Rachel Trezise (born 1978) is a Welsh author, born in Cwmparc, Wales. Her debut collection of short stories, ''Fresh Apples'', won the inaugural Dylan Thomas Prize in 2006.

Early life

Rachel Trezise was born in

Cwmparc Cwmparc is a village and a district of the community of Treorchy, in the Rhondda Valley, Wales. History There is evidence of, and logic for, a medieval park, or hunting preserve, in the enclosed area called Parc Cwm Brychiniog. It lies in the ...

, Rhondda in 1978. Her family is of Cornish origin. She was educated at

Treorchy Comprehensive School Treorchy Comprehensive School is an English language, comprehensive school in the village of Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The school is situated on the southern side of the valley, and is 500 metres in length from the main gate on Conwa ...

before going on to study at the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales) and the University of Limerick.

Career

Trezise's first novel, ''In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl'', was published by

Parthian Parthian may be: Historical * A demonym "of Parthia", a region of north-eastern of Greater Iran * Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD) * Parthian language, a now-extinct Middle Iranian language * Parthian shot, an archery skill famously employed by ...

in 2002 while she was still a student. It received broad critical acclaim, and saw her named as a 'new face of literature' by ''

Harpers & Queen ''Harper's Bazaar'' is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. It was first published in New York City on November 2, 1867, as the weekly ''Harper's Bazar''. ''Harper's Bazaar'' is published by Hearst and considers itself to be the st ...

'' in 2003. Trezise followed up this early success with contributions to the anthologies ''Wales Half Welsh'' (

Bloomsbury Bloomsbury is a district in the West End of London. It is considered a fashionable residential area, and is the location of numerous cultural, intellectual, and educational institutions. Bloomsbury is home of the British Museum, the largest mus ...

, 2004), ''Urban Welsh: New Welsh Fiction'' (Parthian, 2005) and ''Sideways Glances'' (Parthian, 2005). Trezise's second book, ''Fresh Apples'', was a wry, gritty collection of short fiction describing life in the mining valleys of south Wales. Published by Parthian in 2005, it won the inaugural Dylan Thomas Prize for writers under 30. Trezise grew up listening to rock music in the late 1980s, and held a long ambition to write a

rockumentary A concert film, or concert movie, is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician or a stand-up comedian. Early history The ...

. In 2007, Parthian published ''Dial M for Merthyr'', Trezise's account of her time spent on tour with Welsh rock band

Midasuno Midasuno were a Welsh four-piece alternative rock band from South Wales. The band toured the United Kingdom and recorded three singles, an EP and three albums. The band are the subject of the road diary "Dial M For Merthyr" by the Welsh author ...

. Trezise also contributed a short story, 'On the Strip', to ''The Empty Page: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth'', published by Serpent's Tail in 2008. The story takes its title and inspiration from a song on Sonic Youth's 1992 album ''Dirty''. She wrote the play ''Cotton Fingers'' about a woman travelling from Belfast to Wales for an abortion for National Theatre Wales as part of its ''Love Letters To The NHS'' season in commemoration 70th birthday of the NHS.

Bibliography

Fiction

* 2002: ''In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl'',

* 2005: ''Fresh Apples'', Parthian * 2010: ''Loose Connections'', Accent * 2010: ''Sixteen Shades of Crazy'', Blue Door * 2013: ''Cosmic Latte'', Parthian *2021: ''Easy Meat'', Parthian

Non-fiction

* 2007: ''Dial M for Merthyr'', Parthian

Drama

* ''I Sing of a Maiden'' (Theatre, Chapter Arts Centre, 2007) * ''Lemon Meringue Pie'' (Radio, BBC Radio 4, 2008) * ''Jack'' (Radio, BBC Radio 4, 2010)

References

External links

Rachel Trezise Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trezise, Rachel 1978 births Living people Welsh novelists Alumni of the University of Glamorgan People from Treorchy British people of Cornish descent People educated at Treorchy Comprehensive School 21st-century Welsh women writers 21st-century Welsh writers