Honno (press)
Encyclopedia
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. In 2006, Dai Smith
, chair of the Arts Council of Wales
, praised Honno's "terrific work in bringing women’s literature back into print". Luned Meredith, one of the founders, claimed in the press's 21st anniversary year of 2008 that Honno had made "a significant contribution to the changing social conscience which has given prominence to the woman's voice".
The press was started by a group of volunteers, and had 400 shareholders within six months of its establishment. Honno has received financial support from the Welsh Books Council
and the European Union
. The name Honno is the Welsh feminine form of "that".
; Honno also publishes some poetry, books for children and teenagers, and books in Welsh
. The press's 450 authors include Lindsay Ashford
, Anne Beale
, Brenda Chamberlain
, Gillian Clarke
, Carol Ann Courtney, Amy Dillwyn
, Dorothy Edwards
, Menna Gallie
, Mererid Hopwood
, Siân James
, Anne Lewis, Eiluned Lewis
, Gwyneth Lewis
, Catherine Merriman
, Lynette Roberts
, Kitty Sewell and Hilda Vaughan
. The Honno's Classics series republishes books which have been out of print for many years.
for Morphine and Dolly Mixtures by Carol Ann Courtney, which was later made into a film for television. Luminous and Forlorn (1994), Honno's first short story anthology, won the Raymond Williams Prize of the Arts Council England
. Who's Afraid of the Bwgan-wood? by Anne Lewis won the Welsh Books Council
's Tir na n-Og Award for Best Children's Title in English in 1996. Not Singing Exactly by Siân James won the 1997 Wales Book of the Year. Honno books have also reached the shortlists of several recent awards, including the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
2006 for Lindsay Ashford's Strange Blood; and the Wales Book of the Year 2006 and Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger
2006 for Kitty Sewell's Ice Trap.
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, which is run as an independent co-operative. The press concentrates solely on publishing writing by the women of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, with the twin aims of increasing publication opportunities for Welsh women and expanding the audience for Welsh women's writing. In 2006, Dai Smith
Dai Smith
Dai Smith was a Welsh professional rugby league footballer of the 1900s who at representative level played for Other Nationalities, and at club level for Salford, playing at , i.e...
, chair of the Arts Council of Wales
Arts Council of Wales
The Arts Council of Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body, responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales.Established by Royal Charter in 1946, as the Welsh Arts Council , when it merged with the three Welsh regional arts associations...
, praised Honno's "terrific work in bringing women’s literature back into print". Luned Meredith, one of the founders, claimed in the press's 21st anniversary year of 2008 that Honno had made "a significant contribution to the changing social conscience which has given prominence to the woman's voice".
The press was started by a group of volunteers, and had 400 shareholders within six months of its establishment. Honno has received financial support from the Welsh Books Council
Welsh Books Council
The Welsh Books Council or Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru was established in 1961 under the name of Cyngor Llyfrau Cymraeg . Today it is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Council's aims are to promote the interest in Welsh language books and English language books of interest to Wales...
and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. The name Honno is the Welsh feminine form of "that".
Publications
The majority of titles are novels, autobiographies and short story anthologies in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
; Honno also publishes some poetry, books for children and teenagers, and books in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. The press's 450 authors include Lindsay Ashford
Lindsay Ashford (author)
Lindsay Ashford is a British crime novelist and journalist. Her style writing has been compared to that of Vivien Armstrong, Linda Fairstein and Frances Fyfield. Many of her books follow the character of Megan Rhys, an investigative psychologist....
, Anne Beale
Anne Beale
Anne Beale was a popular Welsh novelist and poet.She lived at Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, but later moved to London, where she died at 68 Belsize Road, South Hampstead...
, Brenda Chamberlain
Brenda Chamberlain
Brenda Kay Chamberlain, PC was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Guelph for the Liberal Party from 1993 until her resignation as of April, 2008....
, Gillian Clarke
Gillian Clarke
Gillian Clarke is a Welsh poet, playwright, editor, broadcaster, lecturer and translator from Welsh.-Life:Clarke was born in Cardiff and brought up in Cardiff and Penarth, though for part of the Second World War she was in Pembrokeshire...
, Carol Ann Courtney, Amy Dillwyn
Amy Dillwyn
Elizabeth Amy Dillwyn was a Welsh novelist, businesswoman and social benefactor.She was the daughter of Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn, Liberal MP and owner of the Dillwyn Spelter Works at Swansea. Following her father's death, she managed the works herself. Her unorthodox appearance and lifestyle made...
, Dorothy Edwards
Dorothy Edwards (Welsh novelist)
Dorothy Edwards , was a Welsh novelist of the early 20th century.Edwards was from Ogmore Vale in South Wales. She was educated at Howell's School for girls in Llandaff and at Cardiff University. She was politically active, working for socialist and Welsh nationalist causes, but wrote in English. ...
, Menna Gallie
Menna Gallie
Menna Patricia Humphreys Gallie was a Welsh novelist and translator.She was born in Ystradgynlais. She married the philosopher W. B...
, Mererid Hopwood
Mererid Hopwood
Mererid Hopwood is a Welsh poet who made history in 2001 by becoming the first woman ever to win the bardic Chair at the National Eisteddfod of Wales....
, Siân James
Sian James (novelist)
Siân James is a Welsh novelist who writes in English.James was born near Llandysul in Carmarthenshire, and attended the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She is a Fellow of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Glamorgan. She is a Fellow...
, Anne Lewis, Eiluned Lewis
Eiluned Lewis
Eiluned Lewis was a Welsh novelist, poet and journalist.She was born in Newtown, Montgomeryshire in Wales. She was educated at Levana School, Wimbledon, and Westfield College London. She had a long period of work on the Sunday Times, becoming assistant editor...
, Gwyneth Lewis
Gwyneth Lewis
Gwyneth Lewis is a Welsh poet, and was the first National Poet for Wales.-Biography:Born into a Welsh speaking family, Lewis's father started teaching her English when her mother went into hospital to give birth to her sister....
, Catherine Merriman
Catherine Merriman
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...
, Lynette Roberts
Lynette Roberts
Lynette Roberts was a Welsh poet, born Evelyn Beatrice Roberts in Buenos Aires to parents of Welsh extraction.-Life:...
, Kitty Sewell and Hilda Vaughan
Hilda Vaughan
Hilda Campbell Vaughan was a Welsh poet, novelist and short story writer.She was born in Builth Wells, the daughter of a solicitor. In 1923 she married the novelist Charles Langbridge Morgan, and they had two children...
. The Honno's Classics series republishes books which have been out of print for many years.
Awards
Awards won by Honno titles include the 1989 Wales Book of the YearWales 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...
for Morphine and Dolly Mixtures by Carol Ann Courtney, which was later made into a film for television. Luminous and Forlorn (1994), Honno's first short story anthology, won the Raymond Williams Prize of the Arts Council England
Arts Council England
Arts Council England was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport...
. Who's Afraid of the Bwgan-wood? by Anne Lewis won the Welsh Books Council
Welsh Books Council
The Welsh Books Council or Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru was established in 1961 under the name of Cyngor Llyfrau Cymraeg . Today it is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Council's aims are to promote the interest in Welsh language books and English language books of interest to Wales...
's Tir na n-Og Award for Best Children's Title in English in 1996. Not Singing Exactly by Siân James won the 1997 Wales Book of the Year. Honno books have also reached the shortlists of several recent awards, including the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
The Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award is a crime-fiction award, sponsored by Theakston's Old Peculier. It is awarded annually at Harrogate Crime Writing Festival in the UK, held every July. The winner receives £3000 and a small hand-carved oak beer cask carved by one of...
2006 for Lindsay Ashford's Strange Blood; and the Wales Book of the Year 2006 and Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger
CWA New Blood Dagger
The CWA New Blood Dagger is an annual award given by the British Crime Writers' Association for first books by previously unpublished writers. It is given in memory of CWA founder John Creasey and was previously known as The John Creasey Memorial Award. The award is voted on by past winners and...
2006 for Kitty Sewell's Ice Trap.