Network News: Wales

Wales has recently acquired two Network Organisers, Zoë Thomas and Claire Fayers.  

 

 

Zoë

 

‘Shw mae?!’ from the Wales network, which was revived in 2015 after a few quiet years. The geography and representation within Wales has previously made it difficult to co-ordinate central meet ups and events, however we’re hoping that we can help to remedy that by increasing our numbers and getting things underway.

We’re hoping that it’ll be an exciting year for SCBWI in Wales so if you’re living here or just passing through, and would like to meet some like-minded enthusiasts and share your stories, please get in touch.  Indeed, if you know some Welsh writers who haven’t signed up yet, don’t forget to point them in our direction! 

You can contact us by commenting below or through the SCBWI Wales Facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you and would be grateful for any suggestions you have for making writing in Wales an even better place to be!

I’m only starting out on my writing journey and joined SCBWI in 2015.  I love all children’s literature but have a soft spot for picture books, which is what I’m currently working on.  Claire is right in the middle of great things however so I’ll hand you over…

Claire

Wales is a fantastic place to live and write.  There’s the Hay Festival, the Cardiff Children’s Literature Fest, Literature Wales, the National Library in Aberystwyth, not to mention all the independent festivals and events springing up everywhere. We would love to add to the wealth of literary activity by getting SCBWI off the ground here.

Our current Wales SCBWI group is small but it represents everything from picture books to YA, and new writers to published authors.  We’ve even got one or two talented illustrators. So, whatever your speciality, you’ll find like-minded people here.

I’ve been a SCBWI member since 2008 and I was an Undiscovered Voices finalist in 2014.  My first book, The Accidental Pirates: Voyage to Magical North (Macmillan) will be sailing into bookshops in July 2016.  I would love to see other people benefit from SCBWI membership and I’m delighted to be working with Zoë to build up the Welsh network.

You can follow me on my blog or twitter:

blog: clairefayers.wordpress.com

twitter @clairefayers

You can follow me on my blog or twitter:
blog: clairefayers.wordpress.com
twitter @clairefayers 

Upcoming events in 2016

With the Cardiff Children’s Literary Festival on between April 16-24th

http://www.cardiff-events.com/cardiff-childrens-literature-festival-2016/

and SCBWI’s 20th birthday taking place across the UK this summer, we’re hoping to get more writers involved, increase our publicity, and get some workshops, events, and get togethers happening.

Proposed Dates 

April 16th: A lunch date in Cardiff with other SCBWIs.

April 19th: A number of members will be attending Jon Mayhew and Barry Cunningham’s; Writing for Children Event at Cardiff City Hall (7-8 p.m.)

May/June: Catch up at the Hay-on-Wye Book Festival.

June/July: SCBWI birthday celebration events.

Details of all the above will be announced closer their respective dates on our FB page so come on over and join us for a warm Welsh ‘Croeso!’