Double celebration for Robert Minhinnick!

Robert Minhinnick finds his collection of short stories The Keys of Babylon on the long-list for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2012 . Roberts collection is longlisted with 30 other authors including Edna OBrien, Robert Shearman, Hanan Al-Shaykh and Tessa Hadley. Prize co-ordinator Dr Ailsa Cox, said: This is the biggest and most eclectic long-list weve ever had, with a fantastic mix of voices and styles. Clearly, writers and their publishers are recognising the significance of this prize, unique in the British book world.

The shortlist will be revealed in May and the winners announced at an awards ceremony on 5th July at the Free Word Centre in London.

Robert also has a story from this collection on the short list for the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award 2012 . El Aziz: some pages from his notebooks is on a list with strong contenders, Jean Kwok, Kevin Barry, Emma Donoghue, Tom Lee and Linda Oatman High. Each shortlisted author receives a 1,000 award. Joanna Trollope, one of the judges, said: Short stories are difficult to pull off. What impressed me was how much these authors accomplished in under 6,000 words. The winner will be announced on the 30th March. The Keys of Babylon is available in paperback and e-book.

For the release of the new novella, The Gospel of Us by Owen Sheers , whichis now also a film starring Michael Sheen, there will be numerous events over Easter weekend at Port Talbot, Wales. The film premiere is Sunday 8th April at the Apollo Cinema. The book will be available to buy in the cinema all weekend. (See below for more information on the book). To see a list of screenings of the new film, click here

New Titles

The Gospel of Us by Owen Sheers Owen Sheers reimagines his three day dramatisation of the Passion, set in the streets and clubs of Port Talbot. While the town awaits the arrival of the Company Man, a stranger appears in the windswept dunes, singing songs to the sea. This is just the start of three days of unearthly events in Port Talbot that see the Teacher soothe a suicide bomber and the dead rising from the walls of an underpass. Owen is one of the finest writers at work today. He always finds the sublime in the everyday and the miracle in the mundane. - Michael Sheen ISBN:9781854116222 Paperback: 8.99

The Book of Idiots by Christopher Meredith Tipsy, sick Wil Daniel tells the narrator, Dean, a tale that may be a ghost story or a romance, a farce or a tragedy. Meanwhile we get glimpses of Deans own half-lived life, and those of friends and colleagues. These threads develop into a dark, offbeat and merciless examination of maleness and mortality. Can Clive regain the triumphs he achieved at the age of nine? Will Jeff stop his swimming trunks from dissolving? You will sail through this hilarious black comedy at one sitting - Gwen Davies, Western Mail A darkly comic triumph - ShortList Magazine ISBN: 9781854115652 Paperback: 8.99

Tokens for the Foundlings by Tony Curtis Childhood and family are enduring themes for writers and Tokens of the Foundlings offers a unique entry into these subjects through moving and beautiful poems. The foreword is by author and journalist Daisy Goodwin, and the book cover features a Foundlings museum artwork by Tracey Emin. Includes poems by Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy, Helen Dunmore, Stephen Knight, Don Paterson, Elaine Feinstein, Dannie Abse, Seamus Heaney, David Harsent, Carol Rumens, Kate Bingham, Michael Longley and George Szirtes among many other, all of whom have donated their work. Tokens for the Foundlings is published for the benefit of the Foundlings Museum in London, with royalties paid to it. ISBN: 9781854115812 Paperback: 12.99

Jack the Ripper: The Hand of a Woman by John Morris In Jack the Ripper: The Hand of a Woman , author John Morris opens a new chapter in Ripperology. As a result of extensive research by Morris (and his late father, who was equally fascinated by the mystery) he believes the only satisfactory conclusion is that Jack was, in reality, a woman. In this well argued case, Morris finds evidence that it was in fact a woman who committed these horrific crimes, and can actually name the suspect. The story of Morriss research includes many twists and turns as he examines the principle players, the killers motivation, and modern day cases similar to the Ripper murders. Has John Morris finally solved the infamous murders of Jack the Ripper? (John Morris will feature in the Sunday Express on the 1st April 2012) ISBN: 9781854115669 Paperback: 9.99

Forthcoming Titles

The Flying Trapeze by Duncan Bush One of the most significant voices of his generation from Wales, a new book by Duncan Bush is an eagerly awaited event. The Flying Trapeze , his sixth poetry collection is characteristically unsentimental, tough-minded, and fiercely lyrical. Many poems are inspired by places he has lived in or travelled to including: Australia, Greece, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the United States. There is a touch of bitter political satire in pieces like Mitterands Last Supper, A Season in Sarajevo and Lahore and some fine, unexpected nature poems, which pinpoint the tension in his poetry between a sensual rapture and a knowing cynicism. The Flying Trapeze is an excellent new collection, never less than subtle, smart and true. Publication:April 2012 ISBN: 9781854115942 Price: 7.99

Clueless Dogs by Rhian Edwards Clueless Dogs is the first collection of poetry by Rhian Edwards. Already a noted performer of both her songs and poetry, this book confirms her startling talent. Full of verve and humour, with a spiky syntax featuring hard-edged consonants, her language has a winning honesty and intensity. Although the author doesnt flinch from ruthless depictions in which we are often implicated by her use of the second person You, there is an underlying sweetness, an elegiac thread running throughout. Clueless Dogs is a brave and beautiful first book. Rhian Edwards is the winner of the John Tripp Award for Spoken Poetry 2011/12 An astounding Welsh poet with performances that get you in the emotional gut Ian McMillan on The Verb , BBCRadio 3. Publication: May 2012 ISBN: 9781854115737 Price: 8.99

Meet the Author

Saturday 31st March, 1 pm-5 pm. Poetry Readings, Anne-Marie Fyfe , Deborah Poe, Rigoberto Gonzalez, Floyd Chung, Quincy Lehr, Ana Bozicevic, Jane Collins & many more at 2nd Westchester Poetry Festival at The Masters School, 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY.

Sunday 1st April, 7.30pm. Ellie Evans The Ivy Hides the Fig Ripe Duchess and Carol Rumens De Chirico's Threads will be reading at the Torriano Meeting House, 99 Torriano Avenue, London NW5 2RX. Nearest Tube: Kentish Town. Tel: 020 7267 2751 Email: leahf@blueyonder.co.uk Tickets 5.00 on the door, 3.00 in advance.

Thursday 5 April, 7.30pm. The acclaimed Welsh author, poet and scriptwriter, Owen Sheers, presents his new novella The Gospel of Us , a retelling of the Passion, based on the author's groundbreaking National Theatre of Wales play. Tickets 3 (with 1.50 redeemable against The Gospel of Us and 1.50 redeemable against any other of the authors books on the night.). A Chepstow Bookshop Event.

Thursday 5th April 7.30pm: Join us for the April First Thursday reading at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff with Christopher Meredith The Book of Idiots and Duncan Bush The Flying Trapeze followed by open mic. Media Point Room 2.50

Saturday 7th April, 1.00pm. The Gospel of Us Launch. Meet author Owen Sheers at Port Talbot Library, 1st Floor, Aberafan Shopping Centre, Port Talbot. Entry free, but booking required. Call 01639 763491 or email p.a.doyle@npt.gov.uk to reserve your place. Part of National Theatre Wales Passion Memory Event taking place in the town over the Easter period, including screenings of the film of the Gospel of Us and Q&As with Owen and Michael Sheen.

Friday 13th April 5.30pm: Mabinogion Event chaired by Peter Finch. Join Fflur Dafydd and Horatio Clare at the Laugharne Festival - The Browns Courtyard 5.30pm. Fflur and Horatio will be reading and discussing their adaptations of stories from the Mabinogion .

Saturday 14th April, 2pm: Tony Curtis presents his new anthology Tokens for the Foundlings at The Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury, with several contributors including Helen Dunmore, George Szirtes, Mimi Khalvati, Lynette Craig, Rosie Shepperd, Crystal Jeans, Dannie Abse and Lyn Hjelmgaard. Free admission but booking required. Please contact enquiries@foundlingmuseum.org.uk or 020 7841 3600.

Saturday 14th April, 10am - 5pm: Poetry Reading, Anne-Marie Fyfe at Taste of the Yeats Summer School Glucksman Ireland House, NYU, 1 Washington Mews, NY.

Sunday 15th April, 4pm: Poetry Reading, Anne-Marie Fyfe & Cheryl Moskowitz at Sunday Best, The Lounge at Hudson View Gdns, 116 Pinehurst Ave at W. 183rd St, North Manhattan, NY.

Tuesday 17th April 6.30pm: Join us for an eventful evening of poetry and fiction at The Old Crown Public House, 33 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BH. Reading from their books, published by Seren, will be Duncan Bush , Graham Mort and Christopher Meredith .

Friday 20th & Saturday 21st April: John Hewitt/Glens of Antrim Spring Festival at Londonderry Arms, Carnlough, on the Antrim Coast. Featuring Mavis Cheek, Hector McDonnell, Eoghan Walls, C.L. Dallat, Heather Richardson, Martin Mooney, Moya Cannon, Bernie McGill, Anne-Marie Fyfe & Kapka Kassabova.

Thursday 3rd May 2012 6.30pm: Join Christopher Meredith The Book of Idiots and Graham Mort Cusp ,for an evening of fiction and poetry AberystwythArts Centre Book shop, Aberystwyth University.

Thursday 3rd May 2012 7.30pm: Join us for the May First Thursday at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff with Rhian Edwards Clueless Dogs and Robert Minhinnick The Keys of Babylon . Followed by open mic. 2.50 Media Point Room.

Poem of the Month

Arawn, lord of Annwn

This is the story as it must be told,
the boy twisting away from you
through the summer wood, becoming man,

becoming Prince of Dyfed. And this
is the story as it must be told, the prince too
stepping his horse out of birdsong,

the tangling of hounds. The blood
slick on the grass, the antlers rearing
as the shadow of a god. This is the story

as it must be told, the prince
meeting himself among the foliate faces
of a book; and turns, mouth opening

to cry to you: no.
This is the story as it must be told,
the boy, the prince, the summer wood.

Blood on the grass, the shadow
of horns. And in the half-face of a god,
islands of glass. His opened eyes.

From Regeneration by Meirion Jordan (Seren 2012)

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