Posted on Tuesday 7th February 2012
Frances Thomas meets Treorchy pupils
Award-winning author Frances Thomas entertained all ages when she gave a talk at Treorchy Library.
Pupils from Treorchy Comprehensive School joined members of adult reading groups to meet Frances and hear the stories behind two of her books.
The event, funded by CyMAL (Museums, Archives and Libraries Dept of the Welsh Government), aimed to promote prize-winning children’s and teenagers’ books to new audiences as part of a Reader Development Project. Adults from reading groups in Treorchy and Taffs Well joined pupils for the day.
The groups read books shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Tir Na N-og award, given by the Welsh Books Council for an outstanding children’s book with an authentic Welsh background.
Frances Thomas, a four-time winner of the Tir Na N-og prize, told the stories behind her books "Finding Minerva" and "Who Stole A Bloater".
"Finding Minerva" is an action-packed adventure set in a modern Britain which is still under Roman Rule. "Who Stole A Bloater" is the story of a large, noisy family with a lovely Welsh mam, set in a South Wales mining valley, before World War I. It is based in part on Frances’s family history as she was born in Aberdare and also visited Treorchy as a child.
Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Cllr Robert Bevan, said: "Both adults and children enjoyed meeting Frances and hearing more about her work. There is a lot going on to entertain and educate people of all ages at Treorchy Library throughout the year, with many activities on offer especially for teenagers at the e-teens area, so why not go along and find out more."
Membership of all Rhondda Cynon Taf's libraries is free and everyone living or working within the county borough is welcome to join. For more information on Rhondda Cynon Taf Library Service, log on to the Libraries| pages.