PEOPLE travelling through the Peniel Valley were confronted with an unusual site today - one of Wales’ leading novelists signing copies of her new book in a lay-by by Penaran forest.
A fitting backdrop perhaps, as leading Welsh author Bethan Gwanas held a book-signing session to launch her latest novel, Merch y Gwyllt. The intrigue and mystery-filled novel, published by Gomer, is the long-awaited sequel to Gwrach y Gwylltt, one of her most successful novels to date by the author from Rhydymain, Dolgellau.
Gwyn Sion Ifan, manager of Awen Meirion bookshop in Bala, was behind this unusual signing session.
On National Independent Bookshop Week (20-27 June) Awen Meirion will have been open a month following closure because of Covid-19 and Gwyn is continuing to think of creative and innovative ways to attract business and secure a future for the shop, which is an important resource for the local community of Bala and beyond.
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Awen Meirion, which sells books, CDs, crafts, magazines, greeting cards and clothes, has already introduced new services, including click and collect and a comprehensive online service.
Gwyn Sion Ifan said: “The situation has forced us to think of new and different ways of selling – there’s really no alternative, if we don’t adapt, the shop won’t survive.
"Awen Meirion provides an important service, from selling cards - birthday, anniversary, sympathy - to selling CDs, books, crafts, and gifts. All these are still available to buy, in a slightly different way.
“In normal times, the book-signing event for Merch y Gwyllt would have attracted many to the shop – there has been a lot of anticipation for this sequel - but of course, under the circumstances, an event was impossible.
"And if Bethan Gwanas couldn’t make it to the shop, we brought the shop to Bethan Gwanas!
"We are still under travel restrictions, and with Bethan living in Rhydymain and Awen Meirion in Bala, we worked out that this lay-by was the best place where we could meet within the rules, and have a signing session so that the shop has a batch of copies signed by the author, which is always something special for the customer.”
Due to the nature of this unusual signing session, it was not possible to have an open invitation to the public but there were a few pre-arranged customers.
Local photographer Heledd Roberts was also there to photograph the event.
Heledd, a well-known and highly successful wedding photographer, has herself had to diversify as her usual wedding jobs which take her across the UK and Europe have all been postponed.
Postcards with images from the event will be supplied with signed copies of Merch y Gwylltt bought from Awen Meirion.
The launch of Merch y Gwylltt was set to be one of the main events of Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau this year, but the festival and the launch had to be postponed due to Covid-19.
Bethan said: “For a writer, signing sessions are a great way to meet your faithful as well as brand-new readers and it’s a lovely opportunity to talk about the novel with everyone - anyone!
"The Merch y Gwylltt characters and events have been in my head for over two years now, and I have only been able to discuss them with my editor, Mari Emlyn.
"Although I’m nervous about what people will think of it, it’s such a relief that it’s finally ‘out there’ and all I wanted to do was talk about it!
"Then Covid came in ... But I’m so glad that Gwyn came up with this original idea to get signed copies for the shop.
"Independent bookshops are so important to writers, especially in Wales - they work so hard to promote and sell our books - please support them. Now you can do it without leaving your house - by ordering online or over the phone.”
To order from Awen Meirion, you can e-mail [email protected]u, order over Facebook www.facebook.com/awenmeirion, Twitter @AwenMeirion, Instagram awenmeirion or call 01678 520658.