If you have added a listing to the brand new AmeriCymru Welsh Directory or if you are planning to, you might be interested in our latest new promotional feature. Here's how it woks:-

1. Create your listing Go to this page:- Add Entry ( or here if you want to read some brief instructions first:- Instructions For Posting ) .

2. Promote On every directory listing page you will see two new features. Firstly the 'love' buttons ( '1' in image below ). We have added Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ buttons to all Directory listing pages. Use these buttons to spread the word and promote your listings page. If you get enough hits your page will make the Top Ten ( '2' in image below ). If it does a link to your page will appear on every Directory page in the top left hand corner 'Most Popular Entries' display.

click here for larger image

BUT THERE'S MORE! If you make the Top Ten in the Most Popular list you will also appear on every page ( currently more than 15,000 ) on the AmeriCymru social site in the right hand column ( see image below ):-

.

click here for larger image

AND the link to your Directory listing page will appear on every page of the AmeriCymru blog ( see image below ):-

.

click here for larger image

.

The listings on all pages will update at least once a day.

So if you want to advertise on every page of our network ...go to it.You have nothing to lose. Directory listings are completely free. Diolch a croeso to the AmeriCymru Welsh Directory.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Week Schedule 2011

Monday 4 th

Evening Concert: Lulu and Friends: Opening Gala Concert, 7.45pm 50/40/30

Tuesday 5 th

Daytime: International Childrens Day

Strains of Hope : On the field, 5000 children will be transported to Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas, in a day of joyful, uplifting performances and workshops showcasing music and dance from around the world. The Peace Message from the Children of Wales is presented this year by school children from the Chirk and Glyn Ceiriog area. Alex Pascall from Grenada will delight us with some Caribbean harmony and Steven Sogo and his band Hope Street will perform.

The Parade. Parade of Nations. 4.30pm

The colour and excitement of the Festival spreads into the streets of Llangollen town with the Parade of Nations. Each year over 60 years, a vibrant tradition has continued.

Evening Concert: Russell Watson La Voce:

Special Guest: Faryl Smith. 7.45pm.

Tickets 45, 35, 25

Wednesday 6th

Daytime: A Feast of Costume, Music and Dance.

The outstanding Llangollen competitions begin and continue throughout the day, with choirs and folk dancers from over 20 countries. Also featuring the best young soloists in the world.

Dancing in the Street

On the field: Dance workshops and World Music performances, introducing performers from all five continents on the outside stages. Come to Llangollen and experience the whole World in One Place!

All the World, More Smiles, the festivals award winning inclusive project, brings together music, dance, drama and art to the

S4/C stage.

@6 Concert: Djabe: one of Europes most exciting jazz/folk fusion groups.

Evening Concert: One World, One Stage, One Llangollen Welcome (including the Welcome Ceremony and Procession) . 7.45pm. 15 (children 5)

Thursday 7th

Daytime: Join the musical party; a day full of competitions for young performers with dazzling talent. A thousand children perform.

• • Junior Childrens Choirs
  • Childrens Folk Dance
  • Youth Choirs
  • Songs from the Shows Final
  • Vocal Solo, 21 yrs of age and over Final
  • Instrumental Solo over 18 yrs of age Final
  • Dancing in the Street
  • Folk Dance Duos Final
  • Individual Folk Dance Final

12 noon: The moving Sound of Silence, the whole Pavilion and field fall silent, everyone links arms, and the Llangollen Message of Peace is broadcast to the world.

On the field: Enjoy upbeat music and colourful dancing, with a flavour of the exotic.

Special packages for Secondary Schools.

5 per pupil. Teachers FREE

(Pre-booked parties only; pupil-teacher ratio 12:1)

@6 Concert: Community Choir Fest; hear both the winners of televisions Codi Canu, Cr Rhos ar Cylch and Llangollens own community Choir.

Evening Concert: Noyes Fludde, with performances from around the world 15 (children 5) 7.45pm

Friday 8th

Daytime: Folk Friday

Fabulous Folk and Choral performances, including Celtic groups, and uniquely inspiring inclusive singing, dance and theatre: the essence of Llangollen.

• Mixed Choirs
• Folk Song Choirs
• Chamber Choirs
• Folk Showcase

Bands from Wales also lead an eclectic mix of sights and sounds.

Reserved seat in the Pavilion: 15, 12

Ground admission (unreserved seat in Pavilion)

Adult 10, Concession 8, Child 5, Family 23

Special packages for Secondary Schools.

5 per pupil. Teachers FREE

(Pre-booked parties only; pupil-teacher ratio 12:1)

Evening Concert: starring Ruthie Henshall: The Best of the West End: 8pm. 40, 30, 20

Saturday 9th

International Family Day.

Daytime: One Day, A Thousand Voices

Traditional male and female choirs, simply the best in the world, including Barbershop and Show choirs: the daytime competitions reach a climax.

On the field: A Festival within a Festival all day fun for everyone. Music, dance, arts, crafts, story-telling, demonstrations and competitions for all.

@6 Concert: The days Guest of Honour, Julian Lloyd-Webber (Cello)

Evening Concert: Choir of The World, with Guest Appearance by Julian Lloyd Webber (Cello)

Sunday 10th

Daytime: Sunday on the Field - Bands and solo artists play on the field from 2pm.

Evening Concert: McFly, 7.45pm.Tickets: 35 (seated and standing; standing aged 14 and over), 25 (seated)

Full booking info:

Reserve your ticket NOW!

Online booking at www.llangollen2011.co.uk

(including Choose your own seat option)

Box Office 01978 862001 9.30am to 4.30pm weekdays.

Email tickets@international- eisteddfod.co.uk

By post: Llangollen Eisteddfod Box Office, Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, Llangollen, LL20 8SW.

Season Tickets: amazing offers!

Become a Season Ticket Holder or a Friend of the Festival to have access to priority seating arrangements and great offers;

• Platinum ticket is only: 200 Sit in the same seat all week (Day and night, Monday to Saturday!)
• Gold - 135 Wednesday to Saturday Evening (5 discount on top-price seats for Russell Watson concert)
• Silver Season - All daytime sessions, Wednesday to Saturday, same top-price seat guarantee, 70.

FESTIVAL GROUND ADMISSION

(Pavilion Reserved seat ticket includes Ground Admission)

Adult 10

Concessions 8

Child Under 16 5 (2 Saturday)

EVENING GROUND ADMISSION

Only 1 Ground for a Pound after 4.30pm, Tuesday Thursday

FAMILY GROUND ADMISSION

Wednesday -Friday 23 ; Saturday 20 (International Family Day)

(2 Adults & up to 3 children)

Press: Mr Producer Ltd

Lydia@mrproducer.co.uk

Russell Watson	Lulu	McFly

We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Karl Jenkins ticket giveaway competition is AmeriCymru member Michael Nies of New York. The winner has been notified via email. To all of you who entered the competition but did not win we wish better luck next time. Meanwhile congratulations/llongyfarchion Michael

The lucky winner is entitled to 2 FREE TICKETS from Distinguished Concerts International for the Concert for Peace - Celebrating the Spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall on January 17th 2011. The concert will feature performances of 'Stabat Mater' and 'Gloria'. Read our interview with Karl Jenkins here

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)

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter or 'like us' on Facebook

Unsubscribe from this newsletter

We all know that obesity is a major problem amongst the youth of today. Youngsters are often brought up on fast food to the detriment of their health. But the novel Mrs GwraK aims to strike back at this trend, by showing the disadvantages of the fast food they so evidently love and crave. So, heres the story an old-fashioned fable in a modern setting:

Theres a new cook in school and David is convinced that she is a witch. Not even his parents believe him when he says that she is deliberately trying to kill everybody with her sugary, grotesque Golden Food lunches, which makes everyone so fat that they can hardly move. David wont eat it and, armed with a sprig of witchweed, he tries to destroy the witch before she destroys everyone else. Will he succeed?

This novel is aimed at the 9-11 age group. It is also illustrated with scary drawings of the witch. The novel should strike a chord with those seeking to educate children about the disadvantages of unhealthy eating. And the odd celebrity chef or health organisations may have a thing or two to say about it too! In fact, the author was inspired to write the novel by Jamie Oliver and the turkey twizzler saga.

The author, Talybont based, Morgan Tomos trained as an animator and is the author/illustrator of over 20 books in Welsh. He has co-authored a book with school children and his proudest achievement has been making a metre-long triple bladed demon slayer sword of Owain Glyndr with his children. He has also made a life-size bust of the witchs head (shown below) and will tour bookshops and schools throughout Wales, if invited. The bust is made of recycled materials from the printing industry.

During the launch of the novel, at Siop Inc, Bridge Street, Aberystwyth on Saturday 5 March at 2 pm, there will be a competition to win a framed metal print of some of the illustrations from the book more details at the launch.