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Ceri Shaw of AmeriCymru with Ninnau editor Arturo Roberts at the 2010 NAFOW in Portland |
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Paul Child at the Millennium Stadium |
West Coast Eisteddfod: Welsh Festival of Arts 2011 Barnsdall Art Park L.A. | |||||||||
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It's half way through the month and our inaugural Top Blogger contest is warming up. The Sheep of Excellence are getting restless in their digital pen . In just two weeks time we will be awarding the gold, silver and bronze prizes together with a copy of 'Wales: Land of Song' to the number one blogger. At the moment its developing into a close three horse race between Rhianne Griffiths, Swansea Jack and Lorin Morgan-Richards. Here are the current points and rankings:-
1. Rhianne Griffiths 35
2. Swansea Jack 28
3. Lorin Morgan-Richards 21
4. Glyn Davies 19
5. Geoff Brookes 13
Will Rhianne ( pictured below on a mercy mission to drop emergency supplies of S.A. and Clarkes Pies to our man in St Louis ) maintain her lead or will one of the other top 5 contenders come up from behind in the home stretch. OR is there an as yet totally unknown contender waiting in the wings to steal the show? Win this competition three times and you will be in line for our 'special prize' ( details TBA )

Check out Top Blogger HERE

Thursday 4 December 12.30-1.30 WH Smiths Merthyr Tydfil
Friday 5 December 11.30-12.30 WH Smiths Llanelli
Friday 5 December 2.00-3.00 Waterstones Carmarthen
Wednesday 10 December 12.00-12.45 WH Smiths Swansea
Wednesday 10 December 2.00-3.00 WH Smiths Neath
Thursday 11 December 12.00-1.00 WH Smiths Bridgend
Thursday 11 December 2.00-3.00 Waterstones Cardiff
Monday 15 December 1.00-2.00 Borders Cardiff
Wednesday 17 December 12.00-2.00 WH Smiths Pontypridd
Thursday 18 December 12.00-1.00 WH Smiths Caerphilly
Thursday 18 December 2.00-3.00 Waterstones Newport
Friday 19 December 12.00-1.00 Borders Fforestfach
Friday 19 December 2.00-3.00 Waterstones Swansea
Monday 22 December 1.00-3.00 Borders Llantrisant
Tuesday 23 December 11.00-1.00 Waterstones Abergavenny
Tuesday 23 December 2.00-3.00 WH Smiths Cwmbran

Welsh Hill Farming Experience - An Open Letter From Liz Davies of Golygfa Gwydyr
By Ceri Shaw, 2013-07-12
Many of our readers will be aware that AmeriCymru is collaborating with Celticos to develop the AmeriCymru Trail Tour. We are also working together with Celticos and north Wales community group Golygfa Gwydyr to spread the word about the new Welsh Hill Farming Experience which provides an opportunity to experience this unique and challenging way of life.
We strongly urge our readers and supporters to help us in circulating the text below to any tourism offices or agricultural organisations that they feel may be interested. Please feel free to reproduce or repost this letter.
Re: Establishment of an International Community Tourism Network
On behalf of Celticos and Golygfa Gwydyr may I introduce our North Wales, U.K. based partnership promoting opportunities for community based tourism activities within a Welsh rural context. We are in the process of establishing key links with similar enterprises in the mid-west USA; we are looking to extend our links further with mutual benefits for all concerned
(See The Welsh Hill Farming Experience at http://www.celticos.com/welsh-hill-farming-experience )
I originate from Western Nebraska, spent my teenage years in Omaha, and relocated to London in 1984 and then North Wales in 2003. Since moving to North Wales, I was struck by the similarities of lifestyle between North Wales and the Midwest USA. Being from a farming background myself, I felt at home immediately. Knowing both areas as I do, I could see the life style was similar, with a sense of connectedness to the land, a pride of place and cultural heritage. It is this connectedness that we believe will attract visitors from North Wales to the USA and the USA to North Wales.
We have already trialled the Welsh Hill Farming Experience with two ranching families from Western Nebraska in 2010. The attraction for tourists from rural communities in the USA was instant, so much so, that my first guests have become part of our exchange for tourists from the UK wanting to experience the same style of community tourism in their locality.
(See testimonials http://www.celticos.com/welsh-hill-farming-experience )
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We are now in discussions with a number of tourism businesses and tourism offices to promote farm based tourism experiences in Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana and our tours here in North Wales, UK and Europe. We are inviting you to join us to form a business network and marketing opportunity for mutual benefit.
About us
Celticos Ltd is a company specialising in Guided Tours and Rural Tourism, based in the Snowdonia region of Wales, UK. Following a long and successful career in sales and marketing employed by high profile companies such as 3M, Alwyn the director has now returned to his roots in North Wales where hes been emulating the working philosophy of 3M by being both innovative and creative in meeting customer needs and expectations, applying these principles to Celticoss activities. Celticos have established excellent links with AmeriCymru , an online Welsh community based social network based in North America.
Golygfa Gwydyr is a community group established in North Wales, UK in 2004.We are a social enterprise and all profits are invested back into community projects. Our aim is to increase social, environmental and economic well-being through sustainable community based projects.If you are interested in more information about our project, or to discuss any potential benefits for your organisation please do not hesitate to contact.
Email: lizn@golygfagwydyr.org
Yours sincerely
Elizabeth Davies
So Many Nights the debut single released by Little Eris on 14th December 2012 is a mini masterpiece of experimental space-age psychedelic pop which hopes to make a big bang in the universe. The track is produced by Charlie Hoskyns known for his work with Irish folk band The Popes, and has been mastered by Pete Maher at Topfloor Music, whose recent credits include Patti Smith, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and U2 to name but a few. The single will be available from the 14th of December via Original Human as a digital download (from Amazon, iTunes and Spotify for 0.89p) www.originalhuman.co.uk To be released physically in January 2013, followed by full length abum from Little Eris.
Little Eris is a collective formed around Eris Kaoss (aka Bronwen Davies, former vocalist and bass player with Freaky Fortnight ) and her inventive catalogue of quirky spaced-out songs have quickly become a firm favourite of Adam Walton s BBC Radio Wales show and his listeners, who have a keen ear for emerging Welsh musical talent from the UK underground music scene. The first official release featuring these cosmic sounds launched from the depths of cyberspace has already been gaining rave reviews from those in the know, catching the attention of the likes of Jona Lewie , who had a number one Christmas single with his hit record Stop the Cavalry.
Little Eris is a solo female artist, this has not stopped collaborations with others, such as comedian Johnny Nigma , who has provided videos, visuals and audience interaction during live events. Past concert appearances have included impromptu performances by audience members suddenly chosen from the crowd to temporarily join the band to sing song lyrics, guest musicians and vocalists performing live.
Performances at various festivals and events around the UK has expanded the bands line-up to include several extra musicians and dancers, and providing main support on the 2010 UK comeback tour for Viv Albertine from the original all-girl punk band The Slits . In 2011, Little Eris toured the UK with The Great Wreck and Roll Cirkus alongside festival veterans Here & Now and Eat Static . Her recent cultural activities include founding The Unemployed Daytime Disco events and webstreaming to a live audience at the Tate Modern oil tanks.
Little Eris has been on the scene since 2008 she previously released a 13 track debut album Molecules R Us comprising a collection of demos available as a free download in the spirit of providing music for the masses and to circumvent the credit crunch, which was also released as limited edition CDs featuring personalised DIY artwork.
"Music with personality....it is people who are complete individuals like Little Eris who make this role so rewarding, and truly exciting" Adam Walton, BBC INTRODUCING WALES
Seren News - April 2011
Welcome to the all-new Seren News! In this issue we bring you an insight into our latest titles. Find out where your favourite Seren authors will be reading in the next couple of weeks.
Ruth Bidgood Shorlisted for Roland Mathias Prize!
![]() | Ruth Bidgood's Time Being has been shortlisted for the Roland Mathias Prize 2011. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Ruth Bidgood, who lives in Powys, has published twelve volumes of poetry. Her descriptions in Time Being are credited as Sharp and memorable, tending to a cool accuracy. The Award Ceremony for the Roland Mathias Prize 2011 will be held at The Guildhall, Brecon on Friday 8th April 2011. |
Latest Titles
![]() | The Colour of Grass by Nia Williams Helens family is falling apart. There are no answers from her husband. She can't communicate with her daughter. So she turns to other relatives: the ones who are dead and gone. Straightaway she finds herself floundering in a new world of friends, secrets, enemies and family history enthusiasts. A story about families, past and present, and lifes unexpected connections. Paperback 8.99 ISBN: 9781854115393 |
![]() | Poor Mans Parliament by Martin Shipton Did you vote 'Yes' for the new law making powers in the National Assembly? Read this incisive account of the first 10 years of the Welsh Assembly. Its packed with eye-catching drama those who think that nothing happens at the Assembly will read Poor Mans Parliament and wonder how they could be so wrong. Paperback 12.99 ISBN: 9781854115164 |
![]() | Sound Archive by Nerys Williams The strikingly original first collection of poems from Nerys Williams. Using formal strategies similar to modernist painting: abstraction, dislocation, surrealist juxtaposition, the poet conjures a complex music, intriguing narratives, and poems full of atmosphere that query identity, gender, and the dream of art as a vehicle for emotion and meaning. A thoughtful, subtle and fascinating first collection. Paperback 7.99 ISBN: 9781854115386 |
Coming Soon
![]() | The Dragon and the Crescent by Grahame Davies In the early twenty-first century, the relationship between the West and Islam has, due to recent political events, become the subject of intense study, curiosity and tension. But to understand contemporary anxieties, we need to trace their historical roots. Grahame Davies' The Dragon and the Crescen t does this for one small European nation, revealing for the first time, the full and surprising story of the Welsh relationship with Islam. Publication April 2011 Paperback 12.99 ISBN: 9781854115577 |
![]() | Noteworthy by Bruce Cardwell Music makers are the focus of Bruce Cardwell latest book of black and white reportage and portrait photography. Practitioners of acoustic and vocal music folk, gospel, opera, choral, classical and ethnic in Wales over the last decade of the twenty first century, make a rich and diverse gallery of talent. Publication April 2011 Hardback 14.99 ISBN: 978185411540 |
Meet the Author
Monday 28th March, 7.30pm. Martin Shipton, author of Poor Mans Parliament , talks at the London Welsh Centre. Lower Hall, London Welsh Centre.
Friday 1st April, 7 pm. Ruth Bidgood will be reading at Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown with Jan Fortune-Wood.-Ruth's most recent collection Time Being is shortlisted for the Roland Mathias Prize.
Saturday 2nd April, 12pm. Bruce Cardwell exhibits his new book, Noteworthy: Images of Welsh Music at Moma Wales. Mavis Nicholson will open the exhibition.
Tuesday 5th April, 5.30pm. Nia Williams launches her latest novel The Colour of Grass at George & Delila Caf, 104 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JE
Wednesday 6th April, 7 pm. The Other Room reading series with Carrie Etter, author of The Tethers , Ken Edwards, Alec Finlay, and, by live stream, Derek Henderson, The Old Abbey Inn, 61 Pencroft Way, Manchester M15 6AY. Free admission.
David Hurn and John Fuller present Writing the Picture :
Thursday 7th April, 7.30pm at the Media Point Room, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff and Tuesday 12th April, 7.30pm at The Drill Hall, Chepstow. Entrance to both events is 2.00 (redeemable against the price of the book)
Competition
Seren have five proof copies of Daniels Beetles by Tony Bianchi to give away!
What is the key to happiness? Is it a job at www.happinesstheexperience.com ? Daniels Beetles , out at the end of April 2011 is an absorbing, unnerving novel about memory and forgetting, stories and lies.
Send an email with 'Daniels Beetles' in the subject line to seren [at] serenbooks [dot] com for your chance to win. Closing date 4th April 2011 Terms & Conditions
If you like Seren News and you think that some of your friends would too, why not forward it on to them? Just ask them to email us so we can include them on the next monthly newsletter, keeping up to date on all events, prizes, new titles and news from Seren.