Mark Bayliss, writing as JM Bayliss, recently published his second and third books.

'Rare Earth' is a dark, high concept thriller, set mainly in Blaenavon, Wales, but has a strong Australian influence. The main protagonist is a young woman called Lauren, from Westonia, in Western Australia.

'Valley Noir Valley Blanc' is an anthology of Mr. Bayliss' Wales inspired short stories. This book includes "Taste the Darkness", the "Henshaw International Short Story Competition" winner from December 2020. A poignant story about two young children trapped in a Welsh coal mine 150 years ago. https://www.henshawpress.co.uk/december-2020/ 

Mr. Bayliss' debut novel, published in November 2020, is called "The Lucidity Programme", and is also set in Wales. All three books are available on Amazon globally as paperback and Kindle, or obtainable from good bookshops in Australia.

Mr. Bayliss says that he has adopted the Welsh Valley Noir theme for all his books, and appears to be the first to use that term in the Welsh sense. He grew up in the historic iron and coal mining town of Blaenavon, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and now lives in Pontypool, Wales. He is secretary of the Hay Writers Circle, in Hay-On-Wye, https://thehaywriters.wordpress.com/welcome/ , and will be performing one of his stories at the Hay Festival this June. More information about Mark and his books can be found on his website: https://www.jmbayliss.com/

The Welsh Society of WA will hold a lunch to celebrate St David's Day on Saturday 26th February, 2022, at 12.00pm at The Herdsman Lake Tavern, Wembley. To book contact Hugh Bevan, President email here.

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi gyd.

Wishing all members of the Welsh Society of Western Australia a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Cofion cynnes, warm regards,

Hugh and Eluned

It is with great sadness that the Welsh Society of WA advises the passing of our long-time member Mrs. Vera Sheppard. Vera and her family came to Western Australia from Pembrokeshire. Vera's family has, and is still making, a significant contribution to the Society's activities. 

Sincere condolences to Fred; Karen, the Society's Secretary; Joe, Kathryn, Alison and their families. 

A debut novel, "On The Border" by Cari Davies (real name Sheila Hawden) has been described by one reviewer as 'A love letter to the landscape of the Welsh heart". The author grew up on a farm in Montgomery, Powys, Wales which inspired her to write a tale about a young girl who struggles to decide whether to stay in the Wales she loves, or go over the border to try her luck.

"Megan Owen is a teenager torn between two opposing worlds - Wales and England. And between two opposing loves - Welsh wild boy Iolo, and sophisticated English Hugo. As she moves through adolescence to adulthood, she battles to choose where she really belongs, and with whom. Will it be the tempestuous 1950's farming and tradition in Wales? Or the glitzy promise of 1960's swinging London? Is it possible for love and female empowerment to co-exist in these times? Through heartache and drama Megan discovers there's no easy answer. Particularly when fate will keep interfering." 

Sheila's Welsh family, the community, the town of Montgomery, and Wales were the springboard for her imagination. Here is the link to describe it, with more reviews. https:/./.mailchi.mp/fe36dc96d5aa/.5oihh4ka5a 

The novel is being published by Cambria books, Wales. You can either go to their website Cambria publishing, Wales to buy it. Or go to Amazon, America, and Australia. It is available in bookstores through Ingram.

If you read it and would like to write a review on Amazon kindle or Amazon, please do. Sheila has had a varied career as an actress, teacher, psychotherapist, and writer. She is married to actor/playwright and novelist Robin Hawden. She has two daughters, one lives in Bath, England, the other in Melbourne, has four aspiring grandchildren, and spends her time between England, and Australia where she is presently located due to Covid.

The Welsh Society is trying to locate Brian Evans, originally from Nantgarw, in the Taff Valley, near Cardiff, who emigrated to Australia (initially Perth) in the early 1960s. Brian was recruited by the National Coal Board  as an apprentice electrician in the Nantgarw Colliery, later becoming responsible for the electrical installations underground. Brian will now be 79/80 years, and old friend Gareth Newman is trying to trace him. 

If anyone has any information about Brian please contact Hugh Bevan.