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'For me the festival began on the Friday evening, with the Poetry Showcase – an opportunity to hear from a wide range of poets, including some I’d never heard before. I was laughing out loud at Rhian Elizabeth’s poems, from her newly published book The Last Polar Bear on Earth, but equally impressed by the more subtle work in Rhys Owain Williams’ collection That Lone Ship and the surreal world of Norse mythology in Ross Cogan’s Bragr. It was also good to hear again from Elizabeth Parker, Claire Williamson and Mari Ellis Dunning, all of whom I have heard before.' ...

As we prepare to launch our new season of poetry titles by Kate North, Rhian Elizabeth, Rhys Owain Williams and Mari Ellis Dunning, the first review is in: 'All four poets are spiky and surprising, often dark, sometimes funny...' Read the review in full by Thomas Tyrrell on the Wales Arts Review website Come along to Cardiff Book Festival next Friday 7 September to see three of the poets reading in the New Poetry Showcase. 19:30 — SPLOTT STAGE Poetry showcase - The Friday Night Poetry Party Our Friday night Festival fixture showcases some of Wales’ most exciting and engrossing...

As she prepares to release her debut poetry collection the last polar bear on earth, Rhian will be writing a daily blog for us across September about her writing and her life, so here's an interview to get you all introduced...

There is clearly a lot going on in your poetry, what influenced you to write?

I know. It’s because there’s a lot going on in my head! What first influenced me to write in general is what still influences me to write now – it’s not any sort of influence as such, just the need to write. I’ve always written about things that I’m going through that are difficult. I’m not good at talking about my feelings so I write them down instead. In my first book I fictionalised growing up, being a teenager, the death of my father, friendships, music. This poetry collection is all about me having Multiple Sclerosis, being a mother, being gay, being in and getting over a violent relationship, making mistakes.

Don’t miss this last minute opportunity to enter the PENfro writing competitions. 

The PENfro Book Festival is now in its eighth year and the popularity of our writing competitions continues to grow. Entering competitions, daring to dip your toe into the water and compete with others, encourages writers to hone and develop their work. The benefits are obvious. Not only might you win a nice cash prize, or – better still – some professional editorial help, but you’re also taking steps to put your work out into the world. Whether it’s a poem, a play or the beginnings of a novel, entering a competition is great way to honour your work.

This year they have three writing competitions: their ever-popular poetry competition, a first chapter competition and a short radio drama competition. 

The extended deadlines are: First chapter to July 29, poetry and radio drama till 15 August. Enter via the web site: https://penfrobookfestival.org.uk