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Theme: Literature

Pennodau 58 – ‘Rhyfedd, Rhyfedd, Rhyfedd’: Morgan Llwyd rhan 3

‘Wonder, Wonder, Wonder’: Morgan Llwyd (3) In this episode we consider two books which were published by Morgan Llwyd during his last years, beginning with Gwyddor Uchod (‘The Science Above’), a long poem which discusses the stars and the planets, combining science and Christian mysticism. We define ‘mysticism’ as well along the way and note […]

Pennod 57 – Tri Aderyn a Dau Fyd: Morgan Llwyd rhan 2

Three Birds and Two Worlds: Morgan Llwyd rhan 2 Seeing as Richard Wyn Jones joined the Morgan Llwyd fan club in the last episode, here’s an opportunity to discuss the masterpiece of that mystic of an author, ‘The Book of the Three Birds’. We explain first of all that that is not the book’s real […]

Creating Caring Work Cultures

Yellow image with photo of people sitting in an office, talking and laughing

The subject of care is familiar to us all. We may have loved ones who receive professional care; we ourselves care for our pets, friends, the planet; more and more we are encouraged to practice self-care. But what does it mean to care in the context of work? Are those concepts even compatible? Inclusive Journalism […]

Planet presents an evening at Y Cŵps!

Planet: the Welsh Internationalist magazine ceased publishing in 2024 after 54 years due to the loss of funding, and we hope to relaunch in the future. However, for one night Planet will awaken from its dormancy for a special bilingual event on a very hot topic… with some of the most exciting contemporary voices in […]

The story of our storytelling commons, our People’s Newsroom

We’re a collective of artists, storytellers, community organisers, facilitators, creators and journalists. We found each other as we glanced around at a media industry crumbling at the feet of our communities. We locked eyes, and in doing so, caught glimmers of light, greenshoots of hope, and began to see ourselves better in the inspiration of […]

Pennod 55 – Barddoniaeth y Brenhinwyr

In this episode we look at a selection of poems composed by royalists during the ‘civil wars’ of the seventeenth century. We see that poets adapted old methods and themes in order to treat current developments which were shaking their world. Interestingly enough, It’s possible to suggest that political and religious conservatism generated incredibly energetic […]

What is a storytelling commons – and why is it so hard to talk about?

For the past year, the People’s Newsroom has been developing the idea of a storytelling commons. This article gives an introduction to what we think that means – and also why it is hard to put into words.   Storytelling Commons 101 As a very basic definition, a commons is a collective resource which is […]

Gift Guide: Best Fiction of 2024

Looking for the perfect gift for those who love fiction? Here are a few suggestions. Lace by Catrin Kean (Honno Press) In the early 1900s in Wicklow, Ireland, the lives of six-year-old Mary and her siblings are torn apart when their father dies leaving the family penniless. Mary’s mother is forced to travel to Dublin […]

CWYR Issue 1 DE-VICES

Introducing CWYR issue 1: DE-VICES featuring work from nine queer artists, this issue endeavours to provide a tentative exploration into the way queer folx interact with, utilise, and resist digital technologies.

CWYR issue 2 is released today 🔊

Oyez, oyez! CWYR issue 2 is released today 🔊 Presenting a feast of queer creativity, fulfilment is explored in exclusivity. Contained within 44 recycled pages, lie poetry, photography and writing on the Dark Ages 🕯️ Printed and bound by @folium_publishing, the cover is completed with silver thermo powder finishing. Available for purchase through the link […]

CWYR Issue 2 Launch

CWYR ISSUE 2 LAUNCH: FULFILMENT Mynnwch eich dyddiadur allan oherwydd rydym yn lansio ail rifyn CWYR ar ddydd Gwener 13eg Rhagfyr! Ymunwch â ni o 6:30PM @rare_mags i fwynhau ein rhifyn diweddaraf, yn ffres oddi ar y wasg (bach). Drop by to grab a copy of the fulfilment issue and listen to tunes mixed by […]

CWYR ISSUE 2 LAUNCH FULFILMENT

Get your diary out because we’re launching the second issue of CWYR on Friday 13th of December! Join us from 6:30 pm at Rare Mags to enjoy our latest edition, fresh off the (small) press.  

Episode 54 – ‘The earth shook: an introduction to the Welsh literature of the ‘Civil Wars’

Episode 54 – ‘The earth shook: an introduction to the Welsh literature of the ‘Civil Wars’

There is a great amount of Welsh-language literature surviving which is related to the ‘Civil Wars’ between Parliament and King Charles I.

We note in this episode that the most famous Welsh author of the period, Morgan Llwyd, was a Puritan who supported the Senate, and we quote from a poem by him which describes the warfare as an earthquake shaking his world. However, most seventeenth-century Welsh people supported the king, and we discuss how one Welsh poet suffered because of his political and religious loyalties. And although there are many texts which testify to the connections between Welsh people and the conflict and violence, we also look at one example which reminds us that it is not lightly that one takes literature as a reliable historical source.

The Flag is Up

For International Day of Disabled People, here is a blog about the latest iteration of the Progress Pride Flag designed by our Training and Funding Officer Rachel Stelmach.

Rachel has written about the history of the flag and her new design which includes disabled people.

CWYR Zine

CWYR Zine

CWYR is an independent publication providing a platform for LGBTQ+ creatives. Each issue examines a central theme through a queer lens, using fiction, poetry, interviews, and artworks to provide unique insight into the experiences of queer folx.

Winter Reads

Looking for Christmas gifts?

Winter Reads, a taste of the brilliant books from Wales available over the coming months, is out now!
Pick up your free copy from your local bookshop, or browse the catalogue here!

Pennod 53 – Pechod yn Llanymddyfri: Y Ficer Prichard

Sin in Llandovery: The Vicar Prichard

In this episode we discuss the way Rhys Prichard (c.1579-1644), vicar of Llandovery, used simple free-metre poetry to spread religious lessons.

In addition to considering his general agenda, we look in detail at one poem which shows that he was very worried by the sinful life he saw in his own parish, and which depicts Llandovery as a kind of Sodom a Gomorrah. It was only after his death that his work was published as a collection under the title Cannwyll y Cymry [‘the Candle of the Welsh’]. The work would be reprinted repeatedly, ensuring that ‘the Vicar Prichard’ was among the most popular Welsh poets of the period before 1800. However, in our opinion the most interesting thing about this poet is way in which Rhys Prichard was made part of the Welsh Puritan lineage; looking anew at evidence about his life and his own beliefs, we conclude that he was actually diametrically opposed to the Puritans who fought against the king. We thus have here a striking example of literature taken out of its original political and religious context and used for completely different ends.

Haunting stories for long winter nights

In these haunting tales, nothing is as it seems. A tormented voice calls from the barred windows of an empty room. A dusty museum exhibit possesses sinister powers. A glass of blackberry wine links the living with the sins of the dead.

Between 1965 and 1975, Elizabeth Walter published five collections of supernatural stories. But whilst the names of her contemporaries such as Robert Aickman are now widely recognised, Walter is relatively unknown to modern readers. Mixing folklore, history, and ancient traditions, these gothic stories draw on Walter’s Welsh heritage and the rich inspiration of South Wales and the border country.

Including the mysterious ritual of ‘The Sin-Eater’, the folk horror of ‘Dead Woman’ and the poignant ‘Come and Get Me’, Let a Sleeping Witch Lie is the perfect way to rediscover Elizabeth Walter’s chillingly remarkable talent.

Order Let a Sleeping Witch Lie online https://www.serenbooks.com/book/let-a-sleeping-witch-lie/ or in bookshops now

Beyond/Tu Hwnt – Film

Get your copy of ‘Beyond/Tu Hwnt’ now!   AM is proud to have co-produced a film with Lucent Dreaming to celebrate ‘Beyond/Tu Hwnt’, which is published today. ‘Beyond/Tu Hwnt’ is a bilingual anthology edited by Bethany Handley, Megan Angharad Hunter a Sioned Erin Hughes, featuring work by 31 Deaf and Disabled writers. This film is […]

Children’s Book Cover of the Year 2024

To celebrate and recognise the contribution of illustrators and designers in bringing stories to life, our Young People’s Panel have selected 8 book covers from Wales that they believe deserve the title Children’s Book Cover of the Year 2024.

The designer/illustrator of the winning cover in each category will win or share a cash prize of £500.

Speak Back

This opportunity welcomes applications from under-represented Wales-based poets and spoken word artists to attend a free-of-charge course to further develop their craft. The week will explore themes of identity, climate emergency, climate justice and social justice. The tutors are Taylor Edmonds and Kandace Siobhan Walker.

Course Dates: Monday 3 – Friday 7 March 2025.

Closing date: 5.00pm, Tuesday 26 November 2024.

How to apply – https://www.literaturewales.org/our-projects/speak-back/speak-back-how-to-apply/

FAQs – https://www.literaturewales.org/our-projects/speak-back/speak-back-faqs/

Pennod 52 – ‘Cyfaill ac Anwylddyn’: Beibl Bach 1630

‘Friend and Dear Person’: The Little Bible of 1630

In order to understand to development of Welsh literature in the seventeenth century, we have to discuss the Bible again. Following the publication of William Morgan’s Bible in 1588, a revised version was published in 1620.

These were ‘pulpit bibles’, big books used in the church which were too expensive for most Welsh people to buy. But a very different one was published in 1630, the Beibl Bach or ‘Little Bible’, one which was quite a bit smaller in size and thus cheaper. While discussing its significance in this episode, we examine the Beibl Bach’s introduction, an extremely intersting piece of writing which urges the reader to let this bible live in the house with him ‘like a friend’ and ‘like a dear person.’ From the point of view of Welsh religious history, this was a milestone which would encourage Puritanism eventually. And from the point of view of Welsh literary history, this publication would encourage literacy considerably.

Cyflwynwyd gan: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a’r Athro Richard Wyn Jones
Cynhyrchwyd gan: Richard Martin
Cerddoriaeth: ‘Might Have Done’ gan The Molenes

The Borzello Trust Poetry Prize

In our tenth year of the New Welsh Writing Awards we are delighted to open a new category supporting the development of poets living, working or from Wales with thanks to the generous support of The Borzello Trust.

This year competition ask the entrants to explore the theme of ‘Welsh Churchyards’ in one of their submitted poems. The other five poems entered shall be of any theme of their choosing, however as part of the winning prize included a development publishing contract we ask that entrants also submit a short proposal (200 words) on the themes that they’d wish to develop in a full poetry collection. Please read our call for entries here and for eligibility and full terms and conditions here.

There is a £10 fee for entries, however we have a number of supported entry places for low-income writers, earning £16,000 or less a year. If you wish to apply for one of these places please email newwelshreviewawards@gmail.com.

Good luck!

Submit your poetry to The Borzello Trust Prize for Poetry here. Entries open for the 2024 prize on the 1st of September 2024 and closes at midnight on the 31st of January 2025.

The Rheidol Prize: For Prose with a Welsh Theme or Setting

The Rheidol Prize: For Prose with Welsh Theme or Setting has championed new voices and the development of writers for the past ten years with thanks to the generous support from R. S. Powell. We are delighted to continue the award this year calling for entries of new fiction and prose writing up to 5,000 words in length.

Open to new and established writers based in the UK, as well as writers from across the globe if they have been educated in Wales for a minimum of six months.

As part of the winning prize includes a development publishing contract with Parthian Books we also ask that entrants submit a brief book proposal (200 words) on the manuscript they’d wish to develop. Please note the form, genre and themes explored of your intended work.

Please read our call for entries here and for eligibility and full terms and conditions here.

There is a £15 fee for entries, however we have a number of supported entry places for low-income writers, earning £16,000 or less a year. If you wish to apply for one of these places please email newwelshreviewawards@gmail.com.

Good luck!

Submit your prose to the Rheidol Prize for Prose with a Welsh Theme or Setting. Entries close at midnight on the 31st of January 2025

Booktober: The Journey – Maggie Ogunbanwo

Want to read more but don’t know where to start? Join the Booktober Challenge!

The challenge is to read one Quick Reads book a week during October.

This special series of short books by well-known authors offers the perfect way to delve into a book. Priced at £1, and at around 100 pages each, the books are perfect for a train trip to work, a lunchtime read or ten minutes with a cuppa. New titles are published each year to add to the series.

Maggie Ogunbanwo’s journey has taken her from Lagos in Nigeria to Penygroes in north Wales., with family and food inspiring her at each step of the way. Here Maggie shares her story of raising a family in the UK, building successful businesses, learning the Welsh language, and publishing award-winning cookbooks, accompanied by favourite recipes to give you a flavour of her experiences. 

Pennod 50 – Bardd Mewn Dau Fyd:Richard Hughes, Cefnllanfair

A Poet in Two Worlds: Richard Hughes of Cefnllanfair

As we record our 50th episode, we celebrate the milestone by discussing one of the most interesting poets of the early modern period, Richard Hughes of Cefnllanfair in Llŷn.

We note that he was one of several Welsh poets who spent a great deal of time in London in the age of Elizabeth I. Richard Hughes was a footman who served the queen herself, but in addition to spending time in the court in London he also visited his old home frequently, as his poetry demonstrates.

Indeed, his work is wonderfully varied, including poetry in both free and strict metres and, as far as themes are concenred, including: courtly love poetry and poems which treat sex in an extremely bawdy manner; poems about life in London and ones about Pen Llŷn (including a lively englyn to the Bardsey Island boat); poems which pay tribute to individuals and ones which satirize other people. And, yes, discussing the poetry of Richard Hughes enabled Richard Wyn Jones to learn an old Welsh word for toilet – cachdy (shit-house)!

Her yr Hydref: Deffro’r Ddraig – Rygbi Cymru 1995 – 2024 gan Seimon Williams

Mae Her yr Hydref yn eich annog i ddarllen un llyfr o gyfres Stori Sydyn bob wythnos yn ystod mis Hydref.

Mae’r gyfres arbennig hon o lyfrau gan awduron poblogaidd yn cynnig cyfle gwych i bori mewn llyfr. Gyda’r llyfrau yn ddim ond £1 yr un, ac yn rhyw 100 o dudalennau o hyd, maen nhw’n berffaith ar gyfer taith trên i’r gwaith, darllen dros amser cinio neu ddeg munud gyda phaned.

Llyfr am rygbi Cymru yn yr oes broffesiynol yw Deffro’r Ddraig gan Seimon Williams.

Mae’r gyfrol yn edrych ar y gemau mawr, y prif gymeriadau a rhai o’r prif straeon sydd wedi lliwio’r gamp ers i’r gem droi’n broffesiynol bron dri deg mlynedd yn ôl. Daw’r stori i ben drwy edrych ar y garfan ifanc a thaith yr haf i Awstralia yn 2024.

Darllenwch y bennod gyntaf AM DDIM yma!

Ar gael o’ch siop lyfrau leol nawr.

Booktober: Piebald by Nicola Davies

Want to read more but don’t know where to start? Join the Booktober Challenge!

The challenge is to read one Quick Reads book a week during October.

This special series of short books by well-known authors offers the perfect way to delve into a book. Priced at £1, and at around 100 pages each, the books are perfect for a train trip to work, a lunchtime read or ten minutes with a cuppa. New titles are published each year to add to the series.

Piebald, is a crime fiction thriller by Nicola Davies

Moxie has a lot on her plate, caring for her little brother, Ryan, and sick mother, all in a town which the world has more or less abandoned. But life seems to take a turn for the better when a horse called Piebald and Dylan, Moxie’s long-lost dad, turn up out of the blue. But Dylan brings trouble to Moxie’s door in the shape of drug lord Sunny Spells; Moxie must get out of town to keep Ryan safe, and Piebald turns out to be more help than Moxie could ever have imagined.

Read the first chapter here:

Available now from your local bookshop.