Cove Launch Reading Event

Last week, Cynan Jones's much-anticipated new novel, Cove, was released by Granta.  Cynan is doing a range of readings and events to launch the book, including one in Pen'rallt Gallery Bookshop, in Machynlleth, where he'll be joined by Tyler and fellow novelist and short story author Mary-Ann Constantine.  The three previously worked together at Ty Newydd Writing Centre in Wales, and this time around the focus will be on place, and evoking a sense of location in your work, as per the flyer below...

If you're in the area, do come along: the event starts at 6.30 p.m. and entry is free.  If that's not enough to lure you in, then perhaps this summary of Cove will do the trick:

Out at sea, in a sudden storm, a man is struck by lightning. When he wakes, injured and adrift on a kayak, his memory of who he is and how he came to be there is all but shattered. Now he must pit himself against the pain and rely on his instincts to get back to shore, and to the woman he dimly senses waiting for his return...

No Good Brother to be published by Borough Press

For the past few weeks, we at Tyler's publicity team have been desperate to reveal some good news, but had to hold back until it was officially announced.  The press release has now gone out, though, so we can share it, too: Tyler's new novel, No Good Brother, has been picked up by Borough Press, an imprint of HarperCollins here in the UK.  Borough bought world rights in a deal negotiated by Tyler's agent, Becky Thomas.  Tyler gets to team up with Holly Ainley, previously an editor at Myriad (and who worked with Tyler on The Drive) and, as you can imagine, this pretty much equates to a best case scenario for this new project, which sounds like an absolute barnstormer. 

The full press release is available here, but for those who don't want to click and jump the vital info from the main blurb is below, to give you a glimpse of what to expect early in 2018... 

No Good Brother is a contemporary story of "masculinity and morality, the loss of innocence and the ties that bind us". It follows Tim Harding who has spent the fishing season in Canada as a deckhand, making an honest living and building a good future. When his hot-headed younger brother Jake tracks him down at the shipyards in Vancouver, Tim senses trouble – he just doesn’t realise how much.

When Tim agrees to help Jake transport stolen goods across the US border down to the notorious Delaney gang’s ranch, so begins an epic, unpredictable journey across land and sea, hounded by freak storms, painful memories and the long arm of the law.

"With echoes of classic Westerns and shot through with unorthodox humour, No Good Brother is a rip-roaring novel of loyalty, love, danger and family", the publisher said.

Ainley said: "I am a huge fan of Tyler’s writing and No Good Brother is an inspired story that defies expectation at every turn. It combines the beautifully controlled literary style of his short stories, with his trademark sharp-witted and heartfelt novelistic style. I’m so excited to welcome him on board at Borough and can’t wait for new readers to discover him.’

Screenwriting With Young Writers Squad

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Over the past couple of weeks, Tyler has been running a set of screenwriting workshops with the talented and dedicated writers that take part in the regular Young Writers Squad sessions at The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea.  The events are organized and run by Jo Furber and her team of staff, and are always fun and lively.  Tyler was delighted to be asked back to rejoin the squad and work with the students again.

For these new sessions the young writers focused on developing characters, creating conflict within scenes, and brainstorming storylines by using overarching or 'supra objectives' (fancy word alert).  The lesson plan cased studies included Stand By Me, The Hunger Games, and even Mr. Bean.  Many thanks to Jo for inviting Tyler down, and to the students for their focus and enthusiasm throughout the sessions.