This is a list of women writers who were born in Wales or whose writings are closely associated with that country.

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Jane Aaron Jane Frances Aaron (April 16, 1948 – June 27, 2015) was an American filmmaker and children's book illustrator, best known for her work on '' Between the Lions'' and ''Sesame Street''. Aaron mixed live-action shots and animated images to tea ...

(born 1951), literature scholar, researcher and non-fiction writer * Jane Arden (1927–1982), film director, actress, screenwriter, playwright and poet *

Tiffany Atkinson Tiffany Atkinson (born 1972) is a British academic and award-winning poet. In 1993, she moved to Wales, where after completing her studies in Cardiff, she became a lecturer in English and Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University. In 2014, she ...

(born 1972), poet, educator *

Trezza Azzopardi Trezza Azzopardi (born 1961) is a Welsh writer, who has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won several other literary prizes. Early life Azzopardi was born in Cardiff to a Maltese father and a Welsh mother. She studied creative writing ...

(born 1961), novelist and short story writer: '' The Hiding Place''

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Mary Balogh Mary Balogh (born Mary Jenkins on 24 March 1944) is a Welsh-Canadian novelist writing historical romance, born and raised in Swansea. In 1967, she moved to Canada to start a teaching career, married a local coroner and settled in Kipling, Sas ...

(born 1944), Welsh-Canadian historical novelist *

Rachel Barrett Rachel Barrett (12 November 1874 – 26 August 1953) was a Welsh suffragette and newspaper editor born in Carmarthen. Educated at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth she became a science teacher, but quit her job in 1906 on hearin ...

(1874–1953), suffragette and newspaper editor *

Anne Beale Anne Beale (1816 – 17 April 1900) was a popular English novelist and poet based in Wales. Her poetry, novels and stories appeared in print for over 50 years in her lifetime: "an unusually long career as an author".Jane Aaron''Nineteenth-Centur ...

(1816–1900), popular novelist, poet and children's writer *

Anna Maria Bennett Anna Maria Bennett (ca. 1750 – 12 February 1808) was a Welsh novelist who wrote in English. Some sources give her name as Agnes Maria Bennett. Her best-known work is the epistolary novel '' Agnes de-Courci'' (1789).Available from Chawton Hous ...

(c. 1750–1808), novelist *

Ruth Bidgood Ruth Bidgood (née Jones; 20 July 1922 – 4 March 2022) was a Welsh poet and local historian who wrote in English. Life and career Ruth Jones was born at Blaendulais, Seven Sisters, near Neath, Wales, on 20 July 1922. Her mother, the former H ...

(1922–2022), poet *

Emily Rose Bleby Emily Rose Bleby (2 June 1849 – 3 May 1917) was a Jamaican-born social reformer active in the British temperance movement. She was affiliated with various organizations including the British Women's Temperance Association, Sons of Temperance, ...

(1849-1917), non-fiction writer and temperance activist *

Natasha Bowen Natasha Bowen is a Nigerian-Welsh writer and teacher. She writes fantasy books for young adults. She is best known for her '' New York Times Bestselling'' novel '' Skin of the Sea''. Early life and education Natasha Bowen was born in Cambr ...

, Nigerian Welsh novelist *

Jane Brereton Jane Brereton (1685–1740) was a Welsh poet who wrote in English. She was notable as a correspondent for ''The Gentleman's Magazine''.Alexander Chalmers (Ed.), ''The General Biographical Dictionary'' - A New Edition volume VI' (1812) Biography ...

(1685–1740), poet and contributor to '' The Gentleman's Magazine'' *

Rhoda Broughton Rhoda Broughton (29 November 1840 – 5 June 1920) was a Welsh novelist and short story writer.Robert Hadji, "Rhoda Broughton" in Jack Sullivan (ed) (1986) ''The Penguin Encyclopedia of Horror and the Supernatural'' Viking Press, 1986, , p. 285 ...

(1840–1920), novelist and short story writer * Fanny Mary Katherine Bulkeley-Owen (1845–1927), historian and author

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* Brenda Chamberlain (1912–1971), artist and poet *

Grace Coddington Pamela Rosalind Grace Coddington (born 20 April 1941) is a Welsh former model and former creative director at large of American ''Vogue'' magazine. Coddington is known for the creation of large, complex and dramatic photoshoots. A '' Guardian'' ...

(born 1941), fashion writer, director of '' Vogue'', memoirist * Gillian Clarke (born 1937), poet, playwright, translator and broadcaster * Hafina Clwyd (1936–2011), educator and journalist * Jasmine Cresswell (born 1941),novelist

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Fflur Dafydd Fflur Dafydd (born 1 August 1978) is a Welsh novelist, singer-songwriter and musician. Though mainly publishing in Welsh, she also writes in English. She contributes regularly in Welsh to Radio Cymru. Early life Dafydd is the daughter of Welsh ...

(born 1978), novelist, playwright, poet and singer, in Welsh and English * Catherine Glyn Davies (1926–2007), historian and translator *

Deborah Kay Davies Deborah Kay Davies is a Welsh poet, writer, and educator. She received her PhD from Cardiff University. In 2009 she received a Wales Book of the Year for English-language for the short story collection ''Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful'' ( ...

, contemporary poet, novelist and educator *

Margaret Davies Margaret Sidney Davies (14 December 1884 – 13 March 1963), was a Welsh art collector and patron of the arts. With her sister Gwendoline, she bequeathed a total of 260 works, particularly strong in Impressionist and 20th-century art, which form ...

(fl. 1700s), poet and scribe * Mary Davies (1846–1882), poet *

Amy Dillwyn Elizabeth Amy Dillwyn (16 May 1845 – 13 December 1935) was a Welsh novelist, businesswoman, and social benefactor. She was one of the first female industrialists in Britain. Born in Sketty, Swansea, Dillwyn was a member of a prominent family. ...

(1845–1935), novelist and industrialist

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* Dorothy Edwards (1903–1934), fiction writer *

Fanny Winifred Edwards Fanny Winifred Edwards (21 February 1876 – 16 November 1959) was a school teacher, children's author and dramatist. She was born, lived, worked and died near Ffestiniog in North Wales: her writing was in the Welsh language. Life Edwards wa ...

(1876–1959), children's author, dramatist and schoolteacher *

Rhian Edwards Rhian O'Sullivan ( née Edwards; 20 January 1981) is a Welsh female professional darts player who plays in events of the World Darts Federation (WDF). Darts career O'Sullivan was a quarter finalist in the 2009 Women's World Masters. She qualifi ...

(active from 2000s), poet *

Sally El Hosaini Sally El-Hosaini ( ar, سالى الحسينى ) is a Welsh-Egyptian film director and screenwriter. Her debut feature film ''My Brother the Devil'' won awards internationally, including at the 2013 ''Evening Standard'' Film Awards, 2012 Su ...

(born 1976), British-Egyption film director and screenwriter *

Elen Egryn Elen Egryn, pen name of Elin (or Elinor) Evans, (1807–1876) was a Welsh poet. She was the first woman to have a book published in the Welsh language. Biography Ellen Egryn was the daughter of Ellis Humphrey Evans, a village schoolmaster, and h ...

(1807–1897), Welsh-language poet *

Menna Elfyn Menna Elfyn FLSW (born 1952) is a Welsh poet, playwright, columnist, and editor who writes in Welsh. She has been widely commended and translated. She was imprisoned for her campaigning as a Welsh-language activist. Background During the 1970s ...

(born 1952), Welsh-language poet, playwright, columnist and editor * Christine Evans (born 1943), poet * Margiad Evans (1909–1958), poet and novelist

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* Catherine Fisher (born 1957), novelist, poet and broadcaster

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Menna Gallie Menna Patricia Humphreys Gallie (18 March 1919 – 17 June 1990) was a Welsh novelist and translator. She is best known for her novels in the English language, and as the translator of Caradog Prichard's ''Un Nos Ola Leuad'', under the title ''Ful ...

(1919–1990), novelist and translator *

Isabella Gifford Isabella Gifford (1825–1891) was a Welsh-born botanist. In 1848, she published ''The Marine Botanist,'' a book which focuses on Phycology, algology. Some of her specimens are in the Ulster Museum. Biography Isabella Gifford was born at Defy ...

(1825–1891), marine botanist *

Annabel Giles Annabel Claire Giles (born 20 May 1959) is a British former television and radio presenter. She currently works as a counsellor and psychotherapist, and has also worked as a model, actress and novelist. Early life and career Giles was born in ...

(born 1950), broadcaster, novelist and actress * Ann Griffiths (1776–1805), Welsh-language poet and hymn writer *

Bethan Gwanas Bethan Gwanas (real name Bethan Evans; born 16 January 1962) is a popular contemporary Welsh author, who publishes almost exclusively in the Welsh language. A prolific writer, she has had 17 titles published in the last decade. Whilst not just a ...

, pen name of Bethan Evans (born 1962), Welsh-language novelist and children's writer

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* Ann Hatton (1764–1838), (Ann of Swansea) English-language novelist *

Myfanwy Haycock Myfanwy Haycock (1913–1963) was a Welsh poet, illustrator, BBC broadcaster, and journalist. She was born Blodwen Myfanwy Haycock in Pontnewynydd, Wales, near Pontypool, in the traditional county of Monmouthshire, . Early life and educa ...

(1913–1963), poet, artist and broadcaster * Felicia Hemans (1793–1835), English-born Welsh poet writing in English * Ann Harriet Hughes (1852–1910), Welsh-language novelist and poet *

Ellen Hughes Ellen Hughes (1867–1927) was a Welsh-language writer, temperance reformer and suffragist from Llanengan in North Wales. Strongly influenced by Sarah Jane Rees, she had a poem published in the Welsh-language women's periodical ''Y Frythones'' i ...

(1867–1927), Welsh-language writer, poet and suffragist *

Emily Huws Emily Huws (born 3 March 1942) is a Welsh language children's author. She is a recipient of the Mary Vaughan Jones Award. Biography Huws was born in Tyddyn Llwyni, Caeathro, Caernarfon, where she still lives today. Huws was educated at Ysgol Gy ...

(born 1942), Welsh-language children's writer

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Elisabeth Inglis-Jones Portrait of Inglis-Jones taken from a painting by Cecil Jameson Elisabeth Inglis-Jones (1900–1994) was a Welsh historical novelist, local historian and biographer. ''Starved Fields'' (1929) was the first of six historical novels she published. ...

(1900–1994), novelist *

Norah Isaac Norah Isaac (1914 – 3 August 2003) was a Welsh author, drama producer and campaigner for Welsh-language education. She became head of the country's first Welsh-medium school, Ysgol Gymraeg yr Urdd, in 1939. Background Norah Isaac was born in ...

(1915–2003), Welsh-language short story writer, playwright and travel writer

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* Maria James (1793–1868), Welsh-born American poet *

Alice Gray Jones Alice Gray Jones ( Jones; December 1852 – 17 April 1943), Order of the British Empire, OBE was a Welsh people, Welsh writer and editor, known by the pseudonym Ceridwen Peris (referencing Saint Peris, the origin of placenames from her nativ ...

(1852–1943), poet, editor * Margaret Jones (1842–1902), travel writer *

Mary Vaughan Jones Mary Vaughan Jones (28 May 1918–April/May/June 1983) was a celebrated Welsh children's author and schoolteacher. She was born at 'Firs Cottage', Maenan near Llanrwst in 1918, and died in the Rhuddlan area, Clwyd in 1983. Jones authored a ...

(1918–1983), children's writer and teacher *

Sally Roberts Jones Sally Roberts Jones (born 30 November 1935) is an English-born Welsh poet, publisher and critic. Biography She was born Sally Roberts in London; her father was Welsh. She studied history at University College Bangor, then qualified as a libraria ...

(born 1935), poet and biographer

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Eiluned Lewis Janet Eiluned Lewis (1 November 1900 – 15 April 1979) was a Welsh novelist, poet, and journalist. Early life and education Janet Eiluned Lewis was born in Penstrowed near Newtown, Montgomeryshire, the daughter of Eveline Griffiths and Hug ...

(1900–1979), novelist, poet and journalist * Gwyneth Lewis (born 1959), Welsh-language poet, national poet of Wales, also in English *

Martha Llwyd Martha Llwyd (1766 – 16 October 1845), born Martha Williams, was a Welsh poet and Methodist hymnwriter. Due to health problems, Llwyd was unable to walk. She was carried aloft in her chair. Early life Martha Williams was born at Nantb ...

(1766–1845), poet and hymnist

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* Ruth Manning-Sanders (1886–1988), poet and children's writer *

Ursula Masson Ursula Masson (1945–2008), born Ursula O'Connor, was a Welsh academic and writer who worked closely with Jane Aaron and Honno Press/Gwasg Honno, the Welsh Women's Press, on the imprint Welsh Women's Classics – to bring back into print the w ...

(1945–2008), educator, literature researcher and non-fiction writer *

Gwerful Mechain Gwerful Mechain ( fl. 1460–1502), is the only female medieval Welsh poet from whom a substantial body of work is known to have survived. She is known for her erotic poetry, in which she praised the vulva among other things. Life Gwerful Mecha ...

(15th century), Welsh-language poet *

Nia Medi Nia Medi is a Welsh people, Welsh actress and author. Biography Originally from Llanfair, Gwynedd, Llanfair, near Harlech in North Wales, she now lives in the Dolgellau area. She attended Bangor Normal College, The Normal College in Bang ...

, since 2005, Welsh-language novelist and actress *

Dorothy Miles Dorothy "Dot" Miles (19 August 1931 – 30 January 1993, née Squire) was a Welsh poet and activist in the deaf community. Throughout her life, she composed her poems in English, British Sign Language, and American Sign Language. Her work laid ...

(1931–1993), poet, in English and sign language *

Moelona Moelona was the pen-name of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mary Jones (née Owen) (21 June 1877 – 5 June 1953), a Welsh novelist and translator who wrote novels for children and other works in Welsh. Early life She was born at Rhydlewis, Ceredigion, ...

, pen name of Elizabeth Mary Jones (1877–1953), Welsh-language novelist, children's writer and translator *

Jan Morris (Catharine) Jan MorrisJan Morris, Paul Clements, University of Wales Press, 2008, p. 7 (born James Humphry Morris; 2 October 192620 November 2020) was a Welsh historian, author and travel writer. She was known particularly for the ''Pax Brita ...

(born James Morris, 1926–2020), Welsh historian and travel writer *

Ann Moray Ann Moray (1909–1981) was a Welsh singer and novelist of Scots‐Irish background. She was known by the nickname Scottie during World War II, when she sung for patients in battlefield hospitals. She developed an interest in the folklore of ...

(1909–1981), novelist, short story writer and singer *

Elaine Morgan Elaine Morgan OBE, FRSL (7 November 1920 – 12 July 2013), was a Welsh writer for television and the author of several books on evolutionary anthropology. She advocated the aquatic ape hypothesis, which she advocated as a corrective to what s ...

(1920–2013), non-fiction writer on anthropology, playwright and columnist *

Elena Puw Morgan Elena Puw Morgan (1900–1973, née Davies) was a Welsh writer. She became the first woman to win the Literary Medal at the National Eisteddfod, with the novel ''Y Graith'' (The Scar) in 1938. In addition to novels for an adult audience, Morga ...

(1900–1973), Welsh-language novelist and children's writer *

Eluned Morgan Eluned Morgan may refer to: *Eluned Morgan (author) (1870–1938), Welsh writer *Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely (born 1967), Welsh politician {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Eluned ...

(1870–1938), Welsh-language author from Patagonia, travel writer and non-fiction writer *

Gwenllian Elizabeth Fanny Morgan Gwenllian Elizabeth Fanny Morgan (9 April 1852 – 7 November 1939) was the first woman in Wales to hold the office of Mayor. She was also an antiquary and published books about her area of study. Morgan served as superintendent of Petitions and ...

(1852–1939), non-fiction writer and mayor * Penelope Mortimer (1918–1999), journalist, biographer and novelist *

Wendy Mulford Wendy Mulford (born 1941) is a Welsh-born poet, associated with the contemporary ''avant garde'' scene, with the British Poetry Revival, and with the development of feminist poetry in the 1970s. Her poetry has been viewed as "difficult to categor ...

(born 1941), poet and feminist

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* Mary Edith Nepean (1876–1960), romantic novelist

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Pixie O'Harris Pixie O'Harris (born Rhona Olive Harris; 15 October 1903 – 17 November 1991) was a Welsh-born Australian artist, newspaper, magazine and book illustrator, author, broadcaster, caricaturist and cartoonist, designer of book plates, sheet music ...

(1903–1991), Welsh-born Australian artist, poet, autobiographer and illustrator

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* Sarah Winifred Parry (1870–1953) fiction writer *

Amy Parry-Williams Amy, Lady Parry-Williams ( Thomas; 18 December 1910 – 28 January 1988) was a Welsh singer and writer with a special interest in Welsh folk traditions. An active broadcaster, she was an early director of the Welsh television company HTV. Effe ...

(1910–1988), singer and writer *

Jessie Penn-Lewis Jessie Penn-Lewis (28 February 1861 – 15 August 1927, née Jones) was a Welsh evangelical speaker, who wrote several Christian evangelical works. Her religious work took her to Russia, Scandinavia, Canada, the United States and India. Early l ...

(1861–1927), evangelist, religious writer and magazine publisher *

Anne Penny Anne Penny (née Hughes; 6 January 1729 – 17 March 1784) was a British poet and translator, born in Wales to a vicar and his wife. She married a privateer who owned an estate in Oxford, but was left widowed at the age of 22 with a son, Hugh Cl ...

(1729–1784), poet * Ellis Peters (1913–1995), Welsh-English mystery fiction writer and translator: Brother Cadfael * Pascale Petit (born 1953), poet * Katherine Philips (1632–1664), poet and translator *

Angharad Price Angharad Price is a Welsh academic and novelist. She is a recipient of the Glyndŵr Award. Biography Price was born in Bethel, Gwynedd, Wales, the daughter of the Welsh historian . She graduated with a BA and DPhil in Modern Languages fr ...

(living), novelist and academic *

Myfanwy Pryce Myfanwy Pryce (3 October 1890 – 16 March 1976) was a Welsh novelist and short story writer, author of nine published novels. Her works were admired for their gentle humour and literary technique. Early life and education Lucy Myfanwy Pryce was ...

(1890–1976), fiction writer

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Allen Raine Allen Raine was the pseudonym of the Welsh novelist Anne Adalisa Beynon Puddicombe (6 October 1836 – 21 June 1908), who was born in Newcastle Emlyn. Her novels had sold more than two million copies by 1912. Life She was born Anne Adalisa Evan ...

, pen name of Anne Adalisa Beynon Puddicombe (1836–1908), novelist in English and Welsh * Helen Raynor (born 1972), television screenwriter, script editor and playwright * Sarah Jane Rees (1839–1916), teacher, poet and temperance campaigner *

Deryn Rees-Jones Deryn Rees-Jones is an Anglo-Welsh Welsh writing in English ( Welsh: ''Llenyddiaeth Gymreig yn Saesneg''), (previously Anglo-Welsh literature) is a term used to describe works written in the English language by Welsh writers. The term ‘An ...

(fl. since 1994), poet and essayist * Eigra Lewis Roberts (born 1939), poet, children's writer and novelist in Welsh * Kate Roberts (1891–1985), Welsh-language fiction writer * Jane Helen Rowlands (1891–1955), linguist, non-fiction writer and missionary *

Bernice Rubens Bernice Rubens (26 July 1923 – 13 October 2004) was a Welsh novelist.She became the first woman to win the Booker Prize in 1970, for '' The Elected Member''. Personal history Bernice Ruth Reuben was born in Splott, Cardiff on 26 July 19 ...

(1923–2004), novelist: ''

The Elected Member ''The Elected Member'' is a novel by Welsh writer Bernice Rubens. It won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1970. Plot The novel's main character is Norman Zweck, who is addicted to amphetamines Substituted amphetamines are a class of compoun ...

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Carole Seymour-Jones Carole Veronica Gillian Seymour-Jones (3 March 1943 – 23 May 2015) was a Welsh writer. She taught history at Surrey University. She wrote biographies of Beatrice Webb and Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot. Biography Seymour-Jones was born in Towy ...

(born 1963), biographer, columnist and literary non-fiction writer *

Dorothy Simpson Dorothy Preece Simpson, born 20 June 1933, Blaenavon, Monmouthshire (now in Wales) is an English-language writer of mystery novels, and a winner of a Silver Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain.page 233–235, ''G ...

(born 1933), mystery novelist and crime-fiction writer *

Mari Strachan Mari Strachan (born 1945) is a Welsh novelist and librarian. Her first novel, ''The Earth Hums in B Flat'' (Canongate, 2009), works on one level as a detective story, while on another dealing with the problems of growing up in a small Welsh vill ...

(born 1945), novelist and librarian * Jennifer Sullivan (born 1945), children's writer and critic *

Rosie Swale-Pope Rosie Swale-Pope, MBE (born 2 October 1946) is a British author, adventurer and marathon runner. She successfully completed a five-year around-the-world run, raising £250,000 for a charity that supports orphaned children in Russia and to highl ...

(born 1946), non-fiction writer and marathon runner

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Louie Myfanwy Thomas Louie Myfanwy Thomas (29 February 1908 – 25 January 1968) was a Welsh author best known for her work under the pseudonym Jane Ann Jones. Early life Louie Myfanwy Davies was born on 29 February 1908 at Primrose Cottage in Holway, Holywell, Flin ...

(1908–1968), novelist * Hester Thrale (1741–1821), diarist *

Barbara Margaret Trimble Barbara Margaret Trimble (née Gill; 15 or 21 February 1921 – 12 November 1995) was a British writer of more than 20 crime, thriller and romance novels between 1967 and 1991, under the names of Margaret Blake, B. M. Gill and Barbara Gilmour. ...

(1921–1995), novelist

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Hilda Vaughan Hilda Campbell Vaughan (married name Morgan, 12 June 1892 – 4 November 1985) was a Welsh novelist and short story writer writing in English. Her ten varied novels, set mostly in her native Radnorshire, concern rural communities and heroines. ...

(1892–1985), fiction writer, playwright: '' The Invader''

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* Jo Walton (born 1964), Welsh-Canadian romance and science fiction novelist: '' Tooth and Claw'' *

Anna Laetitia Waring Anna Letitia Waring (or Anna Laetitia Waring; 19 April 1823 – 10 May 1910) was a Welsh poet and Anglican hymn-writer. Her philanthropic support included the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society. She brought out her first hymn collection in 1850 ...

(1823–1910), poet and hymnist * Sarah Waters (born 1966), novelist: '' Fingersmith'' * Susie Wild (born 1979), novelist, journalist and editor *

Anna Williams Anna Williams may refer to: * Anna Williams (poet) (1706–1783), writer and friend of Samuel Johnson * Anna Maria Williams (1839–1929), New Zealand teacher and school principal * Anna Wessels Williams (1863–1954), pioneering female doctor an ...

(1706–1783), poet * Jane Williams (1806–1885), biographer and non-fiction writer

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* Paula Yates (1959–2000), non-fiction writer and television presenter

References

{{Lists of women writers by nationality -

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

Writers A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, plays ...

Writers, women Welsh, women

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References