21 Days in Swansea is a fascinating story set in Swansea. Welsh Country works with some amazing authors and back in 2022 Andy Botterill approached Welsh Country with his then latest novel.
At the time we serialised the book at www.welshcountry.co.uk/category/21-days-in-swansea/ but congratulations to Andy as the book has now been published.
The publisher is APS Books the ISBN is 9781835307113, costing £15.00 pounds hardback £10.00 pounds paperback and £3.00 pounds download available from Amazon.
Synopsis
Edward Chapman is a recently retired London financier, living near Oxford. He takes an unplanned holiday to South Wales, after discovering his younger, glamorous wife is having an affair with a work colleague. For Edward it is both a means of escape and an opportunity to spend time in the city of his former university, Swansea, where he met his first wife, Angela.
During his stay, as he confronts the ghosts of his past and present, Edward slowly comes to terms with the fact he’s been living a sheltered life. He begins to appreciate he is now living in a changing world, of among other things increased diversity, veganism, and greater freedom of sexual expression, one he slowly learns to embrace.
As Edward forms new bonds and friendships and rediscover the city’s attractions he remembers from his youth, he begins to wonder if he truly wants to go back at all.
A friendship he forms with a lonely, female bookshop owner only intensifies his dilemma and proves to be the deciding factor in determining his future.
21 Days in Swansea is a novel of reflection and memories in changing times. It is a love story, but most of all it is a love letter to the Welsh coastal city of Swansea.
The Author
Andy Botterill was born in Newent, Gloucestershire, and attended Exmouth Community College. He graduated with a history degree from Swansea University, before studying journalism at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He worked as a journalist for a number of years, before moving into venue management, where he has worked variously at an arts centre, arthouse cinema and theatre. His poetry and short stories have appeared widely in the small presses in this country and abroad, and he has published a number of collections of poetry. Eleven of his novels and a play are available on Kindle.
As a musician he has recorded twelve solo studio albums, available on iTunes, plus many more with bands, as well as running the independent record label, Pastime Records. His writing is often semi-autobiographical, reflecting musical and literary themes. Andy has frequently appeared on local radio, notably BBC Radio Devon, on arts related programmes.
Andy is married to Harriet, with two daughters, Emily and Daisy.
