They Are Still Here (Maen Nhw Yma O Hyd)
A project in Carmarthen, UK by Cheryl Morgan000days
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Funding Successful
An anthology of contemporary fantasy stories featuring creatures and characters from Welsh mythology and folklore
Backers: 291
Average Pledge Per Backer: £25
Funded: £7,288 of £5,500
Dates: Oct 2nd -> Nov 6th (36 days)
Project By: Cheryl Morgan
Backers: 291
Average Pledge Per Backer: £25
Funded: £7,288 of £5,500
Dates: Oct 2nd -> Nov 6th (36 days)
Project By: Cheryl Morgan
£7,288
current pledge level
Last Updated: November 6 @ 05:02 -0500 GMT
132%
of goal
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Latest News
Almost done 
November 5th - via: kickstarter.com
We only have around 12 hours left of our campaign, and we are so very grateful to all of you who have backed us. Currently we are just over £7000, and as is always the case we are getting a last minute rush of pledges. Given that our US Agent,... (Read More)
Hu Gadarn
November 4th - via: kickstarter.com
If you have been following these updates since we started you will be aware that we really know very little about ancient Welsh mythology, and much of what we do know has come to us via mediaeval sources which may have substantially altered the... (Read More)
The Story of Princess Gwenllian
November 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
Warrior princesses are a thing in fantasy literature, but Wales had a real one. Her name was Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd, and this is her story. When the Normans conquered England, Wales was still independent of Saxon rule. The kingdom established by... (Read More)
Maxim Wledig (Emperor Maximus)
November 1st - via: kickstarter.com
Most of the characters from Welsh history in the Arthurian period come to us through legend. Even some of the most famous are not well attested by the historical record. But there is one story in The Mabinogion that is about someone who is very well... (Read More)
Hallowe’en in Wales
October 31st - via: kickstarter.com
Before diving into this, we have had a request for the pronunciation guide. Rather than try doing it ourselves (and make a terrible mess of it), we recommend this one from the University of Aberystwyth. While the modern festival of Hallowe’en, is... (Read More)
Saint Twrog the Giant
October 30th - via: kickstarter.com
We’ve already met a saint whose father was a fairy prince, and another who was a notorious bandit. We’ve not yet got around to Saint Illtud, who was a knight of the Round Table. But today we are going to meet Saint Twrog, who was a giant. Or at... (Read More)
Skeleton Horses? Rap Battles? How the Mari Llwyd Stole Christmas.
October 29th - via: kickstarter.com
With Hallowe'en on the way, it is time to share a truly terrifying creature from Welsh myth, albeit one that is easily bribed with a mince pie and a glass of port. Here's Jo Hall to tell you all about it. Picture the scene. It’s night, and you’re... (Read More)
The Coracle
October 28th - via: kickstarter.com
Kayla and I have spent the day in Portsmouth looking at various naval museums, including the Mary Rose and the Victory, so it seemed only right to talk about the boats that the ancient Welsh would have used. The idea of a boat made from a light wood... (Read More)
Stonehenge
October 27th - via: kickstarter.com
As promised this morning, we have been to Stonehenge. More about that shortly, but first a bit of admin. We had a request last week that we should make copies of the book available as Add-Ons for those people who wanted to order more than one copy.... (Read More)
First Stretch Goal Reached!
October 27th - via: kickstarter.com
BristolCon is now over, and during the weekend we passed our first stretch goal. The book will now include a poem by the brilliant Welsh-Canadian author, Jo Walton. Our next stretch goal will be to pay higher advances to the writers whose stories we... (Read More)
Is Bristol Welsh?
October 25th - via: kickstarter.com
I'm a little late with the update today because I have been busy selling books. But as I am at BristolCon I thought we might take a look at that city and the local area in the Welsh language. The modern Welsh name for Bristol is Bryste. As the people... (Read More)
Pentre Ifan
October 24th - via: kickstarter.com
We are off to BristolCon today, but Tej Turner's latest travelogue takes us in entirely the other direction - to the Preseli Mountains of Pembrokeshire. Many of the people who have not heard of this monument will likely at least recognise it as its... (Read More)
The Hunting of Twrch Trwyth
October 23rd - via: kickstarter.com
After all that excitement of getting funded, it is time to get back on the horse. In this case quite literally as we are going boar-hunting with Arthur and his knights. This is a story which is very important to the region in which Wizard's Tower is... (Read More)
Funded!
October 22nd - via: kickstarter.com
Thank you so much, everybody. Especially those of you who were very generous. You know who you are. So yes, we are funded. Much relief all round. Now we move on to stretch goals. At £6,000 we will add a poem by Jo Walton to the book. Jo is the best... (Read More)
Peredur and the Afanc
October 21st - via: kickstarter.com
We are currently around 95% funded, which is amazing. Now it is time for something truly monstrous. We are going to meet the cunning and deadly Afanc. Some time after the encounter at the Graal Castle, Peredur has been accepted as one of Arthur’s... (Read More)
The Story of Princess Gwladys
October 20th - via: kickstarter.com
I've got something a bit different for you today, an actual piece of fiction. The story concerns another of King Brychan's many daughters. Saint Dwynwen's sister, Gwladys, also had a complicated love life, but perhaps God had listened to Dwynwen's... (Read More)
A Wonderful Weekend
October 20th - via: kickstarter.com
Well that was great. Since Friday morning we have taken in over £1000 in pledges. We are currently 86% funded and need less than £800 to reach our target. If we carry on at the current rate we can have a celebration at BristolCon. Meanwhile it is... (Read More)
Almost there!
October 19th - via: kickstarter.com
Hi folks! As usual I am giving you a rest from the Welsh stuff on the Sunday. However, I did want to pop in to note that, thanks to some great help from wonderful friends (you know who you are), we have done very well over the last few days. We are... (Read More)
The Origin of the Red Dragon
October 18th - via: kickstarter.com
We are very early again this morning due to some necessary travel, but we have a mega update for you, and some serious history. Why is there a dragon on the Welsh flag? And what does that have to do with the Amazons? Our story begins in ancient... (Read More)
Two-Thirds Funded!
October 17th - via: kickstarter.com
Huzzah, we have made it to two-thirds funded. It should all be downhill from here, right? Well maybe not, but it is very encouraging and, as promised, I am going to talk about stretch goals. At £6,000 we will add a poem by Jo Walton to the book. Jo... (Read More)
Peredur, the Graal Knight
October 17th - via: kickstarter.com
Every country’s Arthurian tales includes a knight who is the best swordsman ever. For the Scots it is probably Gawain, the Prince of Orkney. For the French it is obviously Lancelot. But for the Welsh that role is taken by Peredur, who becomes... (Read More)
The Story of Saint Dwynwen
October 16th - via: kickstarter.com
Wales has a huge number of saints, most of them not officially recognised by the Vatican. Many of them are little-known, but one who has gained a great deal of publicity of late is Dwynwen. She is known as the Welsh patron saint of lovers. As is... (Read More)
St. Non’s Chapel and Well
October 15th - via: kickstarter.com
Today we are back with Tej Turner's travelogues about ancient sites in Wales that are worth a visit. In this update we focus on St. Non's Chapel and Well. This lesser-known historic site – overlooking a small bay upon one of Pembrokeshire’s most... (Read More)
Shwmae Day
October 15th - via: kickstarter.com
We'll be having another update from Tej Turner later today, but first it is time to talk a bit about the Welsh language. Today is Shwmae Day (or Su'mae Day if you are from North Wales where they talk a bit differently). It is a day on which we... (Read More)
The Laws of Hywel Dda
October 14th - via: kickstarter.com
Cheryl is spending today in Cardiff having meetings at the Senedd, so it seems appropriate to devote today’s update to Wales’s greatest law-maker, Hywel Dda. The government offices attached to the Senedd building are known as Tŷ Hywel (Hywel’s... (Read More)
The Woman of Llyn Fan Fach
October 13th - via: kickstarter.com
We had a great weekend, for which many thanks to the people at Queer Lit Quarterly and Octocon. We are now over 60% funded. Once we get to two-thirds I'll feel confident enough to start talking about stretch goals. Meanwhile, on with today's story.... (Read More)
Maelor the Giant
October 11th - via: kickstarter.com
Cheryl is still in Aberystwyth, and today is the first day of Octocon, the Irish National Science Fiction Convention. That makes this the perfect day to talk about Maelor the Giant. This story has a content warning for a sad death of a dog. As Claire... (Read More)
Gwydion, our cover star
October 10th - via: kickstarter.com
Our magnificent cover created by Swansea-based artist, Josh Arklin, features the sorcerer Gwydion with three animals: a deer, a boar and a wolf. Did you know that they are his children? No, this is not a tale like that of Loki and Sleipnir. Welsh... (Read More)
Fancy Being a Hermit?
October 9th - via: kickstarter.com
We have a bonus update today, courtesy of Cheryl’s Welsh tutor who forwarded an interesting piece of news. Bardsey Island, Ynys Enlli in Welsh, is a small outcrop off the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd. In the 6th century Saint Cadfan... (Read More)
Introducing Walter Map
October 9th - via: kickstarter.com
Today's update is about a 12th Century British writer who is the first known person to commit a story about Welsh lake ladies to paper. By the way, if you are enjoying these updates, do please share them on social media. We want people to come and... (Read More)
The Ladies of the Lakes
October 8th - via: kickstarter.com
Today's update it all about the Lady of the Lake, and all of her many sisters. This is based on the very popular talk that Cheryl gave at this year's Eurocon. Everyone has heard of the Lady of the Lake, but did you know that there are lots of them?... (Read More)
Welsh Giants, by Claire Fayers
October 7th - via: kickstarter.com
Today's update is provided by superstar Welsh folklorist, Claire Fayers. Her 2024 children's book, Welsh Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, was named Welsh Book of the Year by Waterstones. Today she tells us more about her favourite mythical creatures:... (Read More)
Tŷ Canol Wood
October 6th - via: kickstarter.com
Today's update features the first of a series of travelogues by fantasy writer, Tej Turner. He has found three historical sites in Wales that lovers of landscape and mythology might like to visit. First up is Tŷ Canol Wood. The photographs are by... (Read More)
The Story of Saint Dybrig
October 4th - via: kickstarter.com
Our update today is about a famous figure from the early days of the Welsh church. Like many such tales, it is a combination of real history and legend. Dybrig is notable amongst Christian saints because his father was one of the Fair Folk. The Wye... (Read More)
Juliet McKenna on Welsh folklore
October 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
As promised, here is the first of our updates about Welsh history and legend. This one is from Juliet McKenna. I was drawn to the Welsh myths underpinning The Green Man’s Gift for several reasons. Firstly, these folk tales have resolutely refused... (Read More)
We're live!
October 2nd - via: kickstarter.com
Hello everyone. Thanks so much to all of you who have pledged already. It is so important to get these things off to a good start. It is getting late here in the UK, but I'm hoping that our friends across the Pond can get us closer to the £1k mark... (Read More)
If you have additional news that doesn't appear here, shoot us a link!