A recent article by Marinella Magrì of Il Caduceo agenzia letteraria, 'The Centrality of Peripheral Literatures', published in A470 magazine, discusses the translation and dissemination of titles from Wales around the world:

It is perhaps odd to call a literature ‘peripheral’ when in fact, by the time most contemporary Welsh writings reach the desks of foreign agents and editors, they have been translated and adapted to the world’s dominant language: English. And yet reading the stories and novels of Welsh authors one does breathe a periphery made of claustrophobic valleys, high-unemployment townships, silent family dramas, lives made tolerable by drugs, alcohol and dark humour in a land of unending rain, a climate that at times seems to reflect the spirit of its people. It’s not a trendy sort of periphery, not like the exotic ones you find in stories of minorities caught in faraway wars, or personal takes on natural disasters, or women struggling for better conditions – in short, it’s not the sort of periphery that has almost become mainstream in today’s publishing world."

To read the full article, click here

In October, Rhosygilwen Mansion in Pembrokeshire will host a Writers' Retreat, hosted by Brenda Squires, author of Landsker, and Glen Peters, author of Parthian's bestselling title Mrs D'Silva's Detective Instincts and the Shaitan of Calcutta.

Dr Richard Lewis Davies, playwright, novelist, and director of Parthian and the Library of Wales series, will provide one-to-one facilitation sessions for those attending.

The Retreat is designed for writers who are working on a current project and require the space and time to finish off their work. This is not a workshop, more a place to work in the company of others who share the same desire to complete their project. The days will be devoted to working, whilst the evenings are for conversations, sharing experiences and thoughts with others.

For more information, see the event page.

Holy Hiatus, published by Parthian in September 2010, will be launched at a symposium entitled 'Holy Hiatus: performing ritual, community and place' at the Small World Theatre in Cardigan on 25-26 September.

A two-day interdisciplinary symposium organised in conjunction with PlaCe Research Centre, The University of West England, this event will explore the vital role that ritual plays in creatively re-imagining places and our relationships to them.

It features illustrated talks, performative lectures and workshops led by specialists in the creative arts, humanities and social sciences. Leading up to the symposium, on Friday 24th September 3.30 - 9 pm, a movement and sound workshop will take place at Small World Theatre led by Maura Hazelden and Lou Laurens.

For more information see the Holy Hiatus website. For general enquiries about the symposium please contact Ruth Jones: info@holyhiatus.co.uk or phone 07980901807