Representing Wales

I am delighted, excited and gobsmacked to have won a place on the Representing Wales 2025-26, a programme sponsored and managed by Literature Wales. Our first residential weekend was held at Ty Newydd, The National Writing Centre for Wales. I met the other amazing writers on the programme and experienced workshops that asked me to internalise what it’s like to be a writer. Our tutor for the weekend was the wonderful Alys Conran.

Prior to gaining a place on this prestigious programme, I saw myself as a lover of words who wrote poetry for a hobby. The confidence boost this has given me is immeasurable. I already feel that I have taken a step further to being the writer I would like to be, It’s still going to take time but I plan to make every day count.

These Pages Sing

I am so pleased to have two poems featured in the Spring 2025 Edition of this beautifully produced magazine. TPS is a magazine that aims to highlight unsung Welsh and Wales-based voices to honour the country’s diverse culture and rich history.

Abergavenny Writing Festival.

I read at the last year’s event and jumped at the chance to read again this year, especially knowing the session would be followed by readings from Hanan Issa the National Poet of Wales. I chose two poems from amongst a series I have that draws on my hearing loss.

This is a great Festival and I really enjoyed the other open micers who added to the celebration of words. Just to make sure I keep my feet on the ground, my wife Alex pointed out that my trousers were creased. Thank you to Dominic Williams, who was a wonderful host and to everyone else involved.

Representing Wales 2025-26 Mentor

I am thrilled that Jonathan Edwards is my mentor on the programme. His two collections are joyous celebrations of poems to which I return over and over. Jonathan’s first collection of poems,  My Family and Other Superheroes  received the Costa Poetry Award and the Wales Book of the Year People’s Choice Award. His second collection,  Gen,  also received the Wales Book of the Year People’s Choice Award.

To read more about this year’s Mentors visit Literature Wales website.