News Archive

Hafan Books ‘Out of Line’ Series Presents
An Evening with Four Writers

Tuesday 30 June 2009, 7.30pm
Glanfa, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Jazz piano by Highly-talented, Accomplished Pianist Frances Crack
Free Entry & Wine 

Gemma June Howell: Inside the Treacle Well
Gritty Stories from the Socially and Economically Deprived Welsh Valleys.
Photographs by Chris Samia. Afterword by Karl Francis.
Gemma grew up on a council estate in the Rhymney Valley. This, her debut book, is a collection of grimly comic stories giving a platform for the dissident voices of the Valleys. Graduating from Swansea University with an MA in Creative Writing, she now lives in Cardiff where she continues to write, performs her poetry and organises literary and music events showcasing raw talent. Chris Samia’s stark and witty photographs illustrate the book aptly.

Steve Short: The Green Grounds
Magical Ballads Delving into Welsh Mythology & Legends.
Afterword by M. Wynn Thomas.
Steve was born as a British expat in Malaysia and has lived in Swansea for many years. Now retired, he’s published several volumes of poems. His work has appeared in several magazines including Planet and Poetry Wales. These poems freely use ballad form to explore classic Welsh legends in particular the rumour of a sunken island off Mumbles Head (‘The Green Grounds’), the myth of the unicorn, and the message of medieval Flemish religious art. The Afterword is written by Professor M Wynn Thomas, who along with Tony Conran, has long championed Steve’s work.

Aimé Kongolo: Reciprocities / Réciprocités
Poetry in English/French Exploring Contemporary African Politics.
Artwork by Mary Hayman. Afterword by Sadhbh O’Dwyer.
Aimé grew up in the Congo and is studying Psychology & Sociology at Swansea University. His poetry has appeared in Hafan Books Anthologies, although this is his first volume. He writes bilingual free verse, about contemporary African politics and war, and finding a refuge in love in Wales. His poetic voice is quietly unsettling.

Alhaji Sheku Kamara: Peace
Socio-Political Performance Poetry Exposing Racism in Wales.
Artwork by Mary Hayman. Afterword by Tom Cheesman and Sylvie Hoffmann.
Alhaji grew up in Liberia and Sierra Leone and now lives in Swansea. He currently manages Swansea World Stars football team, and occasionally acts with Swansea theatre groups. His poetry has appeared in Hafan Books Anthologies, although this is his first volume. His poems are in African (creole-) accented rap / spoken word style, generally about his everyday life; alternating between social and political topics and sexy love lyrics.

All Proceeds from Book Sales go to Swansea Bay Asylum Seekers Support Group
Contact: Editor, Tom Cheesman: t.cheesman@swansea.ac.uk
Books are available to purchase on the night or can be bought directly from lulu stores: http//lulu.com/hafan

For more information contact Academi: 029 2047 2266 or post@academi.org.
For more information on Hafan Books visit www.hafan.org

This event is part of Academi's series of literature events in Wales Millennium Centre.