Old stories

Only Men Aloud and Bryn Terfel: The First to support the Song for Saint David’s Day

Bryn Terfel and Tim Rhys Evans, Musical Director of 'Only Men Aloud' came together to support the launch of a manuscript on the web, a special song for Saint David's Day, which has been adopted as the official song of the National Saint David's Day Parade. (NSDDP)

The launch of the 'Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi' manuscripts on the web, was celebrated by the presentation of the very first copies to Bryn Terfel and Tim Rhys Evans, and the manuscripts will be available here - the very first time a Welsh medium publication is sold in an electronic format.

“It's a great pleasure and honour for all of us in 'Only Men Aloud' to be the first to receive this exciting new song to celebrate our Nation's Patron Saint. All the best to the 'National Saint David's Day Parade' for many years of continued success in song and spirit.” said Tim Rhys Evans.

Bryn Terfel received the very first copy of the Piano and Voice arrangement and Tim Rhys Evans the first version of the Male Voice Choral arrangement from Gwenno Dafydd, who wrote the words both in English and Welsh. Heulwen Thomas composed the original music for piano and voice and the Male Voice, Female Voice and Mixed (SATB) arrangements were made by Eilir Owen Griffiths.

Listen to the song, sung by the children of Ysgol Gymraeg Penygarth Penarth
English version Welsh version (streaming audio)

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Y Lolfa Dominates Welsh Books Charts

Five of the top eight best-selling Christmas books in both Welsh and English on the Gwales.com chart were books published by y Lolfa. In the English language chart books by Roberto Martinez, Chris Needs, Derek Brockway, Michael O Brien and Kevin Johns made it to the top eight. In Welsh, autobiographies by Trebor Edwards and Nigel Owens, were in the first and second spot. Due to the huge demand Y Lolfa hopes to publish Nigel Owens' autobiography in English later on this year.

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Stories from Welsh History

To mark the anniversary of the death of Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf, the last leader of an independent Wales, Y Lolfa will be publishing A Stone for Remembrance – a fantastic collection of short stories based on the most well-known and loved Welsh legends.

Commissioning editor Rhys Parry explains: “This book gives interesting interpretations of some of the stories and heroes of Welsh history, hopefully entertaining and encouraging readers to learn more about Wales' past.”

Editor Barrie Llewelyn says, “This book brings together 16 of the best loved traditional Welsh stories, which are retold in new and interesting ways by writers who live and work in Wales.”

Readers will discover the exploits of Llywelyn and Gelert, Merlin, Dic Penderyn, Caradog and Owain Glyndwr in tales of battle, intrigue, romance, mystique and magic.

A Stone for Remembrance is the perfect introduction to the colourful stories which form such a vital part of the heritage of Wales. It will appeal to the general reader as well as parents and teachers who wish to introduce these culturally important stories to the next generation in an easily digestible format.

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Join Derek Brockway for More Weatherman Walks

Following the success of his radio and television series Wales' most popular weatherman is back with More Weatherman Walks – a second book of his favourite tramps around Wales.

Derek says, “After the first book, lots of people wrote to say that they bought it and pledged to do every walk in the book – and it would be great if lots of people did that again. I've done them all and thoroughly enjoyed them. Remember, if I can do it – so can you!”

The twelve routes are suitable for the general walker, and each one has been chosen for a particular month of the year. As Derek explains: “The aim of the book is to get you walking through the year and to enjoy the different seasons.” He hopes the book will “inspire you at home to want to get out and about and explore our wonderful country.”

This reasonably-priced book includes stunning colour photographs, maps and comprehensive directions to accompany each walk. They are all introduced by Derek and an experienced local guide, and feature background information on social history, heritage, wildlife and topography by the BBC's Julian Carey. There are also details of walking festivals throughout Wales.

Derek will be signing copies of his new book More Weatherman Walks at the following venues:

06/12/2008
WH Smith's Brecon 11.00 - 12.00
Waterstone's Abergavenny 14.00 - 15.00
The Chepstow Bookshop 16.00 - 17.00
13/12/2008
WH Smith's Barry 15.00 - 16.00
20/12/2008
Waterstone's Swansea 12.00 - 13.00
Cover to Cover Swansea 14.00 - 15.00

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Chris Needs Aims for a Christmas Number One - again!

After his autobiography became the bests selling book in Wales last Christmas, Chris Needs is now publishing a second book – this time about his comic creation: The Jenkins's's's's's: Wales's First Family, and aims for similar success. The hilarious escapades of the Jenkins's's's's are written through the diaries of the family's matriarch, our Gladys, and will be published this week.

The revealing autobiography, Like It Is, published in 2007 by Y Lolfa told of Chris's traumatic childhood, his showbiz and charity career as an accomplished pianist and vocalist, and his life more recently as an all-round celebrity.

However, this book is a completely different kettle of fish. In her riotous, humour-filled diaries, Gladys tells of her struggle to keep the family's crazy, mixed-up lives together. Mam's task isn't easy though. Her husband Dai is work-shy, son Philllip has a handbag, daughter Shantelll is preggers and dog Christopher – or is it Christine? – has had puppies. Just as well Elsie next door is accommodating – she agreed to an adjoining door so they only pay one TV licence.

Follow the family from their humble beginnings in the valley community of Ponty Pantin to the sun-kissed Mumbles Bay and foreign parts (including Western Super Mare). Crammed full of outrageous valleys humour, this is an ideal Christmas treat for all of Chris's fans – and anyone else who needs a good laugh. The book is illustrated with eye-catching colour cartoons by Mark Davies.

Chris Needs is a much loved radio presenter with a high profile thanks to his popular weeknight music and chat show on BBC Radio Wales. His cult fan club 'The Garden' has over 40,000 members worldwide.

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Martinez Tells His Story

Roberto Martinez is one of the sharpest minds and most inspiring personalities in Eurpoean football today. At only 33 years of age Roberto Martinez decided to bring a premature end to his playing career after being offered his dream manager's job at Swansea City. After only fifteen months in the job he won the club the first division title and for himself the LMA Manager of the year award.
In Kicking Every Ball Roberto Martinez looks back over his life on the move and the ups and downs of his playing career. From his early days in Catalonia to his current role as one of the brightest managers in British football today.
Originally from Balageur in Catalonia, Roberto Martinez played for his home town in the Spanish third division before moving to play Real Zaragoza in La Liga. In 1995 he was spotted by Dave Whelan, the millionaire owner of Wigan's famous 'Three Amigos', alongside Jesus Seba and Isidro Diaz. He then played for Motherwell, Walsall, Swansea and Chester before deciding to follow his father's footsteps into management when offered the job at Swansea City in 2007.

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Historical novel will inspire a new legion of young readers

This is a new (and probably the first-ever) novel based on the French invasion of Pembrokeshire in 1797 to be aimed at older children and young adults. This important historical event is one of the most dramatic events in Welsh history and provides an ideal setting for this tale of adventure, treachery and teenage love.

The author William Vaughan, being a former teacher of History and English, has the experience to know what inspires the imagination of youngsters. He says: “I deliberately wrote the novel in a light, fast-paced style with the aim of transforming a brief chapter in school text-books into a vivid and gripping reality.”

The Black Legion will be an ideal introduction to the subject of the French invasion for schoolchildren. William Vaughan says he does “not accept that today's teenagers are uninterested in Welsh history. The last invasion of Britain is an exciting period which deserves to be remembered and I trust this adventure novel will help to serve the purpose.”

The central characters in the novel are Tom, a young servant, and Megan, a Major's daughter. They have feelings for each other but are constrained in declaring their emotions by the class divide. However, they witness the invasion together and are soon caught up in dramatic events which will change their lives forever.

The author has interwoven historical details into the action-laden plot in order to portray the period accurately. Scenes of brutality on board convict ships and rat-infested gaols are contrasted with shimmering, candlelit ballrooms and portrait-lined castles. The Black Legion will delight older children and young adults who enjoy a well-written, swashbuckling tale.

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“Welsh Dan Brown” sets thriller in West Wales

Cardiff author Peter Luther has just launched his second novel, The Mourning Vessels. It is loosely located in his favourite town of Tenby. The fast paced supernatural thriller is based on the machinations of a Satanic coven –The Divine Sentiment and the story follows the main character Ellen's quest to unriddle their sinister operations and free the souls of her dead parents.
Peter Luther's first novel Dark Covenant has already been reprinted twice and earned him the tag of the “Welsh Dan Brown”. It was described as a “word of mouth sensation” in the Times and other reviewers have described his work as “macabre and compelling”, “a real page turner with a twist of Oscar Wild”, “genre hopping rollercoaster ride” with many tipping him for bigger things.
Although he is a new face, he has built a loyal band of underground followers, as testified by the response to his first book on his website www.peterluther.co.uk. His fans will be pleased to hear that Peter revealed at the launch of Mourning Vessels, in Waterstone's Cardiff , that he has already written his third novel Precious Cargo and hopes to see it published next year.
Peter Luther, a successful solicitor and an accomplished musician, admits that his fictional work is influenced by his personal experiences, his latest born from the tragic loss of both his parents and his next relates to his wife's experiences of receiving IVF treatment. He will be touring bookshops throughout Britain in November and December.

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The Swansea boy done good – Kevin Johns’ biog is an entertaining treat

Kevin Johns is a performer, actor, pantomime dame, radio broadcaster, football fanatic and the guy with the mike at all of Swansea City's home games. And that's not all, as we discover in this extremely enjoyable autobiography of the all-round entertainer, co-written by Peter Read.

Growing up in the Plasmarl area of Swansea in the 1960s, Johns longed to be an entertainer from an early age. After a religious experience at secondary school, his life became a battle between football and religion, the secular and the spiritual. The book tells of how he has managed to combine several diverse aims into a satisfying whole.

It is in the variety of roles he has played – both on and off the stage – which makes his life such an interesting story. He has (amongst many other things) been heavily involved in charity work, played football with Emlyn Hughes, interviewed Tony Blair and played a wind-up on Alastair Campbell, put on children's entertainment at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster, helped with a late-night soup run on the toughest streets of Glasgow, preached sermons, sung with Bonnie Tyler, and entertained the crowd at half-time during matches at Wembley Stadium.

Johns is very generous with amusing anecdotes and experiences which have affected him deeply. He is not afraid to reveal his insecurities or emotions, making this a very personal look at what makes him tick. The result, even for those who may be unaware of Johns before reading the book, is the feeling that one knows him personally by the end – or would like to get to know him better.

Kevin Johns was born in Swansea in 1961. He went to Dynevor Secondary School and two Bible colleges. He presents the radio shows Sunday Hotline and Heart and Soul for Swansea Sound. He has made many theatre and television appearances, becoming one of Wales' best-known entertainers. Johns will again be performing in pantomime this year, with Su Pollard and Chris Jarvis at Swansea's Grand Theatre. Cinderella will run from 17 December 2008 to 18 January 2009. He will attend book signings during the run.

Oh Yes It Is… Kevin Johns! by Kevin Johns and Peter Read, will be published by Y Lolfa on 23 October. The book will be launched on the same date at the Grand Theatre, Swansea at 7.15 pm.

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Welsh History – You’ve never had it so cheap!

There have been many books written on Welsh history over the years, but for a concise overview of the subject, A Brief History of Wales will be hard to beat. Author Gerald Morgan says he appreciated “the impossibility of the task… a history of Wales in twenty thousand words! But fools rush in…”

However, Morgan has proved himself more than equal to the challenge by writing a gripping narrative of conquest, resistance and survival. This should come as no great surprise, since he is a respected historian and teacher who admits he has “been in love with the history of Wales since I was ten years old…”

This book will be a boon to those who have long-sought after the 'holy grail' of an easily digestable, pocketable and, above all, affordable introduction to the history of Wales. It may be brief, but all the most important characters and dates are there, from the Night of the Long Knives to the 1905 victory over the All Blacks, from Welsh Indians to the 1904 Revival.

Amatuer historians, tourists, schoolchildren and those merely wishing to brush up on their history will all enjoy reading this book. As Morgan himself says: “I have tried to gain some small grasp of the complexities of history, and have tried to grasp the extraordinary changes which have taken place in Wales during my lifetime.” He has succeeded admirably in these ambitions, despite the inherent difficulties involved.

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Y Lolfa, Talybont, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru/Wales SY24 5HE     +44(0) 1970 832 304

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