DARK NOVEMBER CHILL / TYWYLLWCH TACHWEDD
“I believe one of the underlying reasons women find the image of a witch so appealing is because of that power and agency to inhabit any space they want and to live without threat.”
With a number of gothic and horror tales in her writing couldron, Carly Holmes, is the ideal host to introduce
the themes and the attraction of the darker side of fiction for women writers.
She welcomes debut novelists, Carys Shannon, ‘Truth Like Water’, and Mari Ellis Dunning, ‘Witsh’, to read from their latest work and talk about the writing journeys that led them there.
Carly Holmes
Carys Shannon
Mari Elis Dunning
Carly was born on the Channel Island of Jersey and lives on the west coast of Wales. Currently, Carly is an editor and marketing officer with Parthian Books and is currently project-managing their Translations 11 series.
She also writes stories.
Carys Shannon is originally from North Gower, Swansea, and now divides her time between Wales and the Spanish Pyrenees. She has had short stories published by Honno Press, Parthian Books and Mslexia Magazine, as well as broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Her debut novel, Truth Like Water, was published by Parthian Books this October. When not writing, Carys is happiest enjoying slow time in big nature.
Mari Ellis Dunning’s debut poetry collection, Salacia, was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year 2019. Her second collection, Pearl and Bone, was chosen as Wales Arts Review’s Number One Poetry Choice of 2022.
Her debut novel, Witsh, published this month by Honno is Mari’s first novel. It explores the witch trials of 16th century Wales.
Mari teaches at Aberystwyth University, where she delivers courses on feminist writing.
“But in every situation the grief gives way to something else – a spider’s web of secrets entrapping the whole village. The missing girl is the catalyst that sets our protagonist on a mission to break it.”