I’ve been getting my face about!
Upon getting home from Hollywood I was expecting to crash back to reality after my amazingly surreal experience at the Writers of the Future workshops, but the unexpectedness continued because I was on TV! What?!
That’s TV Swansea interviewed me about my trip to LA and the inspiration behind my writing journey. and I appeared on their TV channel (Freeview Channel 8) on 30 April 2025, which you can watch below if you’re interested.
I was a little nervous about the interview beforehand but, going into the Writers of the Future experience, and in committing to trying to make it as a writer generally, I told myself to just take whatever opportunities come my way and to throw myself into it. I am trying not to let nerves or self-doubt or whatever get in the way or hold me back. I was definitely outside my comfort zone (despite the interview being in my back garden!) but the journalist from That’s TV was lovely and made the whole experience easy and fun. I’m really glad I just went for it and agreed to the interview because it is another little memory for me and something I can show my kids when they’re a bit older.
I must say though, it is kind of strange seeing yourself on TV. I’m not sure it will happen again and I will definitely never get used to it.
A write up in the (digital) newspaper
My story had been picked up and published in a number of local news services but one reporter from Swansea Bay News went one step further and wanted to interview me. The interview took place before I went to Hollywood but I got back in touch with Richard Bond when I returned to update him about my experience and provide some pictures.
The end result was a rather emotional read (for me anyway) about my journey, inspiration and experience. I hope you enjoy reading it:
N.B. The “lady from Hollywood” in the article is Joni Labaqui, Contest Director for Writers of the Future. She is such a lovely person, so friendly and chatty and welcoming.
Round 2 on the Authors Quill podcast
I had previously appeared on the Authors Quill podcast ahead of going out to Hollywood and while I was out in LA, I met and got to know the host of this podcast, Joe Montaldo, a bit better. He was taking pictures and recording interviews during our workshop week and he is a really great guy, very funny and happy to give advice on working with the media, which is invaluable for new writers.
The second interview, as it was just me and Joe for most of it, was a chance to have more of a chat with Joe. He made it very easy for me as he is such a pro and can keep the conversation going without any dead air. I had a lot of fun and it was a pleasure to be invited back on.
I am on the second hour of the podcast, following on from my WOTF41 buddy Seth Atwater Jr. You can listen to it here:
Or you can watch it here:
Author event with the Book Bungalow
To round off my hectic post-Hollywood media, I was invited to attend a virtual author event with the Book Bungalow, an independent bookshop in St. George, Utah, hosted by the shop’s owner, Tanya Mills.
I was joined by my fellow WOTF41 writers Seth Atwater Jr. (“A World of Repetitions”), T.R. Naus (“Storm Damage”), Patrick MacPhee (“Thirty Minutes or it’s a Paradox”), and Robert F. Lowell (“Kill Switch”) as well as the incredible illustrators C.L. Fors (“A World of Repetitions”) and Tremani Sutcliffe (“Ascii”).
Tanya asked us all about the inspiration for our story, what kind of influences we had (for me, family connections and my Welsh background) which allowed us to discuss the substance behind what, and why, we write. It was interesting to hear the processes and influences of my fellow writers but also how Tremani and C.L approached the illustrations for their stories. It was my first bookshop event and I thoroughly enjoyed.
I haven’t got a link to the recording as yet but will update this page as soon as I do. For now, here is the promo for it:
