Dominic Williams and Annie Butler read The Nice View by Cynthia Veal Holm |
As usual, the Welsh know how to do literature right: mixing an ancient literary tradition with a passion for the spoken word and lots of cider and ale. Poems and Pints is a group of writers who meet every month in Carmarthen to share their work while enjoying delicious beverages. I don't even know what kind of cider I was drinking--just whatever was on tap, which in Wales is always good.
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Cynthia's award |
We three Americans were the "guests of honor" at this event--sponsored by Write4Word--which means we got to read a little of our work along with the rest of these passionate, talented writers. What a pleasure to be in a land where literature is so treasured. The writing was first-rate, and the group was full of people who know how to listen.
Cynthia, a bit nervous but charming and collected, introduced her play, which is set on the Missouri River in the state of Missouri.
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Cynthia pulls herself together to introduce her award-winning play |
My other friend at the event, Jill Johnson, did a stunning job reading from her memoir Waterskiing in Cashmir, which is about her childhood growing up in developing countries. I also read a bit from my memoir Quiet One, about growing up with a mother who has BPD. People who know me will be glad to hear that I read something sort of sweet and light about a high school dance (with some allusion to the tragic, I can't help myself).
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Jill takes a picture as the reading begins |
The three of us feel privileged to have been invited into this group for the evening. We know how sacred a writers' group space can be, and to allow us to share in it was a true pleasure.
Me |
Looks like you are very busy on an exciting trip, but I just found your lovely blog. It seems you have disappeared from my Facebook feed, so I just searched and found you here. Back to your trip- looks like fun! My nephew and his wife lived in Wales a while, now they are in Manchester, her hometown. Let's catch up when you get a minute,
ReplyDeleteAngi
Angi! It's so nice to hear from you! My friends and I were in a writers' workshop in Lampeter, Wales last year as part of our MFA program. We loved it here and decided to come back this year just for fun. :-)
DeleteI absented myself from FB because I was getting some harassment from family members. I have a secret page on there to stay connected to my writing peeps, but I don't friend anyone. I'm pretty wary of FB now. But I'm on twitter @amygrierwrites.
Hope all is well with you and your family. :-)