I thought my time spend at Tŷ Newydd couldn’t get any better, but it did, six months after I left  I submitted an extract from the work-in-progress during my stay to the internationally-known Fish Short Memoir Prize, and I’m delighted to say it was long-listed… and then short-listed. (A piece I wrote later about the late David Bowie and his importance in my teenage life was also long-listed, I can’t help but mention!)

My stay at the Canolfan Ysgrifennu gave me everything I wanted; time away from the usual pressures of work and everyday life to review and work on my writing. Tŷ Newydd itself is a wonderful place to write in, calm and exquisitely situated, with its inspiring history and views out across the fields over Cardigan Bay. Everyone there is friendly and supportive, without being in the least intrusive, and to share time, stories and meals with other writers was a privilege and a joy. It’s a sociable place, but there’s always space enough to find a quiet corner when one is needed.

I came away feeling enthused, invigorated and confident that I could build my work into something complete I could take pride in. My short-listing has given me some external validation to add to this; I look forward to returning to Tŷ Newydd for future sustenance.