With only two weeks of December left, it’s almost time to make our New Year’s Resolutions and to say goodbye to 2024. We wanted to reflect on what we’ve been involved with this past year; the books we’ve published, the events we’ve attended and the prizes won by such fantastic writers. There’s been a lot to celebrate:
Awards and Nominations
Bryony Rheam’s short story collection Whatever Happened to Rick Astley? was nominated for the Outstanding Fiction Book award for Zimbabwe’s National Arts Merit Awards.
Joshua Jones’ Local Fires was shortlisted for the 2024 Polari First Book Prize and the Dylan Thomas Award.
Jasmine Donahaye’s Birdplaining: A Natural History was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year 2024, Creative Non-Fiction Category.
A Dictionary of Light: The 2024 Anthology for the Rhys Davies Short Story Award, featuring stories by Brennig Davies, Morgan Davies, Kamand Kojouri, Dave Lewis, Kapu Lewis, Lloyd Lewis, Polly Manning, Siân Marlow, Keza O’Neill, Tanya Pengelly, Anthony Shapland and Jo Verity. Selected by Rebecca F. John and edited by Elaine Canning.
Publishing Partnership: Parthian and the New Welsh Review.
In March, we announced our new partnership with the New Welsh Review. This partnership was an exciting push forward and helped to provide a publishing home for Rarebyte imprint book authors, which had been established by NWR editor Gwen Davies in 2015. Thank you to Gwen Davies and those at the New Welsh Review!
Events
Talking Translation: Death Drives an Audi by Ann Bjerregaard and interviewed by Caroline Waight.
This Common Uncommon, Rae Howells book launch at Swansea Waterstones, to celebrate her beautiful poetry collection about West Cross Common.
Christopher Meredith, Shifts Book and Print presented to Ebbw Vale Works Museum.
Neath Arts Festival 2024, a fantastic event that celebrated so many artists, creatives, musicians and writers.
Little Universe, Natalie Ann Holborow’s book launch at Swansea Waterstones, to celebrate her third poetry collection.
Poetry at the Clocktower: Short poetry readings with Niall Griffiths, Lewis Davies, Imogen Davies, Nigel Jarret, Ifor Thomas, Natalie Ann Holborow, Christina Thatcher, Abigail Parry, Mari Ellis Dunning, Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch, Ness Owen, Tracey Rhys, Patrick Jones, Jemma L. King, Roberto Pastore & Susie Wild.
Jasmine Donahaye’s Book Tour for Birdplaining, A Natural History. Joined by Jude Rogers, Lewis Davies, Philippa Holloway, Niall Griffiths & Carly Holmes.
The 2024 Rhys Davies Short Story Award, held at Swansea Waterstones with the winners interviewed by Elaine Canning and Rebecca F. John.
Belonging, Patricia James’ book launch at Cornerstone in Cardiff to celebrate Tales from a life in Africa, Wales and Beyond.
Published in 2024
We published so many wonderful books this year, from debut novels like Unspeakable Beauty by Swansea local, Georgia Carys Williams, to short story collections such as Untethered by Philippa Holloway and Men Alone: Short Stories by Özgür Uyanık, which is his debut collection and Cwmardy & We Live which is a Library of Wales two-volume edition by Lewis Jones. We also published some fantastic poetry collections such as This Common Uncommon by Rae Howells, a gorgeous collection based around the West Cross Common, Little Universe by Natalie Ann Holborow and Miners at the Quarry Pool by Nigel Jarrett.
We published some incredible creative non-fiction like Birdplaining by Jasmine Donahaye and Minnie Pallister: The Voice of a Rebel by Alan Burge, which is a brilliantly written biography on a crucial figure that has been missing from Welsh history. Coalfaces by Tina Carr and Annemarie Schöne is a stunning photographic project as well as The Tradition by Peter Lord, a vibrant collection of high-quality, full-colour reproductions of many famous and esoteric Welsh artworks. And beautiful memoirs like Woman Who Brings the Rain: A Memoir of Hokkaido Japan by Eluned Gramich and Belonging: Tales from a life in Africa, Wales and Beyond by Patricia James.
It’s been a busy and eventful 2024 for Parthian, we wish everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas for those that celebrate! At Parthian, we look forward to an exciting 2025. Have a Happy New Year!
Matthew Stephen Yan
