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#Her100Cerdd is back to celebrate National Poetry Day
Literature Wales is proud to announce that Her 100 Cerdd will return this October for the seventh year in a row. Four poets have been challenged to compose a total of 100 original poems in just 24 hours as part of the National Poetry Day celebrations.
The four brave poets undertaking this year’s challenge are Beth Celyn, Dyfan Lewis, Elinor Wyn Reynolds and Matthew Tucker.
All four poets will need to write at least one poem per hour in order to complete Her 100 Cerdd on time. In the past, the teams of poets managed to reachthe finish-line with only seconds to spare. Will the 2019 crew succeed in completing the greatest poetic challenge of the year?
Since its inception in 2012, Her100Cerdd has offered a unique snapshot of Wales for one day – its politics, its interests, its news and culture. The public are invited to join the challenge by suggesting subjects for on-the-spot poems, and sending words of encouragement over social media.
Among the 500 poems published over the years are verses of love and satire, poems written as a group, poems about music, about pork pies, new arrivals, notable birthdays and even a fictional fight between cult Welsh singers John and Alun and the Gregory Brothers.
During the 24 hours the poets will be based at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre, run by Literature Wales, where the muse can be found in every nook and cranny.
The team will start their challenge at noon on Wednesday 2 October, and the final poem must be finished by noon on Thursday 3 October. National Poetry Day, held on Thursday 3 October, is an annual celebration of poetry taking place across the UK each year. The poems will be published online at www.literaturewales.org throughout the 24 hours, so that the public can follow their progress.
Join in with Her 100 Cerdd with messages of support or requests by using the #Her100Cerdd hashtag on Twitter, or sending a message to Literature Wales on Facebook or by email to post@literaturewales.org. A link to the poems will be posted individually on the Twitter account @LlenCymru and on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LlenCymruLitWales
The Poets
Beth Celyn
Beth Celyn is a creative artist originally from Denbigh and is now developing her career as a poet and musician in Cardiff. Beth is a graduate from King’s College, London where she read English Literature, and recently completed an MA in Creative Writing at Bangor University. She released an EP called Troi in December 2017 and has collaborated on a number of projects with BBC Horizons, recorded with the folk band Vrï, and wrote an original musical for the theatre company Sbarc-Galeri. Beth travels extensively across Wales as part of the poetic collective, Cywion Cranogwen. She was BBC Radio Cymru’s Poet of the Month in November 2018, and was commissioned to write poems inspired by the Gold Medal for Architecture winners at the Llanrwst National Eisteddfod in 2019 which were exhibited at Y Lle Celf.
Dyfan Lewis
Dyfan Lewis was brought up in Craig-cefn-parc, Swansea. He went to Cardiff University to study Welsh and has now made his home in the city. Dyfan is a recipient of a Literature Wales New Writer’s Bursary 2019, and with this support aims to develop a series of essays based on his time in South-east Asia, discussing his experiences there, and ‘travelling’ as a phenomenon amongst his generation. He published a pamphlet of poems, Mawr, in 2019.
Elinor Wyn Reynolds
Elinor Wyn Reynolds is a poet, author, playwright and book editor who hails from Carmarthen. She performs her work regularly and over the years has been involved in several poetry tours: Dal Clêr, Taith Glyndwr and Lliwiau Rhyddid and was one of many poets taking part in the Siwpyr Stomp at the National Eisteddfod in 2018. Elinor has extensive experience of working as an editor for Welsh books for children and adults alike, and she also runs poetry workshops for children and adults.
Matthew Tucker
Matthew Tucker hails from Pontarddulais but now lives in Burry Port. He graduated in Welsh from Swansea University and is now studying an MA in Literature and Creative Writing as well as embarking on a PGCE course at Trinity Saint David University. Matthew attended one of the Cynghaneddu courses at Tŷ Newydd thanks to the support of Cronfa Gerallt (Barddas).
Welsh adaption of ‘Mixed Emotions’
Rily Publications is about to publish an innovative Welsh-language book for children that introduces the basics of various underlying emotions, including anger, happiness, jealousy, fear and anxiety.
As recent statistics suggest that the number of young children suffering from anxiety is on the increase, it is clear that there is a real need for suitable resources and literature to try to help children understand and cope with their feelings, for the benefit of their mental health.
Rily Publications is about to publish an innovative Welsh-language book for children that introduces the basics of various underlying emotions, including anger, happiness, jealousy, fear and anxiety. It deals with events that occur in children’s lives that can trigger intense emotions, such as a marriage or relationship breakup, the start of a new school and the death of a favourite pet.
Elin Meek, responsible for adapting the book, says, ‘We very much hope that children will benefit from this simple and accessible introduction to emotions. What is also important here is the encouragement and guidance given to children to accept their feelings; there is no criticism at all, and no emotion that is ‘not right’ or ‘inappropriate’ to feel. The anger section explains how anger can be healthy if properly channelled; it can be a catalyst for standing up for principles and acting for justice.’
‘We felt there was a great need for this kind of book,’ says Lynda Tunnicliffe, Chief Executive of Rily Publications. ‘Most of the staff at Rily are parents, and they were all excited and eager that we publish this Welsh adaptation of My Mixed Emotions, to provide an important resource for a generation that really needs it. About a month ago we announced on our social media sites that this book was in progress, and the response has been extremely encouraging.’
The book contains practical advice and tips, for example how to overcome anger, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and practicing gratitude. The content of the book can be the foundation for discussion with an adult, carer or teacher at school, or a child can read alone, and process the content independently.
Eloise Williams named first Children’s Laureate Wales
Literature Wales has announced that popular Pembrokeshire-based children’s author Eloise Williams is the first Children’s Laureate Wales. This new national ambassadorial post aims to engage and inspire the children of Wales through literature, and to promote a child’s right to have their stories and voices heard.
The announcement was made on Wednesday 18 September in front of 150 pupils at Jubilee Park Primary School in Newport. Eloise is currently the school’s Patron of Reading and following the announcement she officially opened their new school library. In an open letter addressed to the children of Wales, Eloise emphasised how excited and honoured she was to be their Laureate; how she will do her very best to help them find the right stories for them; will push for them to see themselves well represented in literature; and most importantly, that their voices matter. You can read her letter in full on the Literature Wales website.
Eloise Williams worked as a touring actor and creative practitioner for over a decade before becoming a children’s writer. Her novel, Gaslight (Firefly Press, 2017) – which was written with the support of a Literature Wales New Writer’s Bursary – won the Wales Arts Review Young People’s Book of the Year 2017, the YBB Book Awards 2018, and was shortlisted for the Tir na nOg Awards 2018. Her latest novel for young people, Seaglass (Firefly Press, 2018), was also shortlisted for the Tir na nOg Awards in 2019, and the North East Book Awards 2019.
A regular speaker at festivals and events, she uses her drama skills to engage young people in children’s literature and now finds herself onstage more than she ever did as a professional actor.
Eloise said: “I’ve always loved stories. The joy of losing yourself in a good story is simply magical. Stories connect us, give us empathy and understanding, exercise our brains and imaginations, let us travel the world and experience the greatest wonders.
“Children’s literature is thriving and there couldn’t be a more exciting time to be involved in its growth in Wales. I feel passionately that there is a connection between children’s books and the hope I feel every time I walk into a classroom. I truly believe that young readers will make our futures bright and I’m honoured to be a part of that.”
Announced in May 2019 as part of Literature Wales’ new Strategic Plan (2019-22), the Children’s Laureate Wales will work alongside the Welsh-language equivalent, Bardd Plant Cymru, primarily working with children between the ages of 5-13. Eloise was appointed following a public call-out for writers to express their interest in the role.
Lleucu Siencyn, Chief Executive of Literature Wales, said about the announcement: “We’re delighted not only to launch this brand-new initiative, but to announce such a passionate, popular and engaging person to the role of Children’s Laureate Wales. Our vision is a Wales where literature empowers, improves and brightens lives. This role will increase the accessibility and impact of creative writing for our children and young people and make a significant contribution to their well-being.”
“Eloise will be a terrific advocate for creative reading and writing for pleasure, and for representation within children’s literature, and I look forward immensely to following her journey over the next two years.”
The Children’s Laureate Wales will visit a number of schools, clubs, festivals and events across Wales during their two-year tenure, as well as devising and delivering bespoke activity with Literature Wales’ target client groups.
To arrange a Children’s Laureate Wales school visit, or to discuss other activity, email Literature Wales on: childrenslaureate@literaturewales.org.
