Reading the Wild - Darllen Y Gwyllt Lit Fest

Llandovery will be holding its first ever Literary Festival, starting on the 9th of May with a walk, events start at 10.15 on Saturday 10th and go on throughout the day until the last session at 7.00pm, most events will take place at The Castle Hotel, an appropriate venue as George Borrow stayed at the Castle in 1854 when he was writing Wild Wales. The Lit Fest is a celebration of nature writing, we've got a wonderful line up for you including Jackie Morris, known for her beautiful writing and illustration, particularly the Lost Words with Robert Macfarlane. At the festival Jackie will be in conversation with Tom Bullough, author of Sarn Helen, Welsh Book of the Year in 2024, and also co-writer of "Mr Burton" the new film about the life of the young Richard Burton.They will be talking about their book Sarn Helen, the climate and nature emergency and what lessons we might take from the 5th and 6th-century Age of Saints to help us navigate the next few decades. They will also talk about their latest projects, Wales, seals, curlews, rivers and the role that writers and artists must play in the face of the current crisis. Michael Malay winner of the Wainwright prize for nature writing 2024 with Late Light and Steven Lovatt who wrote the brilliant, Birdsong in a Time of Silence will be talking about how we turn to nature in difficult times, and the peace it can give. Stephanie Hafferty well known gardener and author will be taking positive look at how we can adapt our gardens to cope with climate change. Rob Thomas is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, and is author of a recently published book on "The Storm-petrels", which will be one of the central themes of the discussion at the Darllen y Gwyllt festival. He grew up in Brecon, where he became involved in wildlife ecology in general, and bird-ringing studies in particular. His research group at Cardiff University studies animal behaviour in changing environments, and storm-petrels are a central case-study - along with studies of woodland songbirds, and a wide diversity of other animals in different habitats around the world. Bethany Handley is a well-known writer, poet and activist, she campaigns for access to nature for all, she was a keen hiker, climber and surfer before becoming paralysed, she will reading some of her poetry and talk about her campaigning work. Dr Rhys Jones needs little introduction, he will be talking about his early life and how he was inspired by Indiana Jones to become a traveller and scientist. Rhys was brought up on a council estate in South Wales where expectations for what life held in store for you were slim. As he recalls, he was born fighting and never stopped. His perspective on what life could offer him changed forever in the early 1980s when his grandfather took him to the local cinema to see Stephen Spielberg's blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark. Like his hero and namesake Indiana Jones, Rhys's journey has now taken him to all corners of the globe with friends and colleagues at every port; from the Australian outback to the furthest outpost of the Maasai tribe in Eastern Africa. Rhys will take you on an inspiring journey through his life. One filled with highs, lows, humour and poignancy, Julie Bromincks will be talking about how learning Cymraeg has influenced and shaped her Welsh landscape writing. Find out why she doesn't much like the term nature writing. And most importantly, learn how the environmental integrity that is crucial to her work, also makes it better and more beautiful. Carwyn Graves book, Tir, has been called a 'love letter to the Welsh countryside' and is a unique exploration of the deep connections between Welsh culture, language and landscape. If you're interested in how our land has evolved don't miss this one. CHILDREN'S EVENTS These are free, though you will still need to book tickets Nicola Davies "Speaking to Whales and Talking with Lions.......and Other Stories". This session is suitable for children 7 and over, though teenagers and adults will love it to! Nicola is the author of more than 90 books for children and young people, including poetry, picture books and novels. In addition to many books about the natural world Nicola has written about disability, grief, human migration and children's rights. Her work has been published in more than 12 different languages and won awards in the UK and abroad. Skrimsli won the children and young people's category of the Wales Book of the Year in 2024 and her poetry collection 'Choose Love' was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Award for Writing 2024. Helen & Thomas Docherty "Into the Wild", this session is suitable for younger children, though older children will enjoy it to, join acclaimed author and illustrator duo Helen and Docherty, who will be sharing a selection of t heir nature themed picture books about protecting and nurturing our wildlife: Into the Wild, The Bee Who Loved Words and All The Ways I Love You. There will be interactive storytelling and a chance to draw some of the characters! They are the creators of many award- winning picture books, including The Snatchabook and The Knight Who Wouldn't Fight. Their books have been translated into 30 languages and are read and loved around the world. And there's more! The Festival starts on Friday evening at 5.00pm with a walk from the Bookshop through the beautiful countryside surrounding Llandovery, this will be led by Lisa Denison from Quiet Walks.On Saturday Laura Moss from Carmarthenshire Meadows will be leading a walk on wildflower identification.Last but not least the brilliant storyteller Ceri John Phillips will telling stories in various venues around town, these will be free sessions. Tickets and more information on all the events are available at Books at the Dragon's Garden, 9 HighSteph Hafferty Street or online at https://dragons-garden.com/product-category/reading-the-wild-darllen-y-gwyllt/ . This festival has been nearly a year in the making, I hope you will enjoy it, a massive thank you to our sponsors, we wouldn't be able to go ahead without you.

If you'd like to be part of the festival as a volunteer on the day, pop into the bookshop for a chat, or email me at enquiries@dragons-garden.com. Let's hope for good weather, Mandy. #LlandoveryLitFest #WildReading #NatureWriting #LiteraryWalk #CastleTales #HeritageInWords #BookishNature #CommunityReads #WildImagination #WalesLiterature #WordsAndWildlife #LiteraryLegacy #Llandovery #DestinationLlandovery #GŵylLlenyddolLlanymddyfri #DarllenYGwyllt #YsgrifennuNatur #CerddedLiteryddol #StraeonYCastell #TreftadaethGeiriau #CreadigaethGwyllt #CymunedYnDarllen #DychymygGwyllt #LlenyddiaethCymru #GeiriauACreadigaeth #EtifeddiaethLlenyddol #Llanymddyfri #TargedLlanymddyfri #booksatthedragonsgarden