Francesca Rhydderch will celebrate the publication of her debut novel, The Rice Paper Diaries in Chinese translation in Shanghai, China, between August 18 – 23rd 2015. The novel is published by Shanghai Translation Publishing House, the largest comprehensive translation publishing house in China.

The Rice Paper Diaries will be launched at the 2015 Shanghai Book Fair on August 21st 2015. During her visit to China, Francesca Rhydderch will also participate in a number of events, include an evening at the Shanghai Library where she will discuss her work, and a poetry night where she will present poetry by Menna Elfyn and Dylan Thomas.

Shanghai Translation Publishing House announced their intention to buy the translation rights for The Rice Paper Diaries following a symposium on literary and publishing exchange between Wales and China held in May 2014. The symposium was organised by Bangor University in partnership with Wales Literature Exchange to celebrate the publication of a special Wales edition of the influential Chinese magazine, Foreign Literature and Art.

During the symposium a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Wales Literature Exchange, Bangor University and the Shanghai Translation Publishing House, in order to strengthen and develop the flourishing partnership between the three institutions.

Francesca Rhydderch will travel to China with Dr Yan Ying, a lecturer in Translation Studies, who is working with Shanghai Translation Publishing House and Wales Literature Exchange in carrying out a five-year publication plan for Welsh literature in China.

The Rice Paper Diaries by Francesca Rhydderch,was selected to the 2013 – 2014 Wales Literature Exchange Bookcase our annual selection of recent Welsh literary works which we recommend for translation.

Francesca Rhydderch and Dr Yan Ying’s journey to China is supported by Wales Arts International and Swansea University.