Gwobr Nofel Gyntaf Crime Cymru First Novel Prize 

A new crime writing prize for Wales / Gwobr newydd ar gyfer ysgrifennu trosedd yng Nghymru

Announcing the winners! / Dyma’r enillwyr!

English

Sgroliwch i lawr i ddarllen hyn yn y Gymraeg 

English-language

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the inaugural Crime Cymru First Novel Prize in English and in Welsh. Writers were asked to submit the first 5,000 words of a crime novel with an accompanying synopsis of the complete plot.

Three writers were shortlisted for the English-language prize:

Dyffryn ap Gwilym, A Mortal Occupation

Joanna Masters, Secrets

Gwyneth Steddy, Do Sleeping Dogs Lie?

And the English-language winner is . . . Gwyneth Steddy!

Gwyneth is originally from Omagh, Co Tyrone but has lived in Bridgend, South Wales for the last forty years. She has worked as an occupational therapist in social care for more years than she is willing to admit. Gwyneth hopes, through the medium of contemporary crime stories, to introduce the reader to West Tyrone, a beautiful, friendly, overlooked place, and the extraordinary people who live there. She examines how the past in that part of the world, continues to impact on the present. In her free time she runs (slowly) and mountain bikes (even slower). 

Gwyneth wins a year of mentoring from a Crime Cymru member plus a four night stay in Nant, the gorgeous writing retreat in the grounds of Tŷ Newydd, Wales’ national writing centre. Huge thanks to Literature Wales for supporting the prize with this generous donation. 

Congratulations to our two shortlisted writers in the English-language prize, who will soon be receiving book bundles of titles by Crime Cymru members. 

Dyffryn ap Gwilym was born and bred in Newport, within the shadow, sound and smell of Llanwern Steel Works. His youth was dominated by an ambition to be the best centre-half Wales ever had. He played at a high level so it was a close thing, but when that dream eluded him, a few years as an electrician in the gritty world of South Wales factories followed. Then a career in the Police beckoned – he enjoyed all aspects of policing over his thirty years, although he was thoroughly worn out by the time he retired. Then came the fallow years, spent distilling all the colourful tales, voices and experiences of a lifetime into the plots of his crime writing. His home is high in the Welsh Valleys, with views towards the Bristol Channel where once-upon-a-time there stood a steel works. Dyffryn is a proud dad and grandad.

Joanna Masters grew up in rural Carmarthenshire and attended Llandovery College before training to become a journalist.  After 20 years working in London, she brought her family back to Wales and now lives in Penarth with her husband, beagle and boomeranging daughters. An experienced writer of non-fiction, it is only since her semi-retiring that she has finally found the time to pursue her dream of writing a novel.  The plot of Secrets has been germinating since the first of many trips to Corfu over forty years ago.  She is now working on her second novel set in West Wales. Joanna is an avid reader with a passion for crime fiction. Her literary inspirations are Sara Paretsky and Ian Rankin and her ambition is to be half as good a writer as Owen Sheers.

Crime Cymru is extremely grateful to the prize judges who gave their time for free in support of the prize. Huge thanks to our Welsh prize panel: writer, editor and translator Sian Northey, Gwen Davies, translator and editor of New Welsh Review, and Jon Gower, writer and broadcaster. And to our English-language judges: Sunday Times bestseller Clare Mackintosh, literary agent Peter Buckman, and rising star of crime fiction Awais Khan. 

The aim of the Gwobr Nofel Gyntaf Crime Cymru First Novel Prize is to champion new crime writers who are currently living in Wales, providing a platform for their work and supporting their writing development. Developing new writing talent is one of our core aims as a collective. The prize will return in future years. Keep an eye on our website and sign up to our blog to hear the news first: https://crime.cymru/.

Congratulations to our winners, and to all the writers on the longlist and the shortlist, and thanks to everyone who entered. 

Welsh language

The Welsh language competition saw fewer entries but we were thrilled to announce the two Welsh language writers shortlisted for the prize:

Miriam Elin Jones, Man Gwyn

Dylan Wyn Williams, Gwesty Cymru

And the Welsh language winner is . . . Dylan Wyn Williams!

Original from the Vale of Conwy, Dylan has now made his home in Radyr, Cardiff. When he’s not translating for the company Testun Cyf., he turns his hand to writing in his spare time. He’s an occasional contributor to the local papers Yr Odyn and Y Dinesydd, and he writes a regular column for Y Cymro, having also been a columnist for Golwg and Nation.Cymru in the past. He has a huge interest in all things Noir, especially Nordic Noir, which inspired him to visit Scandinavia several times. He is a fan of Welsh authors Alun Davies and Llwyd Owen.

Dylan wins a year of mentoring from a Crime Cymru member plus a four night stay in Nant, the gorgeous writing retreat in the grounds of Tŷ Newydd, Wales’ national writing centre. Huge thanks to Literature Wales for supporting the prize with this generous donation. 

Congratulations to our Welsh-language shortlisted writer Miriam Elin Jones, who will soon be receiving a book bundle of titles by Crime Cymru members.

Miriam is a writer, dramatist and lecturer. Originally from Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, she now lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her partner. She lectures in Welsh at Swansea University, and although her research focuses on science fiction, she has a keen interest in crime novels and series. She was recently a member of Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru’s New Playwrights’ Group, and has had work published in the following publications: Adre, Can Curiad, Dweud y Drefn pan nad oes Trefn: Blodeugerdd 2020 and 100 Voices: Women share their stories of achievement. She was one of the co-founders of the magazine Y Stamp and one of the Cywion Cranogwen poets.

Crime Cymru is extremely grateful to the prize judges who gave their time for free in support of the prize. Huge thanks to our Welsh prize panel: writer, editor and translator Sian Northey, Gwen Davies, translator and editor of New Welsh Review, and Jon Gower, writer and broadcaster. And to our English-language judges: Sunday Times bestseller Clare Mackintosh, literary agent Peter Buckman, and rising star of crime fiction Awais Khan. 

The aim of the Gwobr Nofel Gyntaf Crime Cymru First Novel Prize is to champion new crime writers who are currently living in Wales, providing a platform for their work and supporting their writing development. Developing new writing talent is one of our core aims as a collective. The prize will return in future years. Keep an eye on our website and sign up to our blog to hear the news first: https://crime.cymru/.

Congratulations to our winners, and to all the writers on the longlist and the shortlist, and thanks to everyone who entered. 

Cymraeg

Yr Adran Gymraeg

Rydym yn falch iawn i ddatgan enillwyr y gystadleuaeth gyntaf o Wobr Nofel Gyntaf Crime Cymru, yn y Gymraeg a’r Saesneg. Gofynnwyd i awduron gyflwyno’r 5,000 gair cyntaf o nofel drosedd, ynghyd â chrynodeb o holl blot y nofel.

Y rhestr fer Gymraeg yw:

Miriam Elin Jones, Man Gwyn

Dylan Wyn Williams, Gwesty Cymru

Ac enillydd yr adran Gymraeg yw… Dylan Wyn Williams!

Yn frodor o Ddyffryn Conwy, mae Dylan bellach wedi ymgartrefu yn Radur, Caerdydd. Pan nad yw’n cyfieithu a golygu i gwmni Testun Cyf, mae’n potsian sgwennu yn ei amser sbâr. Mae’n cyfrannu’n achlysurol i bapurau bro Yr Odyn ac Y Dinesydd, ac yn sgwennu colofn reolaidd i’r Cymro ar ôl gwneud hynny i Golwg a Nation.Cymru yn y gorffennol. Mae ganddo ddiddordeb mawr ym mhopeth Noir-aidd, yn enwedig rhai gwledydd Llychlyn a sbardunodd sawl taith i’r parthau hynny, ac yn cael blas mawr ar weithiau Alun Davies a Llwyd Owen yn y Gymraeg.

Mae Dylan yn ennill blwyddyn o fentora gan aelod Crime Cymru yn ogystal ag encil pedair noson yn Nant, bwthyn hyfryd ar safle Canolfan Ysgrifennu Genedlaethol Cymru, Tŷ Newydd yn Llanystumdwy. Diolch o galon i Lenyddiaeth Cymru am eu cefnogaeth i’r wobr trwy’r rhodd hael hon. 

Llongyfarchiadau i’n hawdur ar restr fer yr adran Gymraeg o’r wobr, Miriam Elin Jones, a fydd cyn bo hir yn derbyn bwndel o lyfrau gan aelodau Crime Cymru.

Mae Miriam yn llenor, yn ddramodydd ac yn ddarlithydd. Daw o Lanpumsaint, Sir Gaerfyrddin yn wreiddiol, ond mae hi bellach yn byw ym Mro Morgannwg gyda’i phartner. Mae’n darlithio yn Adran y Gymraeg Prifysgol Abertawe, ac er mai ffuglen wyddonol yw ei maes ymchwil, mae ganddi ddiddordeb brwd mewn nofelau a chyfresi trosedd. Roedd yn rhan o Grŵp Dramodwyr Newydd y Theatr Genedlaethol yn ddiweddar, ac mae hi wedi cyhoeddi ei gwaith yn y cyfrolau canlynol: Adre, Can Curiad, Dweud y Drefn pan nad oes Trefn: Blodeugerdd 2020 a 100 Voices: Women share their stories of achievement. Roedd yn un o gyd-sylfaenwyr cylchgrawn Y Stamp ac un o feirdd Cywion Cranogwen.

Yr Adran Saesneg

Roedd tri awdur ar restr fer adran Saesneg o’r wobr:

Dyffryn ap Gwilym, A Mortal Occupation

Joanna Masters, Secrets

Gwyneth Steddy, Do Sleeping Dogs Lie

Ac enillydd yr adran Saesneg yw… Gwyneth Steddy!

Mae Gywneth yn wreiddiol o Omagh, Co Tyrone, ond mae hi’n byw ym Mhen-y-Bont ar Ogwr ers deugain mlynedd bellach. Mae hi’n gweithio fel therapydd galwedigaethol ers mwy o flynyddoedd ag y mae’n fodlon cyfaddef. Mae Gwyneth yn gobeithio defnyddio cyfrwng straeon y gyflwyno darllenwyr i Ogledd Tyrone, lle hardd, cyfeillgar ond esgeulusedig, ynghyd â’r bobl neilltuol sy’n byw yno. Mae hi’n archwilio’r ffordd y mae gorffennol y rhan yna o’r byd yn effeithio ar y presennol. Yn ei hamser sbâr mae hi’n rhedeg (yn araf) ac yn reidio beic mynydd (yn arafach byth).  

Mae Gwyneth yn ennill blwyddyn o fentora gan aelod Crime Cymru yn ogystal ag encil pedair noson yn Nant, bwthyn hyfryd ar safle Canolfan Ysgrifennu Genedlaethol Cymru, Tŷ Newydd yn Llanystumdwy. Diolch o galon i Lenyddiaeth Cymru am eu cefnogaeth i’r wobr trwy’r rhodd hael hon. 

Llongyfarchiadau i’n hawduron ar restr fer yr adran Saesneg o’r wobr, a fydd cyn bo hir yn derbyn bwndel yr un o lyfrau gan aelodau Crime Cymru. 

Ganwyd a magwyd Dyffryn ap Gwilym yng Nghasnewydd, yng nghysgod, clyw ac arogl Gwaith Dur Llanwern. Ei uchelgais anorchfygol pan oedd yn ifanc oedd bod yn ganolwr gorau erioed tîm Cymru. Chwaraeodd ar lefel go uchel felly daeth yn agos, ond pan fethodd yn yr uchelgais hwn, dilynodd sawl blwyddyn fel trydanwr ym myd grutiog ffatrïoedd De Cymru. Wedyn galwodd gyrfa gyda’r heddlu arno – fe fwynhaodd pob agwedd o blismona yn ystod ei dri deg o flynyddoedd, er ei fod wedi ymlâdd erbyn iddo ymddeol. Wedyn daeth y blynyddoedd braenar, a dreuliodd yn distyllio’r holl straeon lliwgar, y lleisiau a’r profiadau o’i fywyd i greu plotiau ei ysgrifennu trosedd. Mae ei gartref mewn lle uchel yng Nghymoedd Cymru, gyda golygfeydd tua Môr Hafren, lle y bu gynt gwaith dur. Mae Dyffryn yn falch o fod yn dad ac yn dad-cu.

Magwyd Joanna Masters yn ardal wledig Sir Gaerfyrddin a mynychodd Coleg Llanymddyfri cyn hyfforddi i fod yn newyddiadurwraig.  Ar ôl 20 mlynedd yn gweithio yn Llundain, daeth â’i theulu yn ôl i Gymru; mae hi’n byw bellach ym Mhenarth gyda’i gŵr, ei chorhelgi a merched bwmerangol. Awdur profiadol o weithiau ffeithiol, dim ond ers iddi hanner-ymddeol y mae hi wedi dod o hyd i’r amser i wireddu ei breuddwyd o ysgrifennu nofel.  Mae plot Secrets wedi bod yn tyfu ers iddi ddechrau ymweld â Corfu, am y tro cyntaf ers dros bedwar deg o flynyddoedd.  Mae hi bellach yn gweithio ar ei ail nofel a leolir yng Ngorllewin Cymru. Mae Joanna yn ddarllenydd brwd, gydag angerdd tuag at ffuglen drosedd. Mae’n cael ei hysbrydoli gan Sara Paretsky ac Ian Rankin, a’i huchelgais yw bod yn awdur hanner cystal ag Owen Sheers.

Mae Crime Cymru yn ddiolchgar iawn i feirniaid y wobr, a roddodd eu hamser am ddim mewn cefnogaeth i’r wobr. Diolch o galon i’n panel Cymraeg: Sian Northey, awdur, golygydd a chyfieithydd, Gwen Davies, cyfieithydd a golygydd y New Welsh Review, a Jon Gower, awdur a darlledwr. Ac i’n beirniaid Saesneg: gwerthwraig orau’r Sunday Times, Clare Mackintosh, asiant llenyddol, Peter Buckman, a seren newydd y byd ffuglen drosedd, Awais Khan. 

Amcan Gwobr Nofel Gyntaf Crime Cymru First Novel Prize yw hyrwyddo awduron trosedd sy’n byw yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, gan gynnig llwyfan i’w gwaith a hybu eu datblygiad wrth ysgrifennu. Mae datblygu talent newydd yn un o’n hamcanion craidd fel cydweithfa. Bydd y wobr yn ôl yn y dyfodol. Cadwch eich llygaid ar ein gwefan a chofrestrwch i’n blog i glywed y newyddion gyntaf: <https://crime.cymru/> .

Llongyfarchiadau gwresog i’n henillwyr, ac i’r holl awduron ar y rhestrau hir a byr, a diolch o galon i bawb a wnaeth gystadlu.