‘When others are moved by your work it’s lovely’
GROWING up in a windy house that looked over the straits in Bangor, author Alys Conran was surrounded by books.
With a writer for a father and a mother who taught English, it was natural for Alys to follow the same path.
But for years Alys put the thought of writing to the back of her mind, after seeing her dad struggle with the realities of being an author.
However, after being unable to shift her love of writing, Alys picked up the pen again – and has now released her first and award-winning novel.
Pigeon is the story of a childhood friendship and how it is torn apart, with the loss of innocence. It follows characters Iola and Pijin on their adventures.
Alys, 37, said: “I always absolutely loved writing, and at primary school I’d write these wild stories.
“We had a teacher when I was about 10, called Carys Jones, who was really keen on creative writing.
“I wrote a 50-page novel for her! I made a cover and everything.
“But my dad was a writer, and I could see how hard it was.
“You have to work and work, without knowing if you’ll ever get paid, or if your work will ever find readers.
“So for years I put the thought of writing away and tried not to become one, really.
“But one day I picked up a pen and paper again.
“Writing’s such an incredible thing. I couldn’t turn my back on it.”
Alys, who studied English Literature bit.” When Alys isn’t working on one of her many projects she can be found hiking and swimming in the mountains, in between teaching creative writing at Bangor University. Pigeon won the Wales Book of the Year Award 2017, the Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award, The Wales Arts Review People’s Choice Award, and was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize and longlisted for the Author’s Choice First Novel Award. Alys said: “I was so stunned when it won those awards. “I really had not expected it to get anything, let alone three awards. “I was very pleased, of course. It means more people will read the book, and might get to know Pigeon and Iola, and care about them as I do. “When other people read your work, and are moved by it, it’s a very lovely thing. “I was especially glad that it got the People’s Choice Award for that reason.” Alys also publishes poetry, short stories, creative nonfiction, creative essays and literary translations ‘Pigeon’ by Alys Conran is published by Parthian Books and is available for £8.99.