WORDSTOCK: Close Encounters of the Cultural Kind

Portland Oregon is the home of the 'Wordstock' festival that describes its primary aim as:

". . .  dedicated to providing the public with unprecedented access to artistic excellence and instilling a lifelong love of reading in our community."

It is an unlikely place to meet an American author with a love of Wales and all things Welsh. Actually it's an unlikely place to meet anyone who is aware that Wales even exists.

Sarah Woodbury is an Oregon girl extremely proud of her Welsh ancestry and given the fact both her parents are historians it was almost inevitable that when she eventually succumbed to the writing bug her genre would be the historical novel. Fortunately her visit to Wales was to prove a catalyst in the context of her development as an author and consequently she has written a whole series of novels set in medieval Wales. 

The previous day Sarah and I had been part of a panel discussion entitled 'Culture Wars - Other Voices In British Literature' jointly hosted by AmeriCymru and the Portland Centre for Public Humanities at Portland State University. The other members of the panel were Dr Tracy Prince, whose book formed the basis of the discussion and Welsh authors Mike Jenkins and Chris Keil. The discussion was animated and stimulating to say the least. If you would like to view it in it's entirety you can view it below.

It was the following day at the Woodstock festival that we got the opportunity to talk. Sarah is one of the new breed of authors who realises the importance of self promotion and has been extremely effective in using social media to get her books noticed. She has sold over 150,000 copies and has a following of loyal fans, including me! Sarah did not sit back and wait for an agent to ride by on a white horse and wave a shiny contract in her face. Her success has been down to hard work and a willingness to take responsibility for her own success. Of course there is one element of the equation that always has to be present and that is the ability to write a good story and Sarah certainly possesses that in spades. 

Naturally I would like to think that her Welsh heritage and love of Wales has inspired her to reach the heights she has already achieved and those she is sure to reach in the future. In all honesty she would have made a successful author whatever genre she set her mind on I am just grateful she drew her inspiration from her Celtic roots. Just like the character Valarie in 'A Christmas Carol Revisited' Sarah is so proud of her heritage she even persuaded her husband to give their four children Welsh names.  

“Megan?” 

Megan. It was the name Valarie had chosen in deference to her Welsh ancestry of which she was inordinately proud. For once he let her have her way. What did it matter anyway, the child would never be born. It had proved a serious error of judgement for the very act of naming the child bestowed on Valarie a moral strength he never imagined she possessed. Thereafter she resisted him at every turn but the effort drained her vitality and she took refuge in drink. The miscarriage had been a fortuitous consequence.

“That’s impossible. Valarie lost our child.” 

Even now he refused to speak her name. Even now he refused to accept his portion of blame. 

“Nothing that has ever lived is truly lost Papa." 

She looked at him and the revelation of what he had lost swept over him, a chill wind announcing the onset of a long and bitter winter. Images of what might have been flashed through his mind and he tried to grasp hold of them but they evaded him like autumn leaves scattered in a sudden storm."

Knowing who we are and where we come from gives us strength. I wish Sarah every success for the future and hopefully she will agree to an interview in the near future.

"Iechyd da Sarah!" 

Below are a few of Sarah's books. I am currently thoroughly enjoying 'The Good Knight'.

The 'After Climeri' Series.
The Gareth and Gwen Medieval Mysteries
"If You Haven't Got A Kindle To Enjoy This Addictive Series On Why Not Get One This Christmas?"