Another great addition to our literary offerings is Jean Gill, who will be present at the BookFair and the LitFest Saturday and Sunday. A very prolific writer across several genres, on Saturday April 29th at 12 noon at the Fountain Fine Art Gallery, Jean reads from her book "On the other hand"
Ar y llaw arall? Jean Gill yn darllen ei nofel I blant, am fod yn llaw chwith, 12-15 oed.
Then, on Sunday April 30th at 12 noon at the Angel Inn, Jean will give this talk:
Sgwrs gan Jean Gill am y dywysoges Gwenllian a’r Arlgwydd Rhys, sy’n sail I’w chyfrol diweddaraf, Song Hereafter.
And here is an interview with Jean. Welcome Jean, please tell us about the books you’ll be bringing to the
Book Fair.
Something for everyone! I’m bringing 12 of my 18 published
books
Which genres do they belong to?
Historical and contemporary novels, a memoir, a shaggy dog
tale, shorts, poetry, even a cookbook – which genres DON’T they belong to would
be a better question, although each book can sit nicely on one genre bookshelf.
What are the characters and plots like?
I hope that readers will find the characters
three-dimensional; the main characters sympathetic and the plots believable
with some surprises.
Tell us about your newest book.
I’m half-way through writing ‘Song Hereafter’, the last book
of my 12th century Troubadours Quartet. History really never has
been more exciting, and my favourite review says the series is ‘like Game of
Thrones with real history’.
The last book takes Dragonetz and Estela, the two
troubadours, on a mission from northern Iberia to Wales in 1153, where Eleanor
of Aquitaine wants them to secure the support of Deheubarth for her husband
Henry, who is fighting to claim his kingdom of England. Discovering medieval
Wales through the eyes of characters used to the sophisticated courts of
southern Europe is very interesting, but Lord Rhys is no barbarian and I think
he’ll give them a few surprises.
Which of your books are you’re most proud of, and why?
‘The Troubadours Quartet’ has taken 10 years to write, and
each book is based on a year’s historical research before I start to write the
story, so that is by far my most ambitious project. November 15th
2017 will see the publication of the last book. I shall crack open the
champagne and no doubt cry a little!
But my book that has already changed lives – dogs’ lives – is ‘Someone To Look Up To’, and each time readers tell me it has helped them understand their dog, and has prevented dogs being abandoned, I feel proud that I turned the knowledge I gained from working with a top trainer, into a story from the dog’s viewpoint. All the events in the book are true and anyone who cares about animals, and who reads it, will know that it was written from the heart.
But my book that has already changed lives – dogs’ lives – is ‘Someone To Look Up To’, and each time readers tell me it has helped them understand their dog, and has prevented dogs being abandoned, I feel proud that I turned the knowledge I gained from working with a top trainer, into a story from the dog’s viewpoint. All the events in the book are true and anyone who cares about animals, and who reads it, will know that it was written from the heart.
What is the best thing that has been said about your books?
They make you feel emotions you didn’t know you had.’
Why did you decide to come to the Llandeilo Book Fair?
I lived in Carmarthenshire for twenty-five years and it is
my adopted home. Although I now live in Provence, I need my Welsh fix and, when
I’m seeing family and friends, I try to fit in a literary event. When I saw the
Llandeilo Festival becoming a lively, regular event, I so much wanted to join
in and support it! I’m very grateful to Christoph Fischer for inviting me. The
internet is a wonderful place and I met Christoph online as a fellow historical
fiction writer, before discovering that he lived so close to my old home.
Do you have a special connection to Wales?
I moved to Wales when I was twenty-two and taught English
there, at different career levels, for over twenty-five years. As I described
in my memoir ‘How Blue is My Valley’, I had a nomadic childhood and, although
it was not easy to integrate into the rural community where I lived, I made it
my adopted home.
What is your personal background?
My father was a soldier so we moved around a lot. The
longest I ever lived in one place was 2.5 years until I went to university (in
York) and then worked as a teacher (in Llanelli) My claim to fame is that I was
the first woman to be a secondary Headteacher in Camarthenshire (Graig
Comprehensive in Llanelli); equal first in Wales. I am mother or stepmother to
five children so live has been hectic. Since my husband retired in 2003, we
moved to Provence, and I now work as a writer and photographer.
Who are your favourite authors?
Too many to name but they include every author who’s ever
been to tea with me, so that includes Phil Carradice, who’s also appearing at
the Llandeilo festival. We haven’t seen each other for about fifteen years but
at one time we performed together in west of Whitland Poets, so it will be just
like Black Sabbath playing a last gig J
Other favourites include Guy Gavriel Kay, Dorothy Dunnett and Robin Hobb.
Other favourites include Guy Gavriel Kay, Dorothy Dunnett and Robin Hobb.
You can see all my books and buy them via www.jeangill.com
Links for
How Blue is My Valley http://amzn.to/2eU0Ddl
How Blue is My Valley http://amzn.to/2eU0Ddl
Someone To Look Up To http://amzn.to/2fnHQrl
Song at Dawn (Book 1 of award-winning series, ‘The
Troubadours Quartet’)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005ZCEH2K/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005ZCEH2K/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
‘Song at Dawn’ is available free to subscribers who sign up to Jean’s
newsletter here http://eepurl.com/AGvy5
Contact jean.gill@wanadoo.fr
IPPY Award for Best Author Website www.jeangill.com
The Troubadours Page https://www.facebook.com/jeangilltroubadours
Watch the book trailers on youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/beteljean
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