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On Saturday the 27th of November newly formed Rhos Choir will be competing in a special concert at St David's Hall, Cardiff in the race for the 2010 Codi Canu title. The concert will be the highlight of the series, which for the last few months has followed four choirs on the journey to be crowned Wales' best community choir.This year, the series has seen four of Wales' best known faces stepping up to the challenge of conducting these choirs, with advice from some of our leading conductors.
It was fantastic news for Rhos Choir when it was announced that it would be entrepreneur Stifyn Parri, one of their most successful local talents, that would be stepping into the conductor's shoes with the help and support of experienced conductor Geraint Roberts.
Born in Rhos, Stifyn was delighted to accept the challenge, venturing back to his hometown with hopes of conducting his own people to victory. Stifyn has over twenty five years of experience in the media industry. He has starred in West End hits such as Les Miserables, national TV series' such as Brookside, and numerous productions for S4C. These days, Stifyn runs his own creative company, Mr Producer, which has been instrumental in many large-scale events over the years, most recently the 'Welcome to Wales' Concert, welcoming the Ryder Cup. With all his experience, Stifyn was an obvious choice for the series, and everyone is confident that he has all the skill to succeed as a fantastic conductor. But Stifyn would be the first to admit that conducting is not as easy as it looks, even though he enjoys every minute:
"I was brought up in the village of Rhosllannerchrugog, famous for it's many choirs! It is the most surreal and pleasurable experience to be learning how to become a conductor with my very own and brand new choir that consists of old school friends, teachers, neighbours and even my own mother!!! I'm so proud of them, they've worked so hard and deserve to win, it would be an honour to lead my home village of Rhos to victory. Please vote for us and vote for the village known for it's musical talent. Come on Rhos!!"
The concert will be broadcast live on S4C on Saturday the 27th of November between 8.00-9.00 pm, and 9.30-10.15pm. The public will be asked to choose their favourite choir, so remember to pick up the phone and vote for Rhos choir, and their conductor, Stifyn Parri.
Tickets for the live final are FREE for adults, children and concessions. Call the Box Office on 02920 878 444 or book online www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
For more information on the Codi Canu series visit www.s4c.co.uk/codicanu
Howard Marks discovers his roots and embraces Wales and Welsh culture in new book
Immortalised for his criminal activities, Howard Marks public life story is a heady mix of fact and fiction that begins and ends with his career as one of the most sophisticated drug barons of all times.In his new book Two Dragons , Howard Marks pulls together, for the first time, the stories from his life that show the private quest he embarked upon following a chance conversation with a black American in prison for murder. It's an account of a personal journey that took him back to his Welsh roots and around the globe to discover his family history, including links with none other than the equally notorious outlaw, Billy the Kid, as well as an account of the making of the film Mr Nice and the role of the film in the wider Two Dragons story.
This warm, humorous and personal account uncovers a family history that is stranger than fiction. He learns of a distant relative, William Owen, a famous Welsh smuggler whose chronicle of scams, acquittals, and debauchery would put any modern-day smuggler or playboy to shame. He also discovers that his fathers family were part of Jesse Jamess gang and that his great- great grandfather was half-brother of Billy the Kid.
Howard Marks speaks of two Wales' in his experience, one he couldn't wait to get as far away from as possible and the other he is now warmly embracing once again. Throughout his journey into his past, and from one Wales into the other, Howard Marks makes new and firm friends with some of Wales biggest names in the acting and music industry including Rhys Ifans, Super Furry Animals and the Stereophonics. His search leads him to a past and present inextricably linked to his sense of identity and nationality and ultimately pride in being Welsh. In Two Dragons, we once again get to enjoy some of the well known stories associated with Howard over the years, as well as plenty of brand new ones, and all in a new, fascinating context.
Another chance conversation, this time in a pub in Laugharne, led to Howard collaborating with author Alun Gibbard in putting the story of his quest together. Two Dragons also includes new photographs especially commissioned for the book by photographer Emyr Young. The images include a literary festival in Caernarfon, a Goldie Looking Chain golf event, the Welsh Premiere of the film Mr Nice, and portraits taken of Howard in his home village of Kenfig Hill. It also includes photographs that Howard took when he visited the set of Mr Nice during filming, as well as his visits to South America and the Caribbean.
Two Dragons will be launched at the Grant Theatre, Swansea during An Evening with Mr Nice 7.30, Sunday 28th November. To contact Howard Marks call Alun Gibbard on 07747 694 643 or email agibbard@btinternet.com.
Due to the inevitable recent cutbacks, one or two doubts have been expressed about the proposed high-speed rail line planned for the London to Swansea route. On top of this, we have the unwelcome new rail fares. On the one hand, we are being encouraged to be eco-conscious and abandon private transport for public transport and, on the other, the rail companies are raising rail fares by enormous amounts. Those of us who do not have cars and rely on the railways and other public transport become increasingly frustrated, particularly as the hike in rail fares is not matched by a hike in service; indeed, it is all too often the opposite.
Yesterday, I travelled from Carmarthen to London. The train I had planned to catch from Carmarthen was cancelled yet Arriva's website (Arriva being the local train provider), which had not been updated for a few days, stated on its live update page that all services were "good". I caught the next train and boarded First Great Western's London service. If the heating was working at the start of the journey, and I'm not convinced it was, it certainly was not on during the latter part of the journey and I was obliged to put on my coat to keep warm. While on the train, I looked up the history of the Great Western Railway. In 1852, thanks to Brunel, the journey time from London to Swansea, via Chepstow (ie: the long way around), was cut to 5 hours. Over the intervening 16 decades, mankind has eradicated various diseases, conquered the air and outer space, put men on the moon and spacecraft on Mars. Come with me through the space-time continuum to the 21st century where the journey is now (via the Severn Tunnel) still 3 hours. There are occasional through-trains to Carmarthen but, usually at Swansea, one is obliged to change to the local train so the journey (approximately 220 miles by road) takes a full 4 hours. I can get to Paris in less than half the time and I can get to Edinburgh in less time. Pity those poor people who travel all the way to Milford Haven or to Fishguard for the ferry to Ireland.
Is this symptomatic of Big Government's attitude to Wales? If the high-speed rail line is deferred or simply even goes only as far as Bristol, there will surely be a domino effect on all aspects of Welsh life. If we are to be taken seriously in culture, business and all kinds of industry, we need that fast connection.
Christmas Competition - Win Copies of 'Big Fish' and 'Homeland' by Jon Gower
By Ceri Shaw, 2010-11-24
Big Fish In this collection of short stories, first published in 2000 Jon Gower introduces us to a range of colorful and tragic characters. Some of these stories are set in Wales, others in the U.S. but ALL are hugely entertaining and some of them are amongst the funniest you'll ever read.
"This is a lively, entertaining collection of verbal arabesques traced by the zany flights of a wild fantasy. The writing is pacy, stylishly manic, streetwise and state -of-the art demotic. The author is able to add a convincingly Welsh accent to an american style of humour - elliptically staccato sentences, riffs of wisecracks, vivid shifts of verbal register." - M. Wynn Thomas
Homeland
This collection of essays, edited by Jon Gower, looks at the changes in farming in Wales in recent decades. originally published in 1996 it contains much that is of contemporary relevance.
" Homeland . This Wales in which we dwell, its mountains high, its history ample and complicated, its natural history still bountiful, just. This collection of essays, by a range of writers connected with the BBC Wales series Homeland, takes this great small country as its theme. It is a country small enough to hold out the promise of being understood, whilst constantly offering discoveries around every corner.".
It is also the story of three ladies who formed a musical partnership called The Dorian Trio in the early twentieth century. Generations of children who were brought up in Wales in the 1930s, 40s and 50s knew of the Trio who travelled around schools performing and educating. They worked at University College of North Wales for ten years and later at Aberystwyth, travelling around south Wales giving concerts. However, by World War II they had turned their attention to farming in Llanarth, Ceredigion where they kept Welsh indigenous breeds. Their main interest was Welsh cobs. The Llanarth stud became world famous; their knowledge of genetics added impetus to the quality and standard of their stock. They were winners at international events. The three ladies were single-minded achievers. In the 1980s, they bequeathed the enterprise to University College of Wales, Aberystwyth for safekeeping.
As Teleri Bevan notes, “But unfortunately, old age brought a tragic ending to the story, with the dismantling of the farm and stud by the university who had been gifted the estate and farming enterprise. Many will remember the acute anger and disappointment at the final sale, the dispersal of the Llanarth stud and the press headlines and television programmes. Pauline and Enid died of broken hearts.”
Teleri Bevan was raised on a farm in Ceredigion. She spent most of her working life at BBC Wales as a radio producer, becoming the first Editor of Radio Wales when it was launched in 1978. Subsequently, she became its Head of Programmes. Now retired, she enjoys writing and this is her fourth book.
The Ladies of Blaenwern is published by Y Lolfa, priced at £8.95 and will be launched at the International Pavilion at the Winter Fair in Builth Wells on Monday 29 November.
Stori drist fferm cobiau Blaenwern, Ceredigion
Mae’r llyfr The Ladies of Blaenwern yn adrodd yr hanes fel y bu i Goleg Prifysgol Cymru werthu fferm magu cobiau o enwogrwydd rhyngwladol a ewyllyswyd iddynt, nôl yn yr 1980au.
Yn ogystal, mae’n sôn am stori tair gwraig a luniodd bartneriaeth gerddorol The Dorian Trio yn negawdau cynnar yr ugeinfed ganrif. Teithiai’r Dorian Trio o gylch ysgolion Cymru benbaladr, yn diddanu ac addysgu plant. Bu’r Trio hefyd yn gweithio yn adrannau cerddoriaeth colegau y brifysgol ym Mangor ac Aberystwyth yn ddiweddarach, ac yn cynnal cyngherddau yng nghymoedd y de. Ond erbyn adeg yr Ail Ryfel Byd roedd y gwragedd wedi troi eu sylw at ffermio yn Llanarth, Ceredigion ac yno roeddynt yn cadw bridiau brodorol. Eu diddordeb pennaf oedd magu cobiau Cymreig.
Daeth y fferm yn fyd-enwog; roedd eu gwybodaeth am eneteg yn rhoi symbyliad uwch i ansawdd a safon eu stoc. Roeddynt yn enillwyr mewn cystadlaethau rhyngwladol. Roedd y tair yn gyflawnwyr unplyg. Yn y 1980au, ewyllyswyd y fferm i Goleg Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth er mwyn ei diogelu i’r dyfodol.
Fel y dywed yr awdur, “Yn anffodus, wrth i’r gwragedd heneiddio, daeth diwedd trychinebus i’r stori, gyda’r fferm magu cobiau yn cael ei gwahanu’n ddarnau a’i gwerthu. Bydd sawl un yn cofio’r dicter a’r siom yn ystod yr arwerthiant olaf, y penawdau papur newydd a’r rhaglenni teledu. Bu Pauline ac Enid farw o dorcalon.”
Cyhoeddir The Ladies of Blaenwern gan Y Lolfa. Pris £8.95. Bydd y llyfr yn cael ei lansio yn y Pafiliwn Rhyngwladol ar faes y sioe yn Llanelwedd, adeg y Ffair Aeaf, ar ddydd Llun 29 Tachwedd.
A Gorseinon couple turned their Diamond Day into a charity fund-raiser for the Healing The WoundsGolden Grove Mansion Appeal.
The appeal aims to establish a Welsh convalescent centre for the treatment of ArmedForces Personnel, Veterans and their families who are suffering from stress-relatedillnesses such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).
When David and Irene Williams, of Grove Street, Gorseinon, knew their Diamondwedding anniversary was approaching, they decided they did not want any gifts.
Instead, they asked friends and family to contribute to Healing the Wounds.
Mr Williams served as a soldier with the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers.
His tours included Egypt, Palestine and Cyprus, during and after the Second World War.
The couple said they fully supported the work of the Healing The Wounds charity and wanted to help in any way possible.
The happy couple were married at St Davids Church in Penllergaer on 23rd September 1950.
Their celebration night included a dance and a buffet at The Brighton Road Club.
The event was organised by close friends Ann and David Buck, who also run dancing classes.
The catering was by The Brighton Road Club.
The evening raised 920 and there was a cheque presentation to Healing The Wounds representatives - Executive Director KevinRichards and Director Carol Richards.
Mr Richards said: It was a very generous act for David and Irene to use their memorable event as a charity fund-raiser. It justshows how passionately people care about making sure our military personnel aretreated properly in Wales.
Pictured, left to right - Ann Buck, Kevin Richards, Irene Williams, David Williams, Carol Richards and David Buck.
Golden Grove Appeal (Healing the Wounds) has been launched for the purpose of raising the funds needed to enable the purchase ofa suitable facility within Wales for the treatment of our Armed ForcesPersonnel, Veterans and their families, who are suffering from stress relatedillnesses such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and to provide aconvalescent home to allow them to heal and recover from the traumas ofconflict.
Golden Grove Mansion has become available for purchase with 100 acres ofCountry Park, which would provide a peaceful and beautiful environment thatwould be the perfect place for recovery.
However, if the sale of the property does not materialise, Healing the Woundscharity will continue to raise the funds needed for the purpose of searchingfor an alternative suitable property to facilitate treatments and convalescencefor our Armed Forces Personnel, Veterans and their families.
This is and shall always remain the prime objective of the charity
Golden Grove Mansion was actually used as a hospital for American troops during the Second World War. It was first built in 1560 asthe seat of the Vaughan family, descendants of the Princes of Powys. Twohundred years ago it passed to Lord Cawdor and the present mansion was built in1834. In later years it housed an agricultural college, but is now empty. Thereare more than 150 rooms and the basic structure is sound. It is a grade II*listed building within a 100 acre conservation area and the grounds include awooded Country Park, a visitor centre and cafe.
The appeal is more than halfway towards its initial target of raising 200,000.
Donations can be made
By post
Tomake your donation by post, please send a cheque payable to Golden GroveAppeal, together with your name address and post code to enable us to claimgift aid, to Golden Grove Appeal, 22 Abbey Road, Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, CF336HF.
Give in person at Barclays Bank
Call into any branch of Barclays and pay your donation into thisaccount:
Golden Grove Mansion Appeal
Sort code: 20-84-41
Account number: 90516929
This book surprised and delighted me in equal measure. At one point author Jon Gower observes that:-"The world of coincidence is uncharted mystery". This might be understood as the books theme as it charts coincidental occurrences in Buenos Aries, Oakland Bay and Cardiff bound together, albeit tentatively, by the onward progress of a paper boat. The boat, made of newspaper, is home to the mortal remains of Flavia, a former resident of Buenos Aries whose 'undead' body travels the globe inspiring scientific speculation and religious devotion in its wake.In a recent interview with AmeriCymru Jon described the book in these terms:- "A friend said that it "mythologizes an Argentine woman's journey around the world" and that pretty much sums it up. The woman, Flavia, is in a sort of purgatory, neither alive nor dead. Her story becomes a myth which becomes a religion, a case of global Chinese whispers." Her condition is in some way a consequence of and a testament to the undying love between her and her former, still earthbound, husband Horacio with whom she used to dance the tango in the back streets of Buenos Aries.
In the course of her journey she touches a great many lives and creates a profound impression but it should not be thought that the book is without humour. In fact the final section, set in Cardiff is suffused with surreal humour and bizarre incident. If you'll forgive a rather long quote, here is Jon's description of the passing of 'Bloomers' , a famous incident in the history of Caroline Street:-
"Half way along Caroline there used to be a famous club called Bloomers but someone attacked it with a petrol bomb, burned it to the ground. In the Echo the day after the conflagration the stalwart cartoonist, Gren, had captured the moment in an exquisite image. Caroline Street with a gaping hole like a tooth extraction: above it, dwarfing all the buildings, is an atomic mushroom cloud and there are two men flying through the air above the caption 'Now that's what I call a curry.' There is much more in this vein as the seemier side of Cardiff's nightlife and it's culture of heavy drinking and toxic takeaways are mercilessly ( and humorously ) exposed.
If you were planning to give someone a book for Christmas and were looking for something 'different', then look no further. 'Uncharted' has everything:- pathos, humour and a pace that makes it 'unputdownable'. The book is , unfortunately, ineligible for a Wales Book of the Year Award in 2011 because Jon is on the judges panel. It surely would have been a strong contender for first place.
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AmeriCymru: Your latest work A Court in Splendour is a fictional account of the first Eisteddfod in Cardigan in 1176. Care to tell us something about the book?
Liz: The title of the book comes from the description in the Chronicle of the Princes (the Brut y Twysigion) the earliest history of Wales written by monks, who told of the events at Cardigan Castle when the Lord Rhys invited a contest of 'bards and musicians'. Very few people outside of Cardigan had ever heard about it so in 2010 when Cardigan town hit its 900th birthday, as a way of celebrating I thought it would be good to recall its one really important moment in history. Lord Rhys was a mighty figure and has often been sidelined by historians in favour of later Princes of Wales like Glendower and Llewellyn the Great. I wanted to bring him back full focus and accord him the honour he deserved for being the inspiration behind the Eisteddfod as we know it today. Most people with a little knowledge of Welsh history know it has not been going continuously since the 12th century but the link is strong enough to claim that the celebration at Christmas 1176 at Cardigan Castle was the first Eisteddfod.
AmeriCymru: You tell the story from four different perspectives - Walter Map, Rhygyfarch, Rhys's son and wife. In my opinion this works remarkably well. What factors influenced you to construct the book in this way?
Liz: When I began to do the research for the story it became clear to me that there were many varying accounts of the events in the early 12th century. That particular period is called the 'dark ages' for a very good reason! No two accounts are ever quite the same and ultimately in confusion I began to think it would not be possible to write it in the third person with a definite viewpoint about what happened in that period. For instance, when Rhys took Cardigan, some historians accept that he allowed the conquered Normans to leave peacefully with half of their goods. Others however write that Cardigan was treated to a blood bath courtesy of a barbarian Rhys who killed all, Norman and Welsh alike. That is no small difference, is it?. And there were many more instances. Then I thought of the Canterbury Tales, and the clever construction of Chaucer's most famous book. It appealed to me to give several peoples view of what went on. All that was left once this decision was made, was to decide who my storytellers would be. I didn't want the Lord Rhys speaking for himself, how could he? Its obvious in literature generally that it is others who describe the hero, never the hero himself. He cannot boast of his achievements, nor acknowledge his temper and failings. So his family and his priest seemed more appropriate to give us a view of the man himself. It also meant we saw the action from ways which we might not have reached through a single voice. Gwenllians family history is of strong women and she appears in history books as one of them, equal to handling, yet respecting and nurturing, this great warrior Prince she marries. My own sense from the history books is that it was a political as well as a love match. Hwyel Sais too, is the son who stands out from all of Rhyss other sons, because of his Anglicisation. Both of them struck me as interesting characters to develop. Rhygyfarch is in all the history books for opening the gates of Cardigan to the Lord Rhys himself so I wanted to include him. But who would they be telling their stories to? Walter Map was a stroke of inspiration when I came across him in the process of researching Rhys. Here was a court gossip, a king's clerk and envoy, who was also a learned man of the church. Also known for an acid tongue on occasion, his one book 'De Nugis Currialum' translates as Courtiers Trifles and is full of trivial tales.Useless from a historical perspective but his character emerges clearly through the style and content. So I used him as the receiver of the tales. History doesn't actually say he was there at the first Eisteddfod, but I like to think he may have been. So it was a bit cheeky as a device, but hey, I think it works!
AmeriCymru: How difficult was it to find sources when you researched the historical background for the book? Are there any historical works that you would recommend?
Liz: I was lent a copy of the Chronicle of the Princes,(very expensive to buy!) which then led me to the University of Wales book A History of Wales Book II. struggled a bit to find much specific. Then I got hold of Roger Turvey's documentary book 'The Lord Rhys' which is brilliant, he really gets a hold on the man. The other books that I used are listed at the back of A Court in Splendour but actually that list is only a small summation. I tend to read very widely to get going. The big advantage of the internet too is that once you have a clue what you want to find out, it has an immense amount of information there for free. There was a huge amount of material for instance about Henry II and his relationship with Becket and the church. I didnt use a great deal of it but it coloured the way that Rhygyfarch the priest, saw the monarch.
AmeriCymru: The book was officially launched at Cardigan Castle on September 12 2009. Care to describe the occasion for us?
Liz: For a start it was a glorious autumn day, with sunshine and warmth. Entirely unexpected after a week of rain. During the weeks before I had meetings with several local people from town, most of whom are known as 'drama' enthusiasts, to rehearse, and we ran through the pieces chosen for them to read aloud. We managed to raid the wardrobe at Theatr Mwldan our local theatre, and put together some of my storytelling outfits to make them all look convincingly medieval. They looked great, and they were so good with the readings it was like seeing my characters coming back to life! What made it more extraordinary was that we were all conscious of actually being on the castle site itself where the whole thing had happened all those years ago. The castle is currently the subject of efforts to see a massive restoration programme carried out, and bids are in for funding. It is not generally yet used for public events so you can imagine what an honour it was for the Trustees of the Castle to invite me to have the launch there. We had the readings, and book signings, then some friends talked in Welsh on camera about their memories as children of the National and we had medieval music played by a friend and local dignitaries giving the people an update on the castle. My three sons and friends all helped in putting up marquees and serving trays of food. We had a scrumptious afternoon tea served from a marquee far too small for the crowds to sit down in, so we ended up with hundreds of people strolling and sitting all round the grounds with platefuls of pastries and cream buns and muffins. It was a great afternoon, so its no wonder it was a popular event is it?
AmeriCymru: Which of the major contemporary Eisteddfodau (Llangollen or the National) do you think the first Eisteddfod was closer to in spirit?
Liz: Ah! This is a point in dispute. Personally I lean toward the idea of the International being closer to The Lord Rhys's original intention which was to bring in other countries to compete. He invited Ireland, England, Scotland and France and perhaps he thought that by getting together to hear great music and poetry and to network (though I'm sure he would not have called it that) it would heal pisions and create a bit of harmony. However, I am locally in a minority in this reading of it. Cardigan is in Ceredigion, one of the heartlands of the Welsh language, and the feeling amongst some is that the Lord Rhys was an early member of Plaid Cymru and his idea was to display the gifts of the Welsh bards as a kind of one upmanship. Seriously though the singular link is the Chair, which is still the high accolade afforded at the National to the best of the bards. A local artist, Aneurin Jones has produced a painting of the First Eisteddfod, and it is in essence, the National. So was my depiction in the book, with the white robes and so on. The idea of the International was a twentieth century idea which grew out of the National. It came out of the British Council after the Second World War as a way of promoting Peace through the Arts. So although I certainly think the Lord Rhys would have approved of it, I don't think it's worth falling out about. I have had compliments about the book from people who have read it and stand on both sides of the argument. I have also attended the International at Llangollen to read from the book this year, a huge honour and I love the idea of being connected with it, however loosely.
AmeriCymru: You are also the author of several volumes of children's fiction in particular The Dreamstealers Trilogy. Would you say that it is more challenging, or less, to write for a younger audience?
Liz: Life experience has a lot to do with it. I began my career as a teacher, then I set up and ran junior Youth Theatres in Wales and in England. The age group I knew best through these experiences were the seven to twelve year olds. When I wrote Dreamstealers, this was the age group it was intended for, and I found it quite easy to write for them because I knew how I talked to them (same thing in the end) and how they talked to each other. But I do know it varies from one person to another and if you haven't spent time with children I imagine it is difficult. I actually preferred writing for an adult audience but the trilogy came to me because of my love of standing stones, and burial chambers etc and how I saw them as portals to another world. Well you can't really write magical/fantasy for adults without getting twee or sentimental, or gorily surrealist maybe. The stories are about inter-dimensional travel, based very generally in the Mabinogion, so I wrote it for children and thoroughly enjoyed it.
AmeriCymru: Dreamstealers Trilogy was described as the 'Welsh Harry Potter' by the Western Mail. How do you feel about the comparison/description.
Liz: Oh at the time I just thought how lazy the press are. I personally have worked in the newspaper business for years on and off so I speak from personal experience too! It's easier to relate back to a known name or title than think up something original. Look at the tabloids, their headlines are almost always puns on well-known names of phrases. However I have been told that using the Harry Potter reference persuaded more people to buy the books. How disappointed they must have been to find that it did not resemble Harry Potter at all! One bitter reviewer said the first thing that was wrong with it was that there were only two adventurers, not three, and therefore it couldn't work! Ha Ha...he also thought there were lots of other things wrong with it, but the review by the Welsh Books Council and the Cambrian News were very flattering so one just has to take the knocks!
AmeriCymru: Where can our readers obtain copies of 'A Court in Splendour' and the 'Dreamstealers Trilogy'?
Liz: All of them are available online, through Amazon, but specifically from the Welsh Books Council on www.gwales.com ; and A Court in Splendour direct from the publishers at www.llanerchpress.co.uk ; and the Dreamstealers comes separately as The Fizzing Stone, Shapeshifters at Cilgerran, and Manawl's Treasure, all available from www.ylolfa.co.uk
AmeriCymru: What's next for Liz Whittaker?
Liz: My new book is on the way though it's growing slowly as there is an enormous amount of research, and Im not in a hurry because I do love this stage of the process. Outside right now here in Wales it is dark and cold and rain is arriving in the wind. This is the best time of year for closing the curtains against the miserable late afternoon, putting another log on the fire and getting out the books and notes. This next novel is written in two time-lines and it centres on St Davids in West Wales and Glastonbury England. (Yes, the home of the nearby famous festival,) For my purposes it is the Abbey and its strong connection with Welsh history, particularly St Caradog, that fascinates me and is informing the story.
Also I am performing from A Court in Splendour at a big Eisteddfod event for the town at the end of December for the grand finale of 2010 and our 900th celebrations. This will be my last stand-up. I have been a storyteller for years and anyone can see me doing it all over Youtube if they really want to. But there are so many good up and coming young storytellers and I find I prefer to be in the audience to watch them, rather than on the stage these days!
AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru?
Liz: I can only say that I am genuinely pleased to have been invited to contribute to the website - thank you! Americymru is a fantastic way of bringing people together, and this experience of answering questions has been very enjoyable, taking me back to my motives and ideas. I would also like to mention Jacob, my son, who is also on Americymru. He does all my book cover illustrations and the one for A Court in Splendour, which is very special, was an idea taken from an original of a page from Rhygyfarchs psalter, which Jacob developed specially for the project. He also made the video of the launch. Check out his website at jacobwhittaker.co.uk and mine at lizwhittaker.co.uk
She's one of my favourite children's authors. I was first introduced to her when my own daughter was absolutely bewitched by her books. She would sit and read without pause for food or drink, until the book was finished ... you could say she was totally obsessed with J K Rowling and her Harry Potter stories.
My involvement in teaching IT to Primary School children in an After School Club gave me the perfect opportunity to delve into the world of Harry Potter too. I used the online chat room and gaming website, produced for fans of HP by WarnerBros, to teach my students how to used IT skills safely. My students loved the experience of playing Quiddich online and chatting to other school children in the States, who were equally involved with the Harry Potter phenomenon.
Did you know JK's formative years were spent in Wales, so I'm inclined to call her a 'Cymraes', .... anyone know if she learned to speak Welsh?
I took a quick look at her Social Media presence but it's rather disappointing on Twitter @jk_rowling ... nothing happening there at all!
N.B. I am taking someone, who is probably the only-living-soul-on-the-planet who hasn't read one of her books or watched one of her films, to the cinema in 2 hrs time to see the new film called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows".
Excitement mounts ....... for me anyway!
