This year, nine young writers have been able to take a step closer to realising their ambitions to become published authors, thanks to a generous bequest from Marie Evans, who wished to support young people to develop their writing skills.

Thanks to Marie’s family, the Books Council of Wales was able to organise a writing retreat, to give young authors the chance to spend two days in the company of author Sioned Erin. They were able to take time to discuss writing, share ideas and take part in individual discussions with Erin to receive her feedback on their own work. The group also spent time with the Books Council’s Head of Publishing Development, to gain an insight into how publishing works and the path to becoming a published writer.

Caryl, who took part in the sessions, said “it has meant the opportunity to step out of the busyness of everyday life and take time for what is so important to me. It has inspired me to write again.”

Megan said that the retreat has meant that the group could “inspire each other, celebrate our creativity and our differences and take advice on the most difficult aspects of creative writing.”

Sioned Erin won the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod, Ceredigion in 2022 with her volume of short stories, Rhyngom. She led the retreat, sharing her own experiences from starting out as a writer to becoming an award-winning published author.

She said: “These are the first workshops I have held as a creative facilitator. There are some negative voices in your head at the beginning, and you often question whether you are good enough and experienced enough to hold these kinds of workshops. But really, there was no need for me to worry for a second. The group, and Bethan from the Books Council, were so lovely, so supportive and exceptionally hardworking, and the feedback has been so heartening and such a boost. These workshops are extremely valuable to those who attend them, but I’m keen to stress how valuable they are to the people who run them, too. Thank you so much for the opportunity.”

Bethan Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales said: “We would like to say thank you so much to Marie’s family for enabling us to hold this writing retreat in her memory. Marie worked for the Books Council for over 30 years and her wish was to support young people to develop their writing skills. Her gift has given nine young people the opportunity to work with an established author, and to share their experiences, inspiration and ideas with other young writers.”

The writers were selected following an open call-out held in 2023 which invited young writers aged 18–25 to apply with a sample of their work, and nine were invited to take part. The first retreat session was held in January 2024, and the second day was held in June. We wish the group all the best and hope that they will keep in touch as they continue on their writing journeys.

Young readers from Ysgol Twm o’r Nant in Denbigh have been getting ready to tackle this year’s Summer Reading Challenge with author Leisa Mererid at a launch event at Denbigh Library this afternoon, Wednesday 10 July 2024.

The children have signed up for the Challenge, created by national charity The Reading Agency, which aims to keep kids reading over the summer holidays with events, activities and brilliant books – all available to access for free from local libraries.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers, celebrates creativity – from dance to drawing, junk modelling to music – there’s something for everyone.

And author Leisa Mererid got the class from Ysgol Twm o’r Nant off to a great start, by introducing her book Y Wariar Bach, with some yoga moves and breathing exercises.

Meira Jones, from Denbigh Library, said: “We are so excited to have the national launch of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at Denbigh Library, Denbighshire. The Challenge encourages the children to read for pleasure throughout the summer, improving their reading skills and confidence. It’s all about imagination and creativity this year so there is something for everyone, come to your local library and join in the Marvellous Makers fun!”

Dafydd Davies, Headteacher at Ysgol Twm o’r Nant said: “Ysgol Twm o’r Nant is very pleased to be part of this launch at Denbigh Library. As a school we are very active in promoting reading for pleasure and are sure that being part of this launch will encourage our young learners to continue to read over the summer holidays.”

The annual Summer Reading Challenge is delivered by The Reading Agency. It is supported in Wales by the Books Council of Wales, thanks to funding from Welsh Government. In partnership with local libraries, the scheme aims to prevent the “summer dip” learning loss many children experience over the holidays when they aren’t in school. With libraries’ support, it provides a free, fun way to keep young minds active.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, said: “I know what a great pleasure it is to be truly absorbed in a book. The Summer Reading Challenge is a really fantastic way for children to develop reading skills, discover new authors and gain a lifelong passion for books.

“That’s why we are funding the scheme again this year to make sure all children have the opportunity to continue their reading during the summer holidays.”  

Young readers aged 4–11 can sign up for the Challenge at their local library, or online, and unlock rewards, discover new reads, log their reading and enjoy a range of free activities. Find out more at your local library or at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

BOoks Council of Wales announces over 40 projects that share £500,000 of funding in third year of New Audiences Grant

The Books Council of Wales has announced the 44 projects across Wales that have received funding through the New Audiences Grant for 2024.

Applications totalling almost £1 million were received for the £500,000 fund, which was made available by Welsh Government through Creative Wales, to support and develop the publishing industry in Wales.

Applications were invited under three themes: book promotion and marketing programmes that reach new readers in Welsh and English; provide opportunities to new voices in news services and popular magazines; and develop and publish new content that represents Wales in all its diversity.

Among the projects to receive funding are:

Atebol: promoting books from Sebra, the new publishing imprint for adults, to new audiences
Atebol will build on the early success of Sebra, their new and contemporary imprint which has a strong focus on developing new audiences and talent. This will include a cutting-edge digital material creation package to promote books, a visual project and working with a specialist external company to develop the style of Sebra’s covers.

Material Queer
Material Queer will commission a range of Welsh or Wales-based journalists to deliver articles in explorative formats such as video or audio in order to reach new audiences across multiple platforms, with a particular focus on social media. The call-out for submissions will be nationwide. The journalists selected will be provided opportunities for connection and learning and will be mentored throughout their commission. Material Queer’s aim is to diversify not just the news, but who tells it and how, in Wales; creating important structural change which will ultimately strengthen the industry.

Urdd Gobaith Cymru
The Urdd’s intention is to offer an opportunity to develop and mentor a young person to contribute cartoons to Cip magazine and nurture talents and skills that will contribute to the publishing world in Wales in the future. We will offer mentoring opportunities with experienced and inspiring individuals with the aim of developing the ability to tell a story through words and pictures.

Seren Books: Change from Within
Through this project, Seren will appoint an early-career individual with lived experience of racism, ableism and/or poverty as a Desk Editor at Seren where they will gain first-hand experience of working within the book trade in Wales. The role will include upskilling in copy- and creative-editing through mentoring and a short training course. With mentor support, they will also lead a project to commission new fiction and non-fiction titles by writers who have lived experience of racism, ableism and/or poverty via an open call-out. Successful writers and the Desk Editor will then be supported to develop their pitches into publication proposals for Seren’s 2025/26 publishing programme.

Lucent Dreaming: Anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled writers
Lucent Dreaming will commission and develop a bilingual anthology titled Beyond/Tu Hwnt: Anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled Writers/Blodeugerdd o Ysgrifenwyr Cymraeg Byddar ac Anabl, edited by Bethany Handley, Megan Angharad Hunter and Sioned Erin Hughes, with a view to publication. The book will feature work from 20+ contributors. The project will develop writing for publication from Deaf and Disabled writers. This anthology aims to create a space for, and preserve, the rich and diverse voices of contemporary Wales for future generations to come.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “We are very grateful to Creative Wales and Welsh Government for supporting this vital fund again, especially in a year when this additional funding will make such an impact to the businesses and initiatives that have been awarded grants. Competition for the grant this year was higher than ever with many excellent applications, and while we were not able to fund all of them, we were delighted to see so many creative, forward-thinking proposals submitted. We look forward to seeing the outcomes of these exciting projects at the end of the year.”

Since 2022, Creative Wales has supported the New Audiences Grant with over £1.5 million in funding, supporting over 100 different projects across Wales.

The Minister for Creative Industries, Sarah Murphy, said: “To have supported over 100 projects under our New Audiences Grant is such a fantastic achievement. This funding allows for real opportunities for new and diverse voices to be heard across Wales and beyond.

“The volume of high-quality applications received shows how there is real demand for this funding, to further develop and support a publishing industry that represents the whole of Wales. Pob lwc / good luck to all those supported through the fund.”

The full list of projects awarded funding in this round is published on the Books Council’s website Grants | Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru

Where the River Takes Us by Lesley Parr (published by Bloomsbury Publishing) is the 2024 winner of the Tir na n-Og English-language Award for children and young people’s literature.

 Author Lesley Parr has won the Tir na n-Og English-language Award with Where the River Takes Us, a pacy 1970s adventure set in a Welsh valley, published by Bloomsbury.

The winning book was announced at a lunchtime ceremony on Friday 17 May, at the CILIP Cymru Wales conference in Cardiff, by singer, actor and presenter Miriam Isaac.

This is the second time Lesley has won the Tir na n-Og English-language Award, following the success of wartime novel The Valley of Lost Secrets in 2022. This year’s winning novel is set in 1974; a time of strikes, hardship and the three-day week, but it is also a story full of humour and friendship:

February 1974. Whispers echo through the valley – tales of a wild beast roaming the mountains. When a reward is offered for proof of its existence, Jason and his friends are determined to find the creature first. But for Jason it’s more than a quest – the money is a way for him and his brother to stay together. So the four friends set off, following the river north, not realising that this journey will push them to their limits. An extraordinary adventure awaits …

Lesley Parr said: “I’m over the moon that Where the River Takes Us has won the Tir na n-Og Award in the English Language category. I love to write about my kind of Wales; ordinary people doing extraordinary things against a backdrop of working-class Welshness. To receive an accolade at this level – and from my own country – is a very special thing.”

Established in 1976, the annual Tir na n-Og Awards celebrate the best books for children and young people in Wales. They are organised by the Books Council of Wales and sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales.

The Chair of the judging panel, Simon Fisher, said: “Congratulations to Lesley on winning this year’s Award. Where the River Takes Us is a beautiful and genuine portrayal of friendship and family strife. Action-packed and brilliantly written, this pacy tale of 70s hardships and the hunt for a wild cat is totally gripping and lots of fun.”

Jamie Finch, Chair of CILIP Cymru Wales, said: “On behalf of CILIP Cymru Wales, we are delighted once again to support the annual Tir na n-Og Awards, which showcase some of the most inspiring and entertaining books penned for children and young adults in Wales.

We are grateful to the Books Council of Wales for organising these awards, and, of course, to the judging panels who have the unenviable task of picking the winners.”

The other shortlisted titles for the English-language category were:

• Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones (Knights of Media)
• The Ghosts of Craig Glas Castle by Michelle Briscombe (Candy Jar Books)

Where the River Takes Us has also been announced today as the winner of the English-language Readers’ Choice Award. This is a special award chosen by children and young people who took part in the Tir na n-Og Shadowing Scheme and nominated their own winner from the shortlisted titles.

Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, said: “Warmest congratulations to Lesley on her achievement winning the English-language Tir na n-Og Award for the second time, and for also winning the Readers’ Choice Award this year. Thank you to everybody involved in this year’s awards, with special thanks to the librarians, teachers and booksellers who play such a vital role helping young readers discover these wonderful books.”

The winners of the two Welsh-language category Tir na n-Og Awards 2024 will be revealed at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Meifod at 1pm on Wednesday 29 May 2024.

Further details about the awards and the titles can be seen on the Books Council’s website.

The Books Council of Wales is inviting applications for a third round of the New Audiences Grant, thanks to £500,000 of funding from Welsh Government through Creative Wales.

The purpose of the grant is to support and develop the publishing industry in Wales. Grants are available for publishers, charities or organisations based in Wales to:

Create promotional and marketing plans that will reach new audiences 

• Grants available for up to £20,000 per applicant for book promotion and marketing programmes that reach new readers in Welsh and English.

Provide opportunities to new voices in the periodical press

• Grants available for up to £15,000 per applicant to develop new and diverse voices within news services and popular magazines.

Publish new content that reflects Wales in all its diversity

• Grants available for up to £30,000 per applicant to develop diverse cultural content from Wales, which leads to publication in books, magazines or online in Wales.

 Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “We are delighted to be able to offer the New Audiences Grant for a third year, and we are grateful to Creative Wales for continuing to support our work to create opportunities within the publishing industry and support content that reflects all of Wales.”

Grant criteria and guidelines and the link to the application form can be found on the Books Council website, Grants | Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru The deadline for applications is 12 noon, Tuesday 2 April 2024.