Coleg y Cymoedd manager fulfils lifelong dream with debut short story collection

8 October 2025

A Coleg y Cymoedd Welsh Language Manager has achieved a lifelong ambition by becoming a published author, with her debut short story collection set to hit shelves later this month.

Lois Roberts, 40, from Nelson, who has been part of the college’s Welsh language team for almost a decade, published Cymoedd with Gwasg y Bwthyn on 28 September. The collection of 12 stories draws inspiration from her life in the South Wales Valleys and celebrates the resilience, humour, and strength of local communities, told through the voices of female characters rooted in the landscapes she knows so well.

Lois has long harboured a passion for writing but put her creative ambitions on hold nearly 20 years ago while raising her family and building her career. Her return to writing has already been recognised with major success – she won the prestigious Emyr Feddyg Scholarship at the National Eisteddfod and received mentorship from acclaimed author Lleucu Roberts, who supported her on the journey towards publication.

Speaking about the milestone, Lois said: “Writing had always been at the back of my mind, it was on my bucket list to someday become a published author, but life took me in a different direction. I used to write a lot in my teens and early twenties, but I put it aside to focus on my career and starting a family.

“Now that my children are older, I finally have the space to return to it. Entering the Eisteddfod competition anonymously was my way of testing if I was any good, I never expected to win so when I did it was surreal. The award gave me the credibility and encouragement to keep going, and working with my mentor gave me the confidence to approach publishers. This book is both a dream fulfilled and a tribute to the Valleys that have shaped me.”

She added: “Writing in Welsh is hugely important to me. It’s the language of my everyday life, so it felt natural to tell these stories in the language they belong to. Welsh literature is thriving, and I hope my work shows that there are opportunities for new voices. I want to encourage others with Welsh skills to write too because our region carries so many stories worth telling.”

Alongside her creative work, Lois continues to play a key role at Coleg y Cymoedd, championing the Welsh language and supporting bilingual opportunities for learners. She completed much of her debut collection in the early mornings and in moments between supporting her children at football and rugby practice.

Rachel Edmonds-Naish, Assistant Principal for Sustainable Futures and Lois’ manager at Coleg y Cymoedd, said: “We are incredibly proud of Lois’ achievement. Her stories reflect and represent the communities that Coleg y Cymoedd serves, and her passion for the Welsh language enriches the experience we provide for our learners. It’s wonderful to see her creativity recognised on such a stage.”

To celebrate the publication, Coleg y Cymoedd will host a special launch and reading event on campus in October, welcoming colleagues, learners, family, friends, and members of the Welsh-language community. Copies of Cymoedd will also be made available in the college’s libraries.

With her debut now complete, Lois is already working on her next project, with hopes of inspiring others across the Valleys to follow their creative ambitions.

Order Lois’ book, Cymoedd, here.

Learn more about our Welsh Language provision.