An Evening with Rachel Dawson

We are thrilled to be joined by Rachel Dawson to discuss her queer, political, heart-warming coming of age story set against the backdrop of the 1980s!

In Neon Roses Eluned Hughes is stuck. It's 1984 in a valley in south Wales: the miners' strike is ravaging her community; her sister's swanned off with a Thatcherite policeman; and her boyfriend Lloyd keeps bringing up marriage. And if they play '99 Red Balloons' on the radio one more time, she might just lose her mind.

Then the fundraising group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners comes down from London, and she meets June, a snaggle-toothed blonde in a too-big leather jacket. Suddenly, Eluned isn't stuck any more - she's in freefall.

June's an artist and an activist, living in a squat in Camden. With June, Eluned can imagine a completely different - and exciting - life for herself. But as her family struggles with the strike, and her relationship with her sister deteriorates, should she really leave it all behind?

From the Valleys to the nightclubs of Cardiff, London and Manchester, NEON ROSES is a heart-warming, funny and a little bit filthy queer coming-of-age story with a cracking '80s soundtrack.

Inspired by the resilience of our queer ancestors and drawing attention to the vital activism of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, Rachel's début is a rare beauty. Not only a queer coming of age story but an intimate investigation of family, loyalty and joy. Rachel will talk all things Neon Roses, answer your questions and sign copies of her book!

Rachel Dawson is from Swansea. After studying English Literature at Cardiff University, her first paid job was in a women’s refuge. She continues to work in the third sector, living in Cardiff with her wife. In 2020 she was one of the twenty-five writers awarded a bursary by Literature Wales.