‘A dark and witty take on small town life.’ – David Towsey
‘bleak, weird, grim, cool... it will probably become a cult classic.’ – Rhian Elizabeth
'Some writers try to do weird. Some writers do weird. Lloyd Markham is weird.' – Christopher Meredith
‘Poignant, unnervingly funny and poetic,'
– Philip Gross
‘a unique new voice.’ – Rhys Thomas
The shop also stocks Crystal Jeans' second novel Light Switches are my Kryptonite by Honno:
'In Sylvester, Crystal Jeans has created a character as evocative and alluring as her own name. Her book is an amazing piece of literary ventriloquism; convincing, moving, funny, flawlessly sustained, and utterly compelling.' – Niall Griffiths
as well as her first novel, The Vegetarian Tigers of Paradise (Honno) recently longlisted for the Polari First Book:
'Think Caitlin Moran in Gabalfa, Cardiff - dysfunctionality made humorous and page-turningly entertaining and moving.' – Tony Curtis
'It's funny, it's fiery, it inhabits the voice of its unforgettable characters and imagines a world where no holds are barred.' – Gwen Davies, New Welsh Review
'Fresh, witty, caustic and clever, Crystal Jeans' debut novel is the lesbian coming-of-age story that we have been waiting for.' – Sita Balani, Diva Magazine
The Festival of Bad Ideas (1-8 July) takes place at the Carnival Bookshop, 3-7 Duke Street Arcade, Cardiff.
For the full photo gallery of the shop and the Saturday launch see our Facebook album.
Lloyd Markham was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, moving to and settling in Bridgend, south Wales when he was thirteen. He spent the rest of his teenage years miserable and strange and having bad nights out before undertaking a BA in Writing at Glamorgan followed by an MPhil. He enjoys noise music, Japanese animation and the documentaries of Adam Curtis. His favourite book is The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. He operates synthesisers in a band called Deep Hum and has less bad nights out these days. Find Lloyd on Twitter: @lloyd_markham
Crystal Jeans was born and brought up in Cardiff. She lived in Bristol before doing first a Creative Writing BA then an MPhil at the University of Glamorgan. She works in a care home, which inspired a collection of poetry about dementia (Mulfran Press). She has been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize (2010), had poetry published by Seren Press, and two short stories published by New Welsh Review.
Find Crystal on her blog, Menstrual Mafia, and on Twitter: @crystaljeans1
