Catherine Merriman
Encyclopedia
Catherine A. Merriman is an English
novelist and short story
writer who has lived in South East Wales
since 1973.
Merriman has published five novels and three short story collections. Her first novel, Leaving the Light On, won the Ruth Hadden Memorial Award
in 1992. Her collection of stories, Silly Mothers, was shortlisted for 1992 Wales Book of the Year
, and she has twice won a Rhys Davies short story award, in 1991 and 1998. Many of her short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
She also edited Laughing, Not Laughing: Women Writing on 'My Experience of Sex, an anthology of Welsh women writing frankly about their sexual experiences, which won the publications category of the 2004 Erotic Awards
.
Her writing often addresses women's experiences. Broken Glass focuses on breast cancer. State of Desire addresses reawakening sexuality after bereavement. Merriman states that two of her novels (Leaving The Light On and Fatal Observations), about domestic power and domestic violence, have their foundations in her eleven years' experience as a volunteer for the charity Women's Aid
.
Merriman teaches writing at the University of Glamorgan
. She is a fellow of the Academi
and co-chair of their members' committee. For several years she was fiction editor for the New Welsh Review
, and she has judged numerous short story competitions.
; 2004)
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
novelist and short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer who has lived in South East Wales
South East Wales
South East Wales is a loosely-defined region of Wales generally corresponding to the former counties of South Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and Monmouthshire...
since 1973.
Merriman has published five novels and three short story collections. Her first novel, Leaving the Light On, won the Ruth Hadden Memorial Award
Ruth Hadden Memorial Award
The Ruth Hadden Memorial Award is an award for the best first novel published in Britain. Formerly administered by the Booktrust, it has now been discontinued.-Past winners:1994: Pig, by Andrew Cowan1993: In the Place of Fallen Leaves, by Tim Pears...
in 1992. Her collection of stories, Silly Mothers, was shortlisted for 1992 Wales Book of the Year
Wales Book of the Year
The Wales Book of the Year is a Welsh literary award given annually to the best Welsh and English language works in the fields of fiction and literary criticism by Welsh or Welsh interest authors...
, and she has twice won a Rhys Davies short story award, in 1991 and 1998. Many of her short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
She also edited Laughing, Not Laughing: Women Writing on 'My Experience of Sex, an anthology of Welsh women writing frankly about their sexual experiences, which won the publications category of the 2004 Erotic Awards
Erotic Awards
The Erotic Awards is an annual British event that honours achievement in erotica worldwide.Founded in 1994 by sexuality campaigner Tuppy Owens, the awards were first called the Erotic Oscars, until the name had to be changed. The awards ceremony are held during the Night of the Senses, an annual...
.
Her writing often addresses women's experiences. Broken Glass focuses on breast cancer. State of Desire addresses reawakening sexuality after bereavement. Merriman states that two of her novels (Leaving The Light On and Fatal Observations), about domestic power and domestic violence, have their foundations in her eleven years' experience as a volunteer for the charity Women's Aid
Women's Aid
Women's Aid is a group of feminist charities across the United Kingdom. There are four main Women's Aid Federations, one for each country. Its aim is to end domestic violence against women and children...
.
Merriman teaches writing at the University of Glamorgan
University of Glamorgan
The University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
. She is a fellow of the Academi
Academi
Literature Wales Literature Wales Literature Wales (formerly the Academi is the Welsh national literature promotion agency and society of writers, existing to promote Welsh-language and English-language literature in Wales. Literature Wales publishes a literary magazine called Taliesin and a...
and co-chair of their members' committee. For several years she was fiction editor for the New Welsh Review
New Welsh Review
-History:Founded in 1988 as successor to The Welsh Review , Dock Leaves, and The Anglo-Welsh Review , New Welsh Review is Wales’s foremost literary magazine in English...
, and she has judged numerous short story competitions.
Novels
Short story collections
Editor
Honno (press)
Honno is a Welsh women's press, based in Aberystwyth, which is run as an independent co-operative. The press concentrates solely on publishing writing by the women of Wales, with the twin aims of increasing publication opportunities for Welsh women and expanding the audience for Welsh women's writing...
; 2004)