Rachel Dawson in conversation with Rebecca F. John

Don't miss your chance to meet TWO incredible Welsh authors!

Rachel Dawson, author of Neon Roses, will be chatting to Rebecca F. John, author of Vulcana, as well as previous Welsh Book of the Month, Fannie.

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. With June, Eluned can imagine a completely different 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 heartwarming, funny and a little bit filthy queer coming-of-age story with a cracking '80s soundtrack.

'A BIG-HEARTED STORY ABOUT FINDING YOUR FEET AND FOLLOWING YOUR HEART' SARAH WATERS

'JOYFULLY QUEER, FILTHY AND FUN' CHLOE TIMMS

'A HUG AND A SNOG OF A BOOK' SO MAYER

Vulcana

As Vulcana’s star rises, however, so Altas’ fades, and Kate finds herself holding together both a troupe of performers and a family. But does she truly want fame and fortune? How can she reconcile being a mother with touring the world? Can she really be a voice for women and, in spite of expectation and convention, remain true to herself?

Rebecca F. John was born in 1986 and grew up on the south Wales coast. Her short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4Extra. In 2015, her short story 'The Glove Maker's Numbers' was shortlisted for the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. She is the winner of the PEN International New Voices Award 2015. Her debut novel, The Haunting of Henry Twist, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. She lives in Swansea.