Australia Day

In Australia today - although the day is almost over there, it is Australia Day. It commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in1788. The First Fleet consisted of eleven ships which had set sail from Britain on 13th May 1787 with about 1487 people on board. I just can't imagine spending that long on board a ship all those years ago.

As it is Australia Day I thought it was an appropriate day to mention the RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal. Even just a few books would help and if you are the author you could sign them or simply send a few good condition books you've read and enjoyed.
Here's the details.
What is wanted.
FICTION BOOKS! Romance books, children's books, young adult books, genre books, whatever – either new or in sparkling condition.


Please send them to:
RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal
PO Box 1717
Noosaville Post Office
Noosaville BC
Queensland
Australia 4566

When to send them?
Now! And any time over the next few months. The books will be boxed and delivered to the appropriate libraries/schools/neighbourhood centres/community centres in batches as soon as the communities are ready to receive them. We’ll be liaising with councils, libraries and schools to ensure this is done appropriately. Feel free to pop a note inside, or if you're an author, sign it.

I have a small parcel to post off today.

St Dwynwen's Day

Here in Wales, today is St Dwynwen's Day, the Welsh equivalent of Valentine's Day.

Dwynwen lived in the 5th century and was the daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog - one of twenty four! Legend has it that she fell in love with Prince Maelon Dafodrill, but as her father already had an arranged marriage planned nothing could ever come of her love for her prince.

Upset she turned to her belief in God and begged him to help her forget Maelon. She then fell asleep and was visited by an angel who had a potion to erase all memory of her lover and turn him to a block of ice. God then gave her three wishes. The first for Maelon to be thawed, the second for God to meet the hopes and dreams of lovers and third that Dwynwen should never marry.

After this Dwynwen never married, but founded a convent off the coast of Anglesey, where a well was named after her. This well was visited by pilgrims after her death in 465AD as it was told that a sacred fish that lived within it could predict future love and luck.

There are cards especially for today and popularity of the day is growing.

So why not say 'Dwi'n dy garu di - I love you in Welsh to someone special today.

Happy New Year

The first day of January 2011 is drawing to a close and I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that it will be a creative and successful one for all my writing friends.

After a dreary day and all the recent snow I thought I'd post a sunny picture to brighten things up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR