Ten Questions with Author Jayne Joso

Author Jayne Joso's most recent novel is Perfect Architect, from Y Lolfa.

A Review of Jon Gower's 'Uncharted'

This book surprised and delighted me in equal measure. At one point author Jon Gower observes that:-"The world of coincidence is uncharted mystery". This might be understood as the books theme as it charts coincidental occurrences in Buenos Aries, Oakland Bay and Cardiff bound together, albeit tentatively, by the onward progress of a paper boat. The boat, made of newspaper, is home to the mortal remains of Flavia, a former resident of Buenos Aries whose 'undead' body travels the globe inspiring scientific speculation and religious devotion in its wake.


In a recent interview with AmeriCymru Jon described the book in these terms:- "A friend said that it "mythologizes an Argentine woman's journey around the world" and that pretty much sums it up. The woman, Flavia, is in a sort of purgatory, neither alive nor dead. Her story becomes a myth which becomes a religion, a case of global Chinese whispers." Her condition is in some way a consequence of and a testament to the undying love between her and her former, still earthbound, husband Horacio with whom she used to dance the tango in the back streets of Buenos Aries.

In the course of her journey she touches a great many lives and creates a profound impression but it should not be thought that the book is without humour. In fact the final section, set in Cardiff is suffused with surreal humour and bizarre incident. If you'll forgive a rather long quote, here is Jon's description of the passing of 'Bloomers' , a famous incident in the history of Caroline Street:-

"Half way along Caroline there used to be a famous club called Bloomers but someone attacked it with a petrol bomb, burned it to the ground. In the Echo the day after the conflagration the stalwart cartoonist, Gren, had captured the moment in an exquisite image. Caroline Street with a gaping hole like a tooth extraction: above it, dwarfing all the buildings, is an atomic mushroom cloud and there are two men flying through the air above the caption 'Now that's what I call a curry.' There is much more in this vein as the seemier side of Cardiff's nightlife and it's culture of heavy drinking and toxic takeaways are mercilessly ( and humorously ) exposed.

If you were planning to give someone a book for Christmas and were looking for something 'different', then look no further. 'Uncharted' has everything:- pathos, humour and a pace that makes it 'unputdownable'. The book is , unfortunately, ineligible for a Wales Book of the Year Award in 2011 because Jon is on the judges panel. It surely would have been a strong contender for first place.

An Interview with Welsh Author - Jon Gower

From the Gomer Press site:- "Jon Gower is one of Wales’s brightest literary talents. He grew up in Llanelli, graduated in English from Cambridge University, and now lives in Cardiff. A former BBC Wales arts and media correspondent, he has published ten books, including An Island Called Smith, winner of the John Morgan Travel Award. Uncharted is the author’s own adaptation of his acclaimed Welsh-language novel Dala’r Llanw (Gomer, 2009)."

AmeriCymru: Your latest novel - Uncharted has been described as:- "a tale of Tango, unfathomable mysteries, and two ancient lovers who will not be parted". How would you describe it for an intending reader.

Jon: A friend said that it "mythologizes an Argentine woman's journey around the world" and that pretty much sums it up. The woman, Flavia, is in a sort of purgatory, neither alive nor dead. Her story becomes a myth which becomes a religion, a case of global Chinese whispers. I tried to write about a character much as Dickens' writes about Little Nell, and wanted people to be moved by her death. To make me care a lot about her I modelled the central character, Flavia on my wife Sarah but when I came to killing her off I couldn't because it seemed too much like wishing my wife harm, so I kept her alive. Or seemingly alive!

AmeriCymru: The story is set partly in Buenos Aries, partly in Oakland and partly in Cardiff ( including a wonderful description of Caroline St, the hub of Cardiff's sophisticated nightlife ). What made you choose these locations?

Jon: I've been lucky enough to travel a lot in Latin America but hadn't visited Buenos Aires. When I did I fell completely in love with the place and came back to Wales on fire with a need to write about it. The competition for the prose medal at the Eisteddfod the following year required an urban theme, so I found myself writing about B.A and after some 10,000 words thought where else can I go? I decided to write about other ports I knew well, so plumped for Oakland, California, my wife's home town and as the Eisteddfod was in Cardiff I thought I'd write a judge-pleasing ending and set it in my own home. So it's a tale of three cities.

AmeriCymru: The book is adapted from Dala’r Llanw ( Catching The Tide ) which is the first book you have written in the Welsh language. Is writing in a second language ( or perhaps i should say first ) a problematic or an enriching experience?

Jon: I usually try to write prose that has a melody and found writing the English translation difficult at first as I was trying to impose the Welsh "music" on the English version, that is until I decided to go with the English music. Adapting the book also gave me a chance to winnow out some weaknesses, and to alter the ending. The current archdruid James Jones said he didn't like the ending of Dala'r Llanw and I agreed with him, so I tacked on a new conclusion, which is less Hollywood ending and much more lyrical.

AmeriCymru: This is not the first time that your writing has featured an American location. In An Island Called Smith you presented an account of your stay on Smith Island in Chesapeake Bay. Care to tell us a little more about that experience and about the book?

Jon: I was intrigued to read a tiny little newspaper article about the Welsh and Cornish settlers of Smith Island and kept the piece of paper. Years later I was lucky enough to win the John Morgan travel writing prize which funded two trips to Smith Island, a disappearing island because of sea level rise. Here crab fishing is the mainstay of the economy and it was a rare opportunity for me, as a naturalist, to spend time with people who understand the richness and complexity of the natural world in an instinctive way. It's also a Methodist island, and gave me a glimpse of what parts of Wales were like when it was one of the most religious countries on earth.

AmeriCymru: You have also written short stories, some of which are anthologised in a collection titled Big Fish Care to tell us more about this volume?

Jon: I see myself as a short story writer above all else, although it's a form that doesn't sell. I still find this surprising when you consider reduced attention span, the pace of life, etc: it should be conducive to people's lives nowadays. 'Big Fish' mashes up Welsh themes with my take on American style, reflecting the fact I've always read a lot of American fiction, especially John Updike, Annie Proulx and Alice Hoffman. People found the stories zany, and I like that.

AmeriCymru: What is your working routine?

Jon: I have two daughters, Onwy who is twenty months old and Elena, who is five and a half years old I have to write around them, so it's a case of trying to get up before them to write, or doing so after they've gone to bed. Luckily, owing to years of news journalism I can write quickly in the time available. Though they often hear me getting up early and see it as a cue to get up themselves. Anyway 1000 words a day assuages enough guilt to allow me to enjoy the rest of life, and them. They're great kids.

AmeriCymru: Where do you get your ideas?

Jon: If I'm really stuck I deal a card from the Oblique Strategies website. The musician and record producer Brian Eno used to write post it notes in the studio with tips he and his engineer Peter Schmidt culled from their working day. They turned into a physical pack of cards and now you can generate one at random on the website. Even though they're about music they can usually get you out of a corner, or spark something off.

AmeriCymru: How did you become a writer?

Jon: I've always enjoyed writing, but writing books is an offshoot of earning a living as a journalist and trading words in that way. Gradually I've moved away from non fiction to fiction and like the freedoms of lyricism and imaginative flight.

AmeriCymru: Which of your own books do you like the best?

Jon: I'm genuinely proud of 'Uncharted' and like the fact that many people who've read it have enjoyed doing so. Not that it'll be everyone's cup of tea, of course.

AmeriCymru: Where can people order copies of 'Uncharted' and your other works online?

Jon: In the U.S you can get it through the Big Beast, Amazon.com. You have to hunt for some of the others, but Powells is a good place to start.

AmeriCymru: What's next for Jon Gower?

Jon: There's a new Welsh language novel out next year, when I finish it! It draws heavily on my own life and I spend a lot of time trying to protect the innocent! That will be followed by collections of stories in both Welsh and English ('Too Cold for Snow') in 2012 and then, in 2013 or 2014, I'm hoping that my "deep map" of Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement in Patagonia will see the light of day, ahead of the 150th anniversary of its establishment in 2015. It's inspired by William Least Heat-Moon's wonderful book about Chase County in Kansas.

AmeriCymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

Jon: Do check out the books on the long list for next year's Wales Book of the Year, due out in March. I'm one of the judges and even though we've yet to reach year's end it strikes me that there will be some wonderful books on the list, a very strong year seemingly and hopefully a good snapshot of the variety and confidence of Welsh writing at the moment.

Jon Gower on Amazon

Uncharted by Jon Gower	Big Fish by Jon Gower	An Island Called Smith by Jon Gower

Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

An Interview With Huw Lawrence - Author of 'Always the Love of Someone'

'Huw Lawrence's stories have three times won in the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition, have gained three Cinnamon Awards and a Bridport prize. He was runner up for the 2009 Tom Gallon prize. Born in Llanelli, he trained as a teacher in Swansea, continuing his education at Manchester and Cornell Universities. He spent several years doing a variety of labouring jobs in Manchester and the Ffestiniog area of north Wales and now lives in Aberystwyth.' Americymru review of 'Always the Love of Someone' HERE Americymru: How did you start writing? Huw: The first thing I remember writing was a poem in response to the Cuba Crisis back in the sixties. I followed that with an attempt at a play about someone converting his cellar into a fallout shelter. Later, I turned to stories, and, still in the sixties, I wrote ‘The Yellow Umbrella’, which is in this collection. That was the first story I ever wrote. Americymru: Care to tell us a little about 'Always The Love of Someone'. How did you come to write the stories in this collection? Were they written especially with this volume in mind or is this more of an anthology of your recent work? Huw: No, they weren’t written with this volume in mind. I just wrote quite a lot of stories, and then eventually I selected fifteen that went together so as to suggest some kind of unity. They’re not recent work, though. Some go back a very long time. Americymru: Most critics have taken the view that the theme of the collection is 'human relationships'. Would you agree with this? Does it necessarily have a theme? Huw: I don’t know if it can be said to have a theme. That’s a hard question. People do talk about ‘theme’ in relation to story collections, but I’d say that most collections have a focus rather than the structural unity implied by a ‘theme’. That, of course, might not be true of collections like Miguel Street by Naipaul, where the stories are all about the same protagonist and his neighbours. Perhaps it’s a question of degree. The fifteen stories in Always the Love of Someone are all of them about love, and all but four of them about love between men and women – the nitty gritty realities of love, not romance. Americymru: What attracted you to the short story genre? Are there any particular attractions or difficulties in writing short stories as opposed to writing novels? Huw: I found myself writing stories for the most pragmatic of reasons. They’re short, and I had a full-time job. I could be confident of finishing what I started. There are attractions. You can carry one in detail in your head, and changing a short phrase can alter the whole balance, change nuance, adjust meaning. Getting it right is more like working on a poem than on a novel. What’s not right tends to stand out like a sore thumb. It’s an unforgiving form. But you can carry it around with you. Americymru:Many people are fascinated by the writing process of successful authors? Do you have any kind of creative routine or do you write as and when inspiration strikes? Huw: I can only conceive of one way of writing fiction, and that is to do it every day. You can’t afford to lose touch with the work in hand, nor can you afford to let good new ideas slip away. You have to get those down as some kind of draft to a degree where they can be picked up on later. Americymru: Is your work available in print anywhere other than in this collection? Magazines? Anthologies? Huw: Magazines and anthologies, yes. This is my first collection. Americymru: Is there any one of your stories that you are particularly proud of or that you would like to especially recommend? Huw: My two favourites are, ‘Would That Even Be Lucky?’ and ‘Nothing is Happening Because There’s a Point’. Because they counterbalance each other. The first one questions whether it is even lucky to be bound by the obsessive power of a romantic love you can do nothing about, even if it is requited. The second describes a meeting, followed by a pre-marital relationship, followed by a long, happy marriage, with plenty of conflict, but cemented by affection, loyalty and commitment – not romance. Americymru:Are there any short story writers (or writers in general ) that you draw inspiration from? Huw: The writer that has intrigued me most by his skill and whom I dip into just for the pleasure of reading a page or two of his prose, is Nabakov. As far as short story writers go, one of my favourites is Bharati Mukherjee. Americymru: Care to tell us anything about your future writing plans? Huw: A novel followed by a collection of poems, I hope. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru? Huw: Yes, be afraid that the meaning of ‘Cymru’ will disappear if the language goes, and it might die. So, support the language in any way you can. As far as keeping up with events in Wales through English is concerned, then I’d recommend Planet and Cambria, two magazines committed to Wales through the medium of English. 'Always The Love of Someone' will be published on 30 May 2010 and will be an AmeriCymru Book of the Month selection for June. Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

An Interview With Mr. Roscoe Howells

Interview by: Alan Evans Roscoe Howells was born in Saundersfoot in 1919. His mother died when he was three weeks old. His father remarried and he was brought up during the depression. He witnessed the harshness of the depression with Bonville’s Court colliery closing down leaving families in utter poverty. Roscoe’s work has its roots in the community and countryside around Saundersfoot, Tenby and Amroth. Roscoe was a former pupil of Christ College Brecon as well as vice-president and former chairman of the Pembrokeshire Historical Society, of which he was a founder member. He was also a founder member and chairman of the old Pembrokeshire Records Society. His many books include Woodreef – From Amroth to Utah – Pembrokeshire’s Islands – Old Saundersfoot: From Monkstone To Marros – Crickdam – and Roseanna. Roscoe also wrote numerous articles on farming and agriculture in Wales. Roscoe was outwardly emotional when relating some of his many stories. One could feel his passion for writing, the people and countryside of West Wales. At 90 years of age Roscoe has an exceptional memory. The interview was conducted at Roscoe’s home in Amroth. I am grateful to Roscoe and his wife Margaret for their hospitality and time. I began by asking Roscoe what it was like growing up as a chid in Saundersfoot Roscoe: The colliery at Boneville’s Court was still open and I was there at the time of the 1926 strike. My mother died when I was three weeks old. My father married again and my stepmother was wonderful to me. I grew up referring to her as my mother. My real mother’s sister was a right bitch and she made my stepmother’s life hell. We lived at The Bethanny Manse, which had a garden that went down to a field where the regency hall is now. It was known as Vickermans field. I remember the pit ponies coming up and grazing there when the miners were on strike. It was a difficult time. My father was a builder and I remember men coming to the back door and asking if they could have a weeks work so that they could get a stamp to go on the dole. Grown men, coming round crying and genuinely so, genuine workmen, not like today’s parasites. The great excitement for me was that Bonneville’s court was still working. I used to spend most of my time down at the harbour with the boatmen. The coal boats would come in to get coal from the colliery. The merchant seamen used to come in and get to know people in the village. We used to be down there when the boats went out waving them off. There were two or three pilots there and there was tremendous contention between them to get the job piloting the boats in from Monkston. These boats would come in and drop anchor off Monkston. These pilots would be racing out to be the first out to get the boat. My father used to tell the story. His father could see the boats coming in and he would run down to Saundersfoot and tell one of his mates. Eventually the pilots got wise than Granfer Ben was doing this. My grandfather had an arrangement with a local pilot and he would run down. The local boys would see him and set off but there was nothing there. When there was a boat my grandfather would run down ‘quatting’ as we say in Pembrokeshire beneath the wall so no one would see him. If you could meet anybody today in Saundersfoot who was born in the village, without exception their parents would have come from the surrounding villages. This is the significance of the subtitle of my book, Old Saundersfoot from Monkston to Marros. My father was born at Wiseman’s bridge. He went to Saundersfoot to look for work. My mother was a nursemaid and had gone there from Crosseli. My stepmother had gone there from Kilgetty. Saundersfoot had a very good football team. We had a lot of visitors. People started coming in, boarding and lodging. Alan: What are the main changes you have seen? Roscoe: People coming in from the outside. The second homes and holiday homes. They come in and take over and in ten minutes they know it all. They tell you what’s wrong with you. Alan: Is it fair to say that you love the area? Roscoe: Yes, I love the area. You can read every word I’ve ever written about it. It is home, there is no place like home. I love the sea, I love the countryside it’s been my life. I know a so many of the people. I know some of the better ones and I’ve met some of the awful ones. Alan: You were chairman of a number of organizations including the Pembrokeshire records society. How important is it to record and preserve local history, especially that of the ordinary working man? Roscoe: It is very important to preserve the history of the working man. It is tragic that so much has been lost. I have been guilty of it myself, shredding papers. Then I ask ‘what did I do with that’? Alan: You told me when we first met that there is no such thing as fiction. Are you suggesting that all literature has at its source real life experiences. Roscoe: There is no such thing as fiction. Everything comes from something either your own or other peoples experiences. I could always write in school I remember when I was in the infant’s class at Saundersfoot council school. Mrs. Morris was the teacher. She always said to us, ‘You have the sentence in your head before you start it. Get the sentence right and then you wont have to cross out’. Kenneth Griffith the actor was a friend of mine. When I wrote the manuscript for my first book I saw him in Tenby and showed him the book. He read it and said that it must be published. I sent the book to Tony Whitton then I went up to London to meet him. He said it was a lovely book but it was a shame that it wasn’t set in Cornwall or Lancashire. He couldn’t believe that a place like this existed. I had to have Tony Whitton down for a weekend for him to see something of the area. I took him all around the place and he couldn’t believe it. He went back and the book was published. I could write a wonderful book about literary agents and London publishers. He took the book on and managed to persuade his people to publish it. When it was due to be published I told Ian McClarren, now Lord McClarren head of Tesco about it. His grandmother was born at Herons Mill as was my stepmother’s mother. Ian and I were quite close and when Ian married he called his first house Heron’s Mill. Ian was so pleased about the book that he told me to tell Hutchinson’s that Tesco would go 50/50 on a big launching party. The man at Hutchinson’s asked, ‘What are we selling, margarine’? Ian was so cross so Tesco launched the book at the Stradey Park Hotel. The book Herons Mill sold out in three weeks. Publishers in America took it on and Hutchinson’s did not republish. Alexander Cordell (1914-1997) gave me some wonderful advice. He told me that no one person writes a book and that no novel left his house until it had been proofread. I used to read everything I wrote to Lucy my first wife. If she said it wasn’t right there was something wrong with it. I never used a typewriter in my life. My second wife Margaret began to type my work and eventually went on to using a computer to type my work. I eventually learned how to use the computer and I can tap away at it now. I write everything on screen and Margaret can go through it and make corrections. Cordell was very helpful and he had a look at my novel Heron’s Mill. He was living in Cheltenham at that time. He told me to bring my manuscript to him. I sent it to him and called on him a few weeks later. I asked him to tell me if he thought I was wasting my time trying to write. He told me ‘If you were wasting your time I wouldn’t be wasting my time talking to you’. He told me to take the manuscript home and that I should learn my craft. Words are diamonds, jewels, precious gems, every word must carry the story forward, every word must count. He said ‘You go home remembering everything I told you and start again and I’ll edit it as I think it should be’. I came home and I started again and I knew I could write. I sent it to him and when it came back it was worse than ever. One thing I remember and if you’re ever thinking of writing boy you remember this. One thing that drove it home to me. If you read my novel Heron’s Mill you’ll see that these two boys were going to Sunday school and they came on a badger in a trap. Evan Harter went running back to fetch his grandfather who was one of the big characters in the book and the other boy ran on to Sunday school. Granfer Jenkins was standing by the gate smoking his pipe. He said ‘Granfer, Granfer, come quick there’s a badger in the trap’. When they got there Granfer put the fork down on the badger’s neck to hold it down. They put some tar or something on the injured foot. A few hours later when they went back to the house they went into the kitchen. Ben Harter was very upset and the two girls were crying. Granfer said, ‘What’s the matter’ and Ben said ‘Cosiah, she’s dead’. Granfer Ben said, ‘Dead’. With that, Evan was running up the stairs before anyone could stop him. He looked in through the bedroom door and there was his mother lying on the bed on the old patchwork quilt and the old brass knobbed bedstead. I had written ‘Mam, Mammy’s dead, but there was no reply’. Cordell had crossed off the first Mam. ‘One Mam is enough’. ‘but there was no reply’, he (Cordell) cut it off. He (Cordell) put in the margin, ‘She’s dead isn’t she?’ It then read, ‘Mammy’s dead, go to the side of the bed he touched his mother’s face and at eight years of age he knew death’ full stop. I knew I could write, I can’t speak but I can write. The significant thing is that I have been very fortunate to have mixed with very good journalists. (Cordell’s comments are in bold). Alexander Cordell, Welsh Novelist wrote Rape of the Fair Country (1959). Alan: A lot of your work is illustrated with photographs. Do you believe that a picture is worth a thousand words? Roscoe: Oh, ten thousand words. Every picture tells a story. I have worked with some very good photographers in my time. I wasn’t a bad photographer myself. Alan: Do you have a favourite photograph? Roscoe: Yes I do. They all bring back different memories. One favourite is hanging inside the door as you come in. That’s a picture of my late wife Lucy taken four weeks to the day before I found her dead on the floor. Its bound to mean something isn’t it? I’ve got another lovely photograph of Margaret when we were on honeymoon with the Blaskets in the background. Alan: One of your most controversial pieces of literature is A Pembrokeshire Pioneer written about William Frost. You claim that he was the first man to perform a flight in an aircraft. How did you come to that conclusion? Roscoe: How did I come to the conclusion? Good God I knew the man I was there, he showed my father the patent and the pictures. My mother had been the Sunday school teacher there and Bill Frost was the Sunday school supervisor. Alan: What do you think you will be remembered for? Roscoe: Me! Being argumentative I suppose. I’d like to think that I’d done a bit of good I can’t tell you. How do we know? I’d like to think that I would be remembered for saving things, which might have been forgotten. I could be wrong. Alan: You’ve reached your ninetieth birthday. If you could sum up your life in a few words what would they be? Roscoe: I’d like to think that I would be remembered for standing up to be counted. Not afraid to say my piece. I think that if I have achieved anything in life without anyone realizing it was when crooked people were intent upon putting a sewerage scheme in Saundersfoot, which would have been discharged into the sea. It would have been deathly for Amroth and the whole area. Evil people financially motivated it finished up with some of them going to jail. Many thanks for your time. ©Alan Evans, 30th November, 2009 Find books by Roscoe Howells on Gomer

"Tongue Tied" Author Peter Griffiths at the Clearing Cafe in Portland, Oregon

Peter Griffiths, author of Tongue Tied, invited AmeriCymru members in Portland to a reading and discussion of his book at the Clearing Cafe on NW Thurman in Portland last Monday evening. Peter and his wife, Yvonne, hosted the gathering at the Clearing Cafe, owned by their son, Andrew Griffiths, and his wife, Kelley Winchester, to celebrate the second printing of Peter's book by YLlofa. The senior Griffiths live in Colorado and travel to Portland to visit and will be back for the 2010 NAFOW in September. Peter gave readings from the book, discussed some of his process in creating it and answered questions. He described how he'd used cynghanedd (the concept of sound-arrangement within one line in Welsh language poetry, using stress, alliteration and rhyme) to some of the lines here and there throughout the book, and read examples to show how he'd applied these concepts to an English-language prose work. Peter and Yvonne's son, Andrew was born in Wrexham and his wife and partner, Kelly in New York. Although they both spent a lot of their early lives in Colorado, they met in Portland while working at the same bakery. They recently bought the cafe, which had been in business more than two years in that location, and they've kept the cafe's menu, which includes bagels, panini sandwiches, rice and bean bowls, salads, smoothies and juices and a good variety of teas and coffees. Wherever possible, they use local and organic ingredients for everything they make. They plan to introduce Welsh dishes to their menu, starting with Welsh cakes, and add beer and wine, so those of us in Portland can look forward to somewhere with a more specifically Welsh flavor to go. Andrew put on the red and green for the occasion and sported the Ddraig Goch on his tie to welcome us all. An interview with Peter appears on the AmeriCymru blog and Ceri's review of Tongue Tied will be up shortly.

An Interview with Peter Griffiths, Author of 'Tongue-Tied'

Peter Griffiths is the author of 'Tongue Tied' , a novel set in Bala and South Wales in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which has proved enormously popular with Welsh American readers and is currently being reprinted by Y Lolfa. The book can be ordered direct fom their website:- 'Tongue Tied'

"Tongue Tied allows us to witness Welsh family life during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, from the perspective of the farm and the coal pit, as we follow the lives and struggles of the Evans and Jones families. This is a powerful story that explores relationships, religion, language and identity - and how all these things can , ultimately, tear families apart."

Americymru met and spoke with Peter about the book during a recent reading at the Clearing Cafe in Portland , Oregon.

Americymru: Care to tell our readers a little about your background? We understand from the line-notes to 'Tongue-Tied' that you divide your time between Denver, Colorado and Llanelli. How did that come to be?

Peter: I was born and bred in Cynheidre near Llanelli, schooled at Five Roads Primary, honed at Llandovery College, and finished off at Lincoln College, Oxford! My actuarial training funnelled me into the investment business, and eventually, a move to the States in 1972. Yvonne, my wife, is from Bala, and that's to where we gravitated when, in 1994, we began spending up to six months a year in Wales, supporting our families. Later, Swansea, gateway to Gower, became our base.

Americymru: How did you come to write 'Tongue-Tied'?

Peter: I self published an action novel, set in Denver, in 2000. Soon after, while driving from Heathrow to Bala, snaking up the Berwyn from Llangynnog, the beauty and grandeur of the Welsh countryside, for some reason, made a bigger impression than usual. During the ensuing wash of patriotism, I determined to set my next novel in Wales; it would glorify the country, the people, and their language; corny perhaps, but true.

Americymru: 'Tongue-Tied' has enjoyed considerable success running to a second reprint in less than nine months. Do you have any plans for a second book?

Peter: Tongue Tied was self published in 2004, set aside for a year or more, reorganized in 2006/2007, expertly edited for Y Lolfa by Elin Lewis in 2008, and published in time for St David's Day, 2009. In the meantime, I had been laying the groundwork for another novel, again set in Wales, but this time, not about Wales. Already, over a hundred pages have been penned, but since Tongue Tied's publication, I've been committed to its promotion. My plan is to return to my new novel early in 2010.

Americymru: The book is set in both North and South Wales and much is made of the language divide between the two societies. How serious a problem do you think this is for modern Wales and what might be done to overcome it?

Peter: The massive migration into SE Wales, first from the rest of Wales and then from outside the country, set up a society and culture which was at odds with the rural, non-conformist driven, Welsh-speaking one which previously had prevailed. So, whatever divide existed, had not sprung from the language alone. In support of Tongue Tied's plot, I chose to focus on the language, and in particular, two issues related to it; first, the fear among many non-Welsh speakers that in an independent Wales, Welsh speakers would hold the upper hand; and second, the feeling among many Welsh speakers that South Walians had given up their mother tongue rather too readily. Tongue Tied may have exaggerated these feelings, and certainly these days, they are nowhere near as potent. As you know, it's now chic to be Welsh speaking, and non-Welsh speaking parents encourage their children to learn the language.

Americymru: The novel is partly set in Tryweryn which was flooded to make a reservoir in 1965. Is there any political significance in this choice of setting?

Peter: Tongue Tied was conceived in 2000/2001. My notes are lost and by now, I'm unclear on the various stages of the novel's development. It made sense to me, however, that the North Walian action should be set near Bala, and for sure, Arenig Fawr featured from the start. Tryweryn and Capel Celyn nestle in the mountain's shadow, so it seemed natural that they should feature as well. Looking back, I am somewhat surprised that Tryweryn's symbolism did not deter me from setting Tongue Tied in the valley. By now, however, it seems to me that the more who are aware of Capel Celyn and its community, the better. Tongue Tied does not deal with the politics of Tryweryn, but its significance is recognized in Author's notes.

Americymru: Did you have a particular audience that you hoped for the book? Is there anything in particular you'd like people to take away from reading it?

Peter: To a large degree, Tongue Tied was aimed at my circle of acquaintances in the States who go ga-ga over anything Scottish or Irish, but rarely if it's Welsh. Feedback has been encouraging; for example, one well read critic commented that while she read Tongue Tied, she felt as if she was on holiday in Wales. Several others, after reading Tongue Tied, have assured me that they just have to visit the land of my fathers.

Americymru: What do you see as the central message of the book? Does it have a moral?

Peter: Originally, one of my objectives was to highlight the relentless interference in Welsh affairs by the English. Gradually, the anti English slant was watered down, but it comes through, nevertheless. Also, Tongue Tied focusses on the unifying effect the Welsh language has had on the nation over time, but observes with sadness that at times over the last one hundred and fifty years, it's also been divisive. Finally, despite Tongue Tied's several unreasonable characters, the novel overall espouses toleration and sensitivity to others.

Americymru: You've lived in the USA and Wales, how well do you think Wales is represented in North America? Do you have any opinion on whether or how it could be better represented?

Peter: I don't have an opinion as to how well Wales is represented in North America. Clearly, the weight of numbers favor the Irish and Scottish, but I've been impressed by the enthusiasm shown at Welsh gatherings, including the recent Gymanfa Ganu in Pittsburgh.

Americymru: What do you feel the two countries' cultures have to offer each other? How are they different?

Peter: What can one say about the two cultures? Leave well alone, I say. There's no doubt I feel completely different when I'm in Swansea. I love being by the sea, and Denver couldn't be further from it. Swansea is still a bit of a frontier town...certainly when compared to Cardiff...and all of life is there, whereas in Denver we live a more socially sheltered life. As you know, nothing is bought in the States. Everything is sold, and Wales isn't quite at that point yet; I find that refreshing. One thing the two countries have in common is that they were both English colonies; unfortunately, one of them still is.

Americymru: Do you have any plans for reading or speaking tours or public engagements that we should be aware of?

Peter: Since Tongue Tied was published just before March 1st of this year, I've devoted all my energies to its cause. That will change in the new year as I return to my new novel. We are committed over the next several months to many book clubs who will read Tongue Tied, and who knows, something may surprise us on another front, but no longer will I be breathing Tongue Tied day and night.

Americymru: Any final message for the readers and members of Americymru?

Peter: In conclusion, I'd like to comment on Tongue Tied's style. It is heavily influenced by Cynghanedd, that ancient and very strict Welsh poetic form, which is based on alliteration, internal rhyme, and correspondence of consonants. Consequently, Tongue Tied abounds in alliterations and poetry within prose. For example, " Sadness and silence are sisters, and so for a while all was quiet, but for the distant bleating of mother and child, stonechats and pipits and hawks in the wild, and the restrained sipping of tea."

Arenig Fawr in North Wales, close to which much of the action in the novel is set.

It’s Carmarthen – but not as we know it!

A new humorous and whimsical novel published this week, The Carmarthen Underground, explores the possibility of an ‘alternative Carmarthen’ filled with secret agents, spies and thugs. Beneath the town’s busy streets lies the hub of a sophisticated organisation whose officers are dedicated to the protection of Wales and its people from ruthless predators who are determined to undermine the country, its language and its culture. But is there an enemy within? The agents of Carmarthen Intelligence must find out or risk all they and the veterans of the Battle for Wales have strived for.Author Gaynor Madoc Leonard was inspired by a quote in William Knox's book The Pan-Celtic Phrasebook (also published by Y Lolfa) which asks: “Is there an underground train in Carmarthen?” “The ‘underground’ in the title doesn’t just apply to the train but to the organisation, Carmarthen Intelligence,” she explains, “which happens to be situated underground at Guildhall Square.” “One day I just sat down at my computer and started typing. I had no idea what the story would be at the point, but I was talking to an author who repeated that well-known rule: ‘Write about what you know.’ I know Carmarthen! As the first chapter progressed, I realised that this would be an ‘alternative’ Carmarthen. On the face of it, everything would be familiar to anyone who knew the town but it would be Carmarthen with a twist. “I wanted it to be amusing and not only to the inhabitants of the town or Welsh people in general. I hope that they will see that the book is written with affection for both Carmarthen and Wales. Perhaps it will make people look at the town with a new eye.” Gaynor was born and brought up in Carmarthenshire, in a Welsh-speaking family. Despite spending most of her life in England, where she worked for some years in the City of London, she visits her home country regularly and has a particular love for the Towy Valley.

"My First Colouring Book" - A Review

My First Colouring
Book

Read our interview with Lloyd Jones HERE.

Speaking as a hard-core short story fanatic, I can honestly say that Lloyd Jones' "My First Colouring Book" has been the high point of my literary year so far. It's great to see a Welsh author who has so far mastered this genre as to be worthy of mention alongside Carver, Cheever, Maupassant, Mansfield and, dare one even suggest it, Chekhov himself.

Lloyd Jones is fond of referring to his writing as "scribblings". In this collection he has elected to "scribble" in a dazzling variety of colors, all of which are intensely evocative.

There are many fine things in this anthology. There is "Blood," which warns of the potentially cataclysmic dangers of "exotic blood transfusions". There is "Post Office Red," which asserts the critical importance of preserving a sense of mystery and wonder. The closing sentence of this story reveals the "moral" of the tale with the same blinding clarity achieved by Mansfield in "The Doll's House". In "Black," an intellectual atheist meets a lady friend at a lake near the oldest church in Wales. It is close to the festive season and they are invited to join the Christmas service. The protagonist spends his time in the church indulging sexual fantasies about old girlfriends and the female occupant of the burial plot in the pew beneath his feet. On the drive back home they pass a dark and sinister stranger on the road and he has perhaps the closest thing to a religious experience that he will ever know. "Wine" is a heart-warming "feelgood" tale about a devout christian who performs a charitable act in order to fill a gap in the "O" section of his address book. It contains elements of high farce and compares favorably with the best of O Henry.

Also not to be missed are the four short essays at the end of the book which describe walks in North, South, East and West Wales. As a South-Walian and a keen hill-walker back in the day, I deeply appreciated his account of a sojourn in the Black Mountains and his visits to Cwmyoy and Partrishow churches. Both are magical places and evoked masterfully.

Lest anything I have so far said gives the impression that this is a light-hearted collection, please allow me to observe that these stories contain some of the most profound and poignant meditations on life, love and death in 21st century literature. In a recent interview with Americymru, Lloyd Jones was asked about his future literary plans. He replied, "Maybe some more short stories?". We sincerely hope so.

In short, this book is a treat for short-story fans, lovers of literature and lovers of Wales. If you fall into all three categories, then it is simply a "must read". If you are buying a gift for Christmas, either as a gift to yourself or for someone else, you couldn't do better than "My First Colouring Book."

CS

Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas? - A Summary

One of the Americymru Book Club's selections for November is "Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas?" See the full list here. David Thomas has kindly pointed out that a summary of the main points in the book is available on the books website here:-

Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas?

This article, which is a fascinating read, originally appeared in the Western Mail. Buy the book here:-

Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas? - David Thomas

Americymru Welsh Books Club - November Selections

My First Colouring Book - Lloyd Jones	Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas? - David Thomas .	The Mourning Vessels - Peter Luther

This month the Americymru Welsh Books of the Month Club has three selections. Further details can be found in the blogposts listed below. Full reviews will hopefully follow soon.


“Welsh Dan Brown” sets thriller in West Wales

Fatal Neglect: Who Killed Dylan Thomas?

"My First Colouring Book" - Lloyd Jones

“Welsh Dan Brown” sets thriller in West Wales

Cardiff author Peter Luther has just launched his second novel, The Mourning Vessels. It is loosely located in his favourite town of Tenby. The fast paced supernatural thriller is based on the machinations of a Satanic coven –The Divine Sentiment and the story follows the main character Ellen’s quest to unriddle their sinister operations and free the souls of her dead parents.

Peter Luther’s first novel Dark Covenant has already been reprinted twice by Ceredigion based publishers Y Lolfa, and earned him the tag of the “Welsh Dan Brown”. It was described as a “word of mouth sensation” in the Times and other reviewers have described his work as “macabre and compelling”, “a real page turner with a twist of Oscar Wild”, “genre hopping rollercoaster ride” with many tipping him for bigger things.

Although he is a new face, he has built a loyal band of underground followers, as testified by the response to his first book on his website www.peterluther.co.uk. His fans will be pleased to hear that Peter revealed at the launch of Mourning Vessels, in Waterstone’s Cardiff , that he has already written his third novel Precious Cargo and hopes to see it published next year.

Peter Luther, a successful solicitor and an accomplished musician, admits that his fictional work is influenced by his personal experiences, his latest born from the tragic loss of both his parents and his next relates to his wife’s experiences of receiving IVF treatment. He will be touring bookshops throughout Britain in November and December.

The Mourning Vessels in available in bookshops and www.ylolfa.com priced at £7.95.

Peter Luther will be signing copies of Mourning Vessels at the following shops in November

November 1 November
Waterstones, 9-11 Regent Street Wrexham at 11:00am – 1:00pm
Waterstones, 14 Eastgate Row, Chester at 2:30pm – 4:30pm
8 November
Waterstones Nottingham, 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham at 11:00am – 1:00pm
15 November
Waterstones, 4a High Street, Abergavenny at 11:00am – 1:00pm
Borders, New Park Shopping Centre, Llantrisant at 2:30pm – 4:30pm
22 November
Borders, 14 The Hayes, Cardiff at 1:30pm – 3:30pm
29 November
Waterstones Chiswick, 220-226 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick at 11:30am – 1:30pm



December and January dates to be confirmed