Rhian's Year

About the Book

Forty-year-old housewife and mother of three Rhian Evans has been living in a rut for the majority of her married life. Home is a rundown council house, on a sink estate in the South Wales valleys. The roof over Rhian's head and the money in Rhian's purse, has been provided by a succession of government ministers representing the nanny state. After collecting her weekly child benefit pay- ments, and cashing in her husband's fortnightly unemployment Giro at the local Post Office, the monotony of Rhian's existence is carried out, curled upon a sofa in front of the television set. A repeat NHS prescription for the happy pill, (Prozac) is the fragile lifeline protecting Rhian from an inner terror envisaged within her mind's eye, from dissolving all self-esteem retained within her body.

A poem doodled subconsciously, and a book of poetry purchased for 75p at a local charity shop ignites a flame of hope within Rhian's heart. Clutching at straws Rhian attends a parents' evening at the local comprehensive school and meets Mr Davis, Anthony's (Rhian's youngest son) English teacher who also teaches an adult learning English Literature class on a Wednesday evening. Encouraged by Mr Davis to send examples of her poetry to magazines, Rhian begins to believe there is a tiny speck of hope at the end of a very dark tunnel. Back home bad luck continues to blight Rhian's personal life. Rhian continues to resemble a powerless spectator, unable to react to the relentless pace, stresses and strains of everyday modern life which continue to buffet, pound, wash, rinse and flush her family down the tubes.

Told in a diary format, Rhian's Year is a day-by-day, black comedy about of a Welsh woman who in 2001 raised her head and said: 'Enough is enough, God. THAT WILL DO!'

About the Author

Stephen John is one of those strange individuals who will jump at the chance to live in a darkened room, providing his laptop, '70s music collection, Penguin Classic paperbacks and Pratchett's "Discworld" series are permitted to accompany him... Especially if there's a little old lady on hand to brew his tea, darn his socks, butter his toast and serve him orange and lime marmalade in a little glass dish with a stylish silver spoon.