The Writers of Wales Database

WYN, NIA

Nia has worked as a journalist in Wales in London and has an MA in the teaching and practice of creative writing at Cardiff University. Her lyrical memoir Blue Sky July (Seren, 2007) was featured widely when released in October 2007. It reached the prestigious top 25 band on the bestseller list at amazon.co.uk in the same month, shortly after Nia had been interviewed by Simon Mayo on his book review programme. Serialised with the Guardian, Good Housekeeping and Daily Mail, it was also Radio’s 4’s book of the week, Radio 5’s book of the month and WH Smith’s book of the month. The title appeared on ‘This Morning’ with Fern Britton and Philip Schofield in January, 2008.

Penguin UK and Penguin US have since bought the paperback rights to Blue Sky July. It was re-issued with a new cover design, under the Michael Joseph imprint on 7 February 2008 in the UK, and released in the summer of 2008 in America. Blue Sky July (Seren, 2007) was on the 2008 Wales Book of the Year Short List and won the biography/non-fiction category of the Glen Dimplex New Writers Awards 2008. Nia came third in the 2009 Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writer’s Awards in America and is a Member of The Welsh Academy. 

Reviews:
With respect to Blue Sky July (Seren, 2007)

"…a heart-breaking tour-de-force that is taking the literary world by storm…"
The Daily Mail

“…Seren did a wonderful job in discovering this book, and now we are keen at Penguin to bring it to an even wider audience and give it the legs it deserves. The response to the book after it was selected for BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and BBC Radio 5 Live Book of the Month has been tremendous and Penguin are thrilled to be a part of this beautifully written story…” 
Michael Joseph M.D. Louise Moore

 

“…This is a book that is full of joy. You can pick it up and read it, put it down and then pick it up at another time. It holds so much information for people to learn and understand what Cerebral Palsy is, and what can be done with children with CP and not what they can’t do…”
Dame Vera Lynn

“…I found Blue Sky July a very poetic book to read. My emotions were everywhere when I was reading it, I felt sad, even angry at times, but ultimately it is the wonderful story of a mother’s love for her son and her determination to make sure that Joe has every opportunity to live his life to the full. A really moving book…"
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson


Selected Publications:
Blue Sky July (Seren, 2007)



Blue Sky July (Seren, 2007)

"It’s the strangest time - a birth - for a life to start falling apart." Set between the summers of 1998 and 2005 in Cardiff, Blue Sky July follows the story of a mother whose child suffers a colossal brain injury and her battle against ’impossible odds’ to heal him. Through her intimate day by day musings, the book explores the impact of the tragedy on the mother’s thoughts and feelings as the most extraordinary relationship unfolds.

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