observer of human nature in the context of this beautiful coastline. Emily Hinshelwood is a winner of the John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry . ISBN: 9781854115775 Paperback:8.99

See How They Run by Lloyd Jones New Stories from the Mabinogion Small-minded, malicious academic Dr Llwyd McNamara has a grant to research one of Wales biggest heroes: rugby player big M. But as he plays with his USB sticks in his little office, the gods have other plans for him. Prize-winning author Lloyd Jones tackles this retelling of the Third Branch of the Mabinogion: Manawyddan son of Llyr, with his usual ingenuity, imaginative intelligence and zest for language to create a skilful and hugely enjoyable tale. "Lloyd Jones's novella has the epic scope of the novels of Umberto Eco ... the quirkiness and attention to detaill of John Irving. - New Welsh Review ISBN: 9781854115904 Paperback: 8.99

Blood, Bird, Snow by Cynan Jones New Stories from the Mabinogion The original Peredur tale recounts the adventures of a youth bent on recognition as a knight in King Arthurs court. In true questing fashion, he defends maidens, defeats giants, and eventually overcomes the witches who have cursed him. Award-winning author Cynan Jones turns the tale into a modern Quixotian romp. Hoping to save him from the same fate as his father and brothers dead, jailed or missing Peredurs mother takes him from the sink estate. But the world wont be held at bay. When local kids cycle into his life, he follows. "Seren's series of new stories inspired by the Mabinogion may be the greatest service to the Welsh national epic since Lady Charlotte Guest..." - The Guardian ( 2010) ISBN: 9781854115898 Paperback: 8.99 Publication: 15th October

Call Mother a Lonely Field by Liam Carson A memoir of an Irish-speaking childhood in Belfast and a moving testament to growing up during the Troubles. Call Mother a Lonely Field mines the emotional archaeology of family, home and language, the authors attempts to break their tethers, and the refuge he finds within them. Carson confronts the complex relationship between a son thinking in English, a father dreaming in Irish and a mother who, after raising five children through Irish, is no longer comfortable speaking the language in the violent reality of 1970s Belfast. "An immensely pleasurable book, and a valuable addition to the canon of Irish autobiography. - The Irish Times ISBN: 9781854115881 Paperback: 8.99

Forthcoming Titles

Sen Tyrone: A Symphony of Horrors by Mark Ryan Published posthumously, this illustrated novel describes a young mans search for his absent father and the horrors he encounters on his journey. Sen OBrien left his wife and son in County Tyrone to find work as a collier in the South Wales Valleys. He last posted money and a letter from somewhere called Aberuffern (the mouth of hell). Years later Niamh OBrien is dying. Her last wish is for Jack, her only son, to discover what became of his father: Find him and then I can go to my grave in happiness and peace. In brilliantly lyrical prose, Mark Ryan employs the black humour and wit of the Welsh and Irish traditions to tell the story of Jacks odyssey from inexperience to manhood. PRE-ORDER NOW! ISBN: 9781854116475 Paperback: 8.99

More for the Helen of Troy by Simon Mundy More for Helen of Troy is suffused with the atmosphere of the landscapes that inspire the poet: Italy, the lush countryside of Powys, and a number of islands all over the world Grenada, Jamaica, Shetland. It is also deeply involved with many questions of desire: for the ideal of a beautiful woman; for the hope of a good state; for the vision of a pristine country and seaside. The tension between these ideals, between lofty aims and inevitable disappointments, come together in the main title sequence, where an entire society must scheme and suffer for the allure of Helen. Sometimes keenly satirical, often poignantly lyrical, these poems are both pointed and enjoyable. PRE-ORDER NOW! ISBN: 9781854115782 Paperback:8.99 Publication: 29th October

Real Swansea 2 by Nigel Jenkins Real Swansea 2 is a further look at his hometown by poet Nigel Jenkins. With characteristic insight, humour and an eye for the odd and unusual Jenkins explores the part of the city, which he was forced to omit from Real Swansea . His subjects include sport, the Welsh language, drama, sex and drugs, refugees and asylum seekers, key buildings such as the Guildhall, the Glynn Vivian and the National Waterfront Museum, and districts such as Morriston, the Hafod and Sandfields. From Dylan Thomas Kardomah Caf and the Grand Theatre to brothels and the Welsh School of Architectural Glass, from Mumbles Pier to Llangyfelach and from Salubrious Passge to the National Waterfront Musuemall Swansea life is here, celebrated in stylish prose and pin sharp poetry. PRE-ORDER NOW! ISBN: 9781854116482 Paperback:9.99 Publication: 6th November

The Chapels of Wales by D. Huw Owen The Chapels of Wales is a gazetteer of approximately 110 chapels, which played such a central role in the faith, culture and history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Wales, and whose influence continues into the present century, despite an alarming closure rate of two a week. Owens comprehensive survey records some of the buildings now being lost and explores the life to be found within those, which remain. Owen journeys across Wales, exploring Welsh and English-speaking chapels in all parts of the countryin cities, towns and villages. He also ventures into the Welsh diaspora, taking in chapels in Liverpool, London, Oswestry, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Melbourne, Toronto, Gaiman (Patagonia) and the Khasi Hills (north east India). PRE-ORDER NOW! ISBN: 9781854115546 Paperback: 14.99 Publication: 21st November

Meet the Author

Thursday 11th October, 11.45am: Rhian Edwards is reading from her debut poetry collection Clueless Dogs at the 'Forward into the 21st Century' event at The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Also reading are John Burnside and William Sieghart.

Saturday 13th October, 3pm: Eva Salzman & George Ella Lyon will be reading at the Southern Festival of Books, Nashville Tn. For further information contact Serenity Gerbman: serenity@humanitiestennessee.org

Friday 26th October, 7pm: Sen Tyrone: A Symphony of Horrors book launch. Media Point Room, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.

Friday 26th October, 2.30 - 4.45pm: Workshop with Pascale Petit in Artes Mundi 5 exhibition, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP. For more information visit the webiste: www.museumwales.ac.uk

Friday 26th October, 6.30pm: John Morris will be reading and signing copies of Jack the Ripper: The Hand of the Woman at Waterstones Cardiff (The Hayes).

Saturday 27th October 2012 2.30pm: The xx womens writing festival will showcase writing by and for women from Wales and the world. Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. From 2.30pm onwards. For tickets visit www.chapter.org

Tuesday 30th October 2012, 6.30pm: John Morris will be reading and signing copies of Jack the Ripper: The Hand of the Woman at Waterstones Aberystwyth.

Wednesday 31st October 2012, 6.30pm: John Morris will be reading and signing copies of Jack the Ripper: The Hand of the Woman at Waterstones Caramarthen.

Thursday 1st November 2012, 7.30pm: 'First Thursday' literary evening at Chapter Arts Centre, Canton, Cardiff. Featuring guest poet Grahame Davies and novelist Paul Binding. Followed by an Open Mic Night. 2.50 entrance.

Saturday 3rd November, 1pm: Launch of Keidrych Rhys: The Van Pool with Charles Mundye at the Dylan Thomas Festival. Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. You can buy tickets online at www.dylanthomas.com or call 01792 463980.

For Immediate Release

Media Contact : Bob Titley

The Robert Titley Consultancy

roberttitley@aol.com

(917) 690 8418

Wales Celebrates Its Favorite Son:

The Richard Burton Diaries Published by Yale University Press

Available In Bookstores and Online

New York, New York October 10, 2012 - Welsh screen icon, Richard Burton would have turned 87 on November 10 ^th . Its hard to imagine that vital, carousing, temperamental soul in mellow old age. Harder still to imagine the world-acclaimed actor as a family man worrying about his daughters wounded heart, as a thoughtful and voracious reader of all manner of subjects, and as an insecure man with self-esteem issues, who, nonetheless, could paint vividly mocking pictures of several hallowed contemporary thespians whose work he found wanting. But The Richard Burton Dairies, soon-to-be published by the Yale University Press ( www.yalebooks.com ), reveal that and much more about the man behind the legend.

Liz Smith calls them Fun, fascinating and sad. Publishers Weekly named the book an Indie Sleeper.

Welsh historian Chris Williams, took on the 2-year editing project alongside his responsibilities as a professor of Welsh history at Swansea University in South Wales. Williams says, many readers will be surprised how interested he was in books and in scholarship. current and world affairs which extended to the question of the environment. he had an enormous appetite for learning a restlessness almost.

Burton was known later in life for being an Oscar-nominated actor, as notorious for his marriages to the dazzling Elizabeth Taylor as for his acting talent, rugged good looks and mellifluous speaking voice. These diaries echo with details of their tempestuous, torturous and yet tender relationship.

He hobnobbed with artists, politicos and the Hollywood elite, but Burtons beginnings were far humbler. He was a miners son, born Richard Jenkins, in the tiny village of Pontrhydyfen in Wales on November 10, 1925. This twelve-pound bouncing baby boy was born in the same modest home as his father and shared it with his eleven siblings and their parents for the first 2 years of his life.

His keen mind and acting potential were recognized by his teacher Phillip Burton who became young Richards mentor, friend, surrogate father and, ultimately, his guardian. The legal guardianship took effect in December 1943 and so Richard Burton was born.

Complementing the Yale University Press publication of The Richard Burton Diaries is the airing, on November 25, of the Lifetime TV movie, Liz and Dick, starring Lindsay Lohan and Grant Bowler, scripted by Welsh director Chris Monger.

In addition, Burton has been honored by a Wales-based initiative: the 3-mile Richard Burton Trail surrounded by the serene Welsh beauty of the Afan Forest Park, highlights the area in which he was born; a second trail is due to open in nearby Port Talbot, where he was raised, in November 2012. The official website, www.visitnpt.co.uk/richardburton features interviews with his friends and family who share their memories of Burton, as well as a downloadable Trail map and guide.

The Welsh Government is the devolved administration responsible for governing Wales in the UK. The Welsh Governments US office is in New York where a small but dedicated team is raising the profile of Wales in the USA in order to stimulate trade and investment, tourism, and academic and cultural links between Wales and America.

Notes to Editors:

1) Neath Port Talbot - www.npt.gov.uk/

1. There must be something in the water! In addition to Burton, actors Anthony Hopkins, Michael Sheen and Richard Griffiths all have roots in this tiny place of about 46,000.
2. Neath Port Talbot has been chosen as the location for the new TV series, Da Vincis Demons, beating out Canada, New Zealand and Ireland to host the project. Its iconic Margam Castle will be transformed into the Medici Palace. Script writer David S. Goyer (of The Dark Knight Rises and Blade fame) says that America does not have castles period. Swansea Bay has them everywhere.
3. In fact Wales has 641 more castles per capita than any other country.

2) Swansea University www.swansea.ac.uk

1. Boasts the Richard Burton Centre for the Study of Wales, an interdisciplinary research forum. It is part of the Research Institute for the Arts and Humanities, which also features work on the Swansea poet, Dylan Thomas;
2. Houses Richard Burtons personal papers (which were given to Swansea U. by his widow, Sally) in the Richard Burton Archive, which was opened in April 2010;
3. Has just secured 60 million funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) towards an expansion program for its Welsh campus. The development will include the construction of a new Science and Innovation Campus and the regeneration of the Universitys Singleton Park Campus. The development is expected to act as a catalyst for what is expected to be the largest knowledge economy project in the UK and one of the top five in Europe.

3) Richard Burton Theatre - www.rwcmd.ac.uk/other/news/headlines/greatest_welsh_actor.aspx

Located at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Waless capital city, Cardiff, is a most fitting memorial to one of Waless most famous acting sons. The 160-seat theatre opened with a tribute to Burton in June 2011.

Back in June of this year I decided to organize a Poetry Competition called The Black Hole, the idea was to get local people involved and put their thoughts about a proposed opencast extension down on paper. To write about the area as it is now, the beautiful Rhaslas Lake, the untouched wetlands where so many species of birds come to nest, the ponies, cows and sheep that live in the area, and the fantastic views of the mountains as far as the Brecon Beacons National Park , or to write about their fears of what would happen if the planning permission was given, how it would affect their environment, their health, their childrens futures, as well as tourism and jobs in the area that could be under threat.

I had a few responses, but not enough to warrant a publication, pretty disappointing. However, I decided because of the quality of the poems I had received, I wanted to get these voices heard, so I decided to ask a few people if they would submit a poem and agree to purchase at least one copy of the book for family or friends, also everyone who had contributed would get a Free copy.

This suggestion went down extremely well and before I knew it I had enough poems to publish the book, not only that there will be a 2 ^nd Anthology early next year. This is due to the fact that I have been attending an open mic . night once a month in Merthyr , and met many more poets with thanks to Mike Jenkins http://www.mikejenkins.net/ who was originally going to be one of the judges, but ended up contributing 3 fantastic poems to the book.

You can also find two more of the well known Poets on their links below,

Abigail Wyatt http://abigailwyatt.blogspot.co.uk/

and Winston Plowes http://www.winstonplowes.co.uk/

The book is now available in paperback priced 3.51 with Free delivery in the U.K.

The Black Hole on Amazon.co.uk

Purchase your copy here...

Profits from the book will go towards any legal fees accrued by United Valleys Action Group in their ongoing campaign.

There will also be a Kindle version available in the next few weeks.

You can join the campaign on the links below..

f acebook -united valleys action group

facebook -stop the rape of the fair country

facebook -green valleys alliance

http://www.greenvalleysalliance.co.uk/

Due to the wonderful support and enthusiasm I have received in the making of The Black Hole I hope to bring out a second Anthology in January/Feb 2013, if anybody would like to contribute please get in touch, you can email baarbaara at

baarbaara@baarbaarathesheep.com

Thank You for your support and Watch this Space.

.

SEE JOHN GOOD AT THE WEST COAST EISTEDDFOD - BUY TICKETS HERE

.

John Good was born in 1949 in Cwmafan, South Wales, into a house where the Welsh Language was spoken. Educated at Hull then Cardiff Universities he immigrated to the USA in 1975, living in Phoenix since 1989. Over the last 35 years he has worked as performer, session musician (Robin Huw Bowen, Jack Bruce, L. Shankar, Tony Williams and Zakir Hussain), producer, teacher, concert/festival organizer and has led workshops/residencies and given bilingual presentations on Celtic Culture, including poetry, music and literature at Universities, colleges, schools, libraries and Celtic Festivals. In 2009 John became cultural director of the Celtic Harvest Festival, Sedona and in 2010 he directed the Cymanfa Ganu (singing festival) at Bryn Seion, Oregon; the oldest Welsh church on the West Coast.

Tramor (Overseas) is the new traditional music project of John Good, formally of Oceans Apart. John is well known throughout the West, South, Midwest and in his native Wales as a multi-instrumentalist, Welsh piper, singer/songwriter, composer and poet. Veteran of many Celtic festivals and concerts, including Estes Park, Chicago Celtic Fest, San Diego and Denver, he brings the subtly different flavor oftraditional Welsh music to the western stage. On this occasion he is aided and abetted by mandolin virtuoso Billy Parker.

Interview With John Good

Ceri: John, you live in El Mirage, Arizona now but were brought up in South Wales. That must have been a little strange at first: Dry desert after Wet Wales.

John: Well it was Ceri, especially the night after a gig and being especially dry I quickly became wet or as they say over-served. I wandered back to El Mirage but it wasnt there it had disappeared! Vanished completely!! Luckily there was a Dennys nearby and I was able to wait out the illusion.

Ceri: Do you still have contact with old school mates?

John: Unfortunately most of them have failed to impress the parole board so far, with their pleas of On the night of the botched robbery I was at home watching Graham Norton on the telly with my pet hamster Zeta.

Ceri: How did you start to play music?

John: One finger at a time.

Ceri: Have you always been involved loved music?

John: Yes, always. Well except for that unfortunate incident with the bi-polar contortionist on Brighton pier.

Ceri: Were very glad to have traditional Welsh folk music at the Eisteddfod. Any advice for anyone wishing to play Welsh Bagpipes?

John: Spend a summer on the Mediterranean and quietly observe the Octopus, noting bodily colour changes and leg and finger coordination; Drink copious amounts of ouzo, and pray in the name of Poseidon that the octopus doesnt take a fancy to you.

.

.
Reproduced with kind permission from David Western's Portland Lovespoon Blog
.

With less than a week to go before the 2012 West Coast Eisteddfod kicks off, here's another look at our incredible lovespoon for all of those 'undecided' donors out there!! If you haven't yet donated a buck or two (or more) to the Eisteddfod, you are going to miss out on a chance to win this spoon for your very own!!! Each dollar you donate equals one ticket for our big raffle draw during this years Eisteddfod event... the more you donate, the better your odds become!

This is quite possibly the best lovespoon we have carved for the Eisteddfod (although we love them all) and I think that Laura and I are going from strength to strength as we perfect our designing and carving teamwork!!

The detailing on this year's spoon is exquisite! Laura spent many painstaking hours going over my crude sketches to refine the knotwork and perfect her sinuous vine details. The results of her dedication are plain to see!!!

Our little Welsh dragon strikes a brave (but not unfriendly) pose as he guards over the spoon, his tongue and tail weaving through the 4 Canadian maple leaves and 4 American stars which symbolize the international nature of the Eisteddfod. Everything is carved on both sides, so this spoon looks great both from the front, or if you hang it up wrong, from the back too!!

This may well be my favourite part of the spoon! Look at that gorgeous cherry bowl and the way the grain sweeps through it...fabulous!!! The 4 balls in the organic cage (representing the 4 years of the Eisteddfod) are a carving triumph for Laura. The detailing and finishing are perfect and I guarantee, the winner of this spoon will spend many hours rolling the little balls back and forth and enjoying the silky feel of the wooden vinework!

And here's one more look at Jen Delyth's beautiful tree of life design which she so very kindly allowed us to use as the focal point for this years Eisteddfod spoon. I think this lovely tree with its interlocking branches and leaves is the perfect symbol for our Eisteddfod lovespoon...arts and artists coming together in a spirit of cooperation to create an artwork of exceptional beauty! How sweet is THAT?

As an additional bonus...the winner of this year's spoon will also receive an exclusive copy of Chris Chandler's poem on celebrating your roots (which was the inspiration for this year's spoon) printed with a high rez graphic background designed by Jen Delyth! This is a great prize on its own!!!!

So please head to the Donate box at the top right of this page and get involved for your chance to win this beautiful spoon!! Time is ticking at a brisk rate and you'll kick yourself if that annoying neighbour of yours who always wins everything takes this home too, just because you didn't enter!!!

( NOTE ON DONATING: Go to the 'Donate' button in the right hand column on this page. A PayPal dialog page will open. Select your amount ... 1 dollar = 1 ticket in the draw ... after you make your payment you can use the memo field to indicate that your donation is for tickets in the spoon raffle. If you do not use the memo field we will assume that you are donating for a chance to win the spoon and award your tickets anyway. The draw will be held publicly at the West Coast Eisteddfod at the Multnomah Arts Center on October 13th in Portland Oregon.. The winner will receive their prize by mail unless they are present in the audience. We hope to film the draw and post the video on AmeriCymru. If you live in Portland and wish to buy tickets for the WCE please go to this page :- West Coast Eisteddfod 2012 )

.

After winning last year's poetry and story telling competitions at the West Coast Eisteddfod in L.A. Chris Chandler is back for this year's event in Portland and this time he's headlining! Chris will be appearing with Paul Benoit and a full complement of backing musicians. The Chris Chandler show will also feature a "modern minstrel multi-media medicine show... and an acro-balancing troupe"! Portland's very own Kazum will be appearing on stage with Chris. Read on for more details about the show and Chris Chandler's unique blend of music, poetry and story telling. Above all...buy tickets!! You can do that here:- West Coast Eisteddfod 2012

AmeriCymru: You're appearing at this year's West Coast Eisteddfod in Portland, Oregon - this won't be the first time you've been to Portland, will it? You've got a bit of a fan following here?

Chris: Thanks Ceri. I am really looking forward to coming up for the Eisteddfod with Paul Benoit and my partner Jen Delyth. It is going to be a great evening!

I lived in Portland briefly in the early 90s. I was rambling round the country - living in a 1968 Volkswagen Micro Bus - when, as most of my stories start out: My car broke down. I had the micro bus towed to my friend Daniels house and we ran an orange extension cord from the house out to the micro bus and I lived in it for about 6 months performing on street corners in the City of Roses.

Eventually I made enough money to buy a 1976 Chevy LUV. We built a camper on the back of it. We used a domed skylight that we found in a junkyard as the roof. Wow. Those were the days. Over the years I have managed to come through Portland about twice a year - usually around the time of the Oregon Country Faire.

Chris Chandler with Paul Benoit at Shady Grove

AmeriCymru: What kind of an audience or community have you found for poets and literary performance in Portland?

Chris: I have recently had some wonderful shows at the Alberta Rose Theatre. I love Portland - city of strip bars, and peace activists, traffic and environmentalists. Misfits, miscreants, malcontents, and mischief-makers. In short: my family.

For many years I have been coming up after the Faire - which I started going to in about 96. Its kind of a prom dance for creative drop outs. The folks in the north west have really accepted me - I mean my show is - well how do you put it? Hard to pigeon hole - and as you might guess I have often had a hard time finding work. Ya, know - its not really folk music - not really poetry - not quite a play - well in Portland none of that seems to matter. It feels like a family gathering - only without the green bean casserole made of Campbells cream of mushroom soup, tinned green beans and those canned Frenchs onion rings.

AmeriCymru: Have you got anything in mind in particular for this show or anything you'd like to do this trip?

Chris: I will have a road battered suitcase (literally) full of new videos to concoct the modern minstrel multi-media medicine show. Yes - ,videos - world class americana blues and an acro-balancing troupe that will make you think twice when you go under the big top.

I am very excited to be working with my long time music partner Paul Benoit - who is an astounding songwriter in his own right - you can check out his work at www.paulbenoitmusic.com as well as my longtime friend and former music director Frankie Hernandez, and a whole wagonload of merry-makers including Portlands own Kazum! Im really looking forward to doing a contemporary take that captures the true Bardic spirit of the Welsh Eisteddfod - in a Portland kinda way!

Chris Chandler/Paul Benoit 'Thoughts on Fabric'

AmeriCymru: You competed at last year's West Coast Eisteddfod in LA, how was that?

Chris: I did!

First let me say that being Americas 2011-2012 West Coast Eisteddfod Laureate is a true honor.

My betrothed is Welsh, and I have long admired the emphasis the Welsh put upon the literary arts. And last year in LA - Hollywood no less! the competition was fierce - some of those folks were truly funny and profound - so I knew I had to bring my best work. I actually hired a coach to help me train for the contest. So I want to thank Nazelah Jeffries of the Oakland Poetry Slam for helping me prepare. Oakland will be hosting the 2014 National Poetry Slam by the way.

Nazelah helped me with my game plan - I needed it because I knew those LA boys would be hungry - they grew up on one side of the camera or the other - and they are good. In short, I was nervous - which is always good because I am at my most nervous when I am not nervous.

Stage fright is a good thing - it makes you hyper aware - I won! It really is an honor. I mean the Irish have their music, and the Scots have their Athletics - but the Welsh - they love literature - and the performing arts. I relate to the bardic tradition very much so.

I have the Plaque you presented to me proudly displayed on the wall in the room where I write. The first thing I did when I won was to spend some of that hard earned prize money on rounds of drinks for the other contestants!

AmeriCymru: You've been touring and creating for many years, can you tell us a bit about the history and development of your work?

Chris: I went to college to study - of all things stage lighting. I have always been on or around the stage - ever since my oldest brother dragged me - as a small child - to audition as his high schools mascot - the Clarkston Angoras. I am too young to remember, but I am told that I wowed the crowd by standing front in center and picking my nose and then jumping off the stage. I won the contest but was deemed to be too young to fulfill my mascot duties... but I digress.

In college I started writing plays and going out on street corners in Winston Salem, North Carolina to try out monologues - well needless to say - people thought I was crazy. So I bought a guitar in a second hand shop - now, granted I could not PLAY the guitar - so I just strummed on it while I told monologues - well, that made me a folk singer.

When I graduated (North Carolina School of the Arts) I went out auditioning for work as a lighting designer and funded my trip by playing guitar on street corners - I actually landed a job as a designer on Broadway. So it seemed I was going to have to give up the road. But I wanted to have one last hurrah at an event called The Peoples Music Network. As fate would have it, my name got drawn from a lottery, to play a song in the main show with Pete Seeger! I played a song called Watergate Generation. I got a standing ovation, and an encore. It was an amazing experience. Pete Seeger - who had always been (and still is!) a hero of mine - came back stage and encouraged me not to take that job on Broadway, but to keep playing folk music.

Much to the chagrin of my family, I continued to play music on the subways of New York.

After about 6 months of living on the road, I got on one of those trains and wound up in Boston - which is where I really learned how to turn the show into a performance - because Harvard Square (at least at that time) was the mecca of street performing in America - mimes, jugglers, magicians and dancers - oh my!

But I was not one to settle for long, and the highways took me back south to spend time in New Orleans, then Victoria, British Columbia, Austin Texas, Atlanta Georgia, Pitsburgh Pensylvannia, Washington D.C. and yes, Portland, Oregon. I feel like a Johnny Cash song Ive been everywhere....

Along the way I started getting booked in clubs like CBGB, and and Festivals like The Winnipeg Folk Festival, High Sierra Music Festival and the Kerrville Folk Festival. I did two Lollapalooza Tours - the first one playing on the second stage just before Cyprus Hill - talk about a modern minstrel show - Chris Chandler singing Republican Woodstock followed by Cypress Hill Singing Insane in the Membrane.

Not to mention the Red Hot Chili Peppers and of course Janes Addiction.

In Boston one night, my friend Rae-Linda Woad suggested that I set down the guitar. I did so and it changed my life. At the time my partner Amanda Stark (who lives in Portland now by the way) played guitar and sang beautifully. We traveled quite a bit calling ourselves Stark Raving Chandler. I remember we had been riding down the road singing songs, reading the newspaper aloud to each other and novels - Woody Guthrie Songs, The Grapes of Wrath, and the Dallas Morning News - the roads, the songs, the stories, the News all melted together into a collage. That night we put that collage on stage. Up until that moment, it had been a disinterested audience - but that collage turned the night around - and my process of creating has never been the same.

Chris Chandler/Paul Benoit at the Alberta Rose Theater Portland 2011

AmeriCymru: You've performed with Paul Benoit in the past, how did your collaboration evolve and are the two of you working on anything currently?

Chris: I have know Pauli for a long time - we met at the High Sierra Music Festival. He was playing in a band called Hanuman. Man, those guys had this groovy complex sophisticated back beat. It was all instrumental. Sometimes my friend - drummer Jarod Kaplan - would invite me to sit in and read poetry on top. It was cool. When Benoit heard I was looking for a music partner the foolish man volunteered. I drove from Baltimore Maryland to Seattle to rehearse with him. Hes that good.

His records are sublimely understated - hes easy to work with, a terrific band leaded world class musician and one of the best song writers I personally know. Our collaboration seems effortless, and he knows how to travel. Home is where the toothbrush is!

AmeriCymru: Can you tell us about other performers you've worked with?

Chris: I am lucky to have crossed paths with some of the greatest minds of my generation.

I was honored to be asked to fill out a bill one night in New York as a tribute to Abby Hoffman - with Allan Ginsberg and William Kunstler. I have opened for all kinds of folks including Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Utah Philips, Arlo Guthrie, Leo Kotae and Mojo Nixon. Folk Festivals are the best because you find yourself in these magnificent round robins. As a spoken word artist - I am kind of an odd ball - so they will put me onstage with - I dunno the nose flute player and the mime.

Once I did a round robin with Dan Bern, Joey Shit-Head from DOA playing acoustic punk- folk and John Doe from X Playing Country Acoustic. But other times ya might find yourself with The Austin Lounge Lizards and Ani Di Franco. Seriously.

Often at music festivals people ask me to come on stage with them and sit in during their show. It used to happen so often that I put an album out in the late 90s called Collaborations with a different artist accompanying me on each track. Peter Yarrow (of Peter Paul and Mary) Dan Bern, Dar Williams, Martin Sexton and Ellis Paul to name a few.

But more importantly than the Famous(or at least people you have heard of) are the ones that are far more important - I have been lucky enough to know and hang out with and do late night mind bending song swaps with some of the greatest songwriters youve never heard of. People like Danny Dollinger. If I had a dollar and if I had a quarter I would buy for you a bottle of the very best malt Liquor. A big old forty ouncer with a note that needs and answer - look me in the eyes and tell me how can you say no to love.

And do look me in the eye and tell me you dont love that lyric.

Lots of folks like the late great AL Grierson, and Anne Feeney who I was lucky enough to tour with for 5 years: Have you been to jail for Justice? I want to shake your hand. Sitting in or laying down are ways to take a stand Have you sung a song for freedom Or marched that picket line? Have you been to jail for justice? Then you're a friend of mine.

... and these are friends of mine.

Ive been so lucky that way. Brian QTN, Myshkin, Mike West and Peter Wilde, Darleen Soverign, Jason Ecklund and Steve Clark. Not exactly household names but they should be.

I have been very fortunate to work with some of the best artists I can think of. The most important is Phil Rockstroh. Rockstroh was my mentor in the early days. He is a truly great writer with keen insight. We collaborated on material together for more than a decade.

All the bands that I have had back me up have been like the dream of a demented marionette. Anne Feeney remains my heroine. We played together for 5 years as the Flying Poetry Circus - David Rovics, Samantha Parton (Be Good Tanyas) and Oliver Steck - we called ourselves Avoiding Godot. Next came The Convenience Store Troubadours with Frankie Hernandez and probably the best singer I have ever heard - let alone worked with Laura Freeman. I already told you about Stark Raving Chandler. There was Liberace Hootenanny and The Unwilling Disciples and Over the Counter Culture.

Yes, I have worked with some terrific musicians to travel the thin highways of fat america, bringing music, theatre and spoken word to the tiny taverns, picketline demonstrations, and plush theatres, from Bangor, Maine to San Ysadiro, California.

AmeriCymru: Do you have a particular process or pattern to writing? Can you tell us how you work out a performance piece?

Chris: Yea, I just open up the package. add beer. and shake.

AmeriCymru: What's next for Chris Chandler?

Chris: I am working on a show of crossover Celtic material. Perhaps talking about the immigrant experience. The story in my family is that we came here before the American revolution - by boat - Chandlers were the candle makers - from Wales to Savannah Georgia, which was a debtor colony. Many folks made those hard journeys, to drain the swamps of New Orleans. To work the mines of Pennsylvania. To make a new life in a new world. So many stories. It is intimidating though.

I go to a lot of Celtic Festivals with my partner Jen Delyth (who is a renowned Celtic artist) - and I get to hear the traditional story tellers - the Shanachies - and these guys are good - they know their material - all 3000 years of it - it makes me nervous. Which should make things interesting.

If I can find the right accompanist with a large Celtic Music repertoire (hint hint) I am excited to break some new ground!

But you know me - I am a traveling Medicine show. Its what I do - Its all I can do.

AmeriCymru: Is there anywhere, or for any audience, in particular you'd like to perform that you haven't?

Chris: Yes, I want to put together a show that can play at fringe festivals. It is a real goal of mine to one day play the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Some People wanna play Broadway - some Carnegie Hall. Me I wanna play Edinburgh.

AmeriCymru: Where can people get your work?

Chris: Ceri - the word work makes me tired! Oh, my CDs and DVDs and such... Well if you can remember my name - its Chris Chandler dot org - because I am an Organizer not a communist. ( www.chrischandler.org )
I send out a newsletter once a month - called T.H.E. .M.U.S.E.A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.

I only bug ya once a month and I very rarely talk about me - I write a new piece and send it out each month as well as my dates - what cities I am coming to.

AmeriCymru: Any last words for readers of AmeriCymru?

Chris: Yes, It has been a real honor to be the 2011-2012 West Coast Eisteddfod Laureate.

AmeriCymru is bringing awareness to the contemporary bardic heart of the Welsh culture here in America. I have been to Wales a couple of times and enjoyed butty bach beer, my mother in laws lava bread, (accompanied by a Max Boyce session so Id know the true meaning of a Welsh bard!), and after listening to her collection of old welsh mining songs, I now know where Pete Seeger got his inspiration. Ill never hear the The bells of Rhymneyagain the same way.

I am a lucky guy. Mostly because I get to have such a talented artist as a partner. So my last words to AmeriCymru are - if for some reason you are unfamiliar with the mesmerizing artistry of Jen Delyth please treat yourself www.celticartstudio.com .

Thanks Ceri!

How do you say it? Iechyd da!

Or as we say it in Georgia - heres mud in your eyes!

Interview by Ceri Shaw

It's that time of year again - competition time. Well actually practically any time of year is competition time, it's a never ending carousel. However it can be a very lucrative carousel with many organisations dangling very tempting morsels in front of ushungry writers.
If you are one of the many aspiring authors who have not yet picked up a pen in anger one of these competitions may just be what you need to kick start your writing career.

Competitionsprovide 3 very important elements for budding and established writers: 1. A sharp focus.

2. Prescribed parameters that actually help creativity.

3. Adefinitive time scale.

Without any further waffle here are some that may get your creative engine out of first gear:
EREWASH WRITERS GROUP: Creepy Christmas Chiller Competition 2012
THE BETTY TRASK PRIZE (Commonwealth only) For first novels by writers under the age of 35 on 31st December 2012
THE MCKITTERICK PRIZE (Work must have been first published in the UK or be unpublished) For the best first novel by an author over the age of 40 on 31st December 2012
CINAMMON PRESS WRITING AWARDS
Short stories, 2,000 - 4,000 words
COMMONWEALTH WRITERS SHORT STORY PRIZE Original, unpublished short stories 2,000 - 5,000 words.
INKTEARS SHORT STORY COMPETITION Short stories, 1,000 - 3,000 words.
INTERNATIONAL AEON AWARD SHORT FICTION CONTEST For science fiction, fantasy and horror stories up to 10,000 words.
THE ANTHONY HECHT POETRY PRIZE Book-length poetry collections.
BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE For poems up to 50 lines.
FRANK O'CONNOR INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY AWARD For short story collections published in 2012.
TOM HOWARD/JOHN H REID SHORT STORY COMPETITION Short stories, essays or other prose, up to 5,000 words.
WINNING WRITERS SPORTS POETRY & PROSE CONTEST For one or two poems, short stories or essays or other prose, on a sporting theme., all with 6,000 word maximum.
BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING 2013 Full length (at least an hour) stage plays written in English.
LIGHTSHIP INTERNATIONAL PRIZES Short stories up to 5,000 words.
If there isn't anything in the above to stimulate the creative juices you'd better take up knitting!
As you know every week I feature Indie authors but for the next couple of weeks there is a slight change of focus. I shall instead be flagging up people who are attempting to help or provide a service for Indie authors so here goes.

PeopleOutToHelpIndie Authors. . .
	Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge
		The Independent Author Index is designed to offer independent authors another avenue of exposure. It is also designed to be engaging and interactive.
	I write and blog News for and about Indie Authors, Indie Books, Writing Tips. Handling Book Promotions and Author Interviews
		If you're anything like us (and what are the odds of that?) you love to read. . .We're always open to a good, opinionated author who loves to review books, so if you want to review for us, send your sample review, CV and query to let us know . Welcome to Novelspot, the book-lovers paradise.
	Indie author, e-publisher, and the writer behind Publish Your Own Ebooks, a self-publishing resource for those who are writing and publishing ebooks.
		We're readers, not writers. An ebook Publishing & Social marketing team of readers help you writers find readers