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ON THE WINGS OF A DOVE.


By Eddy Jones.2, 2012-09-25

Allow yourself to love and trust.

-xx-

Red sky in the morning

Lifts my heart up high;

Some say sailors warning

To me a sweet sigh.

-xxx-

My dear heart is taken

Yes by you my love

Each day I fly so high

On wings of the dove .

-xx-

One ,two,three,four and five

My heart sings again.

Each step I truly love

Never in deep pain.

-xx-

My dear heart is taken

Yes by you my love

Each day I fly so high

On wings of a dove

-xx-

My love swells each morning

Afternoon and night

Each day full of loving

What a wondrous sight.

-xx-

My dear heart is taken

Yes by you my love

Each day I fly so high

On wings of the dove.

-xx-

Each dear heart thats loving

Flows into sweet bliss.

With my sincere true love

I blow a dear kiss.

-xx-

My dear heart is taken

Yes by you my love

Each day I fly so high

On wings of the dove.

-xx-

To be brave and to trust

Im taking a chance

I am learning each step

To lifes wondrous dance.

-xx-

My dear heart is taken

Yes by you my love

Each day I fly so high

On the wings of the dove.

-xx-

How I love you so much

More and more each day

The magic of your touch

Charms me on my way.

-xx-

My dear heart is taken

Yes by you my love

Each day I fly so high

On the wings of the dove.

-xx-

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christopher williams author of the stories of rhys

AmeriCymru spoke to author Christopher R. Williams about his new mystery and adventure series for children - The Stories of Rhys . Set in North Wales and based on real locations these stories have delighted local school children and been featured in the North Wales press. ( see pics below ) We talked to Christopher about the series and about his future writing plans.

the stories of rhys front cover detail, kindle edition

AmeriCymru: You're the author and illustrator of The Stories of Rhys a juvenile fiction series set in North Wales, can you tell us a bit about this series and how did it come about?

Christopher: The Stories of Rhys isa mystery adventure series of sevenbooksabout a young Welsh dragon called Rhys thatis set in North Wales and based on real locations. Rhys is special but doesn't know why, yet. The first book is littered with clues and the subsequent books expand the the epic storyas it moves to Snowdonia. It is centered on the slate mines of Llanberis andthe operating principles of Dinorwig Power station. These combine and build intoa thrilling adventure that sees Rhys discover who he really is. Only he can save Snowdonia and free the dragon slaves. There are eight colour illustrationsper book too,and yes I am the authorbut alas not the illustrator. I commissioned the illustrations based on my designs. I'd draft out a rough sketch of what I wanted and how they should look and then a localartist worked themup making corrections and adjustments as I directed until they cameto life.After years of writing down notes and ideas I eventually sat down and wrote the books in 2006. It took me three years to write all seven. It's an incredible story but even in the last bookwhen the reader knows everything about The Stories of Rhys, they find out in the very last chapter that the story was actually about something else, they just didn't know it.
INTRODUCTION

" Born in the very heart of Snowdonia on a terrible stormy night, a special baby dragon is taken away to safety leaving behind the body of his father who had died to save him. Fleeing from their blazing home which lit the night sky, his mother carried him far away to a cave on a rocky headland at the edge of the sea. There she must hide him until he is an adult dragon who can fly and protect himself with fire. For in Snowdonia, in the damp darkness of the slate mines, a black dragon rules with a terrifying and merciless cruelty. The firetooth of each of his victims hangs around his neck as a warning to anyone who dares to challenge him. His face is horribly burnt and the very existence of the baby dragon threatens him. He has sworn to kill him so that he can never use his special dragon breath, but the baby dragon grows up to learn of the injustice and hatred that his life is founded on, and that only he can save Snowdonia and free the dragon slaves.

The special dragon is Rhys, and this is his story, The Stories of Rhys."

AmeriCymru: What inspired the story and your main character Rhys the red dragon?
Christopher: The Stories of Rhys were born out of my love of North Wales and particularly Llandudno and the rocky headland there The Great Orme. I first visited Llandudno as a boywhen I was eight years old and it left a great impression on me.The Great Orme is a very uplifting, inspiring, and emotional place thatcaninvoke the feeling of 'hiraeth' in anyone. From the topyou can see the mountainous regionof Snowdonia and it seems to call to you. When I was older and had a son of my own It was from these beginnings that the story developed in my mind. I started to make notes as ideas came to me and eventually I had so much material that it was obvious that I had to make a start on writing the stories. That'ssomething I never thought I was capable of as I am dyslexic, but with the aid of a computer I found that I could.I imagined alittle red dragon with a destiny that he knew nothing about and that Snowdonia was calling to him, but he didn't know why.I chose the name Rhys as it was so obviously Welsh and it's origin and meaning is a clue to the story and the plot.
AmeriCymru: How have children reacted to Rhys and his story so far?
Christopher: The books have been used in six schools now and without exception the reaction has been incredible. To see the wonder and excitement in their eyes as they discover the story is very rewarding as a writer and all I could ever have hoped for. Curiously,the parts they were most interested in varied from school to school which showed me that I had unconsciously given the books avaried appeal. In one school they were very excited about playing dragon pebbles and visiting the rocking stone on The Great Orme. In another school it was the relationship between Rhys and his mother and the dangerthat Rhys was inthat seemed of greatest concern. Whatever the appeal though they all loved the character of Rhys and wanted to knowwhat happened to him. They all saw something in Rhys that they liked and they took him to their hearts.The Stories of Rhys is about life and growing up.
AmeriCymru: You've taken Rhys' story to several school classes, what can you tell us about that? Do you have a program that you run with classes?
Christopher: I wouldn't call it a program as such, but I give a talk about the books andhow to go about writing a book which childrenfind fascinating, and I also show them the illustrations for the remaining books to give them clues as to how the story develops. That always invokes 'wows','oooooh's', and 'ah's' which is very pleasing. They ask so many questions though that it's quite a challengenot to give any of the story away. There is usually a writing or drawing competition too which I judge and give a prize for. Book one is used as part of the English curriculum in a class setting and that is a great complement in itself. The school trips to The Great Orme were wonderful. We visited the locations in the book likeRhys' cave, the rocking stone, the cromlech, and of course we went down the Copper Mine where Rhys first meets with his nemesis the evil black dragon from Snowdonia, Ieuan.We also played dragon pebbles on the beach and one girl in particular excelled at the game and beat everyone including me! Icreated a character for her and she is includedin the last book and identifiedinthe form of an anagram.
the stories of rhys at ysgol st thomas Ysgol St Thomas
the stories of rhys at ysgol gwynedd Ysgol Gwynedd
AmeriCymru: The series is self published and the first book, "The Great Orme," is available as an eBook from Amazon Kindle Store worldwide. Is it also available in hard copy and, if not, do you have any plans in the future to do hard copy or will you stick with eBooks? Are the other titles in the series available yet?
Christopher: There are no printed versions of the book and never have been. I published them myself as CD eBooks to sell from my website and this is what was used in schools and sold around the world prior to the Kindle launch. Ebooks are environmentally friendly of course. I don't want to be responsible for the chopping down of acres of Amazonian rain forest. I've no plans to publish the books in print but it is really down to my readers and what they would like. I think I would prefer it though if they remained as eBooks. They are the future of reading and the technology is getting better all the time. Printed books may become obsolete in the future just as vinyl records have become to the music industry. EBook sales overtook printed book sales for the first time this year on Amazon so the future is clear. That is the main reason I have published them as Kindle eBooks. T he remaining six books will be released in due course if the first book is successful and there is sufficientdemand. The Stories of Rhys book 2 'Ieuan and the slate mines of Snowdonia' has a provisional launch date of 1st November and there is a preview of the cover at the end of book one.
AmeriCymru: What was the process of publishing the book like? Did you go through a service or do it yourself? Any advice for other authors considering self publishing or doing an eBook?
Christopher: I did it myself. It is a difficult and exacting process that requires a lot of patience and persistence. It took me a week to get it absolutely perfect. My advice to anyone else is to print off the instructions and follow them very carefully, be patient, and take your time.The reward is a published book available worldwide that is exactly how you wrote it. A publisher would edit your manuscript and make changes that you probably wouldn't always agree with. Self publishing makes an author independent and it frees you from the strangle hold of the Publisher/Literary Agentsystem that defeats so many unknown first time authors. I have tried for years to get published in print without success. Submissions were ignore and flicked through at best.I rarely recieved a reply and no one would take me seriously. Now, no one can deny me.
AmeriCymru: What is your background as an artist and writer? What had you done before starting this series?
Christopher: Prior to writing I worked in the Motor Trade here in the UK. In my last position I was the manger of a Truck and Trailer Contact hire and rental depot which was part of an International company. I've always had a creative and imaginative mind and written poetry and lyrics to songs in a small way, I even tookphotography up at one point which I enjoyed very much, but it was in writing that I found true expression and creativity. I have other writing projects planned and I have even started a James Bond novel, but at the moment my priority isThe Stories of Rhys.
AmeriCymru: Anything you'd like to tell future readers of these stories or parents looking for books for their children or teachers for their students?
Christopher: Well I'd say have a good look on my website and discover what the books are all about and then have a look at the eBookpreview on Amazon. The books are ideal for children 7-11 years and even adults. Younger readers will need help and it's a good way of spending time with your children and making a bond with them, particularly when you end up playing dragon pebbles with them. Remember though that thebooks arenot just for Welsh people or Welsh communities. They have a strong Welsh theme but they are for everyone and anyone.They are educational and will help a child's development in a classroom setting as they are an excellent cross curricularresource that include the key skills of ICT and PSHE in the English curriculum.
Interview by Gaabriel Becket
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A book of obituaries has been published to celebrate the lives of 75 eminent Welsh people who have contributed significantly to life in Wales during the last few decades.

An essential supplement to any history of modern Wales, Welsh Lives: Gone but not forgotten consists of obituaries written by the prolific Meic Stephens that first appeared, for the most part, in the pages of The Independent between 1999 and 2012.

Obituaries are about life, not death, says Meic Stephens. I think that the title, Welsh Lives: Gone but not Forgotten, sums up what I want to convey: that the people gathered in the book are remembered for their lifes work and that, in this special sense, they live on in the Wales and world they helped to shape.

Meic Stephens is a pre-eminent obituarist in contemporary Wales. Welsh Lives is the authors second book of obituaries, the first of which was published as Necrologies in 2008 and consisted of 72 obituaries, from Welsh writers to graphic designers.

Stephens new collection is even more capacious and various than the first volume, in that it mixes creative people with politicians, sportsmen, civil servants, film critics, broadcasters, arts administrators, doctors and judges, all of whom may be deemed to have made a contribution to Wales and Welsh life.

Welsh Lives holds up a mirror to Wales's culture, and includes short biographies of Stuart Cable, Ray Gravell, Hywel Teifi Edwards, Huw Ceredig, Iris Gower, Margaret John, Raymond Garlick, Dic Jones, Hafina Clwyd, Orig Williams and many more. Five Bretons and seven English people closely associated with Wales have also been added to the collection.

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Here's bunch of Welsh Lads and Lass's going mad in the French Alps! oh yeah, and a World class French acrobatic pilot and his amazing team :-)s

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200 PAPER DAFFS ( SEE PICS BELOW ) WILL BE PLANTED AROUND PORTLAND. FIND ONE AND BRING IT ALONG TO THE WEST COAST EISTEDDFOD FOR $2 OFF AT THE DOOR!!

I have to make some fliers for this year's West Coast Eisteddfod in Portland. In the past, the best promo lines for us, with the greatest return, have been online and we do lots of marketing there but I always want to find things that will bring more local, non-Welsh-ish people to our event so that makes handbills, fliers and posters important.

I think less and less people will pick up a flier or a handbill or bother to read or keep one if you hand it to them so I'm brainstorming on ways to make them more interesting and more memorable, on a tiny non-profit budget! I had the idea to do handbills as a pinwheel so that's what I'm trying, a little red dragon and black text on a yellow background, attached to bamboo skewers with a push pin - the prototype has a clear push pin but I'm going to replace that with an orange push pin to make it more daff like. We'll stick in the ground all over town and I was thinking I might add a "bring this in for $2 off at the door" offer on it.

I was thinking I'd also reverse the direction of the dragon and make the "petals" more rounded - - what does anyone think?

And, two pix of Ceri with it and sticking it in the ground -

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New Feature


By Ceri Shaw, 2012-09-22

Just a quick post to draw mwembers attention to the new 'related posts' feature on blogs and forum topics. Not quite sure what criteria are used to make the "you might also like" judgements BUT it should be an aid to random discovery and perhaps assist to re-surface a few lost gems

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Aspiring Authors - How Aspiring Are You?


By philip stephen rowlands, 2012-09-21
The
Power Of Aspirations

Great leaders have always been visionaries able to inspireothers with their aspirations and dreams.
President J F Kennedy had no idea of the technical challenges involved in
getting a man to the moon but he motivated people to meet that challenge and succeed. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the realisation of that dream. Apparently when he asked Werner Von Braun what it would take to put a man on the moonthe scientist told him, the will to do it.
Dr Martin LuthorKing went to the mountain top and others followed.
WinstonChurchill inspired Britain to stand firm before the might of Nazi Germany as Europe threatened toslip into darkness.
They painted an irresistiblepicturein the mindsof menthrough the power of the
spoken word. Imagination embraced the dream and thedream became reality. Einsteinsaid "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
Captivate the heart and mind through the powerof the imagination and knowledge will follow. If weare inspired to accomplish something, if the dream isbig enough we will acquire the skills and knowledge we need to create the reality we desire.How largeare your aspirions?
"Thesoul," said Aristotle, "cannot thinkwithout a picture." The dream is an intangible picture by which we create a tangible future.
Nothingever happens without a dream. A man or woman with a clear dream can achieve anything. If your aspirations arebig enough nothing else matters. Walt Disney lived by that truth and children everywhere have enjoyed the fruit of his vision.

'Aspiring author' is a term I frequently encounter on Twitter bios. Yet this termdoes not really tell us how committed to that aspiration a person is. The bios are far more revealing:
"Trying to pluck up the courage to publish my books. . . "
"Aspiring author looking for a reputable editor. Mother & full time referee. . . "
"Aspiring author, student with the Writers Bureau and carer for an elderly mother . . ."
"Banker by day, wordsmith by night. . ."
"Aspiring writer of Sci-fi and Fantasy. Focusing on high/epic fantasy. Currently seeking an agent. . ."
"I'm an aspiring indie author. I like to interact with others who are indie writers."
"Poet, aspiring novelist, mother of three, and college student."
"Ex-restaurateur, aspiring writer, and I totally have a dog."
"I am a mom of two boys, proud Canadian, and aspiring author. I'm in the process of writing my first book, and loving every minute of it!"
"Aspiring (perspiring) writer. Check out my book links. . "
"Aspiring writer of novels with dark content. Currently starving."
"Aspiring writer, amateur blogger, employed social worker. . ."
Aspiring authors can be found in all walks of life, harassed mums, ex restaurateurs, bankers, students, social workers, carers and Dads. Many have alreadyfinished a book and whether they have been published or not the fact is they are nowbona fideauthors.
Another telling factor as to how committed aspiring authors are to their stated aspiration is, do they have a website, blog, Google or Facebook page? I've written about this in other posts but whilenot allindie writers self publish all writers must promote themselves. That is why a blog or website of some kindis absolutely crucial.
To help you out I am going to provide PDF copies of Google+eXplosion in return for a Tweet. I wrote about this particular promotional tool in one of my last posts. The book also explains how to use Google's Blogger platform which is the easiest place to start.
Please take the time to visit the websites, blogs, Facebook Pages and Twitter accounts of these aspiring authors. There is so much fantastic talent waiting to be read. Just click on theirimage.
Here are some of our talented Aspiring Indie Authors

If you would like a free copy of Google+ eXplosion all you have to do is Pay With A Tweet (or Facebook Post)

162 Pages

This book has great information for us authors who prefer writing to the mystifying maze of
marketing. Thank you Phil for guiding us through in such an understandable way .
Richard Silverton (Author)

Thanks to Phil Rowlands, for pointing me to Google+ as a marke ting tool for independent authors. Bryan Murphy (Author)

Wonderful! Colleen McKlintock

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The Amazing iOS6 Maps!!!! :)


By Ceri Shaw, 2012-09-21

Ever mindful of our duty to entertain our loyal readers and members, tonight we bring you the amazing iOS6 Maps!!! Yes folks the worst digital cartography of all time has been unveiled by the wizards of Cupertino. Many hilarious samples have already been posted to this blog:-

http://theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/page/3

Please take a look and once you've picked yourself up off the floor let us know which cartographic masterpiece is your personal favourite Here are some of mine:-

  1. Downtown Houston’s newest filling stations on the skyline rooftops! (Those are corporate headquarters, not gas stations).

    Downtown Houstons newest filling stations on the skyline rooftops! (Those are corporate headquarters, not gas stations).

if all of downtown indianapolis is flat, then what’s casting all those shadows?

if all of downtown indianapolis is flat, then whats casting all those shadows?

Plenty more where those came from

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My Turn!! - Portland Lovespoon Blog


By Ceri Shaw, 2012-09-19

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

I've got a confession to make. For the last month Laura and I have been having a private heart attack as our West Coast Eisteddfod lovespoon negotiated its way through the border/customs process of international mailing. Owing to poor old Laura getting some completely duff information from US Postal, the spoon wound up being tremendously overinsured and then triggered a customs charge of nearly 200 dollars at the border!! Since neither she or I could pony up that kind of dough and since the whole idea of the lovespoon is to raise funds rather than spend them, the only option left was to send it back to customs and appeal the charge. Needless to say, it was a long, nerve-wracking ride for the pair of us and we were getting fairly certain the project would not be happening this year after all.

BUT, Canada Customs came through with an expedited processing and we are now back in business!

I'm really excited to get going with some carving of my own, but before I do, I have to quickly blog and let everyone know how BEAUTIFUL this thing is so far!! Laura has done a lovely job and the 4 balls rolling in their organic cage look fabulous. It's got the trademark Jenkins Lovespoons delicacy and elegance and is wonderfully 'touchable'. Whoever wins this thing is going to be over the moon... it is easily our best spoon so far and its not even done yet!!!

So, to keep on track for the Eisteddfod, I will be getting my head down and my backside up for the next few days. I'm hoping I can make good headway and keep the project on track for the big day in October......not so very far away now!!

If you're wondering what all the tape and plywood 'crutch' is all about, there's no breaks or anything, I just want to protect Laura's delicate work while I am bashing away on the scroll saw. I think I would have an aneurism if I managed to break it after all we have been through...so for the next little while it will be behind scaffolding!!ven if you could give a tinker's damn about Eisteddfods or anything Welsh, Laura and I both hope you'll fall in love with our lovespoon and want to have it (or even better, you'll want it to give to your sweetie)

Please consider donating a couple of bucks to the West Coast Eisteddfod and you could win this lovely, lovely spoon!!

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Freddie Welsh should be remembered


By Lawrence Davies2, 2012-09-19




One of the most incredible boxers, if not athletes that Wales has ever produced is Fred 'Welsh' who came from Pontypridd.

One of the first sporting superstars of his age, Freddie is something of a curiosity. His career began in the gyms of Philadephia, where he took on some of the best that the lightweight division had to offer. Welsh only entered the ring after travelling as a hobo, in search of work throughout the US. A need to put food in his grumbling stomach forced him between the ropes for a paltry purse so that he could buy a slice of pie and a cup of coffee.

He remains an enigma. Scholar, health guru, businessman and dandy, he reached the top of his game in 1914 after taking the world lightweight title. As a quick thinker with a great line for any pressman, able to talk authoratively on a number of subjects from poetry through to philosophy or the best diet for the average working joe to improve his health, the dapper Pontypriddian had a style that set him apart from the ringmen of his time. Some have claimed that it was Welsh that was the model for Jay Gatsby in F.Scott's Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'.

Came across a great little documentary on Freddie's life and acheivements on youtube. His scrapbooks are now held in the National Library at Aberystwyth. Well worth a look.

Sadly there is no statue to Freddie at his hometown of Pontypridd, even though he put the town on the world map more than any man before or since.

A statue was suggested by his biographer Gareth Harris (Freddie Welsh - World Champion Boxer, Pontypridd Legend - Coalopolis Publishing) a number of years ago, and was booted about by a few politicians eager to secure column inches, but nothing came of it.

Time for Pontypriddians to stand up and demand recognition for a great world champion.

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