22 Thursday Feb 2018
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A wonderful surprise to find myself on Sally’s wonderful blog with a review of my book – and in the bestest of company. Thank you all!
18 Sunday Feb 2018
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via Dysfunctional Families in Contemporary Fiction
Dysfunctional Families in Contemporary Fiction – Saturday 28th April – 12:30 Fountain Fine Art Gallery 
Helen Lewis and Sara Gethin talk about creating dysfunctional fictional families
Helen Lewis, author of ‘The House with Old Furniture’ and Sara Gethin, author of ‘Not Thomas’, discuss creating the implosive fictional families at the centre of their debut novels, what comes first, character or plot and working with the Welsh women’s publisher, Honno Press.
Sara Gethin is the pen name of Llanelli writer Wendy White. Her debut novel ‘Not Thomas’, written in the voice of a neglected five-year-old child, was shortlisted for the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize in 2017. She has also written four children’s books as Wendy White, the first of which – ‘Welsh Cakes and Custard’– won the Tir nan-Og Award in 2014.
‘Not Thomas’, the debut novel by Sara Gethin, is a story of child neglect, love and hope told in the voice of five-year-old Tomos 
Shortlisted for The Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize 2017
“Heart-wrenching, captivating and beautiful…a poignant portrayal of a hostile world depicted through the eyes of a child.” Caroline Busher, Irish Times bestselling author
Teuluoedd camweithredol yn ffuglen gyfoes
Bydd Helen Lewis a Sara Gethin yn trafod creu teuluoedd camweithredol mewn ffuglen – Dydd Sadwrn 28ain Ebrill-12.30 Oriel y Ffynnon.
Bydd Helen Lewis, awdur ‘The House with Old Furniture’ a Sara Gethin, awdur ‘Not Thomas’ yn trafod y teuluoedd sydd yng nghanol eu nofelau a beth sy’n dod yn gyntaf y cymeriad neu’r plot.
Sara Gethin yw enw llenyddol Wendy White o Lanelli. Rhoddwyd ei nofel gyntaf. ‘Not Thomas’ ar restr fer Not the Booker Prize y Guardian yn 2017. Ysgrifennwyd y nofel yn llais plenty pum mlwydd oed, Tomos, a gafodd ei esgeuluso. Mae hi hefyd wedi ysgrifennu pedwar llyfr i blant ac enillodd y cyntaf ohonynt- ‘Welsh Cakes and Custard’- wobr Tir nan-Og yn 2014.
17 Saturday Feb 2018
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via Suffragettes – a talk by Judith Barrow
Suffragettes – a talk by Judith Barrow – Sunday 29th April 14:00 Fountain Fine Art Gallery
In her talk Judith Barrow covers the struggles that women had to endure to achieve full equality regarding suffrage; the right to vote. And she explains how the 1918 Representation of the People Act seemed a major victory for the suffragist movement, but why there were women who still saw the act as a betrayal.
Includes readings from her novel “A Tiny Hundred Threads”
Suffragettes – araith gan Judith Barrow
Disgrifiad byr
Yn ei haraith bydd Judith Barrow yn trafod y brwydrau bu’n rhaid i ferched eu goddef er mwyn ennill yr hawl i bleidleisio. Bydd hi’n egluro sut y gwelwyd Deddf Cynrychiolaeth y Bobl yn 1918 yn fuddugoliaeth enfawr i etholfreintiaeth ond paham roedd menywod yn ystyried y ddeddf yn frad.
Further Description
The move for women to have the vote really started in 1897 when Millicent Fawcett founded the National Union of Women’s Suffrage. She believed in peaceful protest.
However, Fawcett’s progress was very slow and in 1903 the Women’s Social and Political Union was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia. They wanted women to have the right to vote and they were not prepared to wait. The Union became better known as the Suffragettes. Members of the Suffragettes were prepared to use violence to get what they wanted and were quite happy to go to prison.
From 1909 the women, demanding the status of political prisoners, began to refuse food. The government’s response was to forcibly feed them but became concerned that the women might die in prison; thus giving the movement martyrs. But then Asquith responded with the Cat and Mouse Act. This allowed the Suffragettes to go on a hunger strike but when very weak they were released from prison. If they died out of prison, this was of no embarrassment to the government. And, because of the state of their health, the women were unable to take part in the struggles. However, as soon as they regained their strength, they were re-arrested for the most trivial of reason and the whole process started again. This, from the government’s point of view, was a very simple but effective weapon against the Suffragettes.
But then Britain and Europe was plunged into World War One in August 1914 and, in a display of patriotism, Emmeline Pankhurst instructed the Suffragettes to stop their campaign of violence and support in every way the government and its war effort.
The work done by women in the First World War was to be vital for Britain’s war effort. It was this that many believe, was the turning point and the 1918 Representation of the People Act seemed a major victory for the suffragist movements.
But this wasn’t the whole truth and many saw the act as a betrayal; it still classed them as second-class citizens to men. The 1918 Representation of the People Act gave all men over the age of 21 the right to vote (and aged 19 if the men had been on active service in the armed forces – an important point to note!)
Women only achieved full equality regarding suffrage in 1928.
Dame Millicent Fawcett is to be the first woman to be honoured with a statue in Parliament Square. The equal rights campaigner, who dedicated her life to getting the women’s vote, will stand alongside Sir Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. Theresa May has said Dame Millicent “continues to inspire the battle against the injustices of today. It is right and proper that she is honoured in Parliament Square alongside former leaders who changed our country. Her statue will stand as a reminder of how politics only has value if it works for everyone in society.”
12 Monday Feb 2018
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![Restless Earth (Karma's Children Book 1) by [Dolan, John]](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41v2hRnhAtL.jpg)
I’ve been waiting for the latest John Dolan book for some time and am delighted to finally be able to report back on it. I was confused to see the series link referring to “Karma’s Children”. His previous work was part of the “Time, Blood and Karma” series. And as this suggested, there are some similarities between the series, including some of the characters, but there is also the beginning of a new direction, including previously unknown protagonists.
I’m pleased to say that private investigator David Braddock returns in this excellent, dry, witty and clever ‘whodunnit”. Braddock is a fantastic character; both ambiguous and always entertaining. There are some serious undertones wrapped into the twisted and often humorous thriller; Restless Earth to me is a mystery as much as it is a running commentary on humans all over the globe, from Thailand to Britain. As the blurb of the book so truthfully puts it:
“It’s not always easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. And sometimes, there are no good guys.”
As I said , Braddock himself is an ambiguous character. Dolan’s four main characters and plotlines are all excellent creations, as well as the minor characters. From the first conversation between Braddock and the memorable Nang until the end you have excellent dialogue, sharp writing, intelligent plotting and everything perfectly woven into each other – which makes for a rewarding and rich reading experience.
For fans of his previous work (and fans of the genre in general) Dolan has inserted some great insider jokes and literary references. Not a chapter goes by where you won’t smile and think.
I can’t go into the plot as I do not want to give away the game for those who want to read previous books. Trust me, this is worth reading. Dolan and his books are literary highlights for me every year. Highly recommended.
Four men scattered across the globe. . .
One seeks pleasure
One seeks purpose
One seeks redemption
And one seeks revenge.
A wind is howling around the skyscrapers of New York, through the battlefields of Iraq, and into the bustling streets of Bangkok. It carries with it the fates of these four men: men bound together by chance and history.
Which of them – if any – will survive the tempest?
11 Sunday Feb 2018
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HAVE YOU DISCOVERED THE #BLOGBASHCHAT TWITTER HOUR YET?
Every Sunday evening between 7 pm and 8 pm (BST) bloggers from across the globe unite and take part in the Bloggers Bash Blog Bash Chat using the hashtag #BlogBashChat
It’s an hour of introductions, learning, connecting with fellow bloggers, and fun. The Bash Chat following is growing and the engagement is incredible. One of our dedicated bloggers is Australian and gets up at 5 am his time just to take part!
We don’t want you to miss out on this fun interaction. It’s just an hour out of your Sunday (which goes very fast!), but the possibility of finding answers to your blogging questions, making new friends, and discovering alternative blogs to follow is worth your time.
WHAT IS THE BASH?
If you’ve never attended a Blogger Bash event before then you’re in for a treat. Created by Sacha Black and…
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11 Sunday Feb 2018
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While our marketing and translation teams are trying to keep up with all our exciting additions to the festival, here is a little snippet on the latest confirmed or planned sessions – (Our sincere apologies to all Welsh speakers).
Tickets will go on sale in March but you can contact us by sending an email to LlandeiloLitFest@mail.com and reserve tickets.
Saturday 11am at Eve’s Toy Shop
Na Nel! Reading with Meleri Wyn Jones
Children’s story
Stori i blant
TBC
Helen Lewis and Sara Gethin talk about creating dysfunctional fictional families – Saturday 28th April – 12:30 Fountain Fine Art Gallery
Helen Lewis, author of ‘The House with Old Furniture’ and Sara Gethin, author of ‘Not Thomas, discuss creating the implosive fictional families at the centre of their debut novels, what comes first, character or plot and working with the Welsh women’s publisher, Honno Press.
Amazing Adjectives! Poetry for Children workshop – Saturday 13:00 at Flying Goose Quilting
Children’s author Marlene Powell will be delivering a poetry workshop encouraging children of all ages to use As the author of the children’s book series Dingledum Dragon, published by CISP Multimedia, Marlene will be demonstrating how poetry can be used as a narrative tool to creatively bring children’s stories to life. Ideal for children aged between 7 and 11, this workshop will encourage youngsters to use their imagination as they explore Amazing Adjectives!
Saturday 14:00 Igam Ogam
Aneirin Karadog Pip y Pengwin Bach Gwasg Rily
Gwrandewch ar stori Pip y Pengwin bach gyda’r prifardd Aneirin Karadog
Chaired Poet Aneirin Karadog’s story about Pip y Pengwin
Creative Writing and Illustration Workshop – Saturday April 28th 14:30
The Golden Orphans: Writing in Graham Greene’s Hand – Sat 28th April 14:30 Mimosa Art Gallery
Gary Raymond’s latest novel, The Golden Orphans, started out as an attempt to address his experiences on the edges of the Cypriot underworld, but eventually became an obsession with the craft and artistry of Graham Greene.
Join Raymond as he explores the spaces between fact and fiction, and unravels the lessons he learned from Greene’s work in the building of his own thriller. Raymond looks at how Greene incorporated innovative literary ideas into perfectly structured page turners, how he created best-selling cinema-friendly stories filled with complex philosophical ideas, and how he used the unwieldy canvasses of the underbelly of national experiences to tell exciting, unforgettable fictional stories.
Saturday 3pm Mark Waghorn Design “Reading Room”
Poetry event in honour of late Anthony Jones: Rockettes, Peter J Jones, Dominic Williams and Robert Walton
Carmarthenshire poet and publisher Dominic Williams will host a poetry session with Llansteffan poet Peter J Jones, Robert Walton and The Rockhoppers: Anne Marie Butler, Jackie Biggs, Maggie Harris and Mel Perry
Saturday 15: 30 Menna Elfyn
Wales ‘ most travelled and well known poets Menna Elfyn reads from her last bilingual volume of poetry Bondo and from her life in poems which will be published this spring.
Un o feirdd mwyaf cyfarwydd Cymru ac un sydd wedi teithio y byd i gyflwyno’i gwaith. Bydd yn darllen o’i chyfrol dwyieithog diweddaraf o farddoniaeth, Bondo a darnau o’i llengofiant a gyhoeddir gan Barddas yn y gwanwyn.
Bilingual session – & there will be a translator
Saturday 20:30 Angel Inn Beirdd – Welsh Poetry with
Aneirin Karadog, Grug Muse and Miriam Elin Jones
Session in Welsh
Sunday 12:00 Angel Inn Ffion Dafis reads from her imagined biography a collection of fact, fiction, musings and imagination.
Bydd y ddarlledwraig, a’r actores, Ffion Dafis yn darllen o’i llyfr Syllu ar Walia, ei chyfrol wych cyntaf a wnaeth argraff fawr yn 2017.
The Changeling Poet: Writing Out of the Narrative Voice – Sunday April 29th12:30 at Flying Goose Quilting
A workshop which explores the persona poem, and how we can write ‘out of ourselves’. We will look at different ways in which the poet can write as animal, object, ghost or mythical figure, some of the techniques used to transform the narrative voice, and use these techniques to produce a piece of writing.
Kathy Miles is a poet and short story writer living in West Wales. Her work has appeared in many anthologies and magazines, and her third collection of poetry, Gardening With Deer, was published by Cinnamon Press in 2016. She has also been placed in several major competitions, and is a previous winner of the Bridport Prize, the PENfro Poetry Competition, and the Wells Festival of Literature Competition.
Kathy frequently reads at both local and national events, and is a co-editor of The Lampeter Review. She was sole judge for the 2017 Welsh Poetry Competition, and has run workshops at venues such as the Torbay Poetry Festival. She is a founder-member of the Lampeter Writers’ Group, and has an MA in Creative Writing.
Sunday 2:30 pm Mark Waghorn Design “Reading Room” – Spoken Word Saturday and Fiddle Box
Fiddle Box and Llanelli’s “Spoken Word Saturday” team up for this dynamic poetry and story telling event: MEET UP, LISTEN UP, SPEAK UP with Spoken Word Saturday who are based at The Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli.
If you like storytelling, Poetry, creative writing, beatbox, rap, original music or just meeting new people, well Spoken Word Saturday is for you! Please pop in and listen Up to artists exploring or get up and speak up as part of The Llandeilio Lit Festival 2018. Musical interludes provided by FiddleBox.
Workshop: Setting – making it work for you – Sunday 29th of April 15:00
Are you getting the most out of the background? Whatever you are interested in writing about – urban or rural, large-scale or small – the physical setting has dynamic potential. This workshop will play with different ways of making the landscape come alive in your writing.
Hilary Shepherd has published 3 novels with Honno, two set in contemporary Africa and the third in post-Civil War Spain. She is currently working on a book set in Wales and India.
Saturday 15:00 Eve’s Toy Shop
Huw Davies reads from his Science Fiction book “Scrambled”
suitable for children 8+
10 Saturday Feb 2018
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via Tudor Wales
Tudor Wales – Sunday 29th April 12:30 at Fountain Fine Art Gallery
Nathen Amin, author of ‘Tudor Wales: a Guide’ and ‘The House of Beaufort’ and Mari Griffith, author of ‘Root of the Tudor Rose’ discuss Tudor times in Wales.
Moderator: Graham Watkins
Nathen Amin’s first book Tudor Wales was released in 2014 and was well-received, followed by a second book called York Pubs in 2016. His third book, the first full-length biography of the Beaufort family, The House of Beaufort, was released in 2017 and became an Amazon #1 Bestseller for Wars of the Roses. He 
is currently working on his fourth book, Pretenders to the Tudor Crown, for release in 2019.
Nathen is also the founder of the Henry Tudor Society and has featured discussing the Tudors on BBC radio and television, as well as in print and online media across the UK. He has a degree in Business and Journalism and now lives in York, where he works as a Technical Writer.
Mari Griffith turned to writing historical fiction in retirement after a working lifetime of producing, promoting and presenting a variety of programmes on the staff of BBC Wales. Her first novel Root of the Tudor Rose became an Amazon best seller and she followed that with The Witch of Eye, the story behind the most sensational treason trial of the 15th century. Both books were featured as a ‘Book of the Month’ by the Welsh Books Council and Mari is currently working on her third book.
Tudor Wales
Cyhoeddwyd llyfr cyntaf Nathen Amin sef ‘Tudor Wales’ yn 2014 a chafodd dderbyniad da. Dilynodd ail lyfr ‘York Pubs’ yn 2016 a chyhoeddwyd ei drydydd lyfr, bywgraffiad o deulu Beaufort, ‘The House of Beaufort’, yn 2017 ac roedd ei lyfr ‘Wars of the Roses’ yn llyfr mwyaf llwyddiannus Amazon #1. Mae ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio ar ei pedwerydd llyfr, ‘Pretenders to the Tudor Crown’; caiff hwn ei gyhoeddi yn 2019.
Trodd Mari Griffith at ysgrifennu ffuglen hanesyddol ar ôl ymddeol o’i gwaith fel cynhyrchydd a chyflwynydd amryw raglenni BBC Cymru. Roedd ei llyfr cyntaf, ‘Root of the Tudor Rose’ yn llyfr mwyaf llwyddiannus Amazon a dilynodd hwnnw gyda ‘The Witch of Eye,’ stori’r achos brad mwyaf cyffrous o’r 15fed ganrif. Mae Mari ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio ar ei thrydydd llyfr.
08 Thursday Feb 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Welsh translations for this page are in progress – apologies for the delay.
Tickets will go on sale in March but you can register your interest by sending us an email to LlandeiloLitFest@mail.com
Amazing Adjectives! Poetry for Children workshop – Saturday 1pm at Flying Goose Quilting
Children’s author Marlene Powell will be delivering a poetry workshop encouraging children of all ages to use As the author of the children’s book series Dingledum Dragon, published by CISP Multimedia, Marlene will be demonstrating how poetry can be used as a narrative tool to creatively bring children’s stories to life. Ideal for children aged between 7 and 11, this workshop will encourage youngsters to use their imagination as they explore Amazing Adjectives!
Saturday 2pm Igam Ogam
Aneirin Karadog Pip y Pengwin Bach Gwasg Rily
Chaired Poet Aneirin Karadog’s story about Pip y Pengwin
Saturday 3pm Mark Waghorn Design “Reading Room”
Poetry event in honour of late Anthony Jones: Rockettes, Peter J Jones, Dominic Williams and Robert Walton
Carmarthenshire poet and publisher Dominic Williams will host a poetry session with Llansteffan poet Peter J Jones, Robert Walton and The Rockhoppers: Anne Marie Butler, Jackie Biggs, Maggie Harris and Mel Perry
Saturday 15: 30 Menna Elfyn
Wales ‘ most travelled and well known poets Menna Elfyn reads from her last bilingual volume of poetry Bondo and from her life in poems which will be published this spring.
Un o feirdd mwyaf cyfarwydd Cymru ac un sydd wedi teithio y byd i gyflwyno’i gwaith. Bydd yn darllen o’i chyfrol dwyieithog diweddaraf o farddoniaeth, Bondo a darnau o’i llengofiant a gyhoeddir gan Barddas yn y gwanwyn.
Bilingual session – & there will be a translator
Saturday 20:30 Angel Inn Beirdd – Welsh Poetry with
Aneirin Karadog, Grug Muse and Miriam Elin Jones
Session in Welsh
The Changeling Poet: Writing Out of the Narrative Voice – Sunday April 29th12:30 at Flying Goose Quilting
A workshop which explores the persona poem, and how we can write ‘out of ourselves’. We will look at different ways in which the poet can write as animal, object, ghost or mythical figure, some of the techniques used to transform the narrative voice, and use these techniques to produce a piece of writing.
Kathy Miles is a poet and short story writer living in West Wales. Her work has appeared in many anthologies and magazines, and her third collection of poetry, Gardening With Deer, was published by Cinnamon Press in 2016. She has also been placed in several major competitions, and is a previous winner of the Bridport Prize, the PENfro Poetry Competition, and the Wells Festival of Literature Competition.
Kathy frequently reads at both local and national events, and is a co-editor of The Lampeter Review. She was sole judge for the 2017 Welsh Poetry Competition, and has run workshops at venues such as the Torbay Poetry Festival. She is a founder-member of the Lampeter Writers’ Group, and has an MA in Creative Writing.
Sunday 2:30 pm Mark Waghorn Design “Reading Room” – Spoken Word Saturday and Fiddle Box
If you like storytelling, Poetry, creative writing, beatbox, rap, original music or just meeting new people, well Spoken Word Saturday is for you! Please pop in and listen Up to artists exploring or get up and speak up as part of The Llandeilio Lit Festival 2018. Musical interludes provided by FiddleBox.
07 Wednesday Feb 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Today I’d like to share an absolute highlight of the forthcoming Llandeilo Lit Fest in April 2018. Not only did we find two authors fully engaged with the subject but we also have musicians specialising in the field of medieval music. I can’t wait for this event.
via Medieval Music
Medieval Music – Saturday 28th of April – Horeb Chapel 14:00 
You are invited to step back in time to the court of Lord Rhys in 12th century Wales, with readings from authors Luke Waterson and Jean Gill, accompanied by medieval music from Elsa Davies, Ceri Owen Jones and Jason Lawday.
If you’ve ever wondered what the first Eisteddfod was like and how it came about, you can hear two different versions: 1153, in ‘Song Hereafter’, the last book of the award-winning “Troubadours Quartet” by Jean Gill and 1176, in ‘Song Castle’, by acclaimed novelist and travel writer Luke Waterson. Both Luke and Jean have made some surprising links between the troubadour poetry of Occitan France and Lord Rhys’ tournament of song.
Cerddoriaeth Ganoloesol. Fe’ch gwahoddir i gamu nôl mewn amser i lys yr Arglwydd Rhys yng Nghymru’r 12fed ganrif gyda darlleniadau gan yr awduron Luke Waterson a Jean Gill gyda cherddoriaeth ganoloesol gan Elsa Davies, Ceri Owen Jones ac Jason Lawday.
Os ydych erioed wedi meddwl sut oedd yr Eisteddfod gyntaf a sut y daeth i fod, gallwch glywed dau fersiwn gwahanol: yn “Song Hereafter,” y llyfr diweddaraf yn “Troubadours Quartet” gan Jean Gill mae’n dweud mai yn 1153 cafwyd yr ornest gyntaf oedd ond mae’r nofelydd Luke Waterson a dderbyniodd glod eang, yn “Song Castle” yn dweud mai yn 1176 daeth yr eisteddfod i fod. Mae Luke a Jean wedi gwneud cysylltiadau annisgwyl rhwng barddoniaeth trwbadŵr Occitan yn Ffrainc â chystadleuaeth canu’r Arglwydd Rhys.
06 Tuesday Feb 2018
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The London Blogger’s Bash is a yearly highlight in my calendar and their competitions, too.
