Dr Malcolm Ballin is an Independent Researcher, based at Cardiff University. After taking his first degree in English at Selwyn College Cambridge in 1957, he began a career in the steel industry. Following retirement in 1996 as Director of Human Resources for British Steel plc, he returned to academic life in Cardiff, proceeding to a PhD in 2002. His book, Irish Periodical Culture: 1937-1972, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2008. His new book Welsh Periodicals in English is due for publication by University of Wales Press in July 2013 as part of its ‘Writers of Wales’ series.