Jun 8, 2020
A series of short and snappy books by authors from Wales will be available for free download this summer.
A series of short and snappy books by authors from Wales will be available for free download this summer.
From tales of amazing dogs to the challenges of extreme running and from a contemporary love story to a legendary lost world, the Books Council of Wales has made the four latest titles in the popular Quick Reads series available as e-books in association with publishers Y Lolfa and Rily.
And for one month only from 8 June – 8 July 2020, they can be downloaded free of charge from the new amam.cymru digital platform.
This year’s writers include extreme adventurer Huw Jack Brassington, author Cynan Llwyd, journalist and lecturer Ifan Morgan Jones, and author and journalist Alison Stokes.
The aim of the Quick Reads/Stori Sydyn scheme is to get Wales reading with a selection of short, gripping books, which are also available in paperback format from bookshops and online booksellers for £1 each as well as through libraries.
Angharad Wyn Sinclair, Reading Promotions Project Manager at the Books Council of Wales, said: “As a result of the Covid-19 restrictions, we wanted to offer the new e-books free for the first time. These titles lend themselves perfectly to these turbulent times. They capture our imagination and transport us to another world, but they’re short enough to be read in a day or to pick up occasionally and enjoy a chapter at a time. What’s also great about Quick Reads is that they’re suitable for a wide range of readers, including those who may be more reluctant to pick up a book.”
Coordinated by the Books Council of Wales, the Quick Reads/Stori Sydyn scheme is supported by the Welsh Government to ensure that accessible, original material of interest to an audience in Wales is available in both English and Welsh.
Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams said “I’m delighted Books Council of Wales are providing these titles digitally and for free in light of the current pandemic. Whether these are used as a means of supporting learning, or just a means of escaping everyday realities, reading can be powerful, particularly in these strange and unsettling times.
“Part of our National Mission is to provide all learners with high level literacy skills, that form the foundations of all learning and are transferable into everyday life and the world of work. Literacy, numeracy and digital competence, will be mandatory cross-curricular skills within Curriculum for Wales 2022.”
Of the four titles being published this year, two are in Welsh and two in English, with one fiction and one non-fiction book in each language.
Herio i’r Eithaf – Huw Jack Brassington (Y Lolfa). Huw Jack Brassington challenges his mind and body to the limit in incredible races all over the world, such as the 47 Peaks, the Pioneer and the Coast to Coast. His story takes us to the world of triathlon, running and cycling, and he learns some hard lessons along the way.
Pobl Fel Ni – Cynan Llwyd (Y Lolfa). The story takes place over a period of 24 hours in Cardiff sometime in the near future, against a backdrop of racist rhetoric and attitudes, right-wing politics and a fragile economic situation. Lovers Nathan and Sadia attend a concert but are separated following an explosion at the event.
Hidden Depths – Ifan Morgan Jones (Rily). Rees has been running away all his life. But when a tale from his childhood turns out to be fact rather than fiction, he is drawn deeper into a hidden world that reveals a troubled truth – not only about his present, but also his past. The choice is clear: hold on or wait and fight.
Dogs for Life – Alison Stokes (Rily). They’re often our best friends and share a special bond with us. But what if your dog was more than just a pet? This book shares the stories of animals with very important jobs to do and shows how some amazing animals are changing the lives of loved ones.
All four titles will be available for free download from the amam.cymru platform from 8 June – 8 July, with paperback copies also available for purchase for £1 from bookshops across Wales, the Books Council’s gwales.com and other websites.
A wide selection of Quick Reads titles can also be borrowed from libraries, either as e-books or as hard copies, when normal services resume.
May 22, 2020
The winners of the prestigious 2020 Tir Na n-Og Awards for children and young people’s literature are to be announced in July 2020.
The winners of the prestigious 2020 Tir Na n-Og Awards for children and young people’s literature are to be announced in July 2020.
The judges’ choice for the best book written in English with an authentic Welsh background will be revealed on the BBC Radio Wales Arts Show programme at 6.30pm on Friday 3 July 2020.
The winning titles in the Welsh-language primary and secondary age categories will be announced on the Heno magazine programme on S4C at 7pm on Friday 10 July 2020.
Organised by the Books Council of Wales, the annual award ceremonies are usually held in May at the Urdd National Eisteddfod and at the CILIP Cymru Wales librarians’ conference, which sponsors the awards.
New arrangements to announce the winners on radio and television have been made in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Helen Jones, Head of Children’s Books and Reading Promotion at the Books Council of Wales, said: “We are delighted that the BBC Radio Wales Arts Show and S4C’s Heno programmes have stepped in to the breach to offer a high-profile platform to honour the winners of the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards. These annual awards highlight the incredibly high standard of writing for children and young people in Wales and beyond.”
The shortlist for the 2020 Tir na n-Og Awards was revealed in March, with two Welsh-language categories, and a further award for the best book written in English with an authentic Welsh background.
Welsh-language Shortlist (Primary)
Y Ddinas Uchel – Huw Aaron (Atebol)
Genod Gwych a Merched Medrus – Medi Jones-Jackson (Y Lolfa)
Pobol Drws Nesaf – Manon Steffan Ros and Jac Jones (Y Lolfa)
Welsh-language Shortlist (Secondary)
Byw yn fy Nghroen – Ed. Sioned Erin Hughes (Y Lolfa)
Tom – Cynan Llwyd (Y Lolfa)
Madi – Dewi Wyn Williams (Atebol)
English-language Shortlist
Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It – Susie Day (Puffin)
Storm Hound – Claire Fayers (Macmillan Children’s Books)
The Secret Dragon – Ed Clarke (Puffin)
Where Magic Hides – Cat Weatherill (Gomer)
All the titles on the Tir na n-Og shortlists can be bought through local bookshops currently offering postal deliveries, through the Books Council’s gwales.com website and other online booksellers.
More information about the Tir na n-Og Awards 2020 Shortlists
The winners will each receive a cash prize of £1,000 and a specially commissioned and illustrated poem celebrating their achievement.
Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams will compose the English-language poem, with the Welsh-language poem written by Bardd Plant Cymru Gruffudd Owen.
May 19, 2020
Award-winning author Matt Haig’s memoir of living with depression has been translated into Welsh as part of the groundbreaking Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme.
Award-winning author Matt Haig’s memoir of living with depression has been translated into Welsh as part of the groundbreaking Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme.
Regularly featured on best-seller lists, Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive is among the latest collection of self-help books to be published in Welsh to help people manage common mental health conditions or deal with difficult feelings and experiences.
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, other new titles in the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme include A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax, A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink and Stress Control by Jim White.
There are now a total of 20 Welsh-language titles in the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme and, for the first time, many are also available as e-books.
The Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme has been developed by The Reading Agency in partnership with public libraries across England and Wales, with the Books Council of Wales making a selection of books available in Welsh thanks to funding from the Welsh Government.
Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “Looking after our mental health is vital and it’s more relevant now than ever before, with more and more people turning to books during these challenging times. What’s unique about the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme is that all the books have been selected and recommended by experts, and it’s essential that we ensure these valuable resources are also available in Welsh.”
Debbie Hicks MBE, Creative Director at The Reading Agency, said, “One in four of us will face a mental health issue at some point in our lives. With the timely publication of these new titles, we are delighted that more Welsh-speakers will be able to access the proven power of reading to understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing. We are proud to work with the Books Council of Wales and public libraries to deliver Reading Well Books on Prescription in Wales, enabling the scheme to reach even more people in Welsh and English.”
Among those who have benefited from the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme is children’s author Sharon Marie Jones who has lived with depression since 2014, with the illness intensifying following the death of her son Ned in a car accident in 2016.
“You have to remember that there isn’t one quick fix for any mental illness but reading is definitely part of my own therapy,” said Sharon. “You don’t need to be sitting down for hours reading a thick novel and there are books that you can just turn to every now and again. It’s just making that connection and feeling less alone by having that book in your hand.”
Titles in the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health scheme are available to borrow from public libraries when they re-open or by following the guidelines for downloading e-books on public library websites.
Nia Gruffydd, Libraries Manager at Gwynedd County Council, said: “We have seen a big demand in libraries across Wales for the Reading Well Books on Prescription for mental health titles and that’s reflected in the number of books which have been borrowed so far. What’s great about this scheme is that people can borrow these books free of charge and they are easily accessible through their library. It’s essential that these books are available in Welsh, enabling our users to read about issues which are so important and personal to them in their first language.”
Health or social care professionals can also recommend the books on prescription as part of an individual’s treatment, or they can be purchased through bookshops, gwales.com and other websites.
The Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme also includes a wide selection of self-help books for people with dementia and their carers, with a full list of titles on the Reading Well website.
May 7, 2020
A series of online art sessions for children by one of Wales’ leading cartoonists has been viewed more than 30,000 times since it was launched at the start of the school closures due to Coronavirus.
A series of online art sessions for children by one of Wales’ leading cartoonists has been viewed more than 30,000 times since it was launched at the start of the school closures due to Coronavirus.
Criw Celf is a partnership between Welsh children’s magazines Cip and Mellten, illustrator Huw Aaron, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Books Council of Wales.
Every weekday afternoon at 3 o’clock, Huw Aaron hosts a live session or uploads a video to YouTube showing how to draw comic pictures or cartoons, and how to tell a story through pictures.
Now all of his videos are available to watch in one place on the Urdd’s website, which also offers a range of activities on its urdd.cymru/criw pages.
Huw sets a daily challenge for children and creates activity sheets linked to the videos so that viewers can continue to develop their skills offline.
The Welsh-medium service was launched on Monday 23 March 2020 following the Welsh Government’s decision to close school temporarily due to the pandemic.
More than 30 free videos have now been shared online and viewed more than 30,000 so far.
Commenting on his Criw Celf channel, Huw Aaron said: “As a cartoonist and children’s book illustrator, I’ve learned a few things about how to draw, and I thought it would be fun to share some of this with a wider audience. These short daily videos are an opportunity for children (and their parents!) to enjoy a fun activity through the medium of Welsh, and hopefully learn some new skills along the way.
“The response has been really lovely and encouraging – with many joining to draw together and to proudly sharing their work on social media. So pick up a pencil and a piece of paper, and join the #criwcelf – whatever your age!”
The daily sessions (Monday-Friday) are supported by Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Books Council of Wales.
The Head of Grants at the Books Council, Arwel Jones, said: “In these troubled times, we need to think imaginatively about how to entertain – and educate – children at home. Huw’s talent for drawing and exuberance attracts a daily audience and we are very grateful to him for creating high quality content that is valued by children, parents and carers alike. Digital content of this kind is particularly important at a time when it isn’t possible to print hard copies of traditional magazines like Mellten and Cip.”
The Criw Celf series forms part of the Urdd’s online resources for children and is widely shared on their social media as well as on the Books Council’s channels.
Mari Williams, the Urdd’s Communications Manager, said: “Huw Aaron is already a lively contributor to the Urdd’s magazines and we are delighted to be able to support these digital workshops which are freely available to anyone. They are a great resource, and clearly attract and entertain children young and old over this period.”
Huw Aaron will continue to host Criw Celf live sessions on YouTube in the coming weeks and all of his videos are now available to watch on the Urdd website urdd.cymru/criw.
Apr 2, 2020
On International Children’s Books Day (April 2nd), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with the Books Council of Wales are delighted to announce that they have awarded a PhD scholarship in the internationalisation of children’s literature to Megan Farr from Penarth.
On International Children’s Books Day (April 2nd), the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with the Books Council of Wales are delighted to announce that they have awarded a PhD scholarship in the internationalisation of children’s literature to Megan Farr from Penarth.
Over the next three years, Megan Farr will develop a strategy for the internationalisation of children’s stories for the publishing sector in Wales.
Megan will explore the appropriate strategies that the publishing sector in Wales needs to develop in order to strengthen its operations at an international level in the field of children’s literature. The project will focus on three specific aspects: import; export and co-production.
Megan has a wealth of experience of working in publishing industry and is delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the industry through her research.
“Having worked in the literature and publishing industry in Wales for the past six years, and many years in England before that, I am grateful for the opportunity this scholarship brings for me to increase and consolidate my knowledge and learn new skills,” said Megan. “With the Welsh Government’s increased focus on growing the creative sector in Wales and exporting Welsh culture, I hope this research will be useful to the publishing industry in Wales and beyond.”
Discussing this unique research opportunity, UWTSD’s Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones said: “This is a very exciting and timely project for the publishing sector in Wales with a new emphasis on international activity. As a supervisory team, we are very proud of this partnership with the Books Council of Wales and are delighted that someone as experienced and skilled as Megan has been awarded this scholarship.”
The Books Council of Wales is pleased to partner with UWTSD on this project and looks forward to working with Megan on this important international research.
“A good story can travel the world, unhindered by geographical borders,” said Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales. “By sponsoring Megan Farr’s doctoral research, the aim is to find which children’s books from Wales travel best and why. What are the universal themes which attract young readers and what styles of writing are most successful? Megan has more than 20 years’ experience in the international publishing industry and the findings of her research will enable us to further develop talent from Wales in this important field as well as draw inspiration from literature outside our own country.”
This scholarship is one of two creative industries based PhDs awarded by UWTSD. The scholarship includes UK / EU tuition fees plus stipend starting at £14,628. Megan Farr has now embarked on her PhD scheme which is funded by the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship (KESS 2 East).
For further information on this research, please email Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones elin.jones@uwtsd.ac.uk.
Apr 1, 2020
During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us will be reaching for a good read. And while independent bookshops across Wales may have temporarily closed their doors in line with official guidelines, the good news is that many are still offering postal and online services.
During these days of social distancing and self-isolation, many of us will be reaching for a good read. And while independent bookshops across Wales may have temporarily closed their doors in line with official guidelines, the good news is that many are still offering postal and online services.
We’ve pulled together as much detail as we can on this page and will update the list as we receive new information. As this is a fast-moving situation, we may not always have the most recent and up to date information so do check with your local bookshop.
If you’re a bookseller in Wales and would like to add or update your details, please e-mail: post@llyfrau.cymru
Awen Meirion, Y Bala – www.awenmeirion.com / @AwenMeirion / www.facebook.com/awenmeirion / Shop closed at present
Awen Menai, Menai Bridge – www.facebook.com/awen.menai / arystrydfawr.co.uk / awenmenai@gmail.com / 01248 715532 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Awen Teifi, Aberteifi – www.awenteifi.com www.facebook.com/Awen-Teifi Shop closed at present
Book-ish, Crickhowell – www.bookish.co.uk / @Bookishcrick / 01873 811 256 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, through social media or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Browsers Bookshop, Porthmadog – https://www.facebook.com/Browsers-Bookshop-114707588547811/ / 01766 512066 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Burway Books, Church Stretton – www.burwaybooks.co.uk / 01694 723388 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or over the phone / Postal delivery offered
Bys a Bawd, Llanrwst – Shop closed at present
Caban, Caerdydd – https://www.facebook.com/CabanPontcanna / Shop closed at present
Cant a Mil, Cardiff – www.cantamil.com / @siopcantamil / jo@cantamil.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online, via email and through social media / Postal delivery offered
Cover to Cover, Mwmbwls – www.cover-to-cover.co.uk / https://twitter.com/CovertoCoverUK?lang=en / 01792 366363 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone, through social media / Postal and local delivery offered
Cowbridge Books, Y Bontfaen – cowbridgebookshop@btconnect.co.uk / https://www.facebook.com/thecowbridgebookshop/ 01446 775105 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone or through Facebook / Postal and local delivery offered.
Chepstow Books, Chepstow – www.chepstowbooks.co.uk / @chepstowbooks / 01291 625 011 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Cwpwrdd Cornel, Llangefni – Shop closed at present
Debbie’s Jewllers, Castell Newydd Emlyn – https://www.facebook.com/AnrhegionCymraeg/ Shop closed at present
Elfair, Rhuthun – Shop closed at present
Great Oak Bookshop, Llanidloes – https://greatoakbooks.co.uk / https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatOakBookshop?fref=ts / Shop closed at present
Griffin Books, Penarth – www.griffinbooks.co.uk / info@griffinbooks.co.uk / 02020 706455 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery and local delivery offered
Giggles, Barry – www.facebook.com/Giggles-Barry-479792188748220/ / Shop closed at present
Gwisgo, Aberaeron – www.gwisgobookworm.co.uk / info@gwisgobookworm.co.uk / www.facebook.com/Gwisgo Bookworm / 01545 238282 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone and social media
Hintons, Conwy – @hintons.conwy / Shop closed to the public / Order through Instagram
Igam Ogam, Llandeilo – www.igamogamgifts.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Inc, Aberystwyth – https://www.facebook.com/Siop-Inc-121059026497 / mail@siopinc.com / 01970 626200 / 07834957158 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone, email or through social media / Postal delivery offered
Llên Llŷn, Pwllheli – 01758 612907 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone / Postal delivery offered
Na Nog, Caernarfon – www.na-nog.com / @SiopNanog / www.facebook.com/nanog.gymraeg / 01286 676946 / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by telephone / Postal delivery offered
No 1 High St, Y Drenewydd – www.no1highstreet.co.uk / 07866259710 / Shop closed to the public / Postal delivery can be offered
Palas Print, Caernarfon – www.palasprint.com / @PalasPrint / eirian@palasprint.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by telephone or through social media / Postal delivery offered
Pen’rallt, Machynlleth – www.penralltgallerybookshop.co.uk / penralltbooks@gmail.com / 01654 700559 / Shop closed to the public / Order online, by email or by telephone
Pethe Powys – https://www.facebook.com/Pethe-Powys-107932897356116/ / Shop closed at present
Siop Clwyd, Dinbych – www.facebook.com/Siop-Clwyd-468077820051483 / Shop closed at present
Siop Cwlwm, Croesoswallt – www.siopcwlwm.co.uk / Shop closed to the public / Order online
Siop Eifionydd, Porthmadog – Shop closed at present
Siop y Felin, Caerdydd – siopyfelin@gmail.com / Shop closed to the public / Order by email or through social media / Delivery service offered
Siop Lewis, Llandudno – www.facebook.com/sioplewis/ / www.sioplewis.cymru / @sioplewis / Shop closed to the public / Order through Facebook or Instagram
Siop Lyfrau’r Hen Bost, Blaenau Ffestiniog – Shop closed at present
Siop Ogwen, Bethesda – @siopogwen / https://www.facebook.com/siopogwen/ / siop@ogwen.org / Shop closed at present
Siop y Pentan, Caerfyrddin – https://www.facebook.com/SiopYPentan/ / Busnes@ypentan.co.uk / 07951 610278 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone or email / Postal delivery offered
Siop y Pethe, Aberystwyth – www.siopypethe.cymru / post@siopypethe.cymru / 01970 617 120 / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock online, by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered
Siop Tŷ Tawe, Abertawe – https://www.facebook.com/Ysioptytawe/ / Shop closed at present
Siop Sian, Cymych – https://www.facebook.com/SiopSian/ / Shop closed at present.
Siop y Siswrn, Yr Wyddrug – https://www.facebook.com/siopysiswrn/ / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by email
Siop Siwan, Wrecsam – https://www.facebook.com/siopsiwan/ / Shop closed to the public / Order through social media / Postal delivery offered
Siop y Smotyn Du, Llanbed – Shop closed at present
St David’s Bookshop, St David’s – Shop closed at present
Tenby Bookshop, Dinbych y Pysgod – https://www.facebook.com/tenbybookshop / 01834 843514 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone
T-Hwnt, Caerfyrddin – Shop closed at present
Tŷ’r Gwrhyd, Pontardawe – www.facebook.com/Tyrgwrhyd/ / 07990153730 / Shop closed at present
Verzon Bookshop Gallery – www.facebook.com/VerzonBookshopGallery / Shop closed at present.
Victoria Bookshop, Haverfordwest – https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaBookshop / 01437 762750 / Shop closed at present
The Hours, Aberhonddu – www.thehoursbrecon.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Cwtsh, Pontyberem – www.facebook.com/Y Cwtsh / Shop closed at present.
Seaways, Abergwaun – Seawaysorders@gmail.com / 01348 873433 / Shop closed to the public / Order by telephone or by email / Postal delivery offered
Dragon’s Garden, Llandeilo – www.facebook.com/Books at the Dragon’s Garden / www.dragons-garden.com / mandy@dragons-garden.com / Shop closed to the public / Order online or by email / Postal delivery offered.
College Street Books, Rhydaman – 07434 975578 / www.facebook.com/CollegeStreetBooks / Shop closed to the public / Order available stock by telephone / Postal delivery offered.
Cyfoes, Rhydaman – www.facebook.com/Cyfoes / Shop closed at present
Ystwyth Books, Aberystwyth – 01970 639479 / 07590 764115 / www.facebook.com/Ystwyth Books / Shop closed at present
Rhiannon, Tregaron – www.facebook.com/Canolfan Rhiannon Centre / www.rhiannon.co.uk / Shop closed to the public / Order online
Anrhegaron, Tregaron – www.anrhegaron.cymru / Shop closed at present
Goldstones, Caerfyrddin – www.goldstonebooks.co.uk / www.facebook.com/Goldstone Books / Shop closed at present / Order online
Llyfrau’r Enfys, Merthyr Tydfil – Shop closed at present
Cofion Cynnes, Ystradgynlais – Shop closed at present
Ffab, Llandysul – www.ffabcymru.co.uk / Shop closed at present
Narberth Museum Bookshop – www.narberthmuseum.co.uk / 01834 861719 / Shop closed at present / Order online
Apr 1, 2020
The Books Council of Wales has welcomed emergency funding of £150,000 from the Welsh Government to help the books sector during the current coronavirus crisis.
The Books Council of Wales has welcomed emergency funding of £150,000 from the Welsh Government to help the books sector during the current coronavirus crisis.
The fund will be administered by the Books Council, the national charity responsible for supporting the book industry and promoting reading in Wales.
The additional money for the book sector is part of a comprehensive £18m package of support for the culture, arts and sport sector Wales announced by Welsh Government Wednesday 1 April 2020.
In announcing the fund, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “We’ve listened to our many stakeholders in these vulnerable sectors. We understand that these are uncertain times for business and organisations across Wales and fully recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges Coronavirus is having on the fabric of Welsh life. The Welsh Government is committed to doing everything possible to support the resilience, creativity and partnership which is being shown by the sector.
“Taking this further step will enable this sector to withstand this difficult time and to hopefully thrive again – and bring communities together once more when the emergency has passed.”
The emergency package will include support for independent bricks-and-mortar bookshops in Wales to help them respond to cash flow pressures and minimise the impact of coronavirus.
The Books Council will now be consulting with the wider publishing industry to identify other areas experiencing the most significant disruption as a result of the pandemic.
The Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “We warmly welcome the emergency funding announced by Welsh Government today to support the books sector in Wales. These are extremely testing times for any business and we are particularly concerned about the impact on independent bookshops who make such an important contribution to our communities and our economy, especially in rural areas. We will continue to work closely with them and the wider publishing sector to support our industry throughout these difficult times.”
The emergency fund is in addition to the support for business and the self-employed already announced by the UK Government.
“In these testing, turbulent times the health and well-being of people has to be the overriding priority, but we also need to ensure that when we come through this pandemic we still have a thriving publishing industry in Wales. Not only does it make a significant contribution to our economy and creative industries, successive studies have also demonstrated the wider benefits of reading in terms of our mental health as well as the development of key skills and knowledge acquisition,” added Ms Krause.
Gwales.com books website
The Books Council of Wales also confirmed that its books website gwales.com would reopen for individual orders from the public from Wednesday 1 April 2020.
The move is aimed at helping the publishing industry as well as meeting demand for books during self-isolation, at a time when many bookshops have had to temporarily close their doors.
People who buy from the gwales.com site can nominate a local bookshop of their choice who will then receive their usual commission on each sale.
There are more than 11,000 titles in Welsh or about Wales on the gwales.com website, and availability will depend on stock levels in the Distribution Centre as no deliveries can be received at present and some publishing schedules are being revised.
A list of independent bookshops in Wales offering an online mailing service for books is available on the Books Council website.
Mar 27, 2020
Tales of dragons, families, myths and magic set amongst the mountains and coastlines of Wales feature in the English-language books shortlisted today (27 March 2020) for the Tir na n-Og Awards 2020.
Tales of dragons, families, myths and magic set amongst the mountains and coastlines of Wales feature in the English-language books shortlisted today (27 March 2020) for the Tir na n-Og Awards 2020.
The Welsh-language shortlists include picture books promoting tolerance, tackling materialism and highlighting inspirational women from Wales in the primary age category, whilst books exploring mental health, eating disorders and migration dominate in the category for secondary schools.
Organised by the Books Council of Wales and sponsored by CILIP Cymru Wales, the awards celebrate the work of authors and illustrators published in 2019.
There are three main categories: Welsh-language books for primary school age, Welsh-language books for secondary school age, and English-language books for children of any age with an authentic Welsh background.
English-language Shortlist
• The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke (Puffin 2019). A magical adventure story for ages 8+ about science, dragons and friendship set on the Welsh coast with a strong sense of place.
• Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It by Susie Day (Puffin 2019). A contemporary story for ages 8+ about families, being a boy and coping with loss, full of empathy and a strong sense of place in Snowdonia.
• Storm Hound by Claire Fayers (Macmillan Children’s Books 2019). A fantasy adventure for ages 8+ set in the Welsh mountains, combining Norse legend with Welsh myth.
• Where Magic Hides by Cat Weatherill (Gomer 2019). A diverse collection of seven short stories for ages 9+, all set in Wales, where young characters encounter kings and trolls, wild horses and rainbow-coloured sheep as they learn to find the magic in the stories all around them.
Eleri Twynog Davies, Chair of the English-language judging panel, said: “All four books on the shortlist are of very high quality, from the covers, illustrations and design to great character depiction and excellent storytelling. They take us from Abergavenny to Ogmore and Snowdonia, giving us a real sense of place – one of the central criteria for this award. It is so important that the children of Wales can see themselves reflected in Welsh literature, and that children outside Wales have a window on another culture.”
Welsh-language Shortlist – Primary
• Y Ddinas Uchel (The High City) by Huw Aaron (Atebol 2019). Petra lives in a city of towers where people spend all day building them higher and higher. A picture book dealing with the materialism of society in an indirect, lighthearted way.
• Genod Gwych a Merched Medrus (Great Girls and Skilled Women) by Medi Jones-Jackson (Y Lolfa 2019). A picture book about 14 inspirational women from Wales including Tori James, Laura Ashley, Eileen Beasley, Amy Dillwyn and Haley Gomez. Full of fun, facts, puzzles, activites and colourful cartoons and illustrations.
• Pobol Drws Nesaf (The People Next Door) by Manon Steffan Ros and Jac Jones (Y Lolfa 2019). A picture book about the importance of not judging people who look and behave differently to us, and the need to respect everyone.
Welsh-language Shortlist – Secondary
• Byw yn fy Nghroen (Living in my Skin) edited by Sioned Erin Hughes (Y Lolfa 2019). A collection of autobiographical accounts about the experiences of twelve young people who have fought against long-term conditions including cancer, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, spina bifida, blindness, OCD, depression and anxiety.
• Tom by Cynan Llwyd (Y Lolfa 2019). A YA novel from a debut author about 15-year-old Tom who lives in a block of flats with his mother and who befriends an 81-year-old neighbour. Themes cover bullying, conflict, migrants, violence and illness.
• Madi by Dewi Wyn Williams (Atebol 2019). A powerful YA novel about a teenage girl living with anorexia and bulimia who tries to hide the illness.
Gwawr Maelor Williams, Chair of the Welsh-language judging panel, said: “We have heard the voices of new, exciting and unique writers this year – books by young people for young people. In the midst of adventure and fantasy, there’s a voice for children’s well-being, a voice for Welsh women, a voice for mental resilience and mental health, and a voice for young people with physical ailments and conditions.”
The Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales, Helgard Krause, said: “The Tir na n-Og Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate the talents of our writers and illustrators, who are creating world-class content for our children and young people. The awards also reflect the subjects that are important to this audience and address some of the burning issues of the day – from eating disorders and mental health problems to questions around diversity, broadening horizons and respect for others. This is a further indication of how reading can support our health and well-being, as well as developing skills and being a delight in itself.”
The names of the winners will be announced in May 2020 and further details about the shortlisted books are available on the gwales.com books website.
Mar 24, 2020
Following the introduction of more stringent measures to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, the Books Council’s offices at Castell Brychan and our Distribution Centre in Aberystwyth are now closed at least until mid April.
Following the introduction of more stringent measures to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, the Books Council’s offices at Castell Brychan and our Distribution Centre in Aberystwyth are now closed at least until mid April.
A number of our staff are working from home as we continue to do all that we can to support the publishing industry in exceptional circumstances and ensure we come through these difficult times.
We are therefore able to continue to offer the following services:
• Strategic and operational leadership, which includes assessing the current needs of the wider books sector with Welsh Government.
• Financial advice and planning (mererid.boswell@books.wales)
• Processing of regular payments to the industry including publishing grants, support for editorial staff, support for writers and other freelance workers (arwel.jones@books.wales)
• Book editing services (huw.meirionedwards@books.wales)
• Design services (sion.ilar@books.wales)
• Promotion of books and reading for pleasure on digital and other platforms (mari.sion@books.wales).
You can contact staff in the above posts either through their work email addresses or via post@books.wales. Booksellers should contact their usual sales representatives.
Distribution Centre
The temporary closure of the Distribution Centre is of course a blow to our operations as an institution and for the sector in Wales and beyond. However, the health and wellbeing of our communities is a priority at the moment, and we need to pull together to support the efforts to halt the spread of the virus.
Our Distribution Centre will not be able to accept or deliver stock during this period so we are asking our publishers to postpone sending books, magazines and other resources until we re-open.
The Centre’s management team are available to answer any questions our customers may have and the best email address for queries is post@books.wales.
Tir na n-Og Awards
We will be pressing ahead with our plans to publish the shortlists for the 2020 Tir na n-Og children’s literature awards by issuing a news release on our website and through the media this Friday 27 March. Our intention is to announce the names of the winners in May but we have not yet set new dates, following the cancellation of the CILIP Cymru Annual conference and the Urdd National Eisteddfod where the ceremonies were due to be held.
Our industry, like others across the country, is facing truly unprecedented challenges and it is impossible to predict the scale and scope of the impact at this time. However, our central role and contribution to the culture, education and Welsh-language remain undiminished. For now, our focus must be on protecting our people and supporting our communities.
Keep safe. Be kind. And stay home to save lives.
HELGARD KRAUSE
Chief Executive
Mar 18, 2020
The Books Council of Wales is monitoring developments closely and implementing a series of special measures in response to the latest situation and guidelines.
The Books Council of Wales is monitoring developments closely and implementing a series of special measures in response to the latest situation and guidelines.
The aim is to take appropriate steps to ensure our core mission of supporting the publishing industry continues, while doing all that is practically possible to help reduce the potential spread of the virus and safeguard our staff and stakeholders.
• Our Distribution Centre for books and resources in Glanyrafon, Aberystwyth, is still operating but is closed to external visitors, with the exception of pre-arranged essential collections and deliveries to a designated area. If you need to make any such arrangement, please contact the Centre on 01970 624455 or distribution.centre@books.wales.
• From Wednesday 18 March 2020, the majority of staff based in our main offices at Castell Brychan in Aberystwyth are working from home. They continue to provide our usual services such as book editing, design and grant administration, and their work contact details remain the same (both telephone and email).
• Castell Brychan is closed to visitors during this period. Staff will not be travelling to face-to-face meetings with external contacts and will use video or phone systems for such meetings. Our contact details for general enquiries are 01970 624151 or castellbrychan@books.wales.
• We have cancelled or postponed all public events until the end of May, including book launches and school visits. We will re-assess the situation in the light of circumstances at the time but in the meantime, we are planning and discussing alternative arrangements for the promotion of books and reading.
• We are in regular contact with publishers, booksellers, distributors and others to ensure that we fully understand the challenges they face and work with them to offer advice and practical support. We encourage the industry in Wales to get in touch with us to discuss any business concerns they may have.
• For those who are self-isolating and looking for reading material, we have a series of reading lists on our gwales.com website. These curated lists include publications suitable for all ages and interests, as well as our latest best sellers, new titles, books of the month, reviews and more.
We know this is an extremely challenging period for everyone and that the situation is likely to continue for some time to come.
Our mission as the Books Council of Wales remains unchanged, and we will do all that we can to support the publishing industry and our community during these worrying, uncertain days.
HELGARD KRAUSE
Chief Executive, Books Council of Wales
