A Caerphilly-born author is in the running for the prestigious International Dylan Thomas Prize.
We Don’t Know What We’re Doing, published last year, is the debut book from 30-year-old Thomas Morris.
It focuses on characters from Caerphilly and its collection of fictional stories are mainly set in the town of Morris’ birth.
They deal with coming of age, of ordinary life, mundane jobs and family life, depression, the struggles and oppression of motherhood and more.
Now the book is on a longlist of 12 others for the annual literary prize named after Welsh author Dylan Thomas.
Mr Morris, who first starting writing creatively through the Aber Valley Arts Festival Undercurrents, said: “I’m hugely surprised and honoured to be longlisted.
“It is really humbling to be considered for such a truly international competition, and I just love Dylan Thomas’ writing.
“I’m receiving messages every week from people across the world, saying that they’re really enjoying the book, which itself is just mind-blowing.
“But what’s even more exciting to me is to think that there are all these people reading fiction that features Caerphilly Castle, the Big Cheese Festival and Glanmors. I have my fingers crossed for the shortlisting, but either way, I’m just delighted that a book about Caerphilly is being read and talked about.
“I think South Wales needs to appear more in literature and TV and film. It really is a unique part of the world and there are so many more stories to be told about it.”
Thomas, who has been based in Dublin since 2005 after attending university, finds out if he makes the shortlist in March.
The winners of the £30,000 prize will be revealed on International Dylan Thomas Day on May 14.