Friends of the Books Council

The latest information pack about the book trade in Wales has been distributed to the members of the Friends of the Books Council.

As well as copies of the Christmas supplements, Books from Wales and Gwledd y Nadolig, the pack also includes a special offer of a free copy of the Welsh Book Studies journal and a book voucher to be exchanged at local bookshops.

Further information regarding the Friends of the Books Council is available from elwyn.jones@wbc.org.uk

Christmas Books on TV

Griffilms from Caernarfon, who specialise in live animation, were commissioned to produce this year’s Christmas television advertisements. The adverts will be screened on S4C from now until Christmas.

In cooperation with the publishers, four animated adverts were produced, one featuring English-language books and the other three featuring Welsh-language titles for children and adults.

There are 24 titles featured in the adverts, which are available in local bookshops or through the www.gwales.com website

Library of Wales



The latest four volumes in the Library of Wales series have been launched at the Waterstone’s bookstore in Cardiff, in the presence of Alun Pugh, the Minister for Culture, Welsh language and Sport.

The series editor, Professor Dai Smith, noted the tremendous success of the first five titles and welcomed the latest publications, namely A Man’s Estate, Emyr Humphreys; Home to an Empty House, Alun Richards; Ash on a Young Man’s Sleeve, Dannie Abse and In the Green Tree, Alun Lewis.

The Minister also welcomed the publication of the Educational Study Pack to assist teachers when presenting the series in the classroom; this will again confirm the series as an important part of the cultural heritage of Wales.

Christmas Books

The Books Council has produced a supplement of Welsh-language books again this Christmas, and the supplement is distributed through the network of papurau bro, the local Welsh-language community newspapers. Copies will also be available at bookshops and libraries.

'There is an excellent selection of books this year,' said Helgard Krause, the Books Council's Head of Sales and Marketing, 'which will make ideal presents for friends and family.

Books from Wales

The Books Council’s English-language Christmas supplement, Books from Wales, will again be distributed through the Western Mail. Copies will also be available at local bookshops and libraries.

‘The book trade in Wales are now ready for the busy Christmas period,’ said Helgard Krause, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Books Council, ‘and once again we have an excellent selection of titles for the readers.’

The Roland Mathias Prize

Publishers are invited once again to submit books to be considered for the bi-annual Roland Mathias Prize, which is presented for Welsh writing in English within a number of different categories.

The categories for the £2,000 prize are poetry, short stories, literary criticism and work of history, reflecting the main interests of Roland Mathias, who played a major role in establishing and developing Welsh writing in English as a distinctive literary genre.

The Prize will be awarded in the spring of 2007 under the auspices of the Brecknock Society and Museum Friends. Please contact glynmathian@aol.com for further details.

The Dylan Thomas Prize

Rachel Trezise’s collection of short stories, Fresh Apples, (Parthian) has been shortlisted for the first Dylan Thomas Prize.

The biennial prize was launched simultaneously in Swansea and New York in 2004, and the eventual winner of the £60,000 prize, will be announced on 27 October, the poet’s birthday.

Further information about the Dylan Thomas Prize can be seen on
www.thedylanthomasprize.com

Professor appointed National Poet of Wales

Professor Gwyn Thomas has been appointed as the National Poet of Wales and takes over the role from Gwyneth Lewis.

His aim is to introduce poetry to a wide audience and to encourage poets to present their work to children. He has published 16 volumes of poetry, with a new collection due to appear later this year.

LAUNCH OF LIBRARY OF WALES SERIES

The Library of Wales series was launched at a successful event in Cardiff in the presence of Alun Pugh, the Minister for Culture, the Welsh language and Sport.

This ambitious series will bring back into print a collection of modern Welsh classics in English and present them to a new audience. Copies are being presented to every secondary school and college in Wales as well as to all 22 Welsh Library Authorities.

Launching the first five titles, Alun Pugh said: ‘ Wales has a rich literary heritage but, until now, many of our classics have been out of print or unavailable to the public. The publication of this series is an opportunity to celebrate this proud heritage.’

Professor M. Wynn Thomas, Chairman of the Books Council, added: ‘This landmark series is a testimony to the resurgence of the English-language literature of Wales. After years of neglect, the future for Welsh writing in English – both classics and new writing – looks very promising indeed.’

Four further titles will be published in May 2006.

Sbri-di-ri and Sbondonics

An attractive resource pack, which includes a colourful poster, has been produced this term for the children’s book clubs, Sbri-di-ri and Sbondonics, and has been well received by the schools.

In order to measure the response to the bilingual pack, which promotes Welsh-language books, Delyth Humphreys, the book clubs’ officer, has been contacting a number of schools with a simple questionnaire.

‘The results of the survey will be extremely useful to us,’ said Delyth. ‘We have already received a substantial number of orders and the book Hwyl gyda Geiriau (Fun with Words) has been very popular.'

Gwyn Thomas amongst Friends

Gwyn Thomas, the National Poet of Wales, was the guest of honour at the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Books Council.

He was interviewed about his life and work by Professor M. Wynn Thomas, and the audience had an opportunity to hear Gwyn Thomas reading a selection of his own poems.

At the end of the meeting, he was presented with a specially written verse, beautifully inscribed, by the Chair of the Friends, Tegwyn Jones.

Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

Jasmine Donahaye’s poetry collection, Misappropriations, has been included in the shortlist for the Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection Prize 2006.

The winner will be announced at the 18th Alderburgh Poetry Festival on Friday, 3 November.

Bitsh! on tour

Theatre company Cwmni’r Frân Wen will be touring theatres throught Wales in October with a stage adaptation of the novel Bitsh! by Eirug Wyn. The novel has been adapted for the stage by John Ogwen. The tour will visit theatres at Pwllheli, Bangor, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Newport, Harlech and Ruthin.

Eirug Wyn died in 2004; is rememberd as a prominent, popular author of fiction for both teenagers and adults. The novel Bitsh! won him the Daniel Owen Memorial Award at the St David’s National Eisteddfod, 2002

The novel Bitsh! is available at local bookshops or on the www.gwales.com website.

Friends of the Books Council

The Friends of the Books Council have their annual meeting in Aberystwyth at the end September in the company of the poet Gwyn Thomas.

The meeting, held on Saturday afternoon, 23 September at the St Davids Church, Bath St, will be an excellent opportunity to hear the National Poet of Wales, Gwyn Thomas, discussing his life and work in conversation with Professor M. Wynn Thomas.

Please remember that new members are more than welcome to attend the meeting and to gain further information about the Friends.

Book of the Year Winners

Robert Minhinnick won the English-language Book of the Year Award for his collection of essays entitled To Babel and Back. An acclaimed author and editor of Poetry Wales, this is the second time he has won the award.

Rhys Evans won the Welsh-language prize for his volume Gwynfor: Rhag Pob Brad, a biography of the late political leader Gwynfor Evans.

The awards, with a cheque for £10,000 for each of the two authors, were presented at a glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff.

Celebrating Book Day in Wales

As part of the Book Day celebrations in Wales, organised by the Welsh Books Council, this year’s annual lecture was held at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

The lecture was presented by Professor Dai Smith who noted the relevance and importance of the recently published series Library of Wales to the culture of Wales.

On the morning of Book Day, there was a live BBC broadcast from the Books Council headquarters in Aberystwyth, giving the listeners a taste of the day’s activities.

‘We had a very successful day,’ said Delyth Humphreys on behalf of the Books Council, ‘and we would like to thank everyone for their support and participation.'

Enjoy a Quick Read on World Book Day!

World Book Day will see the publication of two new Welsh-language titles as part of the Quick Reads/Stori Sydyn initiative aimed at emergent adult readers.

Both titles produced by Gomer Press – Parti Ann Haf, Meleri Wyn James and Jake, Geraint V. Jones – are included in the series alongside books written by a host of bestselling authors including Ruth Rendell, Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope.

The series of short and accessible titles is specifically aimed at the 750,000 adults in Wales who are not yet confident readers.

‘The Welsh language titles have been produced through the cooperation of the Books Council and the Basic Skills Agency,’ said Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, Director of the Books Council, ‘and it’s a great opportunity to target new readers. We also have the advantage that they are ideally suitable for Welsh learners as they gain confidence with their reading.’

Friends of the Books Council

The Friends of the Books Council have their annual meeting in Aberystwyth at the end September in the company of the poet Gwyn Thomas.

The meeting, held on Saturday afternoon, 23 September at the St Davids Church, Bath St, will be an excellent opportunity to hear the National Poet of Wales, Gwyn Thomas, discussing his life and work in conversation with Professor M. Wynn Thomas.

Please remember that new members are more than welcome to attend the meeting and to gain further information about the Friends.

Swansea National Eisteddfod

The summer is always a busy period for the book trade in Wales and the Welsh Books Council will once again have an Exhibition Hall full of the latest publications at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea.

'There is an excellent selection of books this year,' said Helgard Krause, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Books Council, 'and the Eisteddfod offers the readers an ideal opportunity to browse through the latest titles.'

A number of publishers will also be launching their books at the Exhibition Hall during the week. A warm welcome is extended to you all to call by and see us during the week.

Book of the Year Winners

Robert Minhinnick won the English-language Book of the Year Award for his collection of essays entitled To Babel and Back. An acclaimed author and editor of Poetry Wales, this is the second time he has won the award.

Rhys Evans won the Welsh-language prize for his volume Gwynfor: Rhag Pob Brad, a biography of the late political leader Gwynfor Evans.

The awards, with a cheque for £10,000 for each of the two authors, were presented at a glittering awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff.

Professor appointed National Poet of Wales

Professor Gwyn Thomas has been appointed as the National Poet of Wales and takes over the role from Gwyneth Lewis.

His aim is to introduce poetry to a wide audience and to encourage poets to present their work to children. He has published 16 volumes of poetry, with a new collection due to appear later this year.

Summer Reading

The latest supplement of Welsh-language books produced by the Welsh Books Council, Llyfrau’r Haf (Summer Books), has just been published and is being distributed through the network of papurau bro, the local Welsh-language community newspapers. 65,000 copies of the supplement have been produced this year and they will also be available at bookshops, libraries and on the Books Council’s stand at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth and at the National Eisteddfod in Swansea. Click the cover to download (PDF 4mb)

Once again, the supplement includes a wide range of titles with an excellent selection for both children and adults. The books will be available through your local bookshop or from the www.gwales.com website.

Book at Bedtime

The novel Country Dance, part of the successful Library of Wales series, will be serialised as part of Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime series.

The broadcast will start on Monday, 3 July and will continue throughout the week. An average of 1.3 million listeners tune in regularly to ‘Book at Bedtime’.

The Library of Wales series, published by Parthian and supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Books Council, brings back into print some of the English-language classics from Wales. The series has been a great success, with further titles being published in October.

Horowitz in Wales

There was a warm welcome awaiting the author Anthony Horowitz on his recent visit to the Urdd Youth Eisteddfod at Ruthin. He was there to promote the Welsh translation of one of his novels. Tarandon is published by Dref Wen and has been translated by Grey Evans.

‘There was a crowd of excited children and teenagers there to meet the author,’ said Menna Lloyd Williams, Head of the Children’s Books Department, ‘and the new title sold like hot cakes.’

Book of the Year Short List

The short list for this year’s Books of the Year has been announced at an event at the Hay Festival.

English-language

Body Beautiful
Ifor Thomas (Parthian)
Ice Trap
Kitty Sewell (Honno)
To Babel and Back
Robert Minhinnick (Seren)

Welsh-language

Gwynfor; Rhag Pob Brad
Rhys Evans (Y Lolfa)
Llên yr Uchelwyr
Dafydd Johnston
(Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
Rara Avis
Manon Rhys (Gomer)

Dafydd Meirion

The author and publisher Dafydd Meirion has died at the age of 56, having been ill for some time. He wrote more than 20 popular Welsh-language novels and established the publishing company Cyhoeddiadau Mei at Pen-y-groes, Gwynedd.

Wordplay Tournament

CYD, the Welsh-learners organisation, have launched a Scrabble Cymraeg (Welsh Scrabble) national tournament, which is open to fluent Welsh speakers as well as to learners. Local rounds will be held throughout Wales, culminating in the final to be held at the National Eisteddfod at Swansea in August.

‘I think it’s a brilliant idea,’ said Nia Parry, Welsh language tutor and TV celebrity, who presents S4C’s popular programme Cwpwrdd Dillad. ‘I want to see the competition succeed and I urge people of all ages and from all over Wales to join us.’

For further information regarding the tournament contact CYD at Aberystwyth on 01970 622143. Welsh Scrabble sets are on sale at most bookshops or on www.gwales.com

A Successful Book Festival

Cwlwm Cyhoeddwyr Cymru, the consortium of Welsh-language publishers, held a successful book festival at the Galeri, Caernarfon, during the May Bank Holiday. The festival was well attended by avid readers who came to enjoy the full programme of events.

As part of the festival several books were launched and a number of authors were present to discuss their work.

Dylan Williams, Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion, is pictured with Dr Rhiannon Ifans at the launch of Y Golygiadur. (Pic: Y Lolfa)

The following books were launched during the Festival:

Am Ddawn
Huw John Hughes (Cyhoeddiadau’r Gair)

Ble Wyt Ti Rhwng: Hanes Canu Poblogaidd Cymraeg o 1980 – 2000
Hefin Wyn (Y Lolfa)

Bob Dydd Gyda Iesu
Meirion Morris (Cyhoeddiadau’r Gair)

Crefftwyr Llechi
Alun Richards (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)

Ein Rhyfel Ni
Mair Wyn Hughes (Gwasg y Bwthyn)

Y Golygiadur
Dr Rhiannon Ifans (Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion)

Llwyau Traddodiadol
Gwyndaf Breese (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)

Pobl y Ffordd
Alun Tudur (Cyhoeddiadau’r Gair)

Pybcrol Llenyddol Caernarfon
gol. Myrddin ap Dafydd (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)

Book Festival

As part of the Bedwen Lyfrau Book Festival held over the May Bank Holiday in Galeri Caernarfon, a number of lively events have been organised to promote and sell books.

The Festival has been arranged by Cwlwm Cyhoeddwyr Cymru, the consortium of Welsh-language publishers, who will be launching a number of new titles.

'This will be a festival for the whole family,' said Elena Gruffudd on behalf of Cwlwm, 'and we hope that you'll be able to join us.'

AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE FRIENDS

The latest information pack for the Friends of the Books Council is now being prepared, which makes it an ideal time to become a member, said the secretary Lyn Léwis Dafis.

‘The regular packs are a mine of information for anyone interested in books and reading,’ said Lyn, ‘and a great way of keeping in touch with what’s happening on the literary scene in Wales.’

You can join the Friends for an annual membership fee of £15, or £125 for a 10-year membership. Contact elwyn.jones@wbc for further details.

QUICK SUCCESS WITH READING

Following the publication of the first titles in the Quick Reads series – the short, attractive books aimed at emergent readers – Toni Schiavone from the Basic Skills Agency noted that they were more than happy with the response.

‘It is very important that we cater for those who have not yet discovered the pleasure of reading books,’ said Toni, ‘and the first titles – including the Welsh-language novels Parti Ann Haf, Meleri Wyn James and Jake, Geraint V. Jones – will help to fill the gap.’

Further titles in the series will be published in May, including two Welsh-language titles and two English-language titles from Wales.

WINNERS OF DISNEY TRIP

A family from Penygroes, Gwynedd, won a holiday to Disney World, Paris recently as winners of a competition featured in a Christmas books supplement produced by the Books Council.

Fortunately for the Thomas family, their visit coincided with a visit by a contingent from Wales celebrating St David’s Day and they can be seen here near the bookstore selling books from Wales.

In the photograph (from left): Bethan Medi Thomas, Barbara Thomas, John Arfon Thomas and Aaron Lee Thomas in the presence of Elfyn Thomas, director of Silver Star Holidays, who sponsored the competition.

CELEBRATING BOOK DAY IN WALES

As part of the Book Day celebrations in Wales, organised by the Welsh Books Council, this year’s annual lecture was held at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.

The lecture was presented by Professor Dai Smith who noted the relevance and importance of the recently published series Library of Wales to the culture of Wales.

On the morning of Book Day, there was a live BBC broadcast from the Books Council headquarters in Aberystwyth, giving the listeners a taste of the day’s activities.

‘We had a very successful day,’ said Delyth Humphreys on behalf of the Books Council, ‘and we would like to thank everyone for their support and participation.'

ENJOY A QUICK READ ON WORLD BOOK DAY!

World Book Day will see the publication of two new Welsh-language titles as part of the Quick Reads/Stori Sydyn initiative aimed at emergent adult readers.

Both titles produced by Gomer Press – Parti Ann Haf, Meleri Wyn James and Jake, Geraint V. Jones – are included in the series alongside books written by a host of bestselling authors including Ruth Rendell, Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope.

The series of short and accessible titles is specifically aimed at the 750,000 adults in Wales who are not yet confident readers.

‘The Welsh language titles have been produced through the cooperation of the Books Council and the Basic Skills Agency,’ said Gwerfyl Pierce Jones, Director of the Books Council, ‘and it’s a great opportunity to target new readers. We also have the advantage that they are ideally suitable for Welsh learners as they gain confidence with their reading.’

NEW YORK WELCOMES WALES

Wales will take over New York at the beginning of March in a celebration of Welsh literature and art, to include a full programme of events as part of the ‘Welsh Week in New York’.

As part of the festivities, the New York launch of the Library of Wales series will be held, which will include a lecture by Professor Dai Smith, the series editor, in the presence of Alun Pugh, the Culture Minister. The recently published Library of Wales series brings back into print some of the best English-language literature from Wales.

Helgard Krause from the Books Council, who will fly out to support Welsh publishers during the ‘Welsh Writing for the World Festival’, said: ‘This is an excellent opportunity to present the best of Welsh literature in the US and I hope that it will lead to further opportunities for publishers from Wales in this important market.’

‘SPREAD THE WORD’ CAMPAIGN

As part of the build-up to World Book Day, ‘birdman’ Iolo Williams has launched the ‘Spread the Word’ campaign.

By distributing special post cards, the Books Council is encouraging the public to recommend a book to their friends and colleagues. Cards have already been sent to bookshops, schools and libraries.

‘The “Spread the Word” campaign was a great success last year and we’ve been able to extend it even further this year,’ said Delyth Humphreys, World Book Day activities coordinator on behalf of the Books Council.

LONDON BOOK FAIR

The London Book Fair will be held between 5–7 March this year and the Welsh Books Council will again be represented there.

‘The Fair is a major event in the publishing calendar,’ said Helgard Krause, the Books Council’s Overseas Marketing Officer. ‘We will be representing a number of Welsh publishers and look forward to a busy period of promoting books from Wales, meeting old acquaintances and making new contacts.’

The Fair usually attracts around 100,000 delegates representing publishers from all over the world.

WELSH CELEBRITIES SUPPORT BOOK DAY

As part of the World Book Day celebrations, some of Wales’s most prominent celebrities have given their support to this year’s event held on Thursday, 2 March.

The information packs delivered to schools and libraries will include posters of singing sensation Katherine Jenkins and TV ‘birdman’ Iolo Williams.

‘Both were more than happy to support our campaign to promote reading as they had a genuine interest in books,’ said Delyth Humphreys, Book Day event coordinator on behalf of the Books Council.

LAUNCH OF LIBRARY OF WALES SERIES

The Library of Wales series was launched at a successful event in Cardiff in the presence of Alun Pugh, the Minister for Culture, the Welsh language and Sport.

This ambitious series will bring back into print a collection of modern Welsh classics in English and present them to a new audience. Copies are being presented to every secondary school and college in Wales as well as to all 22 Welsh Library Authorities.

Launching the first five titles, Alun Pugh said: ‘ Wales has a rich literary heritage but, until now, many of our classics have been out of print or unavailable to the public. The publication of this series is an opportunity to celebrate this proud heritage.’

Professor M. Wynn Thomas, Chairman of the Books Council, added: ‘This landmark series is a testimony to the resurgence of the English-language literature of Wales. After years of neglect, the future for Welsh writing in English – both classics and new writing – looks very promising indeed.’

Four further titles will be published in May 2006.

WORLD BOOK DAY: 2 MARCH 2006

World Book Day will be held on Thursday, 2 March, this year and the arrangements are well in hand for a celebration to be remembered.

Thousands of children and adults will join in the Day’s activities throughout Wales when a great number of special events will be organised in schools and libraries.

A bumper activities pack full of exiting and interesting ideas for schools has already been produced. Please contact us if you are organising an event to celebrate World Book Day.