During the ceremony, a total of 16 different awards were presented to books published during 2007 and 2008, including the best sellers in a number of specific categories. Awards were also presented to the books which were borrowed most often from libraries, in addition to the best works in the fields of design and production. The awards themselves were commissioned from the artist Carwyn Evans from Cardiff, a past-winner of the Ifor Davies Award at the National Eisteddfod.
‘Publishers in Wales are to be warmly congratulated for the high standard of the books they are publishing at present,’ said Elwyn Jones, Director of the Welsh Books Council,‘and it was a pleasure to honour and acknowledge the work of the winners of the various categories. The book trade is indebted to the publishers for their continuing efforts to produce attractive and popular books, and the financial support given by the Welsh Assembly Government ensures that the publishing industry in Wales will continue to develop further.’
Alun Ffred Jones added,‘It was a great pleasure to be present at the ceremony to honour the work of the publishers; the nature and high standard of the output is reflected in the sales of books from Wales, in both languages. We all take pride in our fine literary tradition, and the Welsh Assembly Government is pleased to support our culture through the provision of a wide range of books for readers of all ages.’
Highlights of the awards ceremony were broadcast on the S4C programmeWedi 7on Friday 12 March.
Winners of the Awards for English-language Books fromWales
FICTION BESTSELLER
Publisher: Accent
Bring It Back Home, Niall Griffiths
POETRY BESTSELLER
Publisher: Seren
Sunday at the Skin Launderette, Kathryn Simmonds
NON-FICTION BESTSELLER
Publisher: Accent
The Hardest Test, Scott Quinnell
CHILDREN’S BESTSELLER
Publisher: Pont
A Nod From Nelson, Simon Weston
MOST BORROWED LIBRARY BOOK
Publisher: Seren
Blue Sky July, Nia Wyn
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (CHILDREN)
Publisher: Pont (Gomer)
Merlin’s Magical Creatures, Graham Howells
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (ADULTS)
Publisher: Gomer
Random Deaths and Custard, Catrin Dafydd
PHOTOGRAPHIC / ART BOOK
Publisher: Gomer
From Africa to Iceland, John Rogers
Winners of the Awards for Welsh-language Books
FICTION BESTSELLER
Publisher: Gomer
O Ran, Mererid Hopwood
POETRY BESTSELLER
Publisher: Gomer
Dauwynebog, Ceri Wyn Jones
NON-FICTION BESTSELLER
Publisher: Y Lolfa
Cofio Grav, Keith Davies
CHILDREN’S BESTSELLER
Publisher: Gomer
Chwarae gyda Cymro, Caroline Jayne Church
MOST BORROWED LIBRARY BOOK
Publisher: Gomer
Mae Mali Eisiau Mwy, Joseph Theobald
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (CHILDREN)
Publisher: Atebol
Mathiadur(Geiriadur Mathemateg Cyntaf), Robin Bateman
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION (ADULTS)
Publisher: Y Lolfa
Plu,Caryl Lewis
PHOTOGRAPHIC / ART BOOK
Publisher: Gomer
Rhyw Deid yn Dod Miwn, Iwan Llwyd