The Writers of Wales Database

HERRAD, IMOGEN RHIA

Contact Address: c/o Seren Books, 57 Nolton Street, Bridgend CF31 3AE
Email: herrad@llangollen.com
Website: www.herrad.net

Prose writer and broadcaster. Born and brought up in Germany, Imogen has lived in London, Aberystwyth (where she learnt Welsh) and Argentina, and currently divides her time between Cardiff and Cologne.

Her short stories and articles (in English) have been published in magazines and anthologies in Wales, Canada and the US. Her documentaries for German public radio (in German) include pieces about the Queen of Sheba, Morgan le Fay, Zora Neale Hurston, the Mapuche people of Patagonia, and the cultural histories of sheep, dragons and the apple, respectively.

Imogen’s story 'The Accident' has been longlisted for the Raymond Carver Short Story Awards. Her children’s story 'The Wind’s Bride' won third prize in the London Writers’ Competition. In 2009, she received a Bursary from Academi for a novel set in 1st century Britain and Rome. Other current projects include a narrative of her travels in Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlements in Patagonia; and a crime novel set in London and Wales.

Reviews:

"…Several stories in this collection [The Woman who loved Cucumbers, Honno 2002] take considerable risks… breaking through the naturalistic frame into surreal fantasy. …Bronwerdd … is decidedly bizarre. ’I made a spinach woman to be my friend and my companion and my only love’, the narrator tells us. The conclusion is extraordinary…"
Glenda Began in The New Welsh Review

"…Excellent… one of the few stories to integrate its well–judged imagery into its empowering narrative… The [winning] stories…left us moved, impressed, enchanted, and highly optimistic about the future of children’s literature..."
From the judges’ report of the 2003 London Writers’ Competition


Selected Publications:
The Woman who loved an Octopus and other Saints’ Tales (Seren, 2007)

Contributed to:
The Woman who loved Cucumbers (contributor) (Honno 2002)
Even the Rain is Different (co-writer) (Honno 2004)
Safe World Gone (co-writer) (Honno 2007)
Written in Blood (contributor) (Honno, 2009)

The Woman who loved an Octopus and other Saints’ Tales (Seren, 2007)

A collection of twelve themed short stories about thirteen female Celtic saints from the first Age of Saints. The stories explore the overlap between myth, history, religion and superstition; and feature mermaids, refugees, stroppy teenagers, circus acts, birds, rape, love, violent death, and miracles.

To purchase this title from gwales.com, please click on its front cover

Eligible Writers on Tour subjects offered:

1. Readings from / discussion of own work, including historical background of women saints discussed in "The Woman who loved an Octopus..."
2. Talks about a variety of social / cultural history topics (cultural history of sheep, dragons, Morgan le Fay, Y Wlafda / Welsh settlements in Patagonia)

AGE RANGE: Sixth form students / adults.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Travels by public transport. In schools, presence of teacher required.