WRITERS from west Wales have excelled themselves in this year’s Poetry and First Chapter Competitions run by PENfro Book Festival.

Winner of the poetry competition, judged by Costa Award winner Jonathan Edwards, was Kathy Miles, from Ffos-y-ffin, near Aberaeron.

Kittie Belltree from St Dogmaels and Wendy White from Kidwelly were both commended in the poetry competition.

The contest drew more than 400 entries from all over the UK and abroad and judging was carried out anonymously. Mr Edwards read all the entries.

The winner, second prizewinner (Rachel Plummer from Edinburgh), third-placed writer (Elsa Fischer from Switzerland) and all seven commended writers are invited to read at the PENfro Book Festival poetry evening at Rhosygilwen, with Mr Edwards, on Friday, 9 September.

Mr Edwards said: “The standard of entries in this competition was very high indeed.

“The winning poem, Unexpected Guests, is a stunning poem, which would make a worthy winner of any competition.

“It is an accomplished and wonderful piece of writing, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it.”

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