Moelona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moelona
Lizzie Mary Jones, from a 1917 newspaper.
Born	Eliza Mary Owen 21 June 1877 Moylon, Rhydlewis, Cardiganshire
Died	5 June 1953 New Quay, Cardiganshire
Nationality	British
Other names	Elizabeth Mary Jones (after marriage), Lizzie Jones
Occupation	Writer, novelist, translator

Moelona was the pen-name of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mary Jones. She was born Eliza Mary Owen. She was a Welsh writer and translator. She wrote many books for children in the Welsh language. She lived from 1877 to 1953.

Early Life and Education

Lizzie Mary Owen was born on June 21, 1877. She grew up in Rhydlewis, Ceredigion, Wales. She was the youngest of thirteen children. Her family lived on a farm called "Moylon." This is where she got her pen-name, Moelona.

Her parents were John and Mary James Owen. Lizzie went to school in Rhydlewis. A famous writer named Caradoc Evans was one of her schoolmates. In 1890, she started working as a pupil-teacher. This meant she taught younger students while still learning herself. She needed to help care for her father, so she did not go to college.

Moelona's Writing Career

Moelona worked as a teacher when she was young. She taught in places like Pontrhydyfen, Bridgend, and Acrefair. In 1905, she moved to Cardiff.

Writing Books for Kids

Moelona wrote her first book in 1907. It was for a competition called an eisteddfod. The book was called Rhamant o Ben y Rhos. It was later published in 1918 as Rhamant y Rhos.

In 1911, she published two short romance stories. They were called Rhamant Nyrs Bivan (Nurse Bevan's Romance) and Alys Morgan. She won a prize at the National Eisteddfod in 1912. This was for her story called Teulu Bach Nantoer (The Little Family of Nantoer). This book came out in 1913. It became a very popular Welsh children's book for many years.

Other books she wrote for young people include:

• Bugail y Bryn (1917)
• Cwrs y lli (The Course of the Stream, 1927)
• Breuddwydion Myfanwy (The Dreams of Myfanwy, 1928)
• Beryl (1931)

These books were often called "girls' novels." Her last book was Ffynnonloyw (Bright Spring, 1939). This story showed how Welsh women's lives changed in the early 1900s.

Translating and Journalism

Moelona joined a British-French Society in Cardiff. Here, she learned about the works of Alphonse Daudet. She translated some of his stories into Welsh. These were published in Welsh magazines. One collection was called Y wers olaf (The Last Lesson, 1921).

Her husband was also a writer. He helped her with her writing career. He made her the children's writer for a magazine called Y Darian. He was the editor of this magazine. She also wrote a column for women starting in 1919. In her column, she told women to read more about current events. She wanted them to be ready to vote.

In 1923, she gave a talk about "The Novel." This was at a meeting of the Celtic Society in Aberystwyth. She also wrote two school textbooks in Welsh. They were Priffordd Llên (1924) and Storïau o Hanes Cymru (1930).

Personal Life

In 1917, Lizzie Owen married John Tywi Jones in Cardiff. He was a Baptist minister and an editor. He had two daughters, Sophie and Gwyneth, who lived with them. They lived in Glais, Swansea.

From 1935, the couple lived in New Quay, Ceredigion. John Tywi Jones passed away in 1949. Moelona passed away in 1953. She is buried in Rhydlewis. Many of her letters, scrapbooks, and writings are kept at the National Library of Wales.

Moelona's Books

• Teulu Bach Nantoer (1913)
• Bugail y Bryn (1917)
• Rhamant y Rhos (1918)
• Cwrs y Lli (1927)
• Breuddwydion Myfanwy (1928)
• Beryl (1931)
• Ffynnonloyw (1939)