Shortlisted author visits Glyndŵr University

Students picked up some creative writing tips when a young author shortlisted for one of the most prestigious literary prizes visited Glyndŵr University.

South African novelist Ceridwen Dovey talked to students about her book, Blood Kin, before holding a creative writing workshop and dropping into the on-campus radio station Calon FM for a chat.

Ms Dovey is one of six writers under the age of 30 who have been nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize, a biennial award which promotes writing among young people. The prize, worth £60,000, is named after the famous author who had his first book published at the age of 21.

Directors of the prize arranged for each of the six authors to visit creative writing departments in different Welsh universities and Dr Richard Dover, head of humanities, spoke of his delight that Glyndŵr University was selected to welcome Ms Dovey.

Dr Dover said: “It was a privilege to receive a visit from an author of the calibre of Ceridwen. The students thoroughly enjoyed the visit and will benefit tremendously from her knowledge and advice.”

During her visit, Ms Dovey discussed with students her reflections on growing up in South Africa and Australia, and revealed how she came to be named after a character in the 1939 Richard Llewelyn novel ‘How Green Was My Valley.’

Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in 1980 Ms Dovey moved to Australia at a young age and attended high school in Sydney, before moving to the USA in 1999 to study at Harvard University. She wrote Blood Kin when she returned to South Africa to complete a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town.

Blood Kin tells the story of a president overthrown by a military coup in a nameless country, and in the midst of mass arrests, three members of the Presidential household – his barber, chef and portraitist – are taken hostage in a remote mountain palace. As the order falls, the truth about these men and significant lives is revealed, and the web of complicity and duplicity begins to unravel.

The winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize will be announced in Swansea on Monday 10 November.