Join Monty Lit Fest favourites Mike Parker and Sioned Wiliam for a whistle-stop tour of borders, both on the map and in our heads and hearts.  

As Montgomeryshire well knows, a border is a place of contested identity and sometimes tension, but also one of coming together, of mutual support, strength and celebration.  The session will feature Mike’s books All the Wide Border and Map Addict, poems from Hanan Issa, National Poet of Wales and others – and more besides.

Mike Parker is the bestselling author of On the Red Hill and All the Wide Border as well other books including Map Addict and The Wild Rover. He was also the co-author of the first five editions of the Rough Guide to Wales.  He has written and presented several series of travelogues for ITV Wales, has worked on numerous other TV and radio programmes, and occasionally performs as a stand-up comedian and actor.  Born and bred in the Midlands, Mike now lives near Machynlleth, identifying as Cymro o ddewis – a Welshman by choice.

Sioned Wiliam comes from Barry. She is the author of the novels, Dal i Fynd, Chwynnu, Cicio’r Bar and Y Gwyliau and is currently working on her fitfh, 60-Rhywbeth.  Sioned began her television and radio career at the BBC, before becoming an independent producer. Her credits include Tonight with Jonathan Ross, Game On, Big Train and Yonderland. She also produced iDot and exec produced Rhestr Nadolig Wil for Boom/S4C. She has been nominated for a Bafta award three times and has won a British Comedy Award and a Bronze Rose at Montreux. She was also a Commissioning Editor for ITV and BBC Radio 4 and spent last year as the interim CEO of S4C.

Note: Unfortunately, Hanan Issa is no longer able to join us for this session, but her work will be represented and the theme of borderlands still explored in all its complexities.