Rachel asked John Gwynne:

Gwynne is a Welsh name and you use some welsh language in you book Malice (e.g. Seren Disglair = Bright Star), which I am currently reading and am really enjoying, do you use welsh words on purpose or am I just making connections that aren't there and do you personally have any connection to Wales? I only ask as I am Welsh and the connection caught my attention.

John Gwynne Hi Rachel,

Great to hear from you.
You're absolutely right. Both of my parents were Welsh - from the Rhondda Valley. My dad came from a mining family but joined the RAF at the age of 18, and stayed in the RAF until he was 55. I was born whilst he was stationed in Singapore, so didn't grow up in Wales, though we visited often, with many aunts and uncles to see, and I have very fond memories of my times spent there. I love Wales. Much of my wife's family is also from Wales (though she is an East End Londoner through and through, born in Hackney). They are scattered around Mid and West Wales.

So yes, you're right again, I do use Welsh in my series, and it is intentional. I wanted to give my tale a celtic feel, and so I have used Welsh, as well as Irish and Scottish Gaelic. They're not the only languages I've referenced, though. I imagine the Banished Lands as an alternative ancient Europe, roughly within a time frame from Julius Caesar to King Arthur (1st Century BC to 4th/5th century AD), and I've tried to reference the languages and cultures from that period. Tenebral is roughly Latin, so names like Veradis and Aquilus, Forn Forest is Germanic, as are the Hunen giants, Tarbesh is Middle-Eastern, the Vin Thalun are Greek, and so. It's an attempt at giving the world flavour and a frame of reference for the reader.

I hope that helps, and thank-you for spotting and mentioning the use of Welsh.

Best,

John

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