RCT Bookfest
Saturday September 27th 2025
RCT Bookfest launched at St Elvan's in 2022 and has made a welcome annual return each autumn since! Each year, the event features a FREE day-long festival of literature and books with a wide variety of authors on hand, and features writing for children, sci-fi fans, adult crime & thriller fans - and more! Hosted by Mike Church, the day features FREE timetabled book talks, signings and Q&A sessions at regular intervals throughout the day. Featured authors have included Karla Brading, Phil Carradice, Christopher 'Gyp' Davies, Angela Fish, BBC Wales' Alex Humphreys and bestselling authors Catrin Collier and Mark Brake
The 2025 Bookfest will take place on Saturday September 27th where St Elvan's will once again host a number of high profile featured authors and colleagues from across the writing world
If you are a published author and would like to feature in the 2025 event, please contact us at [email protected]
Full information on the 2025 RCT Bookfest will be published here in Spring | Summer 2025
The 2025 Bookfest will take place on Saturday September 27th where St Elvan's will once again host a number of high profile featured authors and colleagues from across the writing world
If you are a published author and would like to feature in the 2025 event, please contact us at [email protected]
Full information on the 2025 RCT Bookfest will be published here in Spring | Summer 2025
2024 Timetable
10:00
Doors Open
Spires Coffee Shop is open throughout the day from 10:00 to 16:00
11:00 to 12:00
"Time Talk"
with Mark Brake
12:00 to 13:00
- Lunch Break -
14:00 to 15:00
"A Valleys Legend"
Christopher 'Gyp' Davies
16:00
Close
2024 Featured Authors
Mark Brake
Mark Brake writes for the many, not the few. He is an award-winning writer of popular science books that look at the links between science, history, and culture. Mark has done science communication work in film, television, print, and radio on five continents. He has communicated science for NASA, Seattle's Science Fiction Museum, the BBC, the Royal Institution, the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Nature, the British Council, and the National Science Museum of Thailand. Mark is perhaps best known for his work in popularising the relationship between space, science and culture
Mark's books include a series of 'Science of' books ('Star Wars', 'Harry Potter', and 'Superheroes'), those written about the relationship between science and fiction ('Different Engines' and 'FutureWorld'), those communicating science for a younger public ('The Big Earth Book', 'Space Hoppers', 'Really, Really Big Questions about Space and Time', 'The Alien Hunters Handbook' and 'How To Be A Space Explorer'), and two rather more academic works ('Revolution in Science: How Galileo and Darwin Changed our World' and 'Introducing Science Communication')
Mark's book with Cambridge University Press, 'Alien Life Imagined: Communicating the Science and Culture of Astrobiology', was published in November 2012. Since 2016, Mark has worked with Skyhorse Publishing in Manhattan on his series of 'Science of' books, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, and James Bond
Mark’s books have been translated into over a dozen languages, including Dutch, German, Chinese, Croatian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish (Mexico), Turkish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, and Polish
An audiobook version of Science of Star Wars is available at adbl.co/2pJSsoR
More information on Mark's work can be found at his website www.markbrake.org
Mark's books include a series of 'Science of' books ('Star Wars', 'Harry Potter', and 'Superheroes'), those written about the relationship between science and fiction ('Different Engines' and 'FutureWorld'), those communicating science for a younger public ('The Big Earth Book', 'Space Hoppers', 'Really, Really Big Questions about Space and Time', 'The Alien Hunters Handbook' and 'How To Be A Space Explorer'), and two rather more academic works ('Revolution in Science: How Galileo and Darwin Changed our World' and 'Introducing Science Communication')
Mark's book with Cambridge University Press, 'Alien Life Imagined: Communicating the Science and Culture of Astrobiology', was published in November 2012. Since 2016, Mark has worked with Skyhorse Publishing in Manhattan on his series of 'Science of' books, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, and James Bond
Mark’s books have been translated into over a dozen languages, including Dutch, German, Chinese, Croatian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish (Mexico), Turkish, Czech, Slovak, Russian, and Polish
An audiobook version of Science of Star Wars is available at adbl.co/2pJSsoR
More information on Mark's work can be found at his website www.markbrake.org
Christopher 'Gyp' Davies
Christopher Davies, aka Gyp, is a former miner from the Maesteg area in South Wales
Gyp's book "A Valleys Legend" recounts the tale of a working-class man who has led an extraordinary life of hard, dangerous work allied to heavy drinking and raucous rugby stories
This thoughtful, 'larger than life' miner opens up to recount his struggles with alcohol and depression. He offers hope through his total commitment to his community, where he is well known and well-liked by so many. He is now a local councilor and runs the local Men's Shed, which offers refuge and support to many men, the ripples of that work felt by everyone in the area
Gyp's story encompasses Valleys life in south Wales, the rise and fall of coal mining, toxic masculinity, trade unions and mental health
Gyp's book "A Valleys Legend" recounts the tale of a working-class man who has led an extraordinary life of hard, dangerous work allied to heavy drinking and raucous rugby stories
This thoughtful, 'larger than life' miner opens up to recount his struggles with alcohol and depression. He offers hope through his total commitment to his community, where he is well known and well-liked by so many. He is now a local councilor and runs the local Men's Shed, which offers refuge and support to many men, the ripples of that work felt by everyone in the area
Gyp's story encompasses Valleys life in south Wales, the rise and fall of coal mining, toxic masculinity, trade unions and mental health
2023 Timetable
10:00
Doors Open
Spires Coffee Shop is open throughout the day from 10:00 to 16:00
10:30 to 11:30
Author Talk - Children's Fiction
Karla Brading
12:00 to 13:00
Author Talk - Gaming
Alex Humphreys
- Lunch Break -
14:00 to 15:00
Author Talk - Historical
Phil Carradice
15:30 to 16:30
Author Talk - Keynote Speaker
Historical fiction | Crime thrillers | Romance | Film
Catrin Collier
17:00
Close
2023 Speaker Biographies
Keynote Speaker - Catrin Collier
Catrin Collier is a Welsh novelist known for her historical works, especially those in the Hearts of Gold series, set in her home town of Pontypridd between 1930 and 1950, the first of which was adapted as a BBC drama in 2003. She also writes under the pen names Katherine John / K. A. John (crime novels), Katherine Hardy (novelisations of television programmes) and Caro French (modern fiction)
Collier is of East Prussian descent, with her mother, Gerda Salewski, born in Allenstein, East Prussia, in 1926. Her father, Glyn Jones, was a Welsh Guardsman serving in Germany when he met Gerda. They were married in Pontypridd in July 1947. Collier was born there in 1948 and grew up in the town
As a comprehensive school teacher, she taught English and drama to A level in schools in Swansea and West Glamorgan
Her book "One Last Summer" is based on war-time diaries kept by her mother and maternal grandmother and is recommended by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for young people wanting to learn about the Holocaust. It was a 2008 finalist for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Book of the Year
In 2003, Collier's "Hearts of Gold" was adapted by BBC Wales as a two-part drama, directed by Richard Laxton and co-written by Matthew Baylis. BBC Wales' head of drama Matthew Robinson described her as "the Catherine Cookson of Wales"
As well as novels, she writes short stories, plays and non-fiction, and has had work published in magazines including published in Woman, Woman's Own and Woman's Weekly
After living in Germany and America, Collier now lives on the Gower Peninsula, near Swansea. She is represented by the literary agency Marjacq Scripts
Collier is a member of Swansea Writers' Group, which encouraged her from the outset of her career before she had published a novel
Ty Catrin, an adult education centre in Pontypridd, was named in her honour in 2002
Bibliography
Collier's work includes:
As Katherine John
As K. A. John
As Katherine Hardy
As Caro French
Catrin Collier is a Welsh novelist known for her historical works, especially those in the Hearts of Gold series, set in her home town of Pontypridd between 1930 and 1950, the first of which was adapted as a BBC drama in 2003. She also writes under the pen names Katherine John / K. A. John (crime novels), Katherine Hardy (novelisations of television programmes) and Caro French (modern fiction)
Collier is of East Prussian descent, with her mother, Gerda Salewski, born in Allenstein, East Prussia, in 1926. Her father, Glyn Jones, was a Welsh Guardsman serving in Germany when he met Gerda. They were married in Pontypridd in July 1947. Collier was born there in 1948 and grew up in the town
As a comprehensive school teacher, she taught English and drama to A level in schools in Swansea and West Glamorgan
Her book "One Last Summer" is based on war-time diaries kept by her mother and maternal grandmother and is recommended by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust for young people wanting to learn about the Holocaust. It was a 2008 finalist for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Book of the Year
In 2003, Collier's "Hearts of Gold" was adapted by BBC Wales as a two-part drama, directed by Richard Laxton and co-written by Matthew Baylis. BBC Wales' head of drama Matthew Robinson described her as "the Catherine Cookson of Wales"
As well as novels, she writes short stories, plays and non-fiction, and has had work published in magazines including published in Woman, Woman's Own and Woman's Weekly
After living in Germany and America, Collier now lives on the Gower Peninsula, near Swansea. She is represented by the literary agency Marjacq Scripts
Collier is a member of Swansea Writers' Group, which encouraged her from the outset of her career before she had published a novel
Ty Catrin, an adult education centre in Pontypridd, was named in her honour in 2002
Bibliography
Collier's work includes:
- 'Hearts of Gold' series
- —— (1992). Hearts of Gold. Century. ISBN 978-0712646062
- —— (1993). One Blue Moon. Century. ISBN 978-0712698238
- —— (1994). A Silver Lining. Century. ISBN 978-0712658454
- —— (1995). All That Glitters. Century. ISBN 978-0712658508
- —— (1996). Such Sweet Sorrow. Century. ISBN 978-0712675086
- —— (1997). Past Remembering. Century. ISBN 978-0712675130
- —— (1998). Broken Rainbows. Century. ISBN 978-0712679459
- —— (2000). Spoils of War. Century. ISBN 978-0712684736
- Swansea trilogy
- —— (2001). Swansea Girls. Orion. ISBN 978-0752832326
- —— (2002). Swansea Summer. Orion. ISBN 978-0752832340
- —— (2003). Homecoming. Orion. ISBN 978-0752853116
- 'Beggars & Choosers' series
- —— (2003). Beggars & Choosers. Orion. ISBN 978-0752853130
- —— (2004). Winners & Losers. Orion. ISBN 978-0752853154
- —— (2004). Sinners & Shadows. Orion. ISBN 978-0752866987
- —— (2005). Finders & Keepers. Orion. ISBN 978-0752867007
- Tiger Bay
- —— (2006). Tiger Bay Blues. Orion. ISBN 978-0752867021
- —— (2006). Tiger Ragtime. Orion. ISBN 978-0752867045
- —— (2007). One Last Summer. Orion. ISBN 978-0752885773
- —— (2008). Magda's Daughter. Orion. ISBN 978-0752885858
- —— (2009). Black Eyed Devils. Accent Press. ISBN 978-1906373610
- —— (2011). Bobby's Girl. Allison & Busby. ISBN 978-0749009298
As Katherine John
- 'Trevor Joseph' series:
- —— (1990). Without Trace. Century. ISBN 978-0712634472
- —— (1993). Six Foot Under. Headline. ISBN 978-0747207290 (aka Midnight Murders)
- —— (1994). Murder of a Dead Man. Headline. ISBN 978-0747240471
- —— (2006). The Corpse's Tale. Accent Press. ISBN 978-1905170319
- —— (2006). Midnight Murders. Accent Press. ISBN 978-1905170272 (aka Six Foot Under)
- —— (2008). Black Daffodil. Accent Press. ISBN 978-1906125004
- —— (2008). A Well Deserved Murder. Accent Press. ISBN 978-1906125141
- —— (2010). Destruction of Evidence. Accent Press. ISBN 978-1906373832
- —— (1995). By Any Other Name. Headline. ISBN 978-0747212188 (aka By Any Name)
- —— (2007). The Amber Knight. ISBN 978-1905170623
As K. A. John
- —— (2011). Wake Wood. Hammer. ISBN 978-0099556183
As Katherine Hardy
- 'The Grand'
- —— (1997). The Grand. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0671005191
- —— (1999). The Grand II - Under New Management. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0671015961
- —— (2004). Coronation Street: The Complete Saga. Granada Media. ISBN 9780233000879
As Caro French
- The Farcreek Trilogy
- —— (1995). Lady Luck (Farcreek 1). Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0671853563
- —— (1995). Lady Lay (Farcreek 2). Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0671853570
- —— (1995). Lady Chance (Farcreek 3). Pocket Books. ISBN 978-0671853587
Alex Humphreys
A familiar face in Wales, Alex is a bubbly and creative presenter, journalist and author, with a wealth of live broadcasting experience – most notably with CBBC’s children’s news programme, Newsround, BBC news programmes and S4C’s national weather service
Born in Chester, Alex grew up in Flintshire in Wales with a Welsh language education. After studying music in Cardiff University, Alex joined the office of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, before moving into broadcasting, where her programme credits include CBBC’s flagship programme, Blue Peter and the BBC Proms
In 2014, Alex began producing and presenting Ffeil: a Welsh-language children’s TV news programme, produced by BBC Wales. This led to her co-presenting S4C’s primetime entertainment series, Band Cymru, along with co-presenting coverage of the world’s biggest youth festival – the Urdd Eisteddfod
In 2018, Alex became one of the presenters on CBBC’s Newsround, a role which included interviewing countless celebrities, such as David Baddiel and Olly Murs. Since then, Alex has presented CBBC ‘s Live Lessons, worked as Senior Journalist Reporter on BBC1’s Wales Live, reported for BBC Breakfast, the BBC’s technology programme, Click, and BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live
Alex also hosts live events, which has included the CBeebies Live Stage with Dr Ranj, BAFTA Q&A sessions, the BBC’s coverage of the Welsh Proms and Proms in the Park, BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ first ever gaming concert, and an evening with gaming developer and co-founder of Wales Interactive, David Banner
As a journalist, Alex has filmed across the world including in the US and Russia, but her main role is now as presenter of S4C’s weather service and the news review programme for Welsh-learners, Yr Wythnos. Alex can occasionally be seen and heard reading news bulletins on S4C and BBC Radio Wales, and with her expertise in gaming and music is often a guest pundit on TV and radio
Passionate about gaming, Alex has presented several radio documentaries including ‘What’s in a Game?’ for BBC Radio 4, and ‘In the Studio: World of Warcraft’ for the BBC World Service. At the end of 2022, Alex became an author with the publication of her first non-fiction book, ‘Playing with Reality: Gaming in a Pandemic’, which explores how the gaming industry thrived and evolved over the pandemic years, with player and expert stories
Born in Chester, Alex grew up in Flintshire in Wales with a Welsh language education. After studying music in Cardiff University, Alex joined the office of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, before moving into broadcasting, where her programme credits include CBBC’s flagship programme, Blue Peter and the BBC Proms
In 2014, Alex began producing and presenting Ffeil: a Welsh-language children’s TV news programme, produced by BBC Wales. This led to her co-presenting S4C’s primetime entertainment series, Band Cymru, along with co-presenting coverage of the world’s biggest youth festival – the Urdd Eisteddfod
In 2018, Alex became one of the presenters on CBBC’s Newsround, a role which included interviewing countless celebrities, such as David Baddiel and Olly Murs. Since then, Alex has presented CBBC ‘s Live Lessons, worked as Senior Journalist Reporter on BBC1’s Wales Live, reported for BBC Breakfast, the BBC’s technology programme, Click, and BBC1’s Sunday Morning Live
Alex also hosts live events, which has included the CBeebies Live Stage with Dr Ranj, BAFTA Q&A sessions, the BBC’s coverage of the Welsh Proms and Proms in the Park, BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ first ever gaming concert, and an evening with gaming developer and co-founder of Wales Interactive, David Banner
As a journalist, Alex has filmed across the world including in the US and Russia, but her main role is now as presenter of S4C’s weather service and the news review programme for Welsh-learners, Yr Wythnos. Alex can occasionally be seen and heard reading news bulletins on S4C and BBC Radio Wales, and with her expertise in gaming and music is often a guest pundit on TV and radio
Passionate about gaming, Alex has presented several radio documentaries including ‘What’s in a Game?’ for BBC Radio 4, and ‘In the Studio: World of Warcraft’ for the BBC World Service. At the end of 2022, Alex became an author with the publication of her first non-fiction book, ‘Playing with Reality: Gaming in a Pandemic’, which explores how the gaming industry thrived and evolved over the pandemic years, with player and expert stories
Phil Carradice
Phil Carradice (born 1947), is a Welsh writer and broadcaster. Carradice was born in Pembroke Dock. He was educated at Cardiff College of Education and Cardiff University, and became a teacher and social worker
After several years as head of Headlands Special School in Penarth, near Cardiff, he retired from the teaching profession to become a full-time writer. He hosts a history series on BBC Radio Wales entitled "The Past Master"
Carradice is a prolific public speaker and travels extensively in the course of his work
Works
Fiction
- Hour of the Wolf (1985)
Children's
- The Bosun's Secret (2000)
- The Pirates of Thorn Island (2001)
- Hannah Goes to War (2005)
- Black Bart's Treasure (2007)
- The Wild West Story (2013)
Non-fiction
- Failures of System (1976)
- The Last Invasion (1992)
- The Write Way (1996)
- Welsh Islands (1997)
- Shooting the Sacred Cows (1998)
- Exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast (2002)
- Wales at War (2005)
- Coming Home: Wales After the War (2005)
- A Town Built to Build Ships - A History of Pembroke Dock (2006)
- Life Choices (2006)
- People’s Poetry of the Great War (Cecil Woolf, 2007)
- The Black Chair (2008)
- People’s Poetry of World War Two (Cecil Woolf, 2009)
- The First World War in the Air (Amberley, 2012)
- 1914:the First World War at Sea in Photographs (Amberley, 2014)
- The Battles of Coronel and the Falklands: British Naval Campaigns in the Southern Hemisphere 1914-19 (Fonthill, 2014)
- The Cuban Missile Crisis: 13 Days on an Atomic Knife Edge, October 1962 (Pen & Sword Books, 2018)
Poetry
- Cautionary Tale (1998)
- Ghostly Riders (2002)
Featured Authors 2022
Engagement with all the below authors was available throughout the day, FREE in the main nave of St Elvan's
Lin Bird
Dewi Bowen
Karla Brading
Phil Carradice
Mike Church
Lee Coates
Johanna Cogbill
Catrin Collier
Angela Fish
Cynon Valley History Society
Gideon Jones
Rickards and Jones
Rebecca Mills
Cynon Valley Museum
Alex Humphreys
Gerhard Kress
Robert McKain
Jan Price
Petra Publishing
Anna Rashbrook
Norena Shopland
Carys Smith
Below is a list of the authors who featured at the inaugural RCT Bookfest in September 2022
Judith Barrow
Amanda Bowden
Ann Brady
Phil Carradice
Mike Church
Angela Fish
V B Furlong
Maureen Gannon
Alison Knight
Gerhard Kress
Dave Lewis
Will Macmillan Jones
Rebecca Mills
Thorne Moore
Colin R Parsons
Daniel Parsons
Janice Price
Anna Rashbrook
Sam Smith
Sue Trusler
Graham Watkins
Gail B Williams
Louise Zakrzewska
Author Biographies
A selection of biographies from RCT Bookfest 2022 can be found below
Ann Brady is an Author and Writers Mentor of 35 plus years. Her books include a variety of genres from historical fiction to children’s pictures books. Known as the Fairy Godmother for Aspiring Writers, Ann works with new, developing and even established writers, of all ages, worldwide. But she especially enjoys working with younger writers, having helped many achieve publication of their work. Ann enjoys sharing her love of writing through her talks, blogs, mentoring, workshops, and podcasts, which offer useful information to help all writers
Angela Fish is a people-watcher and an eavesdropper - pastimes which provide a rich source of stimuli for her writing. She gained her MPhil in Literature in 1995, focussing on how women writers from Wales portrayed their female characters, and this work, together with her interests in the nature/nurture debate, mythology and magic, have shaped her approach to her own writing. Another source of inspiration came from her time at the University of Glamorgan where she established and directed the Wales Centre for Intergenerational Practice. Over a period of ten years she worked with local schools and communities to improve communication between the generations, and the benefits of good relationships between older and younger people, and the ways in which they can develop, not only significantly underpin her stories for children but also support her work for older audiences
Angela’s first book for children is Ben and the Spider Gate (2015); the second is Ben and the Spider Prince (2016), and the third in the series is Ben and the Spider Lake (2016). A picture book, The Captain’s Favourite Treasure (Matador) was published in 2018. From 2010 to 2016, Angela belonged to a writer’s group and began to experiment with writing different genres, often in response to specific stimuli. It was here that all four children’s books were developed and where her debut novel, The Fractured Globe, was conceived, drawing on her interest
in human relationships and the shaping forces of personality development. The Fractured Globe (Darkstroke Books) was published in 2020 and the Kindle version is now an international best-seller
Angela is a member of The Society of Authors [SoA], and the SoA Children's Writers and Illustrators Group, and lives in South Wales. Find out more about Angela at www.angela-fish.com
VB Furlong is a trainee lawyer and writer of young adult novels living in Berkshire, UK. Originally from Rhondda Cynon Taf in the South Wales' Valleys, she spent much of her childhood reading and writing. She wrote her first “novel” at aged ten and has not stopped since then. Her experiences growing up have offered her inspiration for many pieces of writing, including her debut novel "What Happened to Coco" which she is excited to introduce as a coming of age boarding school thriller. Through her writing she aims to explore many of the issues she faced herself, in the hopes that others facing the same issues feel some solidarity. Her friendships are a huge part of her life and consequently is a major theme in her writing, exploring the way in which we interact with each other, especially in difficult times
Maureen Gannon was born in London but spent her childhood in Dublin. She did her nursing training in Swansea and midwifery training in Cardiff, gaining her work experience in Cardiff, Bristol and the Orkney Islands, both in hospital and the community
After her nursing training she married, had her children and stayed at home as a full time mother for nine years, before returning to her career. Her special interest has been the welfare of the woman throughout her pregnancy, the birth and the important early days and weeks with the newborn. However, she has always been aware of the importance of the role of the father
There has been a natural progression to her second career in private Maternity Nursing, living with families for periods of two weeks to three months, where the care of the newborn cannot be separated from the support of the mother and making sure that the father does not feel excluded from the overwhelming experience of new parenthood. Siblings too must be considered and helped to enjoy and accept the new arrival
In her private practice she has travelled to France, Holland, South Africa, The Philippines and Canada. In 1996 she went on a Children of China Study Tour. She now offers free online Childbirth Preparation Sessions
Alison Knight has been a legal executive, a registered childminder, a professional fund-raiser and a teacher. She has travelled the world – from spending a year as an exchange student in the US in the 1970s and trekking the Great Wall of China to celebrate her fortieth year and lots of other interesting places in between. She currently has a trio of novels published by Darkstroke. The first, Mine, is a domestic drama set in 1960s London and based on real events in her family. She is the only person who can tell this particular story. Exploring themes of class, ambition and sexual politics, Mine shows how ordinary people can make choices that lead them into extraordinary situations. The Legacy, a drama set in London in 1969, was inspired by a scene in Mine, and explores how an unexpected legacy can be both a blessing and a curse. The Legacy looks at themes of greed and expectations, and the lengths people will go to when they are desperate. The Hidden, is a romantic suspense that picks up the story of one of the characters in The Legacy. Set in Montana in 1973, two wounded, damaged people are forced together, each guarding their secrets. Can they learn to trust each other? And will their nightmares ever end? Alison lives in Somerset within sight of Glastonbury Tor
Dave Lewis is a writer, poet and photographer from Pontypridd. He runs the International Welsh Poetry Competition – the biggest in Wales. He also runs the Writers of Wales database, the international Poetry Book Awards, Wales Trails and book publishing company Publish & Print. He has published over twenty books; including four crime thrillers and ten poetry collections. He likes real ale, photographing animals and going to Africa. Furth information on David and his work is available at www.david-lewis.co.uk
Will Macmillan Jones is a novelist, poet and oral storyteller who lives and works outside the seaside town of Aberaeron in West Wales. He does his best to support the heritage of this ancient land by drinking the local beer and shouting loud encouragement whenever International Rugby is on the TV. A lover of blues, rock, and jazz he has just fulfilled a lifetime ambition by filling an entire wall of his study with (overfull) bookcases. When not writing he is usually lost with the help of a satnav on top of a large hill in the middle of nowhere, looking for dragons. He hasn’t found one yet, but swears that it is only a matter of time.
His writing credits include an occasional award, and a lot of more frequent near misses covering his chosen genres of Horror, Fantasy, Children’s, and Science Fiction. Working with his publisher he is excited about the new collection of dyslexic friendly books for teenagers and adults in progress, with the first releases now available.
A popular spoken word performer, he has also recorded some CDs of traditional Welsh tales for children and adults, based on both the Mabinogion and local stories
Rebecca Mills - My Story
I love to write. Putting words together has always been a passion of mine. Whether it is through writing poetry or children's books, my mission is to inspire all of my readers to joy. If you'd asked me my dream several years ago, I would have told you that I wanted to be a writer. Why? Because I believe that each word we say holds so much power. Words are how we get to express ourselves and how we tell our stories and connect with one another. They are the most valuable part of our lives.
But words are especially important to me. When I was young I was so shy that I couldn't speak to people. I was so shy that my parents had my hearing checked when I was around 8 years old because I wasn't responding to those around me. I soon discovered that although I wasn't great at speaking my truth out loud, I had a talent for expressing myself on paper. I admired poetry and song lyrics and I loved hearing my grandfather tell stories to me. I soon realised that all I wanted to do was write
Years later, I became fascinated by the power that words have on the human mind. Psychology intrigued me and I began writing positive poetry to inspire myself. I used to be so shy that I would not enjoy reading my poems out to anyone, but when I began to realise how much my poetry meant to those around me, I started a Facebook page called 'Poetry for the soul' which now has over 20,000 followers from all over the world. There I share inspiring stories, quotations, videos and poetry that goes along with my mission to inspire all my readers to joy
The Legends of Dothvera began as a way to inspire children to believe in themselves and be confident. I have struggled myself with confidence and I know how awful it can be to not believe in oneself. Being a writer to me is not about just telling a story, it is about inviting my readers on a journey of self exploration and it is a place to learn about each other and ourselves. In The Legends of Dothvera our main character Bobby has to find his confidence through the journeys he finds himself taking
I hope it inspires children who read it to believe in themselves and find their Pocromethrah, which is the title of my second book
Thorne Moore grew up in Luton and studied history at Aberystwyth. She later moved to north Pembrokeshire, to run a restaurant and a craft business, studying Law through the OU before retiring to write full-time. Her domestic noir crime novels and historical mysteries are mostly set in West Wales and Luton and include A Time For Silence (finalist for the People’s Book Prize and Bookseller Top Ten best seller). The latest is Fatal Collision, set on the Pembrokeshire coast. She also writes science fiction. She is a member of Crime Cymru and the Crime Writers Association
Jan Price A poet on tour with the Welsh arts council for many years, Jan has been licensee of four very busy valley pubs, Chairlady of licensed victuallers, and a performance poet reading in libraries, pubs, clubs, Llandaff Cathedral, the Sheraton Hotel Nigeria and many other venues. Her books include "My Life Behind Bars", "Screwshot Suzy Plays Pool" and "Hell Hath No Fury", all of which are for sale on Amazon, together with her sold out "A Better Class of Doggerel"
Bestselling author Anna Rashbrook grew up with a passion for horses, dogs, and travel. Over the years, she has lived in England, Switzerland, and Austria, but now lives in Wales and is finding her family roots. Anna’s novels are all based on her Christian faith, along with her life experiences from managing a farm to working in equine therapy, cleaning castles to teaching riding, running a holiday home business to becoming a librarian. The books are set in country life more than a little drama and tangled relationships. They include novels, memoirs, a supernatural thriller and short story collections. Not forgetting the horses and dogs who always seem to turn up, even when not planned!
Sam Smith is editor of The Journal (once 'of Contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry'). Author of several novels and collections of poetry (samsmithbooks.weebly.com), he presently lives in Blaengarw, South Wales, and blogs at thesamsmith.net
Graham Watkins is a multi genre author who started writing when he retired. He cut his teeth researching and reinventing Welsh legends and myths, a four year project exploring Wales and its rich legacy of stories. Graham lives in a rambling farmhouse in the Brecon Beacons with his wife, a lunatic rescue dog called Sally and a motley collection of animals which at different times have included, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep and Welsh Black cattle. His neighbours describe him, not unkindly, as a hobby farmer who tries to write and gives talks about his writing to anyone who will listen
