His first novel,
Ffawd, Cywilydd a Chelwyddau (
Fate, Shame & Lies) was published by
Y Lolfa in March 2006, and his second,
Ffydd Gobaith Cariad (
Faith Hope Love) in November 2006.
Ffawd, Cywilydd a Chelwyddau was described by the judges of the
National Eisteddfod of Wales'
Daniel Owen Memorial Prize as "close to genius" but was not awarded the prize. Critics have said that it goes "beyond normal and safe publishing boundaries" because of its disturbing content, swearing and slang, which was uncommon in Welsh-language
literature at the time. Publication of the book was delayed for a year due to its
controversial nature. An English-language version of
Ffydd Gobaith Cariad, adapted by the author himself, was published in May 2010 by Alcemi with the title
Faith Hope & Love. It garnered favourable reviews, with Suzy Ceulan Hughes of the
New Welsh Review calling it "deftly plotted and pitch-perfect in its pacing",
Time Out Magazine praising it as "an absorbing fable… enjoyable and pacey… providing a thoughtful take on what it means to be alive and how suffering can control and overwhelm you" and
The South Wales Argus claiming the author to be "Wales' answer to
Irvine Welsh". His English-language translation of his third novel,
Yr Ergyd Olaf, was originally published in serialised form on his website before being released in print under the title
The Last Hit. The main character was inspired by a chance encounter with a Welsh-born member of a
biker gang while Owen was living in
Mission Beach, Queensland. == Awards and nominations ==