ABERGAVENNY author, Jane Blank, has been invited to speak at the North American Festival of Wales in August, which this year will be in Rochester, New York State, on the edge of Lake Ontario.

Jane, whose books include the popular ’Shadow of Nanteos’ will be talking about the historical novel and the Nanteos Cup, often referred to as the ’Grail’ and now held at the National Library of Wales. Nanteos Mansion, is home the the famous ’Grey Lady of Nanteos’ and is described as one of the 'most haunting' houses in Wales.

Whilst in America, Jane will also be speaking to the St David’s Society of Pittsburgh and at the Cantre’r Gwaelod (Sunken Hundred) restaurant in New York.

Opened last year by brothers Dominic and Illtyd Barrett, who come from Pembrokeshire , the restaurant aims to promote all things Welsh to New York diners.

The ‘cosy eatery’ on Cobble Hill, in Brooklyn, named after the legendary sunken kingdom of Cantre’r Gwaelod, offers New York diners as taste of Wales such as seaweed from Pembrokeshire, Glamorgan croquettes, lamb pasty, braised leeks and summer seafood cawl with laverbread, or the simple classic, Welsh rarebit.