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An Interview With Rachel Trezise

Rachel Trezise studied at the University of Glamorgan in Wales and University of Limerick in Ireland. Her first novel, In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl, released in 2002 received broad critical acclaim. In October 2006, Trezise won the inaugural Dylan Thomas Prize for her book of short stories, Fresh Apples, describing life in the mining valleys in South Wales. In 2007, Parthian Books published Dial M for Merthyr, an account of her time spent on tour with Welsh rock band Midasuno. Her latest novel is 'Sixteen Shades of Crazy'. Americymru spoke to Rachel about her work and her current literary plans.

Americymru: Care to tell us a little about your latest book ‘Sixteen Shades of Crazy’?


Rachel: ‘Sixteen Shades of Crazy’ is a story about three women, Ellie, Siân and Rhiannon, girlfriends and wives of Welsh punk band The Boobs, whose lives are turned upside down by the unexpected arrival of Johnny, a handsome and mysterious Englishman, a rare occurrence in tiny close-knit Aberalaw where very few people leave and even people fewer arrive. I always intended this novel to be an antidote to How Green Was My Valley, about what happened after the mine shafts were filled and the chapels had been converted to nightclubs and Indian restaurants. In it I am writing about a unique environment, the south Wales valleys, which are neither urban nor rural but an intriguing and complicated fusion of both. Since industrialisation the area has suffered an identity crisis; it is predominantly English speaking, yet it is not English. I am fascinated by this paradox and Johnny represents England and the way some Welsh people regard it, at once despicable and exotic. Also it is my paean to the place where I grew up and still live.


Americymru: The book is dedicated to Gwyn Thomas who wrote extensively about life in the Rhondda Valleys in the 1930’s. Do you see any parallels between life in the valleys then and now?


Rachel: The Rhondda Valleys have changed in many ways over the years. Globalisation, technology and economics have had the same consequences in Welsh communities as they have all over the world. The valleys appear less close-knit and have in some ways become suburbs of the city of Cardiff. But one remaining facet is the poverty that the area continues to endure. In the 1930s there was work but it was dangerous and low paid. Now there’s a significant problem with unemployment. The people of the south Wales valleys are the perennial losers in the relentless march of capitalism, but hardship breeds creativity and gall. Gwyn Thomas said that watching real life in the Rhondda Valley was like watching some kind of tragic-comic theatre production and that’s still true. I never have to look far for a good story or character.


Americymru: Your first book ‘In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl’ is largely autobiographical. How difficult was it to write?


Rachel: ‘In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl’ wasn’t difficult to write at all. I’d had a hard time growing up with an alcoholic mother and an abusive step-father. By the time I came to write the book those experiences were burning up inside me, ready to be spewed out somehow. Anger can go one of two ways, inwards or outwards. Luckily mine came out in an artistic way rather than in violence or something negative like that. Writing it all down was quick and cathartic and I felt calm and renewed afterward. The result is really dark though. I have trouble reading that book now.


Americymru: Your first short story collection ‘Fresh Apples’ won the Dylan Thomas Prize in 2006. How important a milestone was that in your literary career and do you have any plans for further anthologies?


Rachel: ‘Fresh Apples’ was a huge milestone in my writing career because it was my first work of fiction; because ‘In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl’ was autobiographical I had no idea how to plan or embark on a fictional story. I didn’t really know what a full and rounded story was. I started three novels and gave up after the first chapter of each. Then I started getting commissions for short stories and started looking for story ideas. They were my fictional baby steps, my first attempts at playing with characters and voices and scenarios, so I was absolutely stunned when they won the Dylan Thomas Prize. I’ve been busy writing novels for the past five years but I’ve written a few short stories between drafts and I’m hoping to put a second collection together in the not too distant future.


Americymru: Your third book ‘Dial M for Merthyr’ which follows a Welsh band on tour was the inaugural winner of the Max Boyce Prize. How did you research the book and how important is music in your life?


Rachel: I researched ‘Dial M for Merthyr’ simply by going on tour with the band, a young unsigned rock band from Merthyr called Midasuno. Initially the book was going to be about the LostProphets. What I actually wanted to write about was their journey from obscurity in Pontypridd to becoming worldwide household names in a matter of a few months, and that’s the story that my publishing company commissioned. But we just couldn’t get the band on board. As it turned out Midasuno were candid and willing hosts. They let me follow them wherever they went and sleep on their tour bus. I think the book tells a universal truth about what it’s like for all young bands starting out. Music is hugely important, both for me generally, and for my work. Since I finished ‘Dial M for Merthyr,’ I haven’t been all that interested in live music or in rock music actually. You’re more likely to find me listening to Leonard Cohen or Regina Spektor on my ipod. I hope it’s a time issue rather than an age issue, and that the music bug comes back at some point.


Americymru: You have also written for theatre. (I Sing of A Maiden, Lemon Meringue Pie). Any plans for further theatrical works?


Rachel: I never planned to write for theatre when I started out; I came to it by accident. ‘I Sing of A Maiden,’ was a favour to a friend, the folk musician and writer Charlotte Greig. She asked me to write some monologues about teenage pregnancy to punctuate her songs on the same theme for a multi media theatre production, which I did. And from there a producer from Radio 4 asked me to write a radio play, ‘Lemon Meringue Pie’, which was broadcast in 2008. I’m hoping to begin writing my first full length theatre play, a valleys family saga, in January 2011. It’s a good way to keep writing about Wales while I move onto other areas in my fiction.


Americymru: What’s next for Rachel Trezise? Any plans to visit America?


Rachel: The novel I’m working on at the moment is set in America, in North Carolina and New York. It’s a love story about an unlikely couple, a Hasidic Jew from Williamsburg and a former prostitute from the South who becomes a madam in New York City. It sounds controversial at worst and kooky at best but it’s actually quite a tender tale about love being able to conquer the tribulations thrown up by dysfunctional upbringings. I’ve spent a bit of time in New York and was writer of residence at Texas University in 2007, so it hasn’t been too difficult to write a book set entirely in America at a desk in the Rhondda Valley. But there is a bit of research still left to do so I’m hoping to be back in New York for a few weeks in 2011.

Rachel Trezise on Amazon

In And Out of The Goldfidh Bowl by Rachel Trezise	Fresh Apples by Rachel Trezise	Dial M For Merthyr by Rachel Trezise

Happy Trails and Tall Tales in the Rhondda Fawr

At one time planning a vacation in the Rhondda might have caused raised eyebrows. But since the end of coal mining in the area much has been done to reclaim the coaltips and 'green' the valleys. No where is this more apparent than in the Upper Rhondda Fawr. The area surrounding the villages of Tynewydd, Blaenrhondda, Blaencwm and Treherbert has perhaps sufficiently regained its former semi-rural character to offer a tempting destination to vacationers and hill-walkers. A forty page guide to the area's attractions has been prepared by local businessman David Michael Williams. The book can be ordered by writing to him at the address at the bottom of this page. Along with locations of former colliery sites and breif details of famous authors who were born in this part of the Rhondda there are many references to the magnificent Pen Pych mountan, a picture of which graces the front cover. Pen Pych Mountain David notes that Pen Pych is one of only two flat top spur mountains in Europe which alone is sufficient to make the mountain interesting but the following story makes it much more so ( with apologies for the lengthy quotation ):- "It is locally told that long ago during the time of Roman expansion, the tribe at the top of the mountain had five prize bulls.. These were used to breed with the cattle of the farmers below on the valley floor. The Romans wanted this land and told the tribe to move, when they refused , the Romans demanded the bulls as payment. The tribe werent prepared for this to happen so decided that if they couldn't keep their bulls then neither could the invaders, so they drove their bulls off the top of the mountain; they then took their heads and placed them on spikes outside the village. Displeased by this, the Romans swore revenge on the villagers. Since Pen Pych was a religious site, where druids gathered, the Romans took their revenge during the summer festival. Following failure to take the village, the Romans sent a legion to kill them. During the assault they decided to attack from two sides, not knowing the layout of the land. With their forces split, and only one part facing the Celts, the romans were defeated.. The local Celts attacked the second group and defeated them, the whole Roman Legion was slaughtered. Thus the villagers remembered the tale of the five bulls." Walker's Paradise The area abounds with Celtic remains - fragments of stone huts, summer storage holds etc - and a Roman 'police' action here at some time during their nearly four hundred year long occupation of the island of Britain is entirely conceivable. One can only speculate as to how accurately the folk tradition reflects the actual encounter . Whatever the provenance of the above tale what is certain is that Pen Pych provides a superb opportunity for hikers and hill-walkers. Toward the end of the book a series of walks are described together with illustrations and OS Landranger map extracts. Half of them involve routes on or near Pen Pych and many of them take in views of the superb Lluest waterfall. There are also walks around the old Ty Draw colliery site and other areas of interest to industrial archaeologists. Destination Rhondda? AmeriCymru spoke to David Williams about the area and its potential as a vacation destination. AmeriCymru: You must have seen a lot of changes in the valley since the end of coal-mining in the area. Can you describe the way that the environment and landscape have changed over the last twenty or thirty years? David: As I child I remember playing in some of the old mine works, and the mines that were still open. The slag was still being dropped on the mountain. I was born in Penrhiwceiber, just over the mountain from Aberfan, I remember those days, when the school and the mines were closed, because everyone went to help. The valleys are green now and there are new trees being planted to replace the old pine trees. The dust has gone, and nearly all the old men with that cough have gone as well. People are starting to discover where they are living now, we are in the country side and it is beautiful. AmeriCymru: How good a base does Treherbert provide for a vacation in South Wales? Can you describe some of the more easily accessible local attractions? David: We have about five bed and breakfast accommodation in the local area, but we are only half an hour from Cardiff, Swansea or Brecon. In Porth there is the Rhondda Heritage park (Lewis Merthyr Colliery) In Treorchy we have the Park and Dare theatre, The Male voice choir and Brass band. We have Pen Pych and Cwmsearbren as described in the booklet. The Rhigos mountain road is the second highest point in South Wales. On Pen Rhys we have the statue of Our Lady and the Holly Well, and by it's name this is the place where the English chopped of the head of the Lord Rhys. There are many stone and Iron age sites in the area. AmeriCymru: When did you first hear the story about the Roman attack on Pen Pych? How widely known is this tale both in the valley and outside? David: This story came from Mr Todd-Jones the Head master of Pen Pych Infants school, I was told this about six years ago when I was researching the book. The book can be obtained by by order from the following address. Please include $4 ( UK 2.50 GBP ) to cover postage and packing. David Williams Celfyddwaith 1 Station Rd Treorchy Rhondda Wales CF42 5AE More photographs of Pen Pych can be found on these pages:- Pen Pych Photo Gallery ( Images supplied by David Michael Williams and Ian Price ) Lluest Waterfall, Upper Rhondda Fawr

Cor Meibion Morlais - The Choir With A Sense of Humour

Cor Meibion Morlais performing for the Chris Corcoran Committee Meeting (comedy show) at the Muni, Pontypridd. Please see the choir's website for more details: www.cor-meibion-morlais.org.uk. Full size the video screen for full comedic effect. Americymru: The Choir is based in Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley. How strong is the choral tradition in the Rhondda in the 21st century? The Rhondda still boasts 5 Male Choirs with around a membership of 340 voices. Americymru: Can you tell us a little about the history of the choir? Cor Meibion Morlais was formed in 1928 as a chapel guild choir, in order to entertain the chapel members through the winter months. It soon developed into a capable singing ensemble , entering and winning many eisteddfodau and giving concerts throughout South Wales. The choir has an unbroken 81 year history and has only had 5 conductors throughout its existance.The choir has travelled extensively throughout the U.K together with an impressive 19 overseas tours, visiting Germany twice, Holland twice,France five times, Belgium, Spain, Ireland,Hungary, Czech Republic, Finland, Estonia,Canada twice, and the U.S.A. The choir has just secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research and write a book on the choir's history. The funding also allows for the production of a DVD about the choir , together with the preperation of an archive / museum exhibition. This funding has been complimented by funding from The Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Partnership which will enable the choir to convert its own rehearsal facility, the Morlais Hall , into a Visitor / Cultural Centre . The choir's website carries press releases on this subject in more detail Americymru: Were there strong connections in the past between the choir and the mining industry in the Rhondda Valleys? At the time of the choir's formation and up until the 1950's the mining industry provided the majority of choir members. Americymru: How large is your choir, who are your members and what are their positions in the choir? Currently, the choir has 44 members, ranging in age from 19 to 75. We currently have three 19 year old members, all studying at University. Their subjects at University are Music , Law and Radiology. Conductor, John Asquith is a freelance linguist and also works with the Welsh National Opera Company as Vocal Coach in foreign languages. Accompanist, Rosalie Evans is a freelance accompanist, piano teacher and she also works for the Welsh National Opera Max as a Repetiteur. Chairman, Nigel Morgan is a Business Executive with British Gas , one of the U.K.'s largest energy suppliers. Vice Chairman, John Nash is a Director of a Training Services provider. Treasurer , Huw Jones is an Accountant. Secretary, Byron Young is retired and was formerly a Senior Manager in the manufacturing industry. Americymru: How does someone join the choir, what is your selection process? The selection process by which the choir selects new members is not too complicated. New members are usually introduced into the choir by a friend or work colleague,or sometimes they just turn up at one of our rehearsals and ask to join. Our Conductor will allow him to sit in on the first night wherever he may feel comfortable but and the end of the rehearsal ,the conductor will invite him to sing a couple of scales for him. The new member will then be told by the conductor in which section of the choir he will be singing in. The new member serves a 3 month probation , during which he will be expected to attend as many rehearsals as is possible. This also allows the choir to, learn a little more about him . At the end of the 3 months the choir's committee and conductor will review his application to join the choir and make a decision, as to whether he becomes a full member of the choir. Americymru: What kind of committment do your choir members make, what's expected of them? The choir rehearses each Tuesday and Friday from 7.30pm until 9pm. Extra rehearsals may be called whenever the demand on the choir becomes too much for the normal 2 rehearsals each week. Concert engagements vary each year but the past 2 years we have performed at 30 engagements, each year and 2009 appears to be heading the same way. Choir members are expected to attend a minimum of 50% of rehearsals but the choir accepts that family and work has to take priority over the choir. Cor Meibion Morlais performing for the Chris Corcoran Committee Meeting (comedy show) at the Muni, Pontypridd. Please see the choir's website for more details: www.cor-meibion-morlais.org.uk. Full size the video screen for full comedic effect. Americymru: What kind of events do you typically perform at? Our full concerts will last for around 2 hours but we also perform at Pre Dinner or After Dinner engagements for usually 45 minutes. Singing at Weddings are another demand on the choir. In 2006 we performed at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, in Halifax, Canada, singing at 10 performances for audiences of around 7,000 people. Being adaptable and willing to try new things are vitally important in order to change with the times. Americymru: Do you have a season or perform year round? How many performances in a year? We perform all year round and end up having to turn down engagements simply because we are an amateur choir , whose members work for a living. 2009, we're on track for 30 engagements this year. Americymru: Does the choir have standards or pieces that it's known for or gets asked to perform specifically? We are very often asked to perform items that people have heard us sing on our CDs. For special occasions we have learnt pieces of music outside our normal repertoire, The Beatles " All you need is love", Ting Tings " That's not my name", Pulp's " Common People", John Denver's " Annie's Song", to name just a few. Americymru: In 2008 you toured Finland and Estonia. Can you describe that experience for us? Our 2008 tour to Finland and Estonia was a wonderfull experience for our choristers and their wives who made the tour. The highlight was probably singing " Finlandia" in Welsh and Finnish to the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament in the Parliament Building. Americymru: Where can people obtain recordings of your performances? Our website gives details on how to purchase our recordings. Americymru: Any plans to visit the USA? We have no plans at present to re-visit the U.S.A.unless one of your readers wishes to open up discussions with us on such a proposal. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Our tour to the U.S.A. and Canada in 1996 was an unforgettable experience for those choir members and their wives who were able to make the tour. The warmth of the welcome and the hospitality we received at all of our concerts was remarkable and we were overwhelmed to find Welsh exiles and decendents having travelled hundreds of miles to be with us. Modern technology has made keeping in touch so much easier but it would be an exciting prospect to think that one day we could tour the U.S.A. for a second time.

An Interview With Ian Price

Ian Price will need no introduction to most Americymru members. He is a regular contributor to the site and his contributions are always of the finest quality. He also runs two community websites ( Treorchy.net and Treherbert.info ) based in the Rhondda Valley. Ian kindly agreed to answer a few questions about his work and artistic inspiration.

1. You run Treorchy.Net What would you describe as its mission and purpose?

I run Treorchy.net and Treherbert.Info with my partner Rosemarie. It's a community website insomuch that we created it in order that people can pass on information, make enquiries, advertise societies or businesses or whatever they wish. It's complimented by a magazine we produce about three times a year in which much of the information we've collected is published and distributed to local communities in order that those who do not have access to the internet can also benefit from and or contribute to the information we collate. We research information for ex pats, send them photographs of their families homes, help them contact relatives etc. We do this for free. The magazine and the upkeep of the websites are funded by local businesses who wish to advertise with us

2. You have a keen appreciation of the history of the Rhondda Valleys. What future do you think they have in the aftermath of the coal-mining era?

The Rhondda is becoming a largely residential feeder area for Cardiff and the M4 corridor. There has been some sobering talk lately of reopening the pits. However at the moment there's very little industry here.

3. You have contributed many short prose pieces to ( read Ian's blog here ) Americymru. What would you describe as your main inspiration as a writer?

My inspiration would be the absurdity of life, its whimsy and it's humour. I particularly enjoy humour being used to show up the self important and the sanctimonious.

4. Who do you like to read and why?

Gwyn Thomas, Tom Sharpe and Alan Coren are the authors who make me laugh the most.

5. You have also contributed many photographs to this site ( view Ian's photo's here ). What inspires you as a photographer?

Fun. I was trained as an artist and so it was just an extension of creating a picture. Believe me it's a damn site easier taking photographs than carting an easel and paints all over creation. I still use pencil, ink, pastel brush et al though.

6. Once again you have contributed a great many masterful caricatures some of which are featured on this page. How long have you been a caricaturist and what is your favorite character?

I just fell into caricaturism as an extension of my leaning towards humour and art. As a kid I started to watch Warner Bros and Tex Avery cartoons and was fascinated and entertained by the whole concept. The characters in these cartoons inspired me not only because of the surreal nature of the whole genre but also because of the talents of people like Chuck Jones and Mel Blanc who put it all together by artistry, mimicry, characterisation and timing. I still have to limit myself to about three of these cartoons at a time because I laugh so much it hurts. My favourite character would have to be Yosemite Sam closely followed by Foghorn Leghorn and the Dawg.




7. What inspired the creation of your character Quentin Whistleton Thyne (Col Retd) . Anyone you know personally?

I created QWT to show up the absurdities of the worst of The Conservative Party in Britain and all it stands for. This was inspired in no small part by living through the Thatcher Administrations. I found it much more effective to use an overblown imperialist buffoon to make the points I wanted to make about inequality, feudalism, royalty, unbridled capitalism, the public school system and all the other trappings of establishment tripe that we're fed every day. I studied politics at university and could have launched humourless attacks on all of the above but as I've a tendency toward the eccentric I thought I'd make my points with humour. The character himself is a combination of characters played by Peter Cook, Stephen Fry, C Aubrey Smith, Terry Thomas and the stiff upper lip chaps portrayed in films like The Four Feathers.


8. In the wake of the deplorable conduct of certain parties in the colonial elections, do you think it's finally time to admit that this whole "independence" experiment has been a ghastly mistake and humbly reapply to rejoin the British commonwealth?

Wouldn't it be ironic if there was the United Kingdom of America and Wales would have to fight for it's independence. We'd win of course and call ourselves The Peoples Republic of Ton Mawr. We'd stride the globe like a cockle. Possessed of an economic powerhouse based on cawl and grass, Nations would tremble before us. Se what you've done now Ceri! You've sent me off on a trail of whimsy. Ha ha!

9. On a lighter note....I recently referred to a walk home from the pub in Llwynypia to Newport . What do you estimate to be the distance involved?

Depends which way you went. Shortest route would be about 30 miles or so.

Read Ian's entry in the Left Coast Eisteddfod Short Story Competition HERE. Enter competitions HERE.