The Writers of Wales Database

DARWIN, BETHAN

Bethan Darwin was born in Toronto, and brought up in Wales. She works as a solicitor, volunteers for the Cardiff Law Centre and lectures on discrimination law. She is also the founder of Superwoman, a businesswomen’s charity networking group and is married to a former CEO of the Celtic Crusaders Rugby League team - also a solicitor - with whom she has two children. Her debut novel Back Home (Honno, 2009) was the product of not getting as much sleep or exercise as she should. Bethan's second novel was published with Honno in late 2010. She is a Member of Academi.

Reviews:
With respect to Back Home (Honno, 2009)

"…Poignant, funny, sexy… A modern woman's romantic confession, alongside a cleverly unfolding story of long-buried family secrets "
Abigail Bosanko

"…Lively, fresh and warm-hearted- an easy-going and enjoyable read…"
Nia Wyn

With respect to Two Times Twenty (Honno, 2010)

"…Warm and delightful...short on slush and long on love..."
Western Mail

"...Poignant, funny, sexy..."
Abigail Bosanko


Selected Publications:
Back Home (Honno, 2009)
Two Times Twenty (Honno, 2010)




Back Home (Honno, 2009)

It looks like Ellie has lost the love of her life when she bumps into him in Peter Jones, Sloane Square - shopping for baby clothes with the wife he’s supposed to be leaving for her. And along with him goes the bijou flat in Primrose Hill and the illicit 5* lifestyle. There’s not much left but to decamp back to the rather more humdrum confines of her mum and grandad’s house in Clapham.

Finding herself back home and loveless isn’t all bad though. Ellie can always hit the backpacker trail again, or maybe even find a job that sticks – the solicitor’s office she’s temping in this time is at least trying to help out those having real problems – like keeping their kids, or a roof over their heads. And it’s nice spending time with her grandad Trevor, drinking proper ’Welsh’ tea from real china cups and looking out at the veg Trevor has coaxed from the London clay. And there is even a distraction from her broken heart in the shape of hunky landscape gardener Gabriel …

But just when it looks like everything is shaping up tickety-boo there’s an knock on the door that turns Trevor’s world upside down and takes them unexpectedly back to the Welsh Valleys in wartime …

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