Graffeg Publishing - Meet the Author

Diane Barker - Portraits of Tibet

Meet Diane Barker in the Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. With producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones, Diane tells all about her latest photography book, Portraits of Tibet.
This collection of 108 portrait images documents several journeys made by photographer Diane who became immersed in the everyday lives of the ancient nomadic people of Tibet – one of the last great surviving nomad communities in the world.
These photographs share the timeless practices and traditions of nomadic life as well as the shifts and changes which have become apparent more recently, offering a unique insight into these natural stewards of the land.
Diane Barker is a photographer and artist based in Worcestershire, England. After studying Art History at the University of East Anglia and receiving an MA in Birmingham for a photo project recording the marks made by man on the landscape, she went on to make a living as a painter, using photography as an aid. She later came to see photography as a medium in its own right, a means of being out in the world with people, particularly the Tibetan nomads. Diane’s works are held in private and public collections around the world.

A Children’s Introduction to Mindfulness with author Jason Rhodes

Meet Jason Rhodes in the latest episode of the Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. With producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones, Jason tells all about his children's picture book Imagine Eating Lemons: A Children's Introduction to Mindfulness illustrated by Richard Dearing.
Perfect listening for parents, teachers and aspiring writers, Jason spills the beans on the picture book process and his own journey to mindfulness.
Jason Rhodes came to write the children’s book Imagine Eating Lemons as part of a much larger vision. He wants to educate the younger generation with the simple tools needed to help manage their thoughts and feelings, resulting in a much more peaceful and connected world. Having suffered from extreme anxiety himself for many years he discovered the practice of mindfulness and life quickly began to change. He has now ended his career as a film actor and decided to focus all of his energy on helping to spread awareness of this life-changing practice.

Photographing the Community with David Wilson

Meet David Wilson in the latest episode of the Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. With producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones, David tells all about his latest photography book, The Village.
Through David's intimate photography and conversations with local people, The Village  offers a snapshot not just of its subject but of a community whose feel is universal.

Ian Brown talks the Albert the Tortoise picture book series

Meet Ian Brown in the latest episode of the Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. With producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones, Ian tells all about his Albert the Tortoise series of children's picture books, illustrated by Eoin Clarke. 
Perfect listening for parents, teachers and aspiring writers, Ian spills the beans on the picture book process, from the initial idea all the way through to publication.
Ian Brown is a London-based writer and producer for television and former Fleet Street journalist. His TV credits include Top Gear, The South Bank Show, This Is Your Life, Take Your Pick, Petrolheads, and the feature documentary Born to Royalty. He has written or produced for the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Harrison Ford, Simon Cowell, Tom Jones, George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Jason Statham, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Forsyth, among many others. Ian is also the creator and writer of grownup cartoon series The Bruvs.

Máire Zepf and Andrew Whitson – Rita Series

Meet Máire Zepf and Andrew Whitson in the latest episode of the Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. With producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones, Máire and Andrew tell all about their Rita series of children's picture books. Together they discuss how the Rita series first came about and the different language editions, offering you a unique insight into the illustrations and stories from the series.
Máire Zepf has written 12 books for children, from picture books to a YA verse novel.Winner of the KPMG Children’s Book of the Year, the Réics Carl Award and a White Raven in 2020, her books appear in 8 languages worldwide. The Co. Down author was the first Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland and is Artistic Director for Quotidian.
Andrew Whitson is an award-winning artist and Belfast native who likes to be called Mr Ando! He lives in an old house which is nestled discreetly on the side of a misty hill at the edge of a magic wood, below an enchanted castle in the shadow of a giant’s nose. His house looks down over Belfast Harbour, where the Titanic was built, and up at the Belfast Cavehill, where an American B-17 Flying Fortress bomber plane once crashed during World War II!
Mr Ando has illustrated over twenty books under his own name, the most recent of which being the Molly series with Malachy Doyle and the award-winning Rita series of picture books with Máire Zepf.

Zeb Soanes and James Marangone – Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub

Meet author Zeb Soanes and composer James Marangone as they dicsuss their latest project Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub.
Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub is a humorous and exciting story for ages 7-9 about a summer holiday adventure and a musical plant, written by author of the Gaspard the Fox series Zeb Soanes and illustrated by Anja Uhren. It is also a brilliant new orchestral work by James Marangone, performed by Orpheus Sinfonia.
In this interview you will learn about the origins of the Fred and the Fantastic Tub-Tub project, as well as learn about some fascinating facts about how the story and orchestral work developed side-by-side.

Maggie Ogunbanwo – African Twist

Meet Maggie Ogunbanwo in the first Graffeg Meet the Author Podcast. Discover more about her first recipe book - The Melting Pot - along with her latest venture into plant-based cooking in African Twist. Producer and interviewer Keiran Manetta-Jones joins Maggie discussing her business, her inspirations and her cooking.
Author Maggie Ogunbanwo runs Maggie’s African Twist, selling predominantly African sourced or themed food products both on and offline. Maggie is passionate about food and cooking as well as being committed to quality and the support of local providers.
Her influences flow from her Mam and Nain but are extended through contact with and work in environments with West Indian, Caribbean, Indian, Italian, Mediterranean and Latino foods. They continue to grow and meld with an additional Welsh touch added to the mix, widening Maggie’s international scope to tantalise a range of taste buds.
In 2021, with support from the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board, Graffeg published Maggie’s book, The Melting Pot, which showcased the diversity and variety of the Welsh BAME community’s culinary expertise. Her latest cookery book, African Twist, is publishing in February 2022.