One of the stories from my draft collection, ‘A City Burning’ has been chosen to appear in the New Welsh Review’s prestigious New Welsh Reader, due in May next year.
Category Archives: Blog
The Hidden Story: Understanding Knowledge Exchange Partnerships within the Creative Economy
The Hidden Story: universities & knowledge exchange in the creative industries published its report on 4th December. There are many implications for Wales. As the report states:
‘The Creative Industries are a significant sector for the success of the UK economy contributing £87.4bn GVA in 2015 (DCMS). It is therefore important that we use the research funds allocated to university support for this sector (over £46 million in 2015) as effectively as possible. To do this, we must understand the distinctive nature of knowledge exchange relationships between universities and enterprises within this sector. ‘
The Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations at USW was the main Case Study from Wales. Continue reading The Hidden Story: Understanding Knowledge Exchange Partnerships within the Creative Economy
TV Commissioning: Demand & Supply
For decades I have, without knowing it, been walking past the place where Broadcasting in Wales began. It launched on 13th February 1923 in the building that’s now a NISA store, opposite Cardiff Castle. I spotted the commemorative plaque only recently.
Continue reading TV Commissioning: Demand & Supply
Seen in Berlin 3: Bell Power and Cake
In unexpectedly warm sunshine outside the Bundestag in Berlin plangent bells rang across the park… and rang… and rang.
This tolling was so protracted that I realised something our of the ordinary was happening but even when I’d walked right up to the bell tower that’s visible above the trees near the Tiergarten I still didn’t grasp what I was hearing. Continue reading Seen in Berlin 3: Bell Power and Cake
Seen in Berlin 2: Luther – Image and Effect
The 500th anniversary this year of the Protestant Reformation is marked in Berlin by two key exhibitions. In September I saw both the Luther Bilder / Luther Pictures at the Gemaldegalerie and The Luther Effect – 500 Years of Protestantism in the World at the Gropius Bau.
From the Bilder exhibition this is my favourite detail: the beaked, cheeky figure – human or not? – raving it up among a group of Catholic clergy in a pro-Luther parody… Continue reading Seen in Berlin 2: Luther – Image and Effect
Seen in Berlin – Adoration and Panache
Berlin’s Gemaldegalerie houses a fantastic collection of medieval art. After four visits I have only got as far as 1560!
One of many highlights: an Adoration of the Kings by an unknown artist from the Netherlands from about 1520.
Reading Another Angela
I admit I took on the editing of Elizabeth Ruth Obbard’s forthcoming book READING THE BOOK OF LIFE (New City Press) partly from curiosity because I share a name with the subject.
I was named after Angela Merici, a pioneer of the education of women but the subject of this biographical sketch and selection of documents is another Italian Angela, from Foligno, halfway between Assisi and Spoleto. Continue reading Reading Another Angela
Seeing Further: Short Stories ‘Collected’ via a Bursary
Back in June I had A Bursary and a Strategy for my ambitions to write a Short Story Collection with the help of a Literature Wales Writer’s Bursary.
In August I did an interim account: Highlights So Far
Today I’ve sent in my End of Bursary report.
How well has the plan worked? I’ve achieved my aim of producing a Short Story Collection set in Wales, Ireland and Italy. Thank you to everyone who helped me – and there are many.
Continue reading Seeing Further: Short Stories ‘Collected’ via a Bursary
Writer’s Bursary: Highlights so far
I have a fortnight left of my Literature Wales Bursary. I began it with a strategy. So how have I got on? I will be mentioning pleasure a lot.
Some highlights:
• Working with an editor
• Shaping a Short Story Collection
• Being read
• Funding the work
• Moving to publication
1st Prize Bridgend Open Short Story Competition 2017
It is such an encouragement to win this competition. Adjudicator, Laura Foakes said of my story, Acting Abby:
This multi-layered story stayed with me long after each reading, which is always a sign of a job well done. The author conveyed her understanding of the vagaries of the human condition in a profound but unsentimental way. The wistful first-person narration drew me immediately into the story and the “voice” was strong.
I particularly liked the device of using a stage play as a metaphor for the judgements people/audiences make, and the eventual unfolding of the “choice” the narrator made. The author invites us to judge at our peril. This is a very accomplished and thought provoking piece of work. Continue reading 1st Prize Bridgend Open Short Story Competition 2017