"People and Places consists of a collection of poems and short stories written by members of the Irfon Valley Writers Group based in Mid Wales.

The Irfon Valley Writers Group is an informal affair and new members are always welcome. Meetings are held monthly in the creatively conducive surroundings of a local pub in Llanwrtyd Wells.

During the winter of 2004/5, Powys Libraries held a Winter Words Workshop open to all and designed to bring out the writer lurking in library members. Each month, a subject was offered as a basis on which to create any written piece and this was then sent electronically to one of the tutors to the workshop.

The Winter Words Workshop was the shove we all probably needed and with the generous help of the Irfon Arts Fund, it was decided to collect together three written pieces from each of the existing members, into a book.

The result is 'People and Places' available, as they say, from your local book dealer or via email (info@irfonvalleywriters.org.uk ).

It is not surprising that members find themselves moved to write. The Irfon Valley is a beautiful area as anyone who has visited it will tell you. Most of the members live along the river between Abergwesyn and Builth Wells although residency in this area is certainly not a prerequisite for joining.

Members who find it difficult to attend the regular meetings keep in touch by email and this is also how we submit new pieces for group scrutiny. Those who prefer to present their written work in person can, of course, do this so having access to a computer is not essential.

Creative writing is boundless and this is how it should be. We make no rules and impose no restrictions and are entirely democratic (we don't even have a leader!).

In June 2006, we launched 'People and Places' in the Stonecroft Inn in Llanwrtyd Wells. The evening was a mix of music and readings and anyone present was invited to get up and read. And they did.

A raffle was held and £100 was raised in aid of the local Air Ambulance. Books were sold, beer was drunk, poems were recited and songs were sung but not necessarily in that order. Everyone did agree that a fine time was had by all!"

Article by Christopher Challener from Llanwrtyd Wells