2024 Festival
Authors Line Up For Fifth Free Aberaeron Book Festival
A star line-up of over 20 of Wales’ top authors and poets will be on stage at Neuadd Goffa Aberaeron Memorial Hall on 19/20 Oct for the fifth Gŵyl Lyfrau Aberaeron Book Festival.
The opening address at the free bilingual event will be given by Wales’ first National Poet, Gwyneth Lewis, author of the two metre high words on the front of Wales’ Millennium Centre. Gwyneth will also be reading from her extraordinary new memoir Nightshade Mother in which she interrogates an emotionally abusive mother/daughter relationship.
In addition to a rolling on-stage programme of author readings, book launches, interviews and discussion panels, a book fair runs continuously across the two days and there is a series of workshops for aspiring writers and one-to-one meet the publisher sessions. Sarah Ward of Crime Cymru will chair a crime writing panel including Louise Mumford and Teifi Valley Coroner author Alis Hawkins. Pobol Y Cwm actor and scriptwriter Geraint Lewis will be questioned by Clwb Darllan Dyffryn Arth on his film and TV career, recent plays and short stories and his forthcoming novel.
Special author interviews will include Cynog Dafis questioning Richard Wyn Jones on his history of Plaid Cymru and political thought; Russ Williams on Wales’ legends, folk lore and urban myths; New Quay’s Thomas Leworthy on growing up in Nanternis and Lampeter and serving in Royal Navy submarines and the Rhodesian Air Force; Louise Bretland-Treharne on surviving 20 years of struggles with the mental health system; and wildlife presenter and scientist Dr Rhys Jones on his inspiring journey.
Dark crime thrills and mystery feature in new books from Judith Barrow and Sarah Ward; Natalie Ann Holborow and Kathy Miles launch new poetry volumes, with Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch and Karen Gemma Brewer joining them on a poets’ panel; L E Fitzparick will present Catrin Kean and Sophie Buchaillard from Welsh women’s press, Honno; and CP Davies will invite us to the unsettling village of Trecadno.
Joint organiser Niki Brewer, of Aberaeron’s independent bookshop Gwisgo Bookworm, says: “The ethos of the festival is to celebrate and promote the writing, writers and publishers of west Wales, in both the Welsh and English languages. We aim to highlight the wealth of talent on our doorstep and thanks to the generous help of the authors, and support from the shop, entry to the festival is entirely free.”
For aspiring and developing authors there are four creative writing workshops, led by Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch and Natalie Ann Holborow on Saturday, and by Judith Barrow and Kathy Miles on Sunday. Each 90 minute session is just £5 per place and can be booked via the festival page on the Gwisgo Bookworm website or in the shop on Alban Square. There are also 15 minute individual meet the publisher sessions with Honno, also bookable at the same price. “GwisgoBookworm.co.uk is also the place to find details of Thursday’s (17th) pre-festival poetry and music night, to be held at the Black Lion Hotel, including open mic slots for anyone who fancies giving us a turn,” says Niki. “Spaces are limited so contact the shop to book your spot.”
The 2024 Festival will be held over the weekend of 19-20 October. The main events will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Memorial Hall, Aberaeron and there will be a poetry evening on Thursday 17th at the Black Lion, Aberaeron.
