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Editor and translator Caroline Stockford reports on the intricacies of translating and editing the Turkish poet Haydar Ergülen's work in her blog for New Welsh Review. 'Haydar was here this autumn in England and Wales for the launch of his first book of poetry translated to English, to read his work and to share his thoughts with us. I, for one, am grateful that Haydar is a visible poet, that we have the chance to translate, to meet and to hear the abdal, the dervish, going slowly along his way. We, as his thirteen translators and three editors are extremely...

Writing on Nation.Cymru Jon Gower finds much to admire in Zoë Brigley's new essay collection. 'Throughout this collection Brigley is challengingly open about her own life. Which turns out to have had its challenges especially because, as a young writer she found it hard to write about personal material, which she described as a ‘writerly shyness.’ As a young woman she found herself in an abusive relationship with an older man. So the essays prove she has overcome both and now faces her fears head-on. 'These Notes from a Swing State are written with an openness to ideas redolent of...

Representatives from the Cardiff poetry scene, Literature Wales and the British Council were at St Canna's in Cardiff yesterday to welcome the Turkish poet and writer Haydar Ergülen to Wales and share a cultural exchange with readings from his new selected poems Pomegranate Garden as well as poetry about Cardiff, about Wales, about place and about love. All with a bonus buffet and wine! It was a superb way to spend a Sunday lunchtime. Featuring tanslator, editor and poet Caroline Stockford alongside Cardiff-based poets Topher Mills, J. Brookes, Kate North, Roberto Pastore, Luca Paci, Mab Jones and Susie Wild. Thanks to...

'A gripping fantasy debut... If you're hungry for a new epic fantasy series, the debut novel from Jodie Bond might be just what you need, writes Jenny White' in the Western Mail on Saturday. Buy The Vagabond King from our online shop More about Jodie

Zoë Brigley's essay collection Notes from a Swing State has had two recent, favourable reviews in the latest issues of Planet and the welsh agenda. 'If, as for Raymond Williams, great shifts in time and society are a picking up and setting back down again, then surely we are currently within just such an undefined state, the consequences of which are unknown until the settling and evaluating that comes with the aftermath. The swing state of this new collection of essays by Zoë Brigley is not only Ohio and the Electoral College, but self, home, nationhood and identity. Body, mind and...