Wales Book of Year Ceremony 2025
The event will start streaming here from 7.00pm onwards, Thursday Night. The Wales Book of the Year Ceremony 2025 will be streaming live from the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff on Am! Join us on July 17th for a thrilling evening to celebrate the achievements of talented Welsh writers!
Artist of the Month: Amy Grandvoinet
Artist of the Month is a feature where we put the spotlight on the incredible work of one of our members. Our Artist of the Month for July is Amy Grandvoinet! Amy currently abides in Aberystwyth and is trying for a proper existence. She’s undergoing PhD research in so-called literary psychogeographies and will teach autoethnographic […]
Pennod 65 – ‘Pererin Wyf’: Williams Pantycelyn (rhan 2)
‘I am a Pilgrim’: Williams Pantycelyn (2) We dive a little deeper into Pantycelyn’s hymns in this episode, concentrating on one theme. After discussing the popular hymn beginning ‘Pererin wyf mewn anial dir’ (‘I am a pilgrim in a desert’), we note that that was neither the only time nor the first time that Williams […]
Job Hunting With Autism: The Barriers We Face
Earlier this afternoon, I checked my phone and noticed a missed call from a couple of hours previously. Having googled the number as I usually do, I was excited to see that it wasn’t spam, but a number belonging to the organisation I had interviewed with last Friday. A familiar voice answered, promising to call […]
British Fantasy Awards
We are delighted to see that two of our books are finalists for this year’s British Fantasy Awards. Fight Like A Girl 2, a finalist in Best Anthology, is edited by Roz Clarke and Joanne Hall who live in Ammanford. The book was originally commissioned as the second in a series by another publisher, […]
Wizard’s Tower Press
An independent publishing company specialising in science fiction and fantasy.
Pennod 64 – ‘Williams biau’r Emyn’
‘The Hymn Belongs to Williams’ In this episode we begin discussing the Welsh Methodist movement’s chief poet, William Williams, Pantycelyn (1717-1791). Although we summarize some of the history of his life (including his conversion), we take more time in stressing the significance of his literary work as we agree with those we see Pantycelyn’s early […]
QueerAF Partnership: Opportunities for LGBTQIA+ Early Career Journalists in Wales
Following the success of our last series of commissions, we’re partnering with QueerAF for another cohort of mentoring. They’ll be running a dedicated series of think pieces as part of QueerAF’s landmark writing scheme, Queer Gaze. And you could be one of the successful writers. What’s on offer? Three LGBTQIA+ early talent, unpublished and […]
Issue 002: Speak to Me
More award-winning and emerging writers, including Emma Glass, Horatio Clare and Ania Card, have been named as contributors for the new magazine’s second issue, following the resounding success of Issue 001. The new Wales-based literary magazine Folding Rock have unveiled the cover design and full line-up of writers for their second issue, titled Speak […]
Awduron di-dâl
This content is in Welsh only.
Pennod 63 – Dechrau Cyfnod Newydd: Y Diwygiad Methodistaidd
The Beginning of a New Period: The Methodist Revival Welcome to series 3 of Yr Hen Iaith! We open this new series by discussion the beginnings of the Methodist Revival in Wales, a movement which would have an immense effect on the Welsh-language literary tradition. We note that the religious movement came to Wales at […]
Yr arolwg barn blwyddyn-i-fynd
This content is in Welsh only.
Evrah Rose
Artist of the Month is a feature where we put the spotlight on the incredible work of one of our members. Our Artist of the Month is Evrah Rose! Poet, author and rapper, Evrah Rose gained national popularity for her hard hitting delivery & fearless energy. Read the feature below to learn more about Evrah’s […]
‘Overdiagnosis’: The media’s vilification of different minds
Opening ‘X’ for the first time in months, I wasn’t expecting to see myself and millions of other ADHDers being compared to Hitler. I wasn’t expecting to see a cartoon from a well-known political publication, not only making fun of the condition, but implying Hitler may’ve used ADHD as an excuse for his horrific crimes if […]
Review Essay: A Wilderness of Unperishable Glory – Eluned Gramich
‘Once the sea breaches the wall, it will go as fast as a horse can run, all the way across the fields, until it hits the hills. It could happen today or tomorrow, anytime,’ says Neville Waters, a retired flood expert. He is being interviewed by Marsha O’Mahony about the Gwent Levels, an intertidal area […]
Folding Rock
Folding Rock is a brand new magazine on the block. Founded in 2024 by two editors determined to help put Wales and Welsh writing on the UK map – and far beyond – it publishes the best new creative prose: fiction, non-fiction, and everything in between. The magazine showcases exciting work from writers of all […]
Folding Rock Summer Party
Celebrate summer at the seaside with Folding Rock and friends at Tramshed Tech in Barry Goodsheds. We’ll be announcing more soon, but you can expect good conversation, a reading or two, drinks, music, and the opportunity to read some of the best new writing Wales has to offer – plus access to some amazing food […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Branwen ferch Llŷr
Branwen daughter of Llŷr We have a great time in this episode while discussing ‘The Second Branch of the Mabinogi’, namely the tale of ‘Branwen daughter of Llŷr’. We consider a number of things about this exciting story, asking interesting questions about its relationship with the medieval society to which it belonged. We note that […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch
The next episode focusses on the tale ‘Branwen daughter of Llŷr’ (or ‘The Second Branch of the Mabinogi’). We prepare for that discussion in this episode by looking at the earliest manuscript which contains a complete copy of the tale, namely the White Book of Rhydderch. This manuscript was created about the year 1350 by […]
This Writing Life: Carys Davies
Welcome to This Writing Life, Folding Rock’s new interview series where we take a peek into the lives and habits of our favourite writers – and ask them some questions submitted by you! What was the first thing you did this morning? Cycled down to the beach at Portobello with my son. It’s one […]
Review: A Room Above a Shop (Granta, 2025) by Anthony Shapland
by A. R Darland It’s a tale as simple as its title. Two men meet somewhere in the region of Merthyr Tydfil, they work in an independent DIY shop together, and share a single room upstairs. They love each other for a bit, they fall out for a bit, they patch stuff up. As […]
The Centre of Things
Mari Huws Jones This piece originally appeared in Folding Rock Issue 001: Roots. SOIL | 2019 Early in December 2019 I found myself doubled over and pulling wildly at the roots of nettles – shovelling soil in the shade of an elder tree, leafless in midwinter; levelling a small piece of shrubby, neglected land. […]
Issue 001 Editorial
By Robert Harries and Kathryn Tann ‘Just like the cow jumped over the moon’ When Fitzcarraldo Editions founder Jacques Testard was buttonholed about the meaning of his press’s name, he reasoned it was a reference to the 1982 Werner Herzog movie chronicling the attempt by Klaus Kinski’s unhinged rubber baron to haul a gargantuan steamship up […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Mis Mai a Mis Tachwedd
‘May and November’ In this episode we discuss one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s nature poems, namely the famous cywydd which contrasts the month of May with the ‘dark angry’ month. While considering two connected themes which are central to Dafydd’s work, love and nature, we note that the poem welcomes May as it signifies the […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Yr Wylan
‘The Seagull’ In this episode we look at one of Dafydd ap Gwilym’s cywyddau llatai and explain the meaning of that word – ‘llatai’ – and discuss the usual pattern followed by these kinds of cywyddau. This is a kind of poem which combines two of Dafydd’s favourite themes, love and nature, giving the poet’s […]
Gwaith Argoed Llwyfain
This episode discusses one of the poems attributed to the bard Taliesin. The word ‘gwaith’ means ‘battle’, and although we don’t know where exactly Argoed Llwyfain was, it’s certain that the location was in the Old North and that this battle took place sometime towards the end of the sixth century. It was a victory […]
Marwnad Owain ab Urien
In this episode we look at another of Taliesin’s poems. The praise tradition including paying tribute to dead leaders, and that’s what we have in this powerful poem. We note that this elegy for Owain refers to the victory celebrated in another of Taliesin’s poems, ‘The Battle of Argoed Llwyfain’; there is a sense that […]
Canu Aneirin, Awdl 1
We discuss the first of the Gododdin’s awdlau in this episode, namely an elegy for Ywain, a warrior described as ‘Marro’s only son’. We note that the style is very sparse yet also extremely powerful; here is a poet who does a lot with a few words. We learn a number of things about Ywain: […]
Llyfr Aneirin
This episode prefaces the episodes which discuss two of Canu Aneirin’s awdlau. Here we are in the National Library of Wales, looking at the Book of Aneirin itself! This manuscript was written between about 1250 and 1300. As it’s likely that it was written during the final years of ‘the independent Wales, we wonder if […]
Canu Aneirin, Awdl 24
Here we discuss an elegy to another of the Gododdin’s dead warriors, Buddfan fab Bleiddfan. We note that ‘arwr’ (‘hero’) is the first word, summarizing effectively the picture we get in the following lines. We also note that the last word, ‘dihafarch’ (‘brave’) encapsulates this elegy’s main message. Like the first awdl, death in battle […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Aneirin gan Iwan Llwyd
In this episode we look at the poem ‘Aneirin’ by Iwan Llwyd, scrutinizing the way in which he compares – or assimilates – the poet’s job with the journalist’s. We also discuss the way in which the poem assimilates wars from different historical periods and note that Iwan Llwyd has very definite ideas about the […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Gwenllian gan Myrddin ap Dafydd
Ystyriwn y cywydd ‘Gwenllian’ gan Myrddin ap Dafydd yn y bennod hon, gan egluro’r ddau gyd-destun hanesyddol perthnasol – diwedd llinach tywysogion Cymru yn 1282 a hanes ymgyrch yn y 1990au i greu cofeb i ferch Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Gwenllian. Awgrymwn fod y gerdd hon yn gofeb hynod drawiadol yn ei hawl ei hun. Wrth […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Y Gŵr sydd ar y Gorwel gan Gerallt Lloyd Owen
This episode focusses on Gerallt Lloyd Owen’s poem, ‘Y Gŵr sydd ar y Gorwel’. As well as scrutinising the poet’s craft, we explain the political context and consider why Gerallt Lloyd Owen approached Saunders Lewis in this way. We note the significance of the word ‘horizon’ itself and suggest that this modern poem highlights some […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Sul y Mamau yn Greenham, 1984 gan Menna Elfyn
We discuss Menna Elfen’s ‘Mother’s Day at Greenham, 1984’ in this episode. Jerry Hunter scrutinizes the structure and style of the poem, noting how the poet takes advantage of the flexibility of free measure. She also discusses the images that are central to her. Richard Wyn Jones explains the historical and political context, explaining the […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Our series for Welsh A Level Students
This is a special series of Yr Hen Iaith – one that has been created specifically for people studying Welsh A Level. Each episode in the series relates to an aspect of the syllabus. You can listen to two old friends discussing Welsh literature, one an expert in the field and the other eager to […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A): Un Nos Ola Leuad
We discuss Un Nos Ola Leuad in this episode while filming at the National Library of Wales, with Caradog Prichard’s own notebook with one of his original plans for the novel and a draft of a chapter in front of us. We consider the style of this remarkable work and the way it moves between […]
Yr Hen Iaith (Lefel A) – Martha, Jac, a Sianco
We discuss Martha, Jac a Sianco in this episode, scrutinizing how the novel depicts the dark side of rural life. We find that even the most shocking aspects of the novel reflect reality and that this courageous work goes against a stream of Welsh literature that elevates, romanticises and idealises the life of the […]
Hynt Yr Hen Iaith: neges ar gyfer ein dilynwyr
As you know if you have been following Yr Hen Iaith, the last episode was the final episode of Series 2. There will be a little break before we start Series 3, but the Yr Hen Iaith team will not be idle! In fact, we have started recording a special series for A-level pupils. This […]
Pennod 62 – Hanesyddiaeth a Hunaniaeth: Drych y Prif Oesoedd
Historiography and Identity: Drych y Prif Oesoedd With this episode we bring the second series of Yr Hen Iaith to an end, and we do that by discussing an incredibly influential book which Theophilus Evans published in 1740. Drych y Prif Oesoedd [The Mirror of the Earliest Centuries] was first published in 1716, but the […]
Lansiad: Cymry. Balch. Ifanc.
This content is in Welsh only.
Pennod 61 – Taliesin yng Ngwlad Angau: Gweledigaethau’r Bardd Cwsg (rhan 2)
Taliesin in the Land of Death: The Visions of the Sleepiong Bard (2) In this episode we look at how Ellis Wynne discusses the Welsh bardic tradition in The Visions of the Sleeping Bard. The enw of the work’s main character has ancient literary roots, and we see that other aspects of this amazing book […]
Cerdd Tafod Arall | Music of Another Tongue
Cerdd Tafod Arall | Music of Another Tongue is a project led by Hanan Issa, National Poet of Wales, where she challenged herself and six poets known for their experimental use of language to learn about and use Cynghanedd in their work. Following an online crash course on cynghanedd and Welsh verse delivered by Mererid […]
Wales Book of the Year 2025 Judges Announcement
Although summer may seem distant, preparations for the Wales Book of the Year Award 2025 have been in full swing for months. Our talented panels of judges have been appointed and are diligently reading through the entries, ready to announce their shortlists in May. Today, we are excited to reveal their names as well as […]
Homes that Float – Hanan Issa
Hanan Issa, National Poet of Wales has shared a new video poem which paints a poignant picture of Wales’ future in the wake of the climate crisis. Hanan was so moved by stories about the impact of flooding in Pontypridd after storms Dennis and Bert, she wanted to convey the situation in the area through […]
Gift Guide: Books for music lovers
Looking for Christmas gifts? Here are 5 books that would make perfect gifts for music lovers. Wales: 100 Records – Huw Stephens (Y Lolfa) Welsh music obsessive and BBC 6 Music DJ Huw Stephens has sifted through the archives and his own record collection to bring his selection of 100 records – both notable and […]
Joe Healy
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Resilience IWD25
Expect nothing but the best from our selection of women’s poetry, storytelling, song writing and rabble rousing. You’ll be amazed, surprised, astonished and quite possibly flabbergasted. But definitely entertained. IWD 25 (+2 days) Join us on 10/03/25 at 5pm on Zoom. Sign up here. Artists: TBA BSL: Cathryn McShane
Adroddiad o Chwarel Ithfaen ym Mhenmaenmawr a Phroblemau Llwch i Dai Cyfagos
This content is in Welsh only.