Here is my original painting, used as the cover for my latest novel, ‘Camau Bach’ (Small Steps). I remember creating it during an inspiring weekend painting course run by the renowned fine artist Andrew Douglas-Forbes. I was on the cusp of overworking it, but was encouraged to make my marks and then leave them.

Of course, there is no such thing as perfection in any creative form, and this idea of letting go applies to the writing process as well. If anything, those instinctive, incidental marks can have the greatest impact. As one redrafts and fine-tunes their words on the page, there comes a point where one can meddle too much – and potentially spoil something good.

Birthing a book, then, is a process of letting go: of leaving the marks, imperfect as they may be, before moving on to the next project. 

Dyma’r llun gwreiddiol gen i gafodd ei ddefnyddio fel clawr fy nofel newydd ‘Camau Bach’ (Y Lolfa). Dwi’n cofio peintio’r llun ar gwrs ysbrydoledig yn Oriel King Street, Caerfyrddin, dan arweiniad yr arlunydd dawnus Andrew Douglas-Forbes. Digon posib i mi fod ar fin gor-beintio’r llun, ac mi ges i fy nghymell i adael y marciau heb stwna hefo nhw’n ormodol. Mae’r egwyddor yma’n wir am y broses o ysgrifennu hefyd, os nad pob ffurf creadigol. Tydi perffeithrwydd ddim yn bodoli wrth greu. Mae cyhoeddi cyfrol yn broses o adael fynd, o adael y marciau yn eu lle, cyn symud ymlaen i’r prosiect nesaf.

I’ve never felt so proud of my man. What a celebration!

Mor prowd o Huw ar ei gamp. Hwrê mawr i Blob hefyd wrth gwrs!

I can’t wait to launch my new novel ‘Camau Bach’ (Small Steps).
Many thanks to Jo Heyde for her recent review.

Diolch o galon i @jo.heyde am ei hadolygiad hael o fy nofel newydd ‘Camau Bach’ yn rhifyn y gwanwyn o @cylchgrawncara. Adolygiadau difyr gan Mared Llewelyn a Catrin Jones am gyfrolau newydd Grug Muse a Rhian Siôn hefyd. Edrych ymlaen at lansio ‘Camau Bach’!

Excited to be part once again of the forthcoming annual Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival next month. Programme launched today: https://www.cardiffkidslitfest.com/events

Edrych ymlaen at fod yn rhan o Ŵyl Llên Plant Caerdydd unwaith eto eleni. Ticedi ar gael fan hyn: https://www.cardiffkidslitfest.com/

Excited to see my novel in a couple of weeks! Going to print this week ….

Cyffrous i ddal fy nofel newydd, ‘Camau Bach’ yn fy nwylo mewn pythefnos! Lot o lyfra difyr ar y ffordd trwy wasg Y Lolfa y Gwanwyn yma …

Been busy in the studio collaguing some fruit and veg for a new board book idea …

Many thanks to Y Dinesydd for publishing my award-winning short story and for publicising my forthcoming book launch.

Diolch i gylchgrawn Y Dinesydd am gyhoeddi fy stori fuddugol!

A busy day yesterday celebrating World Book Day, running sessions in Ysgol Treganna and online (my first ever experience as a virtual Kahoot quizmaster!)

Diwrnod prysur ddoe yn dathu Dydd y Llyfr. Sesiynau yn Ysgol Treganna hefo Huw a chael croeso mawr yno, wedyn rhedeg rowndiau o Kahoot rhithiol hefo’n agos at dri chant o blant fel rhan o ddathliadau 50 mlynedd Gwobrau Tir na n-Og, Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.

Happy World Book Day! This was my favourite reading spot as a kid. Here I am devouring one of my favourite books from a fantastic Welsh language series called Cyfres y Corryn (The Spider series!) Came across one of my first written and illustrated  books in the loft last night, created when I was about five I think. I used to jot down the price of each one on the cover as well as dedicating them to my friends! Enjoyed running sessions at Ysgol Treganna today where 80 year 2 children have been encouraged by their teachers to create their own books. Love it.

Diwrnod y Llyfr hapus! Dwi’n cofio’r gadar ‘ma’n dda – fy hoff le i ddarllen ers talwm byd… Un o glasuron Cyfres y Corryn dwi’n ddarllen. Da! Ddes i ar draws un o’r llyfra’ cynta’ nes i neithiwr – pan o’n i tua pump oed dwi’n meddwl. O’n i’n rhoi pris ar glawr pob llyfr a chyflwyno nhw i ffrind bob tro! Hyfryd rhedeg gweithdai heddiw hefo plant sy’n cael eu hannog i sgwennu eu llyfra bach eu hun gan eu hathrawon yn Ysgol Treganna. Gwych!