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Jonathan Edwards Shortlisted for the Fenton Aldeburgh First Collection Prize

Jonathan Edwards has been shortlisted for the prestigious Fenton Aldeburgh Prize for best first collection with his book of poetry My Family and Other Superheros.

Taking inspiration from Sophia Loren, Marty Mcfly, Evel Knievel and his family, Edward’s superheroes are a motley crew. All of which will have to fight and jostle alongside the likes of Fiona Benson, Niall Campbell, Helen Mort and David Tait for the esteemed award. The winner will be announced at the start of the 26th Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in November.

Judges, Robert Seatter, Anthony Wilson and Imtiaz Dharker, were unanimous about the outstanding quality of entries and the difficulty of narrowing down to just five titles.

Anthony Wilson said: “At times I felt as though I was at the races, watching previously unspotted runners surging through the field with unstoppable force. ‘Look at me!’ they shouted. Transfixed, I could not take my eyes off them.”

The Fenton Aldeburgh Prize for a first collection aims to recognize, reward and develop new talent. The winner will receive £2,500 as well as a ‘protected writing week’ on the Suffolk cost as well and the opportunity to read at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, a chance to reach the UK’s largest and most dedicated contemporary poetry audience.

Stay tuned for a special offer on My Family and Other Superheroes

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Francesca Rhydderch and Jonathan Edwards Shortlisted for Major Awards

The Rice Paper Diaries author, Francesca Rhydderch, has been shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award for her short story The Taxidermists Daughter, while Jonathan Edwards has been shortlisted for the Fenton Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, with his book of poetry My Family and Other Superheroes.
The Taxidermists Daughter depicts a young girl in post-war rural Wales first becoming aware of her sexuality and the attractions of an older man. The Story will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Wednesday 24th September and you can listen live here. Francesca faces stiff competition from Zadie Smith, Lionel Shriver, Rose Tremain and Tessa Hadley. The winner will be announced on Radio 4’s Front Row on 30th September.
Jonathan Edwards’ superheroes are a motley crew. Ian Rush, Marty McFly, Evel Knievel as well Valley’s mams and dads will have to compete alongside Fiona Benson, Niall Campbell, Helen Mort and David Tait for the esteemed award. The winner will be announced at the start of the 26th Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in November.

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Francesca Rhydderch Shortlisted for the BBC Short Story Award

The Rice Paper Diaries author, Francesca Rhydderch, has been shortlisted for the BBC’s Short Story competition, with her story The Taxidermists Daughter.

The Taxidermists Daughter depicts a young girl in post-war rural Wales first becoming aware of her sexuality and the attractions of an older man. The story will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Wednesday 24th September and you can listen live here.

Fran faces stiff competition from some literary heavyweights for the prize, including Zadie Smith, Lionel Shriver, Rose Tremain and Tessa Hadley. The winner of the £15,000 prize will be announced on Radio 4’s Front Row on 30th September.

Stay tuned for an exclusive offer on The Rice Paper Diaries!

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Poetry Wales Celebrates 50 Years!

Poetry Wales will be holding a special event in September to mark its 50th Birthday. The magazine was founded in 1965 and has been publishing poetry and criticism from Wales and beyond for nearly 50 years. The first issue of the 50th Volume was published this summer and is the first to be edited by Nia Davies. To mark a long history and a new chapter, we will be holding a celebratory event in Cardiff on 25th September.
There will be performances from a variety of poets and you’ll be able to get a glimpse of the magazine’s history. Short readings will come from Rhian Edwards, D E Oprava, Kevin Mills, Damian Walford Davies, Jonathan Edwards, Emily Blewitt, Steven Hitchins, plus others to be confirmed.
All are invited to come and celebrate with us in the gallery upstairs at Jacob’s antiques market on 25th September from 7pm. The event is free to attend but space is limited. Email [email protected] to avoid disappointment.

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A New Short Story For August

Seren’s short story for August comes from writer and translator Eluned Gramich. Eluned’s story, Pulling Out, highlights a developing problem in Japan of young men and women withdrawing from everyday life, locking themselves away in their bedrooms.
These young people, known as Hikkokomori (literally translated ‘pulling inwards’), suffer from acute social anxieties and depressions, caused by an inability to cope with modern-day pressures. These reclusive men and women are said to number over 700,000, but in reality the number is unknown and may well be far higher.
Eluned has published short stories in Rarebit: An Anthology of Welsh Fiction, Stand, Planet Magazine and Notes from the Underground. After living in Tokyo for two years on the Daiwa Scholarship, she now lives in Cardiff where she is working on her first novel. You can read Pulling Out here.