This was written by my good friend Glyn Scott from Barry.

I never could find them. Every week was the same.

Wheres my rugby boots , love? last minute as usual.

Where you left them probably. Ive told you before Im not touching those disgusting muddy relics. Isnt it time you stopped running round like a schoolboy every week? Very encouraging my wife.

Dont go on woman.

Its never again, when you come back with your aches and pains. Shes got a tongue that could rivet battleships.

Im going to hang my boots up, love she kept on.

I could hear her still going on as I slung my kit in the car.

Ideal weather I thought, dry and sunny but with a hint of heavy moisture that could cut the game short. Great in the bar early before the sun had firmly set.

I ambled into the clubhouse leaving my kit on the back seat where it could fill the car with its own unique fragrance and the sun would have at least a moment to attack the dampness.

At the bar Pete was checking off the team. Youre ere. He said licking his pencil. You fit ?

Im ere. was my honest reply.

I scanned the bedraggled group of human shapes known collectively as The Veterans.

I always had pre- match nerves, wondering whether I would let myself down. However looking around at the assembled crew, in comparison, I was practically a thoroughbred.

Where are we playing? a faceless voice asked.

Pengarn, have we all got transport? Pete enquired. Yes. was the collective reply.

Pat arrived shepherding a fresh faced lad who was wearing a fixed grin, and sporting new boots.

Ive brought along the wifes kid brother, if were short like.

Were always short. Pete coughed on his cigar. He fixed the lad with a deep frown.

Mind you, dont run around too fast this afternoon, young un. We old uns cant keep up see.

The lads grin disappeared. Poor misguided fool, probably thought wed welcome a fit young hero with open arms. In the car park the bartering began.

Ill come with you then, so I can have a drink after the game.

No its my turn to drink, I drove last time.

Liar!

This ritual continued to the point of fisticuffs. Then as suddenly as it started it was resolved and the convoy would depart.

For company I had Dave and Jed, real opposites on the great human scale. Dave, cool and neat, blazer buttons sparkling over designer jeans. Jed, on the other hand could best be described as comfortable in appearance. He overwhelmed the back seat. His face looked like sandpaper. This was not recent designer stubble either, this was one of his long standing features. He would leave his face get hairy then half way through a decent shave hed get tired and give up. During the journey I could see Dave admiring himself in my wing mirror, flicking his hair. Very much the ladies man was Dave he sat upright in the front seat next to me. Jed on the other hand snored his way through most of the journey, obviously no pre match nerves there. It was a not comforting to realise, that in a short time, I would be looking to these two for support in a dour physical struggle, thank goodness it was just a rugby match and not Rourkes Drift.

We all arrived together at Pengarn Rugby Club and formed a circle, like a wagon train. Dave and I prized Jed out of the back seat.

Youll have to get a four door car. He wheezed at me, Im not built for these flash sporty things

For Gods sake Jed, dont die out there today Ive an important date tonight. Dave was never subtle.

Your concern for my welfare is touching, my son.

Right Pete boomed. Lets get out there run off the jet lag.

Any journey, no matter how short reminded us of our ageing muscles. Well, some of us had arthritis and rheumatism. Help the Aged could have legitimately sponsored our team.

In the changing rooms the thick smell of liniment oozed and mixed with the stench of mouldy kit. Jed was now stripped down to his shorts.

Hey Buddha, fold all that skin up in a shirt will you! All of Jed chuckled and rippled on the edge of the bench.

From next door we could here the sound of young warriors audibly psyching themselves up for their game. It had little effect on us, we knew we werent playing them, they were the home first fifteen.

We jogged onto the field loosening up as best we could, arms flailing everywhere. The pitch was like a bowling green very impressive. No slope thank God, this week we wouldnt have to run uphill. The surface was lush and soggy, ideal for tackling and even just for falling down exhausted.

Are you B.P.Llandarcy ? questioned an official, all blazer and club tie.

No. Barry Vets.

Oh. youre not playing here, he said indignantly as if our mere presence soiled his beloved pitch. Youre down the road on the training pitch.

Typical sighed Pete.

We bade farewell to the beautiful carpet and clacked mournfully down the uneven country lane, where another official greeted us by a hole in the hedge.

By ere ,lads his rolled cigarette stuck firmly to his bottom lip. He announced himself as the other teams trainer and from his outward appearance we would not have been surprised if we were playing whippets or pigeons.

The pitch was another matter. On all four touchlines sheep were grazing and the grass resembled someone with a bad haircut.

Theyre bringing the M4 through ere , announced our trainer friend, proudly.

Have they already started? asked Pete.

Be fair weve shovelled all the cow and sheep shit onto the touchlines. He pointed to a great steaming Offas Dyke at the edge of the pitch. I contemplated the unhappy possibility of being tackled into that lot.

The other team arrived and fortunately the word athlete was not an expression you would use to describe them, any more than it would be for us. Jim our touch judge arrived and surveyed the mountain of mixed manure.

Gordon Bennett, who trained these cows, Billy bloody Smart, theyve all shat on my touchline.

The referee was suitably aged with thin stark white legs protruding from baggy shorts. He was arguing with our winger Nipper.

Look, I dont mind looking after asthma pumps, or even false teeth, but I draw the line at half a fag and a box of matches.

I always have one at half time, Ref, to calm me nerves like

For some unknown reason I chose this moment to remember Shakespeares the seven stages of man All the worlds a stage, well if thats so then there were a few of us on this pitch who are in danger of falling off said stage.

As I stood waiting for the whistle to commence hostilities, I looked to the nearby road and the interlocking hills that rolled off into the distance. Cars zoomed by carrying screaming kids, late businessmen and old couples poodling along on a Saturday afternoon drive.

And what of those hills? Did they hide secret spouses , maybe even my own, neglected by their partners and now clandestinely meeting their lovers in lonely country lanes? Hes at the rugby he wont be back for hours.

At last the first whistle, followed inevitably by the first scrum, I positioned myself in centre of the front row and gratefully clutched Jed and Bob for support we attempted to outstare our opponents. Gingerly, like hens settling on eggs, we locked into the opposition scrum with the odd grunt to make it seem like a major physical effort.

Ten years ago we would have stood five feet apart and charged at each other like raging bulls, but the bones were somewhat brittle now.

God, its dark in here. said my opposite number.

Jed, breath in your stomachs blocking all the light. How am I supposed to see the ball?

Their second row began to mournfully whistle Me in my small corner.

If youre not going to take this even half serious Im going off! said the ref angrily.

Games like this were uneventful. Hopes of a score from either side generally went unfulfilled. The few spectators seemed to regard it as a duty to watch. We settled into another sedate scrum, when suddenly a fist flashed past me and connected with my opponents already well worn nose. He hardly flinched and scanned the scrum for the culprit. I looked back to see the face of the young wifes brother ridden with guilt.

Trying to make a name for yourself, sonny? my indignant rival growled. I sighed at the inevitable. The lad had a lot to learn and it wasnt long in coming. Sure enough in the next melee, a high pitched scream rent the air and we parted to reveal our young friend spread-eagled, the earlier fixed grin had returned and was now joined by glazed eyes.

There were no fisticuffs in his support. Firstly, he got what he deserved and secondly, even throwing a punch, in these our sunset days, risked permanent injury.

We lifted him by the arms dragging him through the manure and propped him against the hedge.

As Shakespeare had said, he had been seeking the bubble of reputation. Unfortunately for him, the bubble had soon burst when their hooker caught up with him.

The game had settled down when something unexpected happened. Like a ghost from the past we surprisingly managed to actually string a number of passes together and the ball arrived in Nipper our wingers gnarled hands.

Nipper had been quite a sprinter in his day, his wiry frame and incisive running had graced many a pitch. We waited with bated breath. He had plenty of room and had just rounded his opposite number, his legs pumping rapidly. We all expected him to dart away, brief glory returned, adding wings to his feet. But no, it was not to be. The scene took on almost cartoon proportions, his legs were frantically moving up and down, but he was going, nowhere.

Managing to achieve a sort of glue-footed trot, he had left us behind, but that was no recommendation, in fact it proved to be a hindrance as he found himself isolated and alone with no one to pass to and some distance to go to the try line. Much as he tried to accelerate it was not going to happen. The final indignity was when he was over taken by a sheep, bent on rescuing her lamb that had lodged itself in the hedge surrounding the pitch.

The pained expression on Nippers face galvanised me into action. To save this once brave athlete any further embarrassment, I tackled him myself. Pete arrived moments later.

What the hell are you doing? he asked.

It was an errand of mercy. I said reverently. He had no way out

He understood. Nipper remained face down in the mud, physically unhurt.

We gathered round him unable to touch him, instinctively knowing that he had an incurable virus.

Lost youth had struck.. It would come to us all, that final moment when nothing functions, when the spirit is willing but the flesh is non-existent. That time when you have to hang up your boots----- forever!

Our trainer came on quietly and gently lifted Nipper to his feet, leading him to the touchline. Two ancient spectators removed their caps as a mark of respect, they had in by gone days experienced that irrevocable moment. Nipper staggered off to the changing room alone. Jim wondered whether he should follow to make sure he didnt try anything silly with his soap on- a -rope.

What did Shakespeare say, they have their exits and entrances.

How long to go, Ref? I asked.

Five minutes, pal.

We played out the rest of the game, shook hands and ambled off to the changing rooms, picking up the still concussed infant on the way, nobody knew the score or cared.

A lone perplexed cow chewed on the cud. Like all females, she probably had trouble understanding the sorry sad mess that was the male of the species, bovine or human.

Are we playing next week? I asked.

Taking Nippers fag from the referee and lighting up Pete said Depends on how many of us are still able to walk let alone run. He said.

We made the most of the hot showers, soothing aches and pains and within

two pints of beer from the kitty all sense of melancholy had ceased, even Nipper was offering his services as a future physio and cuts man.

Well its either that or shopping with the wife. he said.

A shudder ran around the assembled masses. A couple of jugs were emptied until those of us dry and driving began to protest a need to return home ditch our cars and salvage what was left of the drinking night.

So is it never again? my wife was lounging on the settee as I arrived home.

No, might as well keep going for bit I said, Youre a long time not playing you know.

Huh! Men will be boys I suppose. she said

Let me make it clear from the outset that this is not intended to send every one of you off to write another version of Fifty Shades. Actually my wife is probably smiling a little at the title right now. This article is about fire in the belly rather than fire in any other part of your anatomy.

As writers we often struggle to get motivated to write or perhaps we experience the dreaded mental blockand feel like giving up completely. Why not take a step back and look around? There are so many issues personally, locally and globally that can arouse our emotions.Issues wecan get passionate about. Issues we can write about. I recently joined a site called AmeriCymru.net. One of the members,nicknamed Swansea Jack, is prolific in the number of issues he flags up. Prolific and passionate. The world could do with a lot more like him.
When writing my play-based early years math program I was driven by the numerous comments I had read from children and adults on internet forums.Most of them were very passionate in their intense dislike of math and the horrible experiences they had endured. It motivated them to write about it. Open your local newspaper and you will inevitably find someone with something to say about a local issue that affects the community. It could be the local authority's intention to chop down some well loved trees or a decision to close a hospital annexe. Remember we are not only authors but part of our local community. Get fired up. Get engaged. Create your own story.
Something I, and most people,feel passionate about is the wilful murder of children. This was again sadly brought to the forefront of our attention in my own native Wales recently by the abduction and murder of April Jones. Perhaps this is not the time or place to comment but it is something I feel very strongly about. My view is that people like Ian Bradey and Myra Hindley should face the death penalty. Why should they be allowed to live when they carry the memories of the last terrible moments of the life of someone else's child in their head, able to replay it over and over whenever they please. I accept the argument that people can genuinely change but as far asI am concerned once they have murdered a child they have abrogated their right to live. Please don't bombard me with arguments to the contraryI am really not interested. This is an issue I just feel too passionate about.
Other issues that I have written about with passion include the wanton destruction of the coal industry by the Margaret Thatcher led Tory government. It was a time when the police were unleashed against communities such as mine like a paramilitary force. Communities that had endured decades of deprivation. Communities that sacrificed countless lives and drove the industrial revolution. Communities that the likes of Margaret Thatcher could never understand because she never grasped the true meaning of community. It inspired me to write a poem that will probably never find its way into any anthology but at least it made me feel better!
On a lighter note I recently wrote a novella entitled 'A Christmas Carol Revisited' as a tribute to Charles Dickens a man I not only admire as an author but as a social commentator and reformer. He exposed the social injustices and malpractices of his day with a passion suffused with humour. As an indie author I knew I had to promote the book myself. One of the things I did was email the secretary's of Charles Dickens' societies around the world. The most polite responses were inevitably from American societies.
As a consequence I was contacted by the Secretary of The Entertainment Committee (The City Bar) in New York asking my permission to perform a staged reading on the 19th December in the City Bar Building, Manhattan. Proceeds of the event go to charity. There are 1500 seats and attendees willbe asked to voluntarily contribute something in a '5' denomination for a children's charity. Say no more! I hastily point out that I will receive no monetary compensation if this goes aheadbut the fact that my book could be read in such a prestigious venue in the very place it is set is enormously exciting. It is also being performed on thedate 'A Christmas Carol' was first published. I hope you also appreciate the promotional aspect. I could never have afforded to pay for such publicity. The lesson has to be start networking with people - get passionate and promote your book.
It's my great pleasure to introduce you to people who like to help Indie authors in very practical and innovative ways. Here are some more.

HelpfulSites ForIndie Authors. . .
	Want to Write, Publish, and Sell your Books? Get comfortable, because youve come to the right place. Provided by Ben Galley and other industry experts, this is your quintessential guide to becoming a professional author:
		Biblio Connection is a social community for all book lovers.Our goal is to connect and encourage interaction between readers, authors, booksellers, publishers, illustrators and book collectors.
	We provide book and blog services for any budget: book blog tours, cover art, and more. The indie revolution has left a gaping problem for authors. Without the backing of a traditional publishing house, new books often receive subpar editing, poorly designed covers, and flailing marketing efforts. And many services are out of reach to those who are funding their own projects.
		CommuniCATE posts writing techniques, creativity articles, inspiration and writer's resources twice a week.
	Do You Want Book Publicity? Get Free Book Marketing & Book Promotion Let us do book advertising & book PR for you for free As many new book titles are published daily, it is getting even more difficult to sell a book. The key to increased sales lies in creating awareness about your book's existence to as many readers as possible.
		Our Team has the inside track on which journalists want your story. Well write you a compelling press release and get it directly in front of them within 24 hours.
	An online magazine for literature.
		Our writers' association provides support, guidance, advice, contacts, advocacy and connection for the self-publishing author .
	Limitless Publishing is a publishing company which specializes in: *Mind, Body & Spirit *Young Adult fiction *Paranormal Located in Hawaii and we are a "quality" publisher, not a quantity publisher. We truly believe in helping authors create something amazing from the cover to the final edits. Our team is not only talented, but many of the members are successful authors themselves. We are following our dream and we want to help fellow author's follow their dream as well. Because, following your dream is the first step to becoming limitless... Currently accepting ALL genres .
		World Literary Cafe Where Authors and Readers unite!

It's that time of year again - competition time. Well actually practically any time of year is competition time, it's a never ending carousel. However it can be a very lucrative carousel with many organisations dangling very tempting morsels in front of ushungry writers.
If you are one of the many aspiring authors who have not yet picked up a pen in anger one of these competitions may just be what you need to kick start your writing career.

Competitionsprovide 3 very important elements for budding and established writers: 1. A sharp focus.

2. Prescribed parameters that actually help creativity.

3. Adefinitive time scale.

Without any further waffle here are some that may get your creative engine out of first gear:
EREWASH WRITERS GROUP: Creepy Christmas Chiller Competition 2012
THE BETTY TRASK PRIZE (Commonwealth only) For first novels by writers under the age of 35 on 31st December 2012
THE MCKITTERICK PRIZE (Work must have been first published in the UK or be unpublished) For the best first novel by an author over the age of 40 on 31st December 2012
CINAMMON PRESS WRITING AWARDS
Short stories, 2,000 - 4,000 words
COMMONWEALTH WRITERS SHORT STORY PRIZE Original, unpublished short stories 2,000 - 5,000 words.
INKTEARS SHORT STORY COMPETITION Short stories, 1,000 - 3,000 words.
INTERNATIONAL AEON AWARD SHORT FICTION CONTEST For science fiction, fantasy and horror stories up to 10,000 words.
THE ANTHONY HECHT POETRY PRIZE Book-length poetry collections.
BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE For poems up to 50 lines.
FRANK O'CONNOR INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY AWARD For short story collections published in 2012.
TOM HOWARD/JOHN H REID SHORT STORY COMPETITION Short stories, essays or other prose, up to 5,000 words.
WINNING WRITERS SPORTS POETRY & PROSE CONTEST For one or two poems, short stories or essays or other prose, on a sporting theme., all with 6,000 word maximum.
BRUNTWOOD PRIZE FOR PLAYWRITING 2013 Full length (at least an hour) stage plays written in English.
LIGHTSHIP INTERNATIONAL PRIZES Short stories up to 5,000 words.
If there isn't anything in the above to stimulate the creative juices you'd better take up knitting!
As you know every week I feature Indie authors but for the next couple of weeks there is a slight change of focus. I shall instead be flagging up people who are attempting to help or provide a service for Indie authors so here goes.

PeopleOutToHelpIndie Authors. . .
	Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge
		The Independent Author Index is designed to offer independent authors another avenue of exposure. It is also designed to be engaging and interactive.
	I write and blog News for and about Indie Authors, Indie Books, Writing Tips. Handling Book Promotions and Author Interviews
		If you're anything like us (and what are the odds of that?) you love to read. . .We're always open to a good, opinionated author who loves to review books, so if you want to review for us, send your sample review, CV and query to let us know . Welcome to Novelspot, the book-lovers paradise.
	Indie author, e-publisher, and the writer behind Publish Your Own Ebooks, a self-publishing resource for those who are writing and publishing ebooks.
		We're readers, not writers. An ebook Publishing & Social marketing team of readers help you writers find readers

I would very much like to welcome Cynthia Moss to Kindle Authors.

Cynthia works at Wichita State University having also graduated from there. She kindly agreed to supply a guest post on a subject that all aspiring authors should take very seriously.

Making a Great First Impression - Literally I f youve been reading the reviews for self-published authors, youll notice as imilarity among the negative ones. Over and over, it seems to come down to rammar and punctuation. Reviews occasionally even ignore the actual story plot, characters, setting, and all to instead focus on glaring errors in syntax. After the ridicule, often including grammar, reviewers frequently take potshots at the intelligence of the author. Granted, some of this criticism may just be sour grapes, but this automatic assumption that poor grammar equals idiocy is not at all uncommon.

For
an electronic resume, pricing, and payment options, I can be contacted at:

Cnm06@hotmail.com

Once again it's time to meet some authors in various stages of their development. Some have already completed their books, some are engaged in the process of writing while others are mentally preparing to take the plunge and get started. Cynthia's post is a timely reminder to us all.
Please take the time to visit the websites and blogs and Twitter accounts of this determined and talented group.

More talented AspiringandNew Indie Authors. . .

You now have Cynthia's contact details if you want help with the essential stage of proofreading and editing.
For help with promotion using Google+ and Blogger I am making Google+eXplosion available for FREE. Please CLICK HERE TO GET ACCESS
For those of you who haven't started and are waiting for inspiration you will have to wait a long time. Perspiration precedes inspiration. For those of you without a blog or website get one and start promoting your book. Google+ eXplosion will show you how.
I will be more than happy to feature your finished book. In fact I will be delighted so get writing please .

NEXT WEEK

CompetitionsTo Cut Your Teeth On.

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.

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)

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

We can leapinto the breaking surf and stand alongside Achillesas he gazes up at the shimmering walls of Troy and dreamsof immortal glory. We can shudder in dark underground caverns as we huddle alongside Bilbo Baggins and listen in terror for the flapping of webbed feet on the coldhard floor.
To deny children entrance to theseworlds is nothing short of a crime. That is why your greatest asset as a writer is the ability to write a great story. The power to capture the imagination and send the reader into strange new worlds or back into the distant past while engaging their emotions and intellect is nothing short of magical. It is also an ability that is becoming rarer and therefore evenmore precious.

"Good story means something worth telling that the world wants to hear. Finding this is your lonely task." He makes a very insightful observation when he says," A culture cannot evolve without honest powerful storytelling" "The love of story", according to McKee also embraces, "The love of the dramatic. . . The love of truth. . .The love of humanity. . .The love of sensation. . . The love of dreaming. . . The love of humor. . . The love of language. . . The love of duality. . .The love of perfection. . .The love of uniqueness. . . The love of beauty. . . The love of self - a strength that doesn't constantly need to be reassured, that never doubts that you are indeed a writer. You must love to write and bear the loneliness."

As independent self-published writers it is essential we promote our work but without these qualities our work will not stand the test of time. Let Robert McKee's words be a call to arms for us all.

This week we delve into the world of fantasy. I am currently writing a paranormal fantasy for children of all ages, BILLY:Family Secrets,and one thing struck me as important. I needed to root my story in the familiar before branching out into the unexplored. Free chapters are available from this blog.

So this week's featured authors are from the fantasy genre:

The author in the middle of the bottom row has recently had her book mentioned in an article onthe Western Mail online. Read the aricle HERE

Here are some of our talented Fantasy Indie Authors

REPORT: What Is Behind the Mysterious Disappearances at Firgrove Colliery - The Pit of Shadows?

Readthis disturbingreportnow in the first issue of our online magazine. CLICK TO ENTER
THIS WEEKS DEBATE: "Is Soaking Your Conker In Vinegar Overnight Cheating?" - VOTE NOW

Many of you probably realise by now that the majority of writers I feature on this blog are mutual Twitter Followers. In other words we follow each other on Twitter. For aspiring authors one of the best pieces of adviceI can give you is get on Twitter. It is a unique platform for getting your voice out there. By now you all now my feelings about Google+ and Facebook. Whoever eventually dominates the social mediauniverse Twitter will still bean essentialingredient for success.

Word of mouth is by far the most effective and powerful means of letting others know about your book or blog. Follow authors and readers within your niche and if they like what they see or hear they will spread the word and once the 'tipping point' is reached your book or blog becomes viral.

I recently 'discovered' a simple free app that has the potential to accelerate this 'word of mouth' process. It's called Pay With A Tweet and like most great ideas is based on a simple concept. At the moment this app is only compatible with Facebook and Twitter. Once Google+ begins to provide similar apps the potential will increase exponentially. For now, I am going to focus on its use with Twitter.

Why not let the creators of this app explain the concept in their own words:

Sell your products for the price of a tweet.

In today's world the value of people talking about your product is sometimes higher than the money you would get for it. Pay with a Tweet is the first social payment system, where people pay with the value of their social network.

Its simple, every time somebody pays with a tweet, he or she tells all their friends about the product. Boom.

All you have to do is download a Pay With A Tweet button by filling out a simple form.

This
'alternative Carmarthen' is a town riddled with secrets, vice and betrayal, but
no secret escapes the attention of Carmarthen Intelligence; its brave agents
display constant vigilance in the fight to keep Carmarthen and the rest of Wales
free from its enemies.

While the townspeople go about their business,
beneath its very centre lies Carmarthen Intelligence HQ, where our heroes, along
with their colleagues at the Welsh Bureau of Investigation in Swansea, take up
arms against a sinister cabal.

Could there be a traitor among
them?
Why does Myddfai have a sheriff?
Does Betti Williams make the best
breakfast this side of Llangollen?

I am really looking foward to discovering this secret Camarthen.

Gaynoralso has another
book available from Lulu hot off the press - 'A Meeting Of Dragons'

Click the image to go to Gaynor's page on Lulu.
Good luck Gaynor we need all the Welsh authors we can get.

An absolutely fundamental requirement for any writer is to discovertheir own. identity,their own unique voice. So many aspiring authors out there are focusing solely on becoming the next J.K. Rowling or attempting to mimic the success ofFifty Shades of Grey. What you write must firstly reflect who you are. Who you are will determine what genre or genres you are most comfortable with. What genre you choose will define your audience or readership. Whatever other people think or whatever the current trend might be should not influence or deflect you from being who you really are.
Ceri Shaw left his native Wales to live in America. Having a strong sense of identity led him to create, along with his partner Gaabriel, the website AmeriCymru. I will let Ceri speak for himself as someone who has most emphatically 'to his own self been true'. It might be a good idea to take a quick tour of AmeriCymru before reading the interview.

Q: What inspired you to get AmeriCymru up and running given all the hard work that it would inevitably entail?

Tough question In retrospect I suppose there were three reasons. I had been involved in a small way with web design and site development before AmeriCymru and I relished the challenge of promoting a site with a name that would be unpronounceable and unintelligible to most people here in the States and that bore no discernible relation to the relevant keywords. There was also an element of hireath of course. I realised that I was 6000 miles from home and that a site like this would afford many opportunities to keep up with people, events and ideas back home.

We're working on a plan to expand our content over the next year with even more on Welsh writers, poets, musicians and other artists than we've already got and articles on Welsh history and profiling Welsh emigrants outside Wales. We'll be taking a look at what we can do that could be a resource for Welsh societies and groups also what we can do to benefit individuals - education? Community? Genealogy? We'll also be expanding the online eisteddfod we do. This year's online competitions are open for entries in short story ( http://americymru.net/group/west-coast-eisteddfod-online-short-story-competiti ) and poetry ( http://americymru.net/group/2012-west-coat-eisteddfod-online-poetry-competitio ) until September 30th. Next year we want to increase the prize money and spend a lot more time promoting these competitions. We plan on changing the live event we do but there will still be a West Coast Eisteddfod live event.
In passing I'd just like to encourage any writers of short stories or poetry to take a look at the competition pages linked above. There is still time before the deadline for entries and your participation is welcome. If the rules seem in any way confusing please feel free to email me at americymru@gmail.com

I confess I am one of the many Maybe if AmeriCymru had not consumed my energies for the last four years I would have got around to putting pen to paper by now. One of these days ( and soon ) I must. I would hate to resort to repeating platitudes about the evils of procrastination at this point and I wont, for fear of being labelled a hypocrite.

The first line of the novel that I will never write is this..."There is nothing that I want to do."

Sorry to be so cryptic

Jean isthe author of 5 traditionally published books.She lives in Wales. When not writingshe issailing Ruby, a Gibsea 372. Jean is also a member of AmeriCymru.

FREYA 800 A.D.	"Stunning first book in a new historical series." Freya lived more than a thousand years ago at the beginning of the Viking raids on Britain. Home was a longhouse, one of several in the settlement; a stockade protected the small community from bears and wolves roaming the vast glacial wilderness.Freya's husband, Olaf, hungered for wealth. He sailed the longship, Odin's Thunder, across the Norse Sea to wreak havoc on the Picts of northern Britain. Freya, haunted by images of her husband's rapine and cruel infidelity, prays to pagan gods for his return. With the settlement almost deserted, Knut, a man of the mountains with a warped and cruel mind, crossed the threshold of Freya's longhouse, with devastating consequences. In a dreadful twist of fate, Freya is forced to live in isolation. It takes all her willpower to survive a dark and frozen winter with only Brock, her favourite hound, for company. When Olaf had been missing for two winter seasons, Freya sailed to the shores of Britain to find him. Betrayal and tragedy lie ahead. Signed copies available contact: jean@jeanmead.wanadoo.co.uk
THE WIDOW MAKERS	Jean Mead's novel The Widow Makers is inspiring reading: a classic tale, full of all the ingredients which make for the finest of novels. Based in the mid-19th century, it tells the story of the young Standish family, who move from the coalfields of Lancashire to the slate quarries of North Wales in search of a better livelihood. Daily life is much like their Welsh neighbours': death comes in the cruellest form to the village, but those who remain thrive, despite desperate poverty, barbaric working conditions and the cruel winter climate. The eldest Standish boy, Tommy is something of a changeling; he desires a different life and ruthlessly goes in pursuit of his dream of the grandeur and riches of the landowners' class. Mead's exceptional talent as a raconteur lets us share the family's emotional rollercoaster ride, as they lose their eldest son, as he grasps the riches that are so important to him, regardless of the hurt and misery he causes his family and anyone who dares to step in his way. Joe, his father, is a gentle giant of a man and through his eyes we see the beauty and majesty of the Welsh countryside, thus giving this book a greater substance. My only criticism of The Widow Makers was that it ended too soon; I felt bereft! A sequel please
STRIFE	Fan's of Jean Mead's first novel in the Widow Makers series will love this, the second in the saga of the mining Standish family. Set in the mid-19th century, it continues the tale of the family's fortune in the slate quarries of North Wales. The eldest son Tommy Standish is now the hard and ruthless manager of the Garddryn Quarry, while his father Joe and younger brother Frank are quarrymen. The family find themselves pitted against each other as Joe fights for fairer working conditions and pay for his fellow workers, while Tommy is determined to grind every last bit of sweat and toil out of them to further his own ambitions and wealth. A nasty character through and through, Tommy treats everyone equally badly - from his depressed and opium addicted wife Henrietta to his young son Edward and his parents, who remind him of his embarrassingly humble upbringing. You find yourself caught up in the struggle of those he is oppressing, hoping that his scheming will be foiled and that someone will stand up to him, as Jean Mead sweeps you along with her vivid descriptions of 19th century life and the harshness and beauty of Snowdonia. A compelling vivid account that leaves you finishing the last page with regret and hoping for more.
You can visit Jean's Website HERE

We wish Jean every success in the future. Continuing with our Welsh theme here are some more mutual Twitter followers who are also Welsh authors or authors based in Wales.

Click on each authors image to visit their blog. Hopefully they will all decide to join AmeriCymru. Here are some of their excellent books.