A selection of Christmas titles

The Books Council has once again produced two supplements of Christmas books. Books from Wales has been distributed with the Western Mail and the Welsh-language supplement, Gwledd y Nadolig, has been distributed with the local community newspapers. As usual, there is a great selection of books available at local bookshops and on the gwales.com website.

Publishing Trade Awards

The winners of this year's Publishing Trade Awards have been announced by the Welsh Books Council at an Awards Dinner held at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

The 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 Mold. This is an ideal opportunity to see the impressive selection of the latest summer titles. A warm welcome is extended to you all to call by and see us during the week.

Chair of the Welsh Books Council receives an OBE

Congratulations to Professor M. Wynn Thomas, Chair of the Welsh Books Council and the Director of CREW (The Centre for Research into the English Literature and Language of Wales) at the University of Wales, Swansea, who has recently been awarded an OBE for services to literature in Wales in both languages.

As well as being a specialist in the two literatures of modern Wales, Professor Thomas is also a specialist in American poetry. He has held visiting professorships at Harvard and at Tübingen and was Chairman of the Welsh Arts Council’s Literature Committee for five years. He has acted as Chairman of the Welsh Academy of Writers – Academi – becoming a Fellow of Academi in 2000. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2000 and received the Gorsedd of Bard’s highest accolade at the Llanelli National Eisteddfod in 2000. He was also the Chairman of the University of Wales Press.

Professor Thomas has published more than twenty books, including Corresponding Cultures: The Two Literatures of Modern Wales (1999) and Emyr Humphreys: Conversations and Reflections (2004).
Professor M. Wynn Thomas lives in Swansea, and his daughter is the successful singer, Elin Manahan Thomas, who has recently released her solo album of baroque music, Eternal Light.

Book of the Year

On Monday, 9 July 2007, at the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff, the Academi Joint Chair, Dr John Pikoulis, handed over a cheque for £10,000 to the author Lloyd Jones, for his novel, Mr Cassini (Seren), which was awarded the title Wales Book of the Year 2007.

The three English-language judges this year were the poet and critic Patrick McGuinness; editor, academic and critic Katie Gramich, and journalist and broadcaster Carolyn Hitt.

Lloyd Jones’s Mr Cassini is a remarkable follow-up to the widely acclaimed Mr Vogel. Almost a Welsh Arabian Nights, this book takes the reader on a journey through the past and present of Wales, on a vivid and fascinating journey of exploration of the sometimes painful, sometimes humorous, reality and dreams of the main characters.

The Welsh-language winner was Llwyd Owen for his novel Ffydd Gobaith Cariad (Y Lolfa).

Readers across Wales also voted Lloyd’s novel as their favourite from the Long List of ten books for the BBC Radio Wales’s Readers’ Prize. The Wales Book of the Year awards are administered by Academi and supported by the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Books Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Children's Poet

During a ceremony at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Carmarthen, it was announced that Caryl Parry Jones is the new Bardd Plant Cymru – the Welsh-language Children's Poet Laureate.
The project is a joint venture between S4C, the Welsh Books Council, the Urdd and Academi, with the aim of promoting poetry amongst children and teenagers and to encourage them to enjoy and compose their own poems.
As well as writing a number of specific poems of her own during the year, Caryl will be visiting schools throughout Wales as well as organising poetry workshops by e-mail.

Book of the Year Short List 2007

30 May 2007
The 6 short-listed titles for the Academi-organised Wales Book of the Year 2007 have been announced in a ceremony at the Hay Festival. They are:

Growth Rings, Christine Evans (Seren)
Mr Cassini, Lloyd Jones (Seren)
The Climbing Essays, Jim Perrin (In Pinn)
Dygwyl Eneidiau, Gwen Pritchard Jones (Gwasg Gwynedd)
Ffydd, Gobaith, Cariad, Llwyd Owen (Y Lolfa)
Un Bywyd o Blith Nifer: Cofiant Saunders Lewis, T. Robin Chapman (Gwasg Gomer)

Hay Festival

Readers and writers from Wales will flock to the Hay Festival next week, with an opportunity to visit the Literature in Wales stand.
The Books Council is one of the main partners, along with the Welsh Assembly Government, the Arts Council of Wales and the Academi.
A number of prominent authors will read from their works and there will be an opportunity to relax by browsing and buying the latest books from Wales.

Award for Publisher

During the Bedwen Lyfrau festival, organised by the group of Welsh-language publishers, Cwlwm Cyhoeddwyr Cymru, in Caernarfon recently, Robat Gruffudd, Y Lolfa, was presented with a special award for his lifetime contribution to publishing in Wales.

Roland Mathias Prize 2007

The poet and novelist Dannie Abse has won the Roland Mathias Prize for 2007 with his collection of poems, Running Late, which looks back over a life of writing, medicine and love.

The Roland Mathias Prize, to the value of two thousand pounds, was established in honour of the poet and author - now aged 91 - who has played a major role in establishing and promoting Welsh writing in English.

Bedwen Book Festival

A Welsh-language book festival will be held at Galeri, Caernarfon, on Saturday, 5 May. The event includes 12 book launches, interesting sessions with leading authors, entertainment for young children, writing workshops for older children, a bargain book sale and a Palas Print bookstall.

For further details visit cwlwmcyhoeddwyr.com.

Catrin Puw Davies
1933-2007

It is with great sadness that we record the passing of Catrin Puw Davies, a long-standing member of the Books Council's Council and Executive Committee. She also served on the Council's Publishing Grants Panel (Welsh-language) for many years where her contribution was greatly valued.

We extend our condolences to Roger, Angharad and Mererid in their sad loss.

Book Day Celebrations

The World Book Day celebrations in Wales were a great success again this year, with organised events held across Wales.

'The Book Day keeps on going from strength to strength,' said Delyth Humphreys on behalf of the Books Council, 'and we would like to thank everyone for their support and participation in promoting books and the pleasure of reading.'

Tanni on Stage

Alun Pugh, the Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, will introduce Tanni Grey Thompson at the Tesco-sponsored stage at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on Thursday, 1 March at 3.30 pm to celebrate the launch of her book Aim High as part of the Quick Reads series. BBC presenter Jason Mohammed will also interview Tanni about her achievements before she holds a signing session at the bookshop.

Celebrity Support

Some of Wales's top celebrities have shown their support to World Book Day, which is held on St David's Day 1 March, this year.

As part of the build-up for the day, Glyn Wise, Connie Fisher, Eve Myles and Dwayne Peele were more than willing to join in with the celebrations and to note the importance of books and reading.

'Once again, we have seen some prominent celebrities showing their support,' said Delyth Humphreys on behalf of the Books Council, 'and within their busy schedules they all make time to relax with a good book.'

Book Club Promotion

Promotional leaflets for the Welsh-language book clubs, Sbri-di-ri and Sbondonics, have once again been distributed to schools across Wales, with 70,000 leaflets being produced.

'The book clubs are an excellent way for pupils and parents to receive information about the latest titles,' said Delyth Humphreys on behalf of the Books Council, 'and of introducing children to books and the pleasure of reading in the home.'

Welsh language Scheme

The Books Council has prepared a draft Welsh language scheme which is now going through a process of consultation. The document can be viewed on the Books Council's website by clicking HERE.

You are invited to send in your comments by 31 January 2007.