Author of the Month
Each month on the Libraries Wales website, we will focus on an inspiring author based in or writing about Wales. You’ll have an introduction to their latest book, a short biography of the author, what inspires them to write, and any advice they have for young writers, all available in exclusive interviews which you can read here.
Since introducing this feature, some of our focused authors to date have been Jon Blake, Dai Smith, Rob Gittins, and our very own Children’s Laureate Wales, Eloise Williams.
Are you a teacher or librarian? A special flyer will be available to download and print every month based on each of our showcased authors that can be used for educational purposes.
We will focus on two authors every month writing in English and Welsh. Link to the Welsh-language Author of the Month available here.
July 1, 2021
Sharon Marie Jones
Sharon Marie Jones was born and raised in mountainous North Wales, immersed in magical folktales of giants and fairies. She now lives near Aberystwyth with her husband and sons. She studied English and Education at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, graduating with first class honours. She worked as a primary school teacher for 12 years, […]
Read moreMay 27, 2021
Sara Gethin
Sara Gethin’s latest novel, Emmet and Me, is set on the bleakly beautiful coast of Connemara, and has been recently published by Honno Press in May 2021. Her debut novel, Not Thomas (Honno), written in the voice of a neglected five-year-old boy, was shortlisted for the Guardian’s Not the Booker prize in 2017 and the Waverton Good […]
Read moreApril 30, 2021
John Sam Jones
In his clear and absorbing memoir The Journey is Home, John Sam Jones writes of a life lived on the edge. It is a story of journeys and realisation, of acceptance and joy. From a boyhood on the coast of Wales to a scholarship at Berkley in California as the AIDS epidemic began to take […]
Read moreApril 8, 2021
Biddy Wells
Biddy Wells lives in west Wales, and is passionate about writing. She walks daily and loves nature, especially the Pembrokeshire coast and hills. She has two grown up children and adores her relatively new role of grandmother. She loves to travel, particularly overland around Europe and she always loves to come home to Wales. Her […]
Read moreMarch 2, 2021
Shoo Rayner
Shoo Rayner has illustrated more that 300 books for major publishers, selling millions of copies worldwide. He drew for Michael Morpurgo and Rose Impey, but editors kept encouraging him to write. Many years, and over 175 books later, Shoo, well known for his many fast-paced stories, has been building a worldwide following for his award-winning Youtube Channel, […]
Read moreFebruary 1, 2021
Alex Wharton
From forgotten jellybeans to sparking daydreams, Alex’s poems, written for primary school age children, are both funny and thoughtful, and aim to spark familiarity and inclusion. The illustrations from Katy Riddell focus on the fun and dreamlike quality of the poems’ engagement with the natural world. These poems use rhyme, rhythm and free verse and […]
Read moreJanuary 5, 2021
David Rahman
David Rahman is a Welsh motivational speaker and mind coach, working with individual clients and through group training for business to improve self-esteem and confidence and to develop a positive mindset. He is a facilitator at workshops in this field and a keynote speaker for organisations globally. He is also the host of iTunes podcast David Rahman. In his new book ‘Let It Go,’ […]
Read moreNovember 25, 2020
Catherine Fisher
Catherine Fisher is a poet and children’s author who lives in Newport, South Wales. A leading fantasy writer, her bestselling books include the Snow-Walker trilogy, the Oracle trilogy, the Incarceron series and the Chronoptika seres. She was the first Wales Young People’s Laureate. Her latest novel The Midnight Swan, is the third book in the award-winning The Clockwork Crow trilogy, and was published […]
Read moreNovember 2, 2020
Richard Owain Roberts
An English Literature graduate of Manchester University and Liverpool John Moores University Writing MA, Richard’s debut novel Hello Friend We Missed You was recently announced as winner of the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize 2020. ‘It took me by surprise when I read it, and it’s haunted me ever since,’ said Sam Jordison, Guardian Not […]
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