The Writers of Wales Database

GWANAS, BETHAN

Ffrwd y Gwyllt, Rhydymain, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 2AH
Email: beth@bethan-gwanas.demon.co.uk

Novelist who also writes short stories, plays, scripts, has a weekly column in the Welsh Herald and is also a travel writer. A farmer’s daughter from Dolgellau area, she graduated in French and went on to work with VSO in Nigeria. She has worked in the media, with the Urdd and as a literature officer in Gwynedd libraries, and has also been a French and outdoor activities teacher. She won the Literature Medal at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Cardiff in 1985, and the Tir na n-Og Prize for best children’s book in 2001 and 2003 for her titles Llinyn Trôns and Sgôr.

Her first title in English, Ramboy (Y Lolfa) was published in 2009. It is aimed at reluctant readers, mainly boys aged 11-13 years old and is her own adaptation of Pen Dafad (Y Lolfa, 2005). It follows the exploits of Dewi, a boy who turns into a sheep at night, and is filled with toilet humour. Pen Dafad was adapted for the stage by the Aberystwyth-based youth theatre Arad Goch, who toured with the story in 2006. Bethan also writes best-selling adult novels in Welsh, including Amdani (Y Lolfa, 1997): rugby from a female perspective, and Gwrach y Gwyll (Gomer, 2003), about an oversexed witch.

Bethan is an avid traveller, having circumnavigated the world twice accompanied by a television crew for S4C (broadcast as two series: 'Ar y Lein' and 'Ar y Lein Eto' (On the Line and On the Line Again).

Selected Publciations:
Amdani! (Y Lolfa, 1997)
Dyddiadur Gbara (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1997)
Bywyd Blodwen Jones (Gomer, 2001)
Llinyn Trôns (Gomer, 2002)
Blodwen Jones a’r Aderyn Prin (Gomer, 2001)
Popeth am Gariad…wel, bron (Gwynedd, 2001)
Sgôr (Y Lolfa, 2002)
Byd Bethan (Gomer, 2002)
Tri Chynnig i Blodwen Jones (Gomer, 2003)
Ceri Grafu (ACCCAC/Y Lolfa, 2003)
Gwrach y Gwyllt (Gomer, 2003)
Hi yw fy ffrind (Y Lolfa, 2004)
Ar y Lein (Hughes, 2004)
Mwy O Fyd Bethan (Gomer, 2005)
Pen Dafad (ACCAC/Y Lolfa, 2005)
Hi Oedd Fy FFrind (Y Lolfa, 2006)
Ar y Lein Eto (Gwasg Gwynedd, 2006)
Os Mêts (Y Lolfa, 2007)
Gwledydd Bychain (Y Lolfa, 2008)
Ar y Lein Eto Fyth (Gwasg Gwynedd, 2008)
Ramboy (Y Lolfa, 2009)
Dwy Stori Hurt Bost (Gwasg Gwynedd, 2010)
Yn Ôl i Gbara (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2010)

Contributed to:
Nain/Mam-gu - Hanesion Dwsin o Ferched Arbenn (contributor) (Gwasg Gwynedd, 2010)