Blogs

Y Lolfa publishers will begin their 50 ^th anniversary celebrations earlier than expected as they launch the private diaries of Y Lolfa founder and co-founder of Lol magazine, Robat Gruffudd, on Friday .

Lolian  is a collection of ‘eccentric and too honest’ personal diaries that Robat Gruffudd kept since the sixties. Written over the last fifty years, the diaries are published for the first time ever this year.

The diaries are published before the 50 ^th anniversary of Y Lolfa which will be celebrated next year. The book delves into the publishing world but Robat emphasises that this is not an autobiography nor the history of Y Lolfa per se.

‘We will be celebrating Y Lolfa’s birthday soon. Watch this space for news of a big party and a range of other events!’ says Robat.

The book is launched officially on Friday the 25 ^th of November at 8pm at the Llew Du (Black Lion) in Talybont. The academic Simon Brooks will be in conversation with the author followed by live music from Tecwyn Ifan.

The diaries include response to events and an ‘unofficial’ yet original portrait of life in Wales over the last fifty years.

The book contains a mixture of humours ancedotes, provoking comments and memories about the twists and turns working in the pubilshing industry and meetings with authors and beyond in Wales and in bars on the continent. As a language campaigner since his early years, Robat goes into detail about his work with Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Cymuned, Dyfodol i'r Iaith – and a campaign where he refused to speak English. Also discussed are the Trefechan bridge protest and the campaign to establish a daily Welsh newspaper, Y Byd .

Other stories include the arrest of him and his wife Enid under false suspicion that they had played a part in the burning of holiday homes in the 80s.

His Jewish and German background is also illustrated – as well as the prosecution suffered by his family in Germany, which was the basis of the successful book written by his brother Heini, A Haven from Hitler, which won Book of the Year (as Yr Erlid ). It includes an entry where Robat visits Ravensbrück concentration camp where his grandmother was murdered by the Nazis during the second world war.

‘There are funny stories about plenty of people here and that’s what I’m afraid of! What will they say when they see their names in print? But the diary form asks for complete honesty,’ says Robat, ‘If you’re not honest then what’s the point? Although I may leave the country for a month or two after publication!’

Lolian by Robat Gruffudd (£9.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.

One of Wales’ most well known actors has revealed the brave battle fought by his wife against cancer in his new autobiography published this week.

In  Hunangofiant Dyn Lwcus (A Lucky Man’s Autobiography) the actor Hywel Emrys opens up about the death of his wife Liz to cancer last year, and portrays his own experience of losing someone so close to the cruel illness.

‘Liz was a unique woman’ says Hywel, ‘She was strong, she was brave and full of healthy humour – even towards the end.’

‘I hope talking about my experiences in such an open way will help those who are going through the same thing’ says Hywel.

Hywel is known primarily for playing the role of Derek, the garage owner on popular Welsh soap Pobol y Cwm, and is a familiar face throughout Wales. He has also acted in many other programmes and films. In this intimate autobiography, the lovable actor tells numerous stories and mishaps along the way’.

The death of his wife is what led him to write his story.

‘It was a form of catharsis that morphed into a book’ says Hywel, ‘I lost my own father at a young age and I only have faded memories of him now so I hope that by writing this book it will act as a memory for my children when I leave’.

Praise has already been given to the book by one of his friends and the world famous actor, Ioan Gruffudd, who sais, ‘This is a witty and wonderful autobiography – Hywel is one of the most loved actors in Wales’.

Hywel was born in Carmarthen but now lives in Cardiff with his children, Ffion and Sam.

The book will be launched at the caffi bar at yr Hen Lyfrgell in Cardiff on Tuesday the 29 ^th of November at 7pm with Ieuan Rhys and entertainment by Lisa Angharad.

The second launch will be held the following week at Cwins rugby club in Carmarthen on Tuesday the 6 ^th of December at 7pm with actor Gwyn Elfyn.

Hunangofiant Dyn Lwcus by Hywel Emrys (£9.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.

A new biography presents new and revealing revelations about Carwyn James, one of the most iconic and popular characters in recent Welsh history.

The two sides to the life of Carwyn James are revealed in the book, Carwyn – Yn Erbyn y Gwynt by Alun Gibbard, published this week, the public figure and the private man. As well as new information and photographs never seen before, in depth research conducted by the author reveals new information about his personal life, including his sexuality, his drinking problem and his time in Italy. There's also details on the problems between his relationship with the BBC and the Welsh Rugby Union.

‘The Welsh Rugby Union belittled him, and the BBC did the same.’ said Alun Gibbard, ‘Both organisations failed to use Carwyn’s genius in a responsible way and benefit from his experience and talent.’

Detailed is his life as a student in Abersytwyth, a young man in the Navy during the Cold War, then his period as a teacher. All of which happened before Carwyn James became famous and a familiar household name at the age of forty. ‘Carwyn James was a genius. He was also a trouble soul’ said Alun Gibbard.

‘Conversations came from what can be described as the four pillars in Carwyn’s life - rugby, literature, patriotism and broadcasting.’ says Alun, ‘It is the sign of a great man that his contribution extends over all these different fields. Who can he be compared to today, I wonder? There is no obvious answer’.

Said the Professor Gareth Wililams, ‘This is a Grand Slam of a biography that breaks new ground in Welsh sport literature and beyond. One of the books of the year, there is no doubt.’

‘A moving and comprehensive portrait of a Welshman who lived two lives in one – a politican, a teacher, a broadcaster and author as well as one of the world’s greatest rugby strategist. Carwyn continues to inspire’ added Jon Gower.

The biography is the result of extensive research including over a hundred conversations with Carwyn’s family and the greats in his areas of interest including Colin Meads, Lord Elystan Morgan and Huw Llywelyn Davies.

Alun Gibbard is a full time author from Llanelli who has published almost thirty non-fiction titles and one novel. He contributes weekly to the Welsh magazine Golwg. A broadcaster for over 25 years before he began his writing career, he still contributes to radio and television.

‘Carwyn as a popular man but it was just him, on his own, at the end in Amsterdam. This is an attempt to understand the life of ‘...a man that everyone knew his name but nobody knew him’ according to his friend, the author Alun Richards’ explained Alun.

Two launches will be held in the company of Carwyn James’ family and the author Alnu Gibbard to celebrate the life and contribution of Carwyn James.

The first launch will be held at Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Cefneithin on Wednesday 23 ^rd November at 7pm.

The second launch will be held at Aberystwyth rugby club on Thursday the 24 ^th of November at 7pm .

Carwyn – Yn Erbyn y Gwynt by Alun Gibbard (£14.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.

A year’s worth of delicious recipes…

The cook Lisa Fearn will be launching her first recipe book Blas / Taste at Aberglasney Gardens on Wednesday, 23 November.

Blas / Taste contains over 90 delicious family-friendly recipes and is presented bilingually. The book also includes suggestions for activities to keep the children busy, creating home-made gifts, quick ideas and making the most of ingredients from the garden.

Lisa Fearn is a Carmarthen girl and a mother of five. She established a gardening and cookery school called The Pumpkin Patch in Allt y Gog Farm in Felin-wen, Carmarthenshire. By now, she has taught thousands of children to grow and cook their own food (she's taught a few parents too).

Lisa is a columnist with the Carmarthen Journal and a regular on Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. She is also a cook on the Prynhawn Da programme on S4C. Above all, Lisa has a great interest in the social power of food.

Lisa says “I love the outdoors, gardening and cooking. So, when our youngest reached school age, I took stock of what I knew and The Pumpkin Patch became a reality – a children’s cookery and gardening school teaching them how to grow and cook their own food. Within months the school was fully booked, and I started sharing our family-friendly recipes with people.

“Blas • Taste is full of our favourite ‘go to’ recipes at Allt y Gog Farm. They are the recipes that I hope my children will use when they leave home – Mum’s favourites. No fuss; easy meals and snacks that flavour the seasons and the year’s celebrations with the family. So invite everybody round to taste!”

Blas/Taste is a perfect gift this Christmas and is now available from your local bookshop or directly from Gomer Press on ww.gomer.co.uk / 01559 363092.

Lisa Fearn will launch the book at Aberglasney Gardens on Wednesday, 23 November at 7pm.

Lisa will also be signing copies of the book at:

Peppercorn, Llandeilo on Friday, 18 November, 1.30pm

The Royal Welsh Winter Fair, Llanelwedd, 28 November, 11am on the Siop Inc stand and midday on the Merlin’s Hill stand

Aberglasney Winter Fair, 2 December 2pm & 4 December, 2pm

The National Library of Wales, 8 December at 5pm.

Bibliographic details

Blas / Taste, Lisa Fearn, Photographs by Aled Llywelyn

ISBN 9781785621741, hardback, 248 pages

£14.99, Published by Gomer Press

...

Blwyddyn gron o ryseitiau blasus…

Bydd y cogydd Lisa Fearn yn lansio ei chyfrol goginio gyntaf, Blas / Taste yng ngerddi Aberglasney nos Fercher, 23 Tachwedd.

Mae Blas / Taste yn cynnwys dros 90 o ryseitiau dwyieithog sy’n tynnu dŵr i’r dannedd. Yn ogystal mae’n cynnwys awgrymiadau

am weithgareddau i gadw’r plant yn brysur, creu anrhegion cartref, syniadau sydyn yn y gegin a gwneud y mwyaf o’r cynnyrch sy’n ffres o’r ardd.

Merch o Gaerfyrddin yw Lisa Fearn ac mae’n fam i bump o blant. Sefydlodd ysgol arddio a choginio boblogaidd i blant, sef The

Pumpkin Patch ar Fferm Allt y Gog yn Felin-wen, Sir Gaerfyrddin.

Erbyn hyn, mae hi wedi dysgu miloedd o blant i dyfu a choginio eu bwyd eu hunain (ac wedi dysgu ambell riant hefyd!).

Mae Lisa’n golofnydd gyda’r Carmarthen Journal. Mae hi’n westai cyson ar Radio Cymru a Radio Wales, ac yn gogydd ar raglen Prynhawn Da, S4C, hefyd. Uwchlaw popeth, mae gan Lisa ddiddordeb mawr ym mhŵer cymdeithasol bwyd.

Meddai Lisa “Rwy’n dwlu ar y byd tu fas ac ar arddio a choginio. Felly, pan ddechreuodd y cyw melyn ola yn yr ysgol, cymerais stoc o’r hyn roeddwn i’n gyfarwydd ag e. Ac felly y daeth The Pumpkin Patch i fodolaeth – ysgol goginio a garddio i blant, yn eu dysgu sut i dyfu a choginio’u bwyd eu hunain. O fewn misoedd, roedd yr ysgol yn llawn, a dechreuais rannu ein ryseitiau teulu-gyfeillgar â phobl eraill.”

“Mae Blas / Taste yn llawn o’n hoff ryseitiau ni yn Fferm Allt y Gog. Dyma’r ryseitiau rwy’n gobeithio y bydd fy mhlant yn eu defnyddio pan fyddan nhw’n gadael y nyth – ffefrynnau Mam.”

“Dim ffws - prydau a byrbrydau hawdd sy’n rhoi blas ar bob dim yn ei dymor ac yn ddathliad o flwyddyn gron gyda’r teulu a ffrindiau. Rhowch wahoddiad i bawb ddod draw i gael blas ar bethau!”

Mae Blas / Taste yn anrheg Nadolig delfrydol ac ar gael yn eich siop lyfrau leol am £14.99 neu’n

uniongyrchol oddi wrth wasg Gomer ar www.gomer.co.uk / 01559 363092.

Bydd Lisa Fearn yn lansio’r gyfrol yng ngerddi Aberglasney nos Fercher, 23 Tachwedd am 7 o’r gloch.

Bydd hi hefyd yn llofnodi copïau o’r llyfr yn:

Siop Peppercorn, Llandeilo, 18 Tachwedd am 1.30 o’r gloch

Y Ffair Aeaf, Llanelwedd, 28 Tachwedd, 11 o'r gloch ar stondin Siop Inc a 12 ar stondin Bryn Myrddin

Ffair Aeaf Aberglasney, 2 Rhagfyr, 2 o’r gloch a 4 Rhagfyr, 2 o’r gloch

Y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol, 8 Rhagfyr am 5 o’r gloch.

Manylion llyfryddol

Blas / Taste, Lisa Fearn, Ffotograffau Aled Llywelyn

ISBN 9781785621741, clawr caled, 248 tudalen,

£14.99, Gwasg Gomer

R.Seiliog has announced two UK dates for January 2017 in London’s the Waiting Room and Brighton’s Hope and Ruin, and releases the video for his recent single 'Cloddio Unterdach'. It’s lifted from his forthcoming 'Shedhead' EP released through Turnstile Music on the 18th of November

The Line of Best Fit called 'Cloddio Unterdach" "Electro magic" possessing "a surreal sense of mystery - it's an engrossing listen" Clash Magazine said "the sheer density of fresh ideas and wilful innovation on display is staggering.”

R.Seiliog is the alias of North Walian skewed musician/producer Robin Edwards. His forthcoming Shedhead EP is the latest bold futuristic release from a prolific outsider artist with a vivid imagination, to be released via Turnstile Music. https://hearthis.at/carolinein ternational/set/r-seiliog-shed head

Through its five tracks Edwards forges together pulsing elements of Komische influenced electronics, skittering psych splattered samples, enveloping trance like ambience, underpinned by an appreciation of un-shifting Krautrock time signatures. This is the unique shapeshifting sound of imminent space and time travel, weightless and genreless, interjected by searing moments of revelation.

“It’s like the slipping clutch of a self combusting engine built from mirrors blackened by astral soot reflecting back the whole in each tarnished component. “ Says Edwards “Inspired by the shape of whispering solar winds or a Cage chance conservationist uttering “it looks deliberate, let it dry!"

“There's something for every-single-one unified in the omni shallow depths; A fast one, slow one, happy one, sad one - and another one.” notes Edwards “Instrumental meditations on cats chasing tails, autumnal trips to short sighted opticians and much more, or less”

To coincide with the release of the Shedhead EP, R.Seiliog has also announced some select UK dates in the new year.

R.Seiliog’s forthcoming dates:

Nov 25 - Pontypridd, Clwb Y Bont

Jan 18 - London, The Waiting Room

Jan 19th - Brighton, Hope and Ruin

Links:

http://www.turnstilemusic.net/ rseiliog-1/

@turnstilemusic

A true story that survived through the oral tradition is the subject of a new novel published by Y Lolfa publishers this week.

Pantywennol by Ruth Richards tells the story of Elin Ifans – a lively young woman in her teens who is hindered by the rural life of Pen Llŷn during the nineteenth century. Because of her obsession with the supernatural Elin is given the name ‘Bwgan Pantywennol’ (the Pantywennol Ghost) by the locals, which raises tensions and conflicts within the community between religion and supersition.

The novel is based on a true story which was kept alive by word of mouth.

‘I suppose what inspired me what the combination of studying nineteenth century literature for my MA and memories of old stories from Pen Llŷn I heard from my two Nain (Grandmothers)’ said Ruth Richards, ‘I got hold of a book by Moses Glyn Jones and Norman Roberts about the history of the ‘bwgan’ (ghost) and was somewhat surprised that no one had turned the story into a novel. What was so exciting was that there was plenty of history that had survived to form a basis which allowed me to construct a narrative around it myself.’

The novel revolves around the frustrations of a teenager who realises that the contraints of her Victorian life will allow little opportunity or adventure for her.

‘The fact that Elin was so young when the trouble happened was very appealing to me,’ explains Ruth, ‘I tried to recognise a certain ‘punk’ spirit that belonged to her. The kind of energy and raw defiance that makes the process of shaming her so much more unjust, and her fate even sadder still’.

The novel recieved high acclaim during the Medal Ryddiaith (Prose Medal) competition during the National Eisteddfod in y Fenni this year and came close to winning the top prize.

Fe gafodd y nofel ganmoliaeth uchel yng nghystadleuaeth y Fedal Ryddiaith yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Fenni 2016 gan ddod yn agos at gipio’r brif wobr.

Judging the competition, Dafydd Morgan Lewis said,

‘From the outset I doted on this novel. I fell in love with her really’ says Dafydd, ‘This isn’t just a compelling story but very powerful writing as well’

Jane Aaron added that the novel echoed some American Gothic literature, such as Arthur Miller’s famous play, The Crucible .

Pantywennol is Ruth Richards’s first novel.

Ruth grew up in Cemaes, Anglesey, but now lives in Beaumaris. She was a student on the MA Creative Writing course at Bangor University and works for the lobbying organisation, Dyfodol i’r Iaith.

The novel will be launched at Oriel Plas Glyn Widow in Pwllheli at 2pm on Saturday 26th November . There will be readings from the novel and performances of ‘Baled y Bwgan’ (‘Ballad of the Ghost’) which is an old ballad about the story. Professors Angharad Price and Gerwyn Wiliams will also be in conversation with Ruth Richards.

Pantywennol by Ruth Richards (£7.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.

Please note: this book is in Welsh

The infamous Dai Jones of Llanilar publishes his autobiography this week which will tell his story over the past twenty years.

Tra Bo Dai will follow the twists and turns of Dai Jones’ career over the last two decades as a farmer, presenter, and one of Wales’ most popular broadcaster. The book was co-written with his close friend, Lyn Ebenezer.

A farmer, television and radio presenter on programmes such as Cefn Gwlad and the Royal Welsh Show, Dai Jones is one of the most well known and most poular figure in rural Wales. His first book was one of the most popular books to be published in the last decade selling over 10,000 copies and his programmes continue to be very popular.

Because of his work and contribution to the agricultural world over the years, Dai has been awarded many honours including a BAFTA Cymru Wales fellowship, and being appointed Professor in the Arts by the University of Wales. But his greatest honour was to be made the President of Sioe’r Cardis in 2010.

‘I’ve enjoyed almost every second of my life. But I am a farmer and I’m glad that I have a little more time these days to enjoy the things close to my heart,’ says Dai, ‘But then again performing on stage or on the screen is nothing but an extension of what I did when I was a child’.

But despite all the fame and adoration, his feet rest firmly on the ground.

‘People are what’s always been important to me. I may have travelled the world but spiritually I never left my home’ says Dai, ‘Wherever I went and wherever I will go, I will always come back. This is where my heart is’.

But there is no end to Dai’s activites,

‘I don’t think I will ever be in want of more things to do. The things I do tend to change but they never disappear or dwindle’ he says.

‘I’m now 73 years old and still going’ says Dai, ‘God has been very kind to me! One, he gave me good health. I’m as healthy now as I have ever been’

‘I believe that to be in good health in this world and have a chance to enjoy life is more important than being a millionaire’ says Dai, ‘Truly, if enjoyment was a form of money, I would be a millionaire myself’

Tra bo Dai will be launched on Thursday the 17 ^th of November at Marine Hotel in Aberystwyth at 7pm in the company of Dai Jones and Lyn Ebenezer. There will be entertainment by Nest Jenkins and Aled Wyn Davies with Menna Griffith conducting.

Tra bo Dai by Dai Jones Llanilar (£9.99, Y Lolfa) is available now.

A beautiful new online collection of audio stories suitable for children from Beyond the Border 

We're really excited to announce Beyond Storytime - a way of providing families everywhere with beautifully told stories in their own homes.  It is a small taste of the children’s part of our wonderful festival, available all the time, wherever in the world you live.

This online collection has nearly 20 audio stories told for English speakers and carefully chosen for us by our entertaining storytellers, to be suitable for children.  More stories will be added later so Beyond Storytime becomes a collection of treasured tales that grows and grows.  There is a handful of stories in Welsh as well.

For just £11.95 (less than £1 a month) you can subscribe to the service for a whole year.  Find out more, listen to some extracts, subscribe to the site for yourself or buy a gift subscription by visiting www.beyondstorytime.com .

A number of readers have asked us to clarify the first prize details for the AmeriCymru Prize For The Novella competition. They are listed below. The deadline for submissions is March 1st.

• 1000 GBP ( $1250 US approx) cash prize.

• Publication (in ebook format) by Welsh Rarebytes of the winning entry  plus publication in excerpt form in the New Welsh Review Magazine.

• We will fly you to Wales (at our expense) and accommodate you for up to one week so that you can attend the Prize ceremony on June 1st at the Hay Literary Festival .

• A lunch meeting with a leading London literary editor (either in London or Hay)

For more details see below and here:- www.newwelshwritingawards.com

...

The New Welsh Writing Awards 2017, run by New Welsh Review in association with Aberystwyth University and AmeriCymru, opens for entries on 26 September with two new categories, the Aberystwyth University Prize for Memoir and AmeriCymru Prize for the Novella.

Now in its third year, the Awards were set up to champion the best short-form writing in English and has previously run non-fiction categories with the WWF Cymru Prize for Writing on Nature, won by Eluned Gramich in 2015 and the University of South Wales Prize for Travel Writing, won by Mandy Sutter in June 2016.

This year sees the Awards open up to fiction and memoir, welcoming sponsorship from Aberystwyth University, the core sponsor and host of New Welsh Review, and US online magazine and social network AmeriCymru. The Awards are run in partnership with Curtis Brown, Gladstone’s Library and Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre.

New Welsh Review editor Gwen Davies will judge both categories with Welsh-American writer David Lloyd co-judging the Novella category. David is the author of nine books including poetry collections and novels, and directs the Creative Writing Program at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY.

Each category winner will receive £1,000 cash, e-publication by New Welsh Review on their New Welsh Rarebyte imprint and a positive critique by leading literary agent Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown. Second prize for each category is a weeklong residential course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre in Gwynedd, north Wales and third prize is a weekend stay at Gladstone’s Library in Flintshire, north Wales. All six winners will also receive a one-year subscription to New Welsh Review. 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.

The Awards are open to all writers based in the UK and Ireland plus those who have been educated in Wales. The AmeriCymru Prize for the Novella is also open to writers based in the US and Canada. Entries close at midnight on 1 March 2017. Full details, including terms and conditions, can be found online at www.newwelshwritingawards.com .

The longlist will be announced online on 3 April 2017, with the shortlist announced at an event at Aberystwyth University on 4 May 2017 and the winner at an event at Hay Festival on 1 June 2017.

Gwen Davies , editor of New Welsh Review says: 'We are seeking evocative, succinct and authentic short book-length manuscripts in English. For the novella category they will be between 8,000 and 30,000 words. For the memoir, between 5,000 and 30,000. If your top drawer hides a novella with the punch of Animal Farm or the poignancy and dialect of Mihangel Morgan's Pan Oeddwn yn Fachgen ; or the bite, and visceral local feel of memoirs such as Mary Karr's The Liars' Club or the sheer cheek of Charles Nicholl's The Fruit Palace , we want to hear from you.'

Co-judge David Lloyd says ‘I am delighted to serve as co-judge for the AmeriCymru Prize for the Novella. Ever since writing a novella for my first book of fiction, I have loved the form, which combines the intensity of the short story with the expansiveness of the novel. It can be devoured in one sitting or put down and picked up for leisurely reading. Anyone who has read James Joyce’s ‘The Dead’, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness , Carson McCullers’ The Ballad of the Sad Café , or Kate Chopin’s The Awakening will know the pleasures of this genre in the hands of masters. I also very much value the international scope of this contest, which I hope will draw out authors from diverse backgrounds who write – or who are now inspired to try – the novella.’

Louise Marshall , Head of English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with New Welsh Review to find the best writing talent in Wales and beyond. Memoirs are a fascinating and often surprising literary form and, just as these Awards have already celebrated Mandy Sutter’s and Eluned Gramich’s beautifully crafted and enthralling works, we are very much looking forward to discovering equally talented writers in the future.’

Ceri Shaw, co-founder of AmeriCymru, added, ‘AmerCymru is honored to be offered this opportunity to partner with the New Welsh Review and Aberystwyth University. We founded AmeriCymru to increase awareness of Wales and Welsh heritage and to bring Wales and its arts, including literature, to the attention of more people around the world. This competition provides voice and opportunity to new and upcoming writers, and we are excited to be able to contribute to this effort.’

Please Retweet

AmeriCymru Prize For The Novella - First Prize Details - See more at: https://t.co/LUYZ6L4MzA #wales #writing #writers pic.twitter.com/scii8MNoYR

— americymru (@americymru) November 12, 2016