Tag Archives: Hay Festival
New Poetry Publication “Roots” by Tam Allen now available, plus other news.
Recently we were delighted to welcome Tammy Allen to our group. Tam is a dedicated Mental Health Counsellor from the Swansea Valley. She has recently had a book of poems published by The Conrad Press. Tam’s poems deal with her own experiences of loss, grief, healing and the profound acceptance which comes from adversity. Each piece is beautifully illustrated by Sion Rees. Her poems celebrate the strength found in vulnerability and the courage to face the challenges life brings. They are heartfelt and deeply moving. Tam hopes that her words will help her readers to connect with their own stories and discover their innate resilience… Continue reading
2026 – A Year of Writing and Reading Ahead
It’s 2026! Suddenly we are a dozen days into January, and perhaps still considering a multitude of New Year Writing Resolutions. What shall I write next? What old piece of writing shall I revisit and edit? What writing project will be finished this year?
Of course, if you are writing you must also be reading. In the UK there is a huge drive towards 2026 being the Year Of Reading. Government Departments, Schools, Libraries, Literary Agencies, Trusts and Foundations, as well as Literary Festivals are all doing their part to positively promote the written word, whether in printed or digital formats… Continue reading
Hay Festival Winter Weekend, a Brief Book Review and Competition Reminder
The wonderful Hay-on-Wye Christmas Lights have been switch on and the whole of the town is illuminated with the bright lights of literature, imagination and ideas.
We’ve enjoyed animated discussions, art, storytelling, comedy, music, family workshops, seasonal markets, the splendid Hay Castle and of course, many many bookshops. We’ve queued in the cold, in the darkness, but always warmed by tales from our fellow adventuring companions, many of whom have travelled from afar just for a taste of our home town of Hay. We hope they all had the best time and look forward to seeing them again very soon… Continue reading
Lynn Trowbridge, 102 and still Remarkable. Hay Festival Winter Weekend coming soon and Enter our Fiction Competition 2025
The Remarkable Lynn Trowbridge
by Shane Anderson
Taking on the leadership of any community group, particularly such a well-respected and dynamic one as Hay Writers’ Circle (HWC), is not a task to be taken on lightly. It requires focus, commitment and no small amount of energy. Fortunately for happy foot soldiers like myself, there are those impressive souls who not only enjoy such a challenge but relish it… Continue reading
2025 Fiction Competition Now OPEN, Poetry Workshop Report, The One That Didn’t Get Away, and Hay Festival Winter Weekend coming soon!
Submissions are now invited for our annual Fiction Competition, The Frances Copping Memorial Prize 2025, named in fond remembrance of our Lifetime President who sadly passed away in 2020.
The competition is open to everyone, members of Hay Writers’ Circle and non-members too. Pieces of 500-1500 words on any fiction theme are accepted. Closing date for entries is Tuesday 6th January 2026. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third place… Continue reading
New Writing from Lily Rose King and Nick Thomas, Plus 2025 Richard Booth Prize for Non-Fiction – Competition now OPEN!
It’s always such a pleasure to begin this recent update with writing from members of Hay Writers’ Circle. This article contains work from both Lily Rose King and Nick Thomas… Continue reading
More Prize Winning Poems, plus Hay Writers Live! Anytime
Showcasing inspiring writing has always been at the heart of Hay Writers’ Circle, so we are delighted to reveal the 2nd and 3rd placed poets and poems from our recent 2025 Poetry Competition.
Thank you to our amazing 2025 Poetry Judge, Gareth Writer-Davies whose comments on the prize winning pieces are printed below. Also, congratulations once again to our 2025 winner, David Shields whose poem, “Old Mortality”, accompanied by the judge’s feedback is featured in our previous online article – HERE. Well done!… Continue reading
Hay Festival Sell-Out Success, and “Stepping Out With an ‘E’ ” from Martine Smith
Isn’t it fun! Aren’t we all have the greatest time, seeing loads of interesting events and buying lots, and lots, and lots of books! If, like me, your answer is a resounding YES! then you will already be heading over to the Hay Festival website to buy more tickets – we’ve got days and days still to enjoy! Continue reading
Alan Oberman – Author Interview, and Hay Writers’ Live Program at Hay Festival 2025
An interview with Alan Oberman – exclusive for Hay Writers’ Website.
Alan is writing an account of British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain’s life between September 1938 and September 1939. In an exclusive for the Hay Writers’ Website, Alan Oberman is interviewed by himself on the progress of his book…. Continue reading
THE HAY WRITERS 