2021

2020 was a long year for everybody and for those living in Wales and the UK a lot of the time it seemed to come to a lockdown-standstill. It’s also meant that much of the writing and publishing industry has been somewhat ‘on hold’ or having to adapt to a new online environment. In truth, we at Tyler’s publicity team have been off-duty for a long while; it’s hard to believe our last post was back in 2019. That sensation of stasis hasn’t ended yet, but all the same the new year is a time of hope and transition - both for looking forward and reflecting on what’s been. And in truth a lot has still been going on in the publishing industry despite these challenging circumstances, thanks to brilliant editors and publishers like Myriad Editions, who launched Tyler’s new novel Your Still Beating Heart this autumn. The book has also been supported and promoted by friends old and new: Mark Carew hosted Tyler on his podcast The Joy of Writing for three episodes to discuss the book; Gary Raymond featured it on The Review Show on BBC Wales; Isabel Costello invited Tyler to contribute a post to her Writers on Location series; Bookanista published his article You and the Story; and Pennralt Galeri Y Siop Lyfrau featured the book as a winter read. Tyler hasn’t been able to do any of the readings or promotional events he might have in a pre-COVID world, so that support has been all the more appreciated. Like everybody else we’re hoping 2021 brings change for the better. The start hasn’t been promising - things still feel very unstable - but all we can do, really, is what Eira does at the end of the novel, after emerging from that frigid water and bursting through the ice. Breathe: take those ragged, painful breaths, and fill your lungs with oxygen, and keep your heart beating.

A Feeling of Wales Event - Le Pub - Newport

This Saturday, you can catch Tyler reading alongside Phil Jones at the Tiny Leaves, Sharron Kraus, and Ivan Moult music gig, at Le Pub, Newport. The event is being put on by Diverse Vinyl and features artists who have been influenced and inspired by the Welsh culture and landscape. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. and tickets are available here. They’re going fast so grab one while you can!

New Novel 'Your Still Beating Heart' to be published by Myriad Editions

This month Tyler has signed a new book deal with Myriad Editions, who will be publishing his latest novel, ‘Your Still Beating Heart’. Tyler previously worked with Myriad on his road novel The Drive, and is thrilled to be part of their list again. The novel is due to be published September 2020, and the full press release, as seen in The Bookseller, is below: watch this space for further details of launches and events as publication approaches!

Myriad Editions has welcomed back Tyler Keevil with an "ingenious" new novel about a woman who risks her life to save another.

Candida Lacey, publisher and m.d, bought world English language rights from Becky Thomas at Johnson & Alcock. Your Still Beating Heart will be published in September 2020.

The book follows a young woman who travels to Prague after she is widowed. The synopsis explains: “A chance meeting leads to an intriguing proposition. There’s a small job for someone like her: someone without a criminal record or personal connections; someone willling to take a minor risk. All she needs to do is pick something up, and drive back. Just once. Only ever once. Her mission takes her to a place where life is cheap and sordid deals are done. Risking her own life to save another, she must confront unspeakable evil and outrun those who would betray her.”

Keevil, who grew up in Vancouver and moved to Wales in his twenties, is the author of three novels including The Drive (Myriad) and most recent book No Good Brother (The Borough Press). He is director of the MA in Creative Writing at Cardiff University.

He said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be publishing this book with Myriad. Having worked with them on The Drive I know how tremendous their team is and how supportive they are of their authors. Writing this story was an exhilarating process, and I can’t wait to share that experience with readers.”

Lacey added: “This is a terrific novel, and striking on so many levels. From the show-stopping opening scene, Tyler’s writing is ingenious, and full of momentum and unforgettable characters. It is a new genre for Tyler and he has hit the ground running with such a taut and chilling thriller. Moving, profound and ultimately joyful, Your Still Beating Heart turns on an exceptionally clever twist and is as revealing in its psychological acuity as it is in its portrait of organised crime. We are delighted to welcome him back to Myriad.”