Ten Questions With Welsh Horror Writer, Peter Luther

Peter Luther is an author of exquisitely crafted and electrifying supernatural thrillers. Peter, who lives in Cardiff has been referred to as the 'Welsh Dan Brown'. AmeriCymru spoke to Peter about this comparison, and other matters including his forthcoming novel 'The Vanity Rooms'. ( Visit Peter's website here )

AmeriCymru: In what way has your background as a lawyer ( attorney) helped you as a fiction writer?

Peter: In my opinion there is no better training for writing fiction than being a lawyer. You meet interesting people and encounter a lot of unusual situations.Dark Covenant mirrors the rough and tumble of my career as a practising solicitor, but the law does spill over to my other novels. There is an understanding probate solicitor in The Mourning Vessels, and a stressed criminal solicitor in Precious Cargo.

I also think being a lawyer hones your analytical skills: my stories have very tight plot structures, with strict rules within the bizarre world I have created. I’m sure this is partly as a result of my legal training. On a general note, I think life experience is very important for being a novelist. I tried writing in my early twenties, but when I returned to it in my late thirties my perspective was far more rounded.

AmeriCymru: All your novels so far have been set in Wales. Is there any particular reason for that or is it just familiarity with the area?

Peter: I do a lot of signings in England, and the readers I meet are always pleased to see a story set in Wales. I don’t think there are enough of them east of the Severn Bridge. It’s a beautiful, dramatic country with inexhaustible sources of inspiration.

The Mourning Vessels is set in Tenby, probably my favourite place in the whole world. The majority of my scenes are however set in my home city of Cardiff, which is because of my familiarity with the area.

AmeriCymru: Are you a horror fiction fan? Are there any particular horror writers whose style you admired or were inspired by?

Peter: I’m not a horror fiction fan per se, but I love anything that is original and well-conceived. In this respect I was very influenced, along with the rest of my generation, by the early Stephen King novels.

The Mourning Vessels involves bereavement counsellors visiting the recently bereaved and offering to ‘solve’ their grief, which they achieve by trapping the departed in the things they coveted in life. These objects - clocks, typewriters, even a bespoke Cluedo board (or is that Clue in America?) - then turn evil and leprous. This has more than an echo of Pet Semetery. It’s sort of a Pet Semetery with antiques...

AmeriCymru: You are quoted as saying that your novels are 'human interest stories masquerading as horror fiction' - what do you mean by that?

Peter: 100,000 words of things that go bump in the night would leave me asleep on my Mac. I need to write about the things that are important to me, which have relevance to my own experience. My characters are ordinary folk with all the ordinary problems: career, money, bereavement, fertility, parenthood. This gives the books what I would describe as their emotional heart, which hopefully leaves a mark on the reader even after all the paranormal conceits and puzzles have been digested, and which saves them from being left on train seats...

AmeriCymru: Could you have written your characters, their relationships and situations in a non-genre drama or in other genres? If so, what do you think you would have to change, if anything?

Peter: That’s a difficult question. If I have a talent, it is that I can take a completely off-the-wall concept and make it believable, and so I cannot really imagine writing in any other genre. With the supernatural anything is possible, and that’s what holds my interest.

That said, I can see myself writing a legal/corporate thriller one day, but it would need to have a very unusual angle.

AmeriCymru: You described your first novel, Dark Covenant , as "a parable of materialism" and your second, The Mourning Vessels, as "a parable of bereavement" - would you describe these as moral tales?

Peter: I wouldn’t be as pretentious to suggest my novels are moral tales, but they certainly have a message. Perhaps the message is a personal one, that I’m writing letters to myself.

In Dark Covenant a struggling lawyer makes a pact with the Devil through the crossword in a lifestyle magazine built from his desires. For me, the magazine represents the contracts we all make in life. We all bargain our time, and sometimes our principles, for the things that we need. For the things that we think that we need. The story is essentially Faust with a modern twist.

The Mourning Vessels was inspired by the loss of my parents. I lost my mum on Christmas Day 2004, and my dad succumbed to grief on Christmas Day 2005. During the year he was alone he created shrines to her memory, from photographs and the little things that she treasured. I didn’t think it was healthy. The book is very much about dealing with bereavement, and I suppose if there’s a message it’s that you need to let go. Remember the ones you loved with a smile, not with pain and torment.

Precious Cargo was based on another sad time in my life: my experience with IVF. There’s a chapter in the book called ‘the imagined child’, because I believed I could see my unborn child’s face, that the child was so close. We tried four times then gave up, because carrying on would have damaged us, I think. Sometimes you need to accept the cards life deals you, and be happy. Anyway, that’s what I believe.

AmeriCymru: how did you imagine the fantastical devices and sinister 'toys' in Precious Cargo?

Peter: I honestly don’t know. These screwball ideas come naturally, if that’s the right phrase...

AmeriCymru: You have been referred to as the 'Welsh Dan Brown'. How do you feel about the comparison?

Peter: My novels have some codes and puzzles, but that’s really where the similarity ends. Mr Brown has a very readable style, but I confess that I find his historical subject matter more interesting than the plot and the characters. That could be because I now read modern fiction with an editorial, critical eye; for this reason I much prefer reading classics or history, when I can completely turn off.

AmeriCymru: We learn from your website that you are working on a fourth novel ('The Vanity Rooms') at the moment. Care to tell us anything about that?

Peter: This is the third novel with my main character Tristyn Honeyman, an ex-Baptist minister from North Wales and a sort of spiritual detective.

The demonic society he encountered in the The Mourning Vessels and Precious Cargo are now posing as an arts charity, giving struggling artists free accomodation. This is in a building in Cardiff Bay once occupied by a chapter that escaped from Revolutionary France, who were obsessed with the Roussean concept of ‘amour propre’, or self image.

The apartment comes with a mobile phone, which has some unusual functions and a strange address book. Both apartment and mobile are infested by the eighteenth century chapter, who are determined to find the true meaning of celebrity, that exclusively human need to be admired.

I know, it’s not the work of a well man...

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

Peter: Thank you so much. I’m trying to do something a little different, and I’m writing in a very unfashionable genre: the supernatural thriller without vampires. Your support means everything to me.

Peter Luther on Amazon

The Mourning Vessels. by Luther. Peter	Precious Cargo by Peter Luther	DarkCovenant by Peter Luther

Get Your Signed, Dedicated Copy of 'Tongue-Tied' Here!!

AmeriCymru is honoured, pleased, and excited to announce that author Peter Griffiths has very generously donated the proceeds of the sale of one hundred copies of his novel, Tongue Tied, to the Left Coast Eisteddfod. For each copy sold, the Eisteddfod will receive $16 and the buyer an autographed and dedicated copy of Tongue Tied. This is a wonderful way for you to support the Eisteddfod while at the same time enjoying a novel which Lise Hull describes in Ninnau as "a tale of what it means to be Welsh and which should be on everyone's reading list, whether they have been to Wales or not, whether they are Welsh or not.". (http://www.ylolfa.com/henstraeon.php?first=249)

Tongue Tied is set in the Tryweryn valley, in the shadow of Arenig Fawr, in North Wales, and in the Rhondda and around Llanelli in the South. The novel recognises the tension that has arisen at times between the majority of Welsh people who can't speak Welsh and the minority who can. It suggests, with respect to national identity, that "one is Welsh if one feels Welsh." As to style, Tongue Tied is strongly influenced by Cynghanedd, an old and very strict Welsh poetic form. As a result, the novel abounds with alliterations and poetry within prose.

Tongue Tied was published by Y Lolfa just over a year ago and is already closing in on its fourth printing.

To get your copy, please send $19.00USD (shipping is already included) to MLMEF P.O. Box 80293, Multnomah Village, 97280 * or use the PayPal 'Donate' button in the right hand column on this page. If you use the PayPal option please email us at americymru@gmail.com with your postal address. Please make checks payable to the 'Meriwether Lewis Memorial Eisteddfod Foundation'. Diolch!

Personal experience inspires novel with IVF theme Peter Luther - Precious Cargo

The psychological heartache after successive failed attempts at IVF treatment has inspired a new novel by Cardiff author, Peter Luther. Describing the IVF lottery of success as “absolutely horrible”, he has used the experience as a basis for the second installment in his Honeyman series of novels. Precious Cargo promises couples beautiful and gifted children when all other means have failed, but it’s a lifetime deal. The newborn children are ruled by its Trustees’ baptism gifts, handcrafted toys that nurture their talent and aspirations. The toys also understand what’s at stake, for while two Precious Cargo children are born every year, only one survives past age sixteen. Their fate seems linked to a Fabergé egg with an impossible lock, the clue to an old, fanatic crime… As with all Peter Luther novels, the concept behind the story is bizarrely original: handmade toys communicating with a terrifying code, and a mystery that reaches back to the era of Marie Stopes. Peter says of his third novel, “This is my most ambitious work to date. I always feel a sense of trepidation when my books are released because the ideas are so left field, so I wonder how they will be received. Fortunately, my readers have shown themselves to be very receptive to something which doesn’t neatly fit into one particular genre. In truth, my novels are human interest stories masquerading as supernatural thrillers, albeit with some entertaining twists. “As someone who has trod the bitter path of IVF, Precious Cargo is also inspired from experience. The book is dedicated to my wife, the most courageous person I know.” Peter Luther, a successful solicitor and an accomplished musician, lives in Cardiff and has already published Dark Covenant and The Mourning Vessels, supernatural thrillers which have been widely acclaimed in Wales and beyond. He has been called the ‘Welsh Dan Brown’. Precious Cargo is published by Y Lolfa and was launched at Waterstone’s, Cardiff on 16 April 2010.

"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.

Religious jokes from Vicar Joe

G K Chesterton once wrote that the test of a good religion is how much it can laugh at itself. So after two successful plays and a one-man show, Vicar Joe returns with this hilarious compendium of religious jokes, including faux pas from the pulpit and notice boards; jokes about baptisms, marriages and funerals; epitaphs on grave stones; religious chat-up lines; children’s take on religion; Bible facts that may have escaped you and much much more… Co-author Peter Read says, “For some people, religion and humour go together as easily as root canal work at the dentist’s and a plateful of chocolate éclairs. Too often the church is linked with boredom and seriousness. Compiling this book, we have come to realise that lots of funny things happen in places of worship. There are so many ceremonies where something can go wrong. Total immersion is asking for trouble and this book is also brimming with stories of mayhem in christenings, weddings, Sunday services and even funerals.” Vicar Joe is the football-mad alter ego of Swansea’s all-round entertainer, Kevin Johns. The character was created in 2006 when Peter Read was asked to write a play about football for Swansea Grand Theatre. The comedy, which was called Toshack or Me! featured a vicar (Joe) who was so keen on watching Swansea City that he cancelled weddings if they clashed with matches. He also refused to marry one couple where the groom-to-be supported Swansea and she followed Cardiff City. In 2008 Vicar Joe reappeared in the play To Hull and Back, whilst in February 2009 the one-man shoe Vicar Joe was premiered at Swansea Grand Theatre Arts Wing. Vicar Joe’s Religious Joke Book will be launched by Kevin Johns and Peter Read at 7.30pm on Thursday 1 October at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea. INTRODUCTION For some people, religion and humour go together as easily as root canal work at the dentist’s and a plateful of chocolate éclairs. Too often the church is linked with boredom and seriousness. Compiling this book, we have come to realise that lots of funny things happen in places of worship. There are so many ceremonies where something can go wrong. Total immersion is asking for trouble and this book is also brimming with stories of mayhem in christenings, weddings, Sunday services and even funerals. The role of a clergyman or clergywoman is one of the strangest jobs on earth. Having to be holy and a shining example to the rest of the community is quite a tall order. As many of the stories prove, there is a rich vein of humour in the fact that for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, there are thousands of professional church people trying to be near-perfect representations of God on earth. In fairness, many of the clergy with whom we’ve spoken and met have been the first to tell jokes against themselves. GK Chesterton once wrote that the test of a good religion is how much it can laugh at itself. Despite its negative perception amongst many non-attendees, the church should be a happy and jolly place. After all, when Jesus explained the kingdom of God he often used the analogies of parties and wine. You can’t get much happier than a good bottle of red! We’ve had fun compiling this book. All the religious books we found seemed fairly ancient and rarely modern, so we felt it was time for a new one. We tried to resist the temptation to cram it with ‘have you heard the one about…’ jokes. Whilst you will find some tales of that genre, we have tried to complement them with true stories, faux pas, epitaphs and general statements made by the famous and infamous about matters of life and death. You may already be wondering who Vicar Joe is and why this book bears his name. He was created in 2006 when Peter Read was asked to write a play about football for Swansea Grand Theatre. The comedy, which was called Toshack or Me! featured a vicar (Joe) who was so keen on watching Swansea City that he cancelled weddings if they clashed with matches. He also refused to marry one couple where the groom-to-be supported Swansea and she followed Cardiff City. Vicar Joe’s sermons had more references to the Premiership and the League than to holy scripture and he also got into hot water for praying from the pulpit, asking the Lord to deliver his humble side against the pride of Premiership might. In 2008 Vicar Joe reappeared in the play To Hull and Back, whilst in February 2009 the one-man shoe Vicar Joe was premiered at Swansea Grand Theatre Arts Wing. Vicar Joe is played by Kevin Johns. We hope the book will be used to lighten up and brighten up sermons here, there and everywhere. It might also be used by after-dinner speakers or just be the means of tickling you pink whenever you read Vicar Joe’s Religious Joke Book. It would be pleasing to think we created guffaws on British Rail, national and local bus services. Go on, give it a try. Happy reading and laughing. Peter Read and Kevin Johns

Dark Covenant Reprinted for Third Time

Peter Luther’s debut novel, Dark Covenant, is having its third reprint this month. The novel was published in February 2007 and features a magazine with a mysterious crossword, which is completed as the story progresses and spells out a satanic code. Peter, a Cardiff solicitor, was delighted at the news, saying, “It’s wonderful to have received such a positive response in a genre that’s so difficult to penetrate for a new author. I believe Dark Covenant has appealed to a wide range of readers, notwithstanding its ‘supernatural’ tag. This is perhaps because it explores the oldest of stories, that of gaining the world to lose your soul.”  Peter writes completely original supernatural thrillers, which address real life themes. His second novel, The Mourning Vessels, was published in October 2008 to critical acclaim and is the first in a series featuring Tristyn Honeyman, a Welsh minister on the trail of a nefarious secret society. The next instalment in the series, Precious Cargo, will be published by Y Lolfa in February 2010. Peter Luther's Website Y Lolfa's Website

And The Winner is....( Left Coast Eisteddfod - Poetry Competition/English Language )

A message from Peter Thabit Jones....


Adjudication



It was good to see the range of poetic forms and subjects submitted for the Competition. Each poem offered something to the reader, be it an imaginative mind-picture, an original phrasing of an emotion or a striking statement. Poetic devices (such as alliteration, internal rhyme and repetition) were handled in a confident and effective way. Those poets that tried a specific form displayed a control of stanzas and rhyme-patterns, which contributed to a sense of rhythm in their poems. I really enjoyed entering into the world of each poem. I reduced the large batch of entries to an impressive short-list of twelve potential winners.

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I feel the following poets deserve a mention for their very good poems:

Bee Richards, Jolen Whitworth, Stephen Hughes, Heidi Falk and Elnaz Rezaei Ghalechi.

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The RUNNER-UP of the Left Coast Eisteddfod 2009 Poetry Competition (English language Category) is Lines on Mt. Washington by Peter Lewis.

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It is a poem that builds up steadily and climaxes in an excellent and appropriate last line. The tone of the narrator engages; and there is some quite skilled sound-texturing throughout the work.

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The WINNER of the Left Coast Eisteddfod 2009 Poetry Competition (English language Category) is Imprint by Sherry Weaver Smith.

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It is a poem that presents an emotional and very human experience in a striking and original way. The poet controls the unfolding of the poem with admirable confidence. She utilises language for maximum effect and her poetic voice is powered by a quiet integrity. It is a poem that calls one back to it time after time and it still retains its obvious strengths. It will be a real pleasure to publish the poem in January’s Issue 11 of The Seventh Quarry Swansea Poetry Magazine.



Peter Thabit Jones, August 2009


Congratulations to Sherry and Peter....

Peter Thabit Jones and John Good to Judge Left Coast Eisteddfod Poetry Competition!

We are immensely proud and pleased to announce that Peter Thabit Jones and John Good will judge the entries in the Left Coast Eisteddfod Poetry competition ( English and Welsh language categories respectively ). First prize for both ctegories in this competition wiil be $100 (65GBP approx ). Second and third place prizes to be announced soon. The final submission date for entries is July 31st 2009. To submit your entry please go to this page and read the rules carefully before entering:- Left Coast Eisteddfod 2009 Poetry Competition Group. The competition is open to non-Americymru members but the submission procedure is slightly different.

Peter and John will need no introduction to most of our readers but just in case here are a few links:-

Peter Thabit Jones Website

Peter Thabit Jones on MySpace

Interview With John Good on Americymru

Oceans Apart Website

Peter Thabit Jones reading several of his poems on poetryvlog

Oceans Apart at the "Trans Celtic Gala" show, 2008

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