Wildlife

We have two wonderful guest poets / writers next month at the Cellar Bards, Christina Thatcher and Tracey Rhys will be joining us, and sharing their inspirational words which will be held at The Cellar Cafe, Cardigan on Friday 11th July, doors open at 7.30 pm. Entry fee is £5 which includes a free raffle. Christina Thatcher grew up between a farm and a ranch house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She won a Marshall Scholarship to study in the UK and now lectures at Cardiff University. Her poetry and short stories have been widely published in literary magazines, including Ambit , Poetry Wales , The North and The Poetry Review . She has published two earlier collections, More than you were and How to Carry Fire . Christina has toured internationally, reading her work in the UK, USA, Canada, Costa Rica, Switzerland and Romania. She lives with her gardener husband, Rich, and their cat, Miso We also have Tracey Rhys who is a freelance writer and editor from South Wales. Her poems, stories ...

 

 

It was a joy to return to Cardiff Writers' Circle to judge their annual Short Story Competition ...  Congratulations all! Here's their round up of the night: Throwback to Monday 23rd June, when we were thrilled to have 12 attendees join us for the Adjudication Event of our annual Short Story C ompetition - the winner and runners-up were announced, received their prizes, and graciously allowed pics to be taken for posterity! A huge round of applause goes to our winner, Gordon Harrop, who is fresh to CWC competitions. Gordon's winning entry served up some diabolical black humour, with a dark twist. Congratulations Gordon, and thank you for submitting such an entertaining and well-written piece! Gordon was joined on the podium by two of our long-standing members, Steve Pritchard and Angela Edwards Rigby, who are no strangers to receiving CWC awards and prizes. It was wonderful to hear their competition entries - Steve's story a page-turning "will-they-won't-they...

Lovely reviews for This Common Uncommon, Breaking a Mare and Bathing on the Roof on The High Window...

'Few writers compel you to pause and reflect, take a deep breath, and declare, “This is simply magical.” Natalie Ann Holborow is one of them. [...] In Little Universe, Natalie Ann Holborow invites us into a bidirectional loophole between two worlds, enabling us to appreciate those small moments. When it comes to memories, we must decide what we take with us and what we leave behind.' Thanks to Eric Ngalle Charles for this lovely review of Little Universe by Natalie Ann Holborow up on Nation.Cymru today!

'The ebullient Christina Thatcher grew up between a farm and a ranch house in Pennsylvania. This book takes us into the heart of that world. Here we encounter a childhood filled with a stern, strong mother, hard work, young love, horses, bronco riding women and the harsh beauty of the wild. This is an extraordinary book with poems that captivate with passion, honesty and whip crack intensity.'

A lovely evening of poetry on a hot, hot night in Cardiff last night with Christina Thatcher, Tracey Rhys and Rhian Elizabeth!

  This Saturday in Ponty! I'll be looking after the Parthian table... 10-3, come say hi Joshua Jones & Christina Thatcher are reading at 1pm ... Introducing Storyville Books' first Pride Book Fair ! We'll be welcoming LGBTQ+ writers, artists, and poets to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusive literature and talent. Including talks and craft vendors there will be a lot to discover. All are welcome and entry is absolutely free!

  Happy World Environment Day from Gower Lavender and poet Rae Howells who say: We are choosing to celebrate the bees, they are why we do what we do... Why not join us in celebrate with a Bee lover's Lavender Gift Set Pay tribute to the humble bumble bee with a lavender gift set that’s sure to delight the bee lover in your life . We’ve stuffed this unique hamper with a gorgeous selection of bee-inspired local loveliness, from a beautiful book of bee-inspired poetry, The language of bees, a jar of Gower honey from the hives at Little Walterstone Farm, a Gower-made beeswax candle, a Gower-made bee decoration, a honey dipper, a beeswax lip balm and a bar of our signature lavender soap.

A great line up for this much-needed fundraiser... including Patrick Jones, Tracey Rhys, Abeer Ameer and Mr W.  Fundraiser for the Children of Gaza. Saturday 21st June 2025 Storyville, Pontypridd Starts 6.30pm. Voices on the Bridge is organised and presented by Rob Cullen - Reading and performing will be Sabrin Hasbun, Patrick Jones, Abeer Ameer, Mike Jenkins, Rob Cullen, Tracey Rhys, Greg Cullen, Leanne Evans, Des MannayDisabled, Welsh writer of colour, Fiona Cullen, and Ben Wildsmith. Elizabeth Heath of RCT Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be speaking about the upcoming Palestinian youth visit to RCT and they will have a stall with info leaflets. Menna Elfyn couldn't be with us but has generously donated 20 copies of - Y Bachgen a'r Wal - The Boy and the Wall - a book creeated by the young people at Lajee Centre near the city of Bethlehem. Local artists Gerhard Kress & Barabara Castle, have donated paintings to be autioned on the night . Great news Gerhard Kress has don...

Thanks to Ellora Sutton and Mslexia for a lovely review of Christina Thatcher's third poetry collection, Breaking a Mare in issue 106. Here are some snippets: " Breaking a Mare is Christina Thatcher’s ode to growing up on a horse ranch in Pennsylvania, a space where girls are taught 'never show / you’re willing to stay down’ (‘Get back on the horse’). But there are other lessons, too, subtly communicated by the ranch’s mares." "Thatcher has a direct style, comparable to Selima Hill; she shows us, with precise detail, what’s on the surface, the veil through which uneasiness seeps" "Thatcher wields form like a whip." Pick up a copy of Mslexia here

   At  The Bookshop by the Sea  on Saturday afternoon: Mari will be chatting about the power of language, words and poetry, as well as reading a sneaky excerpt from WITSH, (coming soon!) Entrance to individual events can be sorted at the door, or you can purchase a day pass / full weekend ticket.