Tyler is being very bashful about this, so we at his web design team have decided to take matters into our own hands, and make the announcement he has managed to avoid - despite all our prodding. His second novel, The Drive, has been shortlisted for The Wales Book of the Year 2014. The Drive is one of three books in the English language fiction category; it has been selected alongside Francesca Rhydderch's The Rice Paper Diaries, and Tessa Hadley's Clever Girl. The official announcement broadcast is available to view online here. Fans take note: all shortlisted entries are also eligible for the Media Wales People's Prize, which Tyler picked up back in 2011. Can he repeat the feat? It's up to you: check out the voting page to see which book is your favourite. Good luck to all the contenders, for all the prizes - in many ways they're each already a winner. There, Tyler. You can have your blog back. For now.
This week I'm returning to the Aberyswyth Arts Centre for a joint event with fellow Parthian author Carly Holmes. In preparation, I've been reading Carly's debut novel, The Scrapbook, over the long weekend. It's a stunner: confidently written, well-paced, and with a wonderfully lyrical prose style that draws you in and carries you along. Katherine Stansfield, author of The Visitor and lecturer at Aberystwyth, will be acting as host on the night and fielding Q&A from the audience. Things kick off on Wednesday night (May 7) at 6.30 in the bookshop, and as ever the wine will be free, and flowing freely.
To get to the launch of Burrard Inlet, I walked down along the Swansea waterfront, passed the old docks and warehouses - now mostly new apartments - and crossed the sail bridge to the Dylan Thomas Centre. I hadn't thought of it in advance, but what better place to launch a collection of stories about manual labour and the fishing industry, than that? And it was a real boon to have Alan Bilton, a lecturer from Swansea University, act as host on the night, and interview me about Burrard Inlet. We christened the book with a few beverages, and have now sent it on its way. The launch-promo journey continues for me this week in Aberystwyth, where I'll be partaking in an event arranged by the Welsh Short Story network, and reading alongside three other authors: Jo Mazelis, Nic Herriot, and Caroline Oakley. We'll be in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Wednesday night (April 30th) at 7:45. Should be a great mix of readers and audience members - so if you're in the area come along to check it out.
