Blogs
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Reproduced with kind permission from David Western's Portland Lovespoon Blog
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I'm underway on the 'Tree of Life' section of our West Coast Eisteddfod lovespoon. This beautiful design was graciously given to us for use on this year's spoon by the extraordinary Celtic artist, Jen Delyth. It's always been a particular favourite of mine, so getting the chance to carve it is very exciting. As you can see, it's early days yet, but it is starting to take shape and I'm getting an idea of how it will look when I'm done. I will most likely leave each root and branch slightly 'textured' rather than going for the very smooth effect which Laura has achieved on her section of the spoon (the part which is slightly darker in colour). I'm hoping that by leaving it a bit textured, it will separate the intense knotwork sections and make each easier to 'read'. Of course, its always possible that my idea won't work out and so it will be one of those last minute decisions whether or not to sand them smooth after all!!
- So here's where things stand at the moment! With time flying by at what seems an accelerated rate this year, it feels like I am up against the wall a bit. I'm hoping a few long sessions this week will help me to get back in control of the time and have the spoon in the post for Portland on time.
- This year's spoon is going to be an ABSOLUTE CRACKER!!! With contributions from 4 artists, the West Coast Eisteddfod lovespoon is definitely our most complicated and elegant effort yet! If you haven't donated a buck or two to the Eisteddfod, don't delay!!! October 13 will be here in a flash and that is the time when someone lucky is going to win it!!
- There's a LOT of artistic, design and craft skill in this piece and it could be yours for just one dollar!! Every dollar you donate to the Eisteddfod equals one chance to win....and somebody is going to be that one!!!
- Please help us to help the West Coast Eisteddfod grow and flourish!
The two graphics at the top of every page on the site ( currently 20,000 approx ) will become available after the West Coast Eisteddfod on October 13th. The site currently attracts around 150,000 unique visitors a year and with a page load ratio of better than 2 to 1 that means 300,000 eyeballs on these ad spots. We are interested in soliciting advertising clients for the coming year and we are open to offers. Each ad will be 480 pixels wide by approximately 100 pixels in height. Advertisers will be entitled to change both the graphic and the destination url once a month.All proceeds from advertising go to support the West Coast Eisteddfod.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO MAKE US AN OFFER. EMAIL AMERICYMRU@GMAIL.COM
We took out three year old granddaughter Emine to Cardiff Bay this morning for a walk around the Millenium Centre, and what a visit it turned out to be. There was a choir singing on the dias and crowds of children all milling about, their faces shining with the excitement of the place. What a wonderful way to spend a couple of carefree hours, sitting on soft seats listening to live music ... magic!
I would very much like to welcome Cynthia Moss to Kindle Authors.
Cynthia works at Wichita State University having also graduated from there. She kindly agreed to supply a guest post on a subject that all aspiring authors should take very seriously.
Making a Great First Impression - Literally I f youve been reading the reviews for self-published authors, youll notice as imilarity among the negative ones. Over and over, it seems to come down to rammar and punctuation. Reviews occasionally even ignore the actual story plot, characters, setting, and all to instead focus on glaring errors in syntax. After the ridicule, often including grammar, reviewers frequently take potshots at the intelligence of the author. Granted, some of this criticism may just be sour grapes, but this automatic assumption that poor grammar equals idiocy is not at all uncommon. casual, conversational style. This means that proper grammar and syntax is
occasionally left by the wayside as writers attempt to imitate the way that
people really speak. Is this a bad thing? Well, thats debatable. What isnt
debatable is that an excess of common grammatical mistakes littered throughout
a manuscript detracts from a writers credibility. Even when the manuscript itself shows obvious creative promise, there are few able to squint past the poor presentation.
Simple. Its a question of money. Its difficult to find a qualified editor who
is willing to take reduced fees on a book that is priced so inexpensively that
the author must sell a good many of them in order to have significant revenue.
I believe theres also a sneaky thought that the quality of the writing will
shine through any holes in syntax and shortcomings in punctuation and spelling.
The reality is that readers usually only give an author one chance, and the
grammar and syntax of a work is much like the visual impression one makes in a
face-to-face job interview. Grammar, in this sense, is very much the
professionally dressed exterior and firm-but-not-too-firm handshake of any
literary endeavor.
scathing reviews. These reviewers have a point. Why should they trust an author with their time and money if the author contradicts his or her right to credibility with every incorrectly spelled word and inaccurate use of the apostrophe, ellipsis, and dash?
solution to aspiring and established authors. As an inexhaustible reader of
fiction and occasional writer, I have a passion for helping authors achieve
their literary vision. Ive worked with a couple of aspiring childrens book
authors, as well as numerous editing work, and I take pleasure not only in
adjusting grammatical errors, but most importantly in ensuring the authors unique voice emerges from the piece.
For
an electronic resume, pricing, and payment options, I can be contacted at:
Once again it's time to meet some authors in various stages of their development. Some have already completed their books, some are engaged in the process of writing while others are mentally preparing to take the plunge and get started. Cynthia's post is a timely reminder to us all.
Please take the time to visit the websites and blogs and Twitter accounts of this determined and talented group.
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You now have Cynthia's contact details if you want help with the essential stage of proofreading and editing.
For help with promotion using Google+ and Blogger I am making Google+eXplosion available for FREE. Please CLICK HERE TO GET ACCESS
For those of you who haven't started and are waiting for inspiration you will have to wait a long time. Perspiration precedes inspiration. For those of you without a blog or website get one and start promoting your book. Google+ eXplosion will show you how.
I will be more than happy to feature your finished book. In fact I will be delighted so get writing please .
NEXT WEEK
CompetitionsTo Cut Your Teeth On.
Bonus Prize in Lovespoon Draw!!!! Poem by Chris Chandler, Artwork by Jen Delyth
By Ceri Shaw, 2012-09-28
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For the latest progress reports and pictures of the Portland Lovespoon 2012 please see David Western's Portland Lovespoon Blog
The winner of this years Portland Lovespoon will receive an additional prize. As many of our readers will know David Western has crafted a unique lovespoon as a fund raiser for the West Coast Eisteddfod since 2009. In 2011 and again this year he has partnered with Laura Gorun and the record of their artistic collaboration can be followed on the Portland Lovespoon Blog ( linked above )
This year we are pleased and proud to announce that the theme of artistic collaboration has been carried even further.
Chris Chandler has composed a poem on the theme of celebrating your roots. The poem will be printed with a high rez graphic background designed by Jen Delyth You can read the poem and view the design below. Both the 2012 Portland Lovespoon and the poem will be presented to the winner of this years Portland Lovespoon Draw. If you have not bought your tickets yet go to the 'Donate' button in the right hand column on this page for a chance to win these unique works of art. Every dollar you donate entitles you to one ticket in the draw and all proceeds go to support the WCE. The winner will be announced at the West Coast Eisteddfod at the Multnomah Arts Center, Portland on October 13th .
Jen Delyth will be signing copies of her book 'Celtic Folk Soul - Art,Myth & Symbol' at the West Coast Eisteddfod and at our table at Wordstock on October 12th and 13th. Chris Chandler will amongst the judges for our short story and poetry competitions at the Eisteddfod and will be performing at the closing concert ( watch this space for further announcements )
DONT MISS THIS YEARS WEST COAST EISTEDDFOD - BUY TICKETS HERE 
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Love Spoon
Chris Chandler 2012
As you and I water the simple pear tree we have just planted
I question...
Who gives life to whom?
Holding hands beneath her shade
Our lives entangle
Our bodies entangle
Like roots and branches.
Each feeds the other as with a spoon.
The spoon of life.
You feel my roots beneath you as I sway with your branches,
and I wonder
Branches branch skyward,
rewarding the ground with fallen fruit.
Roots root deep,
rewarding the branches with drink.
Without one there could not be the other.
Without you there could be no me.
Inseparable.
Feeding each other.
The spoon of life.
London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at Royal Albert Hall
Saturday 13 October 2012 - 7:00 PM
I know everyone on this side of the pond will going to Portland, OR on 13 October 2012 but for our friends on the other side of the pond there will be a grand performance of Welsh Male Choirs at Royal Albert Hall in London at 7pm.
I am especially interested in this concert because I have a cousin who will be performing there, and because the village of Penclawdd (on the north shore of the Gower Peninsula will be so well represented). My grandparents were from Penclawdd and we still having family living there to this very day.
Edward Rhys-Harry (from Penclawdd) will be the Music Director for the massed choirs of over 1,000 voices and Robert Nicholls (also from Penclawdd) will be the organist. To top it off, they will be performing several pieces written by my favorite Welsh composer--Karl Jenkins--who,coincidentally, is from the village of Penclawdd. Ahem...no bias here!
I would imagine that most Americans (Welsh or otherwise) would not be able to call Karl Jenkins by name or pick him out of an identity parade. But--his brilliant compositions would be ( and are ) instantly recognizable from coast to coast, border to border in the USA. Especially--Palladio, which, thanks to De Beers Adverts will forever be associated with diamonds !
The concert will be recorded and rebroadcast on S4C sometime before Christmas. Since S4C is blocked here I'll have to purchase my copy but that's OK because all the connections to Penclawdd warms the "cockles" of my heart.
I have included a video of Karl Jenkins conducting Palladio.It is not my favorite version but the electric harp adds an interesting dynamic to this wonderful piece:
I have home swapped on holidays for years, one year we stayed in a beautiful house in Slovenia, the family had told us to make use of the spices in their cupboards. When my daughter saw the variety of exciting spices available she exclaimed "wouldn't it be nice to sit down and eat with this family" we looked on the internet for a site that would connect travellers with local people willing to cook for them in their homes world wide. Unfortunately, we couldn't find one, so we decided there and then to make it ourselves. Little did we know that down the line 3 years later my daughter and I would be standing in front of five very rich entrepreneurs pleading our case for investment with our site www.eatwithalocal.com!
It was the bravest thing I have ever done making a pitch to Dragons' Den. I think that I broke a record as I was the only entrepreneur ever to have a little sleep in the green room before my big moment. I really thought that the Dragons' would tear me to pieces and kick me out of the Den. I was so nervous that I could hardly say my name at the beginning of my pitch. I was determined to inform them about how well the site was performing without any form of publicity and stress that it is a great way of getting to know the culture of a country eating and meeting with the local people.
I cooked Lava bread and bacon for them. Debra Meaden had never tasted it before and declared it very tasty indeed. As the questions and answers came to an end and the Dragons were declaring themselves out one by one. My heart sank into my boots. Hilary Devey teetered on the edge of investing, Georgia and I really thought that she was going to take the plunge but at the last moment she declared those famous words "I'm out"
Two of the Dragons promised that they would join the site and come and eat with me in my kitchen in Wales and I am certain that they will as they are very genuine people. Since the publicity on Dragons' Den we have had hundreds and hundreds of new members and offers of investment. People love food and our site is a way of them combining their love of food and travelling.
When I travelled to Goa, I had a meal on the beach in Colva with eat with a local member Meghana Megahan chose titbits off the menu for me to taste whilst we sipped cocktails watching the sun set. It was a memorable evening. Meghana and I are in the photograph above.
We are still looking for a couple of competitors for the Poetry recitation and Story telling competitions at the West Coast Eisteddfod in Portland OR on October 13th.
- Free tickets for the event, two per competitor.
- A chance to compete for $150 cash prize. Five competitors in each category.
- 8 minutes at the mic. Stories or poems on ANY subject.
- Celebrity judges and a chance to record and promote your performance.
- NO registration fee
Email americymru@gmail.com if you are interested.
6.00-6.50 pm Storytelling Competition
( $150 First Prize - No registration fee! 8 mins at the mic.)
Competitors: Julia Strozyk Hiram Asmuth Ken Iverson + two more. You?
7.20-8.15 pm Poetry Competition
( $150 First Prize - No registration fee! 8 mins at the mic.)
Competitors: Anatoly Molotkov David Cooke Emily Pittman + two more. You?
A delightful picture book published to coincide with publisher’s 120 year anniversary!
By Ceri Shaw, 2012-09-26
Cover to Cover is published alongside a Welsh version, O Glawr i Glawr to coincide with the publishers 120 year anniversary in September 2012. Pont Books is an imprint of Gomer Press who are, this year, celebrating their 120th year as a printing and publishing company. On Thursday morning, 27 September, the award-winning author and illustrator, Rob Lewis along with Sioned Lleinau, the author of the Welsh adaptation, O Glawr i Glawr, will be launching the book with the pupils of Llandysul Primary School. The book features Robs trademark sheep as both author and editor but there are real-life photographs too which show machinery and personnel at a working printing and publishing company. The reader is introduced to the technology and vocabulary used in the industry such as editor, storyboard, designer and proofs and the questions and comments from the characters ensure that the story is presented in a fun and entertaining way.
During the process, metal plates are created and John Llewelyn Jones from Llandysul is seen checking that the pages are in the right order on the plates before sending the book to print. There is one plate for every colour and there are four colours altogether Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black and by printing one colour over another, they produce all the colours needed. Vince Lloyd has worked for Gomer Press for over forty years and he can be seen working on the folding machine. Like many others at Gomer, Vince has worked for the company since leaving school and, with over fifty full and part-time employees, Gomer remains an important employer in the rural Teifi valley. To this day, Gomer Press is a family business and Jonathan Lewis is the managing director of the company his great-grandfather, J.D.Lewis, founded in 1892. On the last page of the book, theres a photograph of Jonathan, his brother Rod and their father John Lewis next to an old printing press and we continue to be astonished by the considerable develpoment that the industry has seen over the years. During the summer of 2012, a new printing press and machinery were installed at Gomers site in Llandysul as the company continues to invest in the future.
It is thanks to J.D. Lewiss initiative, the perseverance of the Lewis family and Gomers workforce throughout the years that many wonderful Welsh and English books adorn many bookshelves in shops, libraries and homes across Wales and Cover to Cover is a special picture-book to celebrate Gomers 120th birthday this year.
