SPARTAN Autumn 2013

SPArtan B AT H S P A A L U M N I A N D F R I E N D S M A G A Z I N E I S S U E T W O A U T U M N 2 0 1 3

AXEL SCHEFFLER: FROM GRADUATE TO THE GRUFFALO PAGE 04 BECOME AN ALUMNI VOLUNTEER PAGE 06 GRADUATES EMPLOYING GRADUATES PAGE 08 THE RHYTHM OF LIFE AS A POET PAGE 12

Hello from our President elcome to the autumn 2013 edition of SPARTAN, the magazine for Alumni and Friends of Bath Spa University and its predecessor colleges. If you are reading for the first time, I hope you enjoy hearing about the experiences of your fellow alumni and if you are a regular reader, welcome back.

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The summer months have been a busy time for all, not least those graduating in July. I was honoured to receive an honorary degree from the University last year and thoroughly enjoyed my graduation, the sun shone and it was such a happy day.

Congratulations to all who graduated this year. You have joined the ranks of a talented alumni community.

Over the past few months, my time has been full of signings and cookery demonstration events around the UK, and of course filming the new series of the Great British Bake Off, which began on BBC 2 in August. The new series was a delight to film and we were thrilled when the programme won a BAFTA for Best Television Feature. We have such fun filming it and the bakers are at an even higher standard this year.

This issue of the magazine has an international theme and we delve into the experiences of our fellow alumni who are living and working in countries across the globe. The world is a smaller place today with technology helping to overcome barriers to communication and allowing ideas and creativity to flow more freely…. I am not that good with technology but am gradually learning.

My own international experience as a student came after I left Bath College of Domestic Science and trained in Paris at the famous Cordon Bleu cookery school. I could speak only a little French, so it was difficult at times, but I learnt a lot and further developed my skills.

The University today offers students the chance to become global citizens, ready to take on challenges anywhere in the world. As alumni we are each part of the community that supports and encourages the University’s students as they strive to find their own path through life.

Mary Berry, CBE Bath Spa University Alumni Association President

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Our winner The winner of the SPARTAN issue 1 competition is Kayleigh Jenkins (BA (Hons) Cultural Studies with Media Communications, 2012).

Kayleigh wins a copy of Mary’s book At Home having correctly answered the following question: What was the name of the College, now part of Bath Spa University, that Mary attended?

Answer: Bath College of Domestic Science.

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The former Bath Academy of Art student answers questions on his life as a world-acclaimed illustrator.

Correspondence Your feedback matters.

We would love to hear your suggestions for future issues of SPARTAN, along with your comments on this issue.

Please write to us by email at alumni@bathspa.ac.uk Or by post: Alumni Association Bath Spa University Newton Park Newton St Loe Bath BA2 9BN

Become an alumni volunteer

Alumni enquiries Ruth Russell alumni@bathspa.ac.uk

Axel Scheffler: From Graduate to The Gruffalo

Continue to support Bath Spa University after graduation.

Graduates employing graduates

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Competition winner Rosanna Mead explains how employing Bath Spa graduates is helping to grow her business.

Keep in touch SPARTAN is published twice a year. The opinions expressed in its editorial are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of Bath Spa University.

Cover Cover image by Axel Scheffler. Š Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler 1999 Macmillan Children’s Books.

Correspondence A selection of tweets, Facebook posts, letters and emails from our alumni.

The rhythm of life as a poet MA Creative Writing graduate Jodie Hollander talks to poet and critic Roy Marshall.

Q & A with Professor Kate Pullinger Professor of Creative Writing and New Media at Bath Spa University.

A final note Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University.

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xel Scheffler was born in Hamburg, Germany.

At school he was good at art, but didn’t think of a career in illustration until he won a cuddly purple cow in a drawing competition. He moved to England in 1982 to learn English and study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art.

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Axel illustrated a number of books for various publishers, and in 1993 Kate Wilson of Nosy Crow suggested him as the illustrator for Julia Donaldson’s first picture book text, A Squash and a Squeeze. This was the start of a hugely successful partnership: their bestselling modern classic, The Gruffalo, has sold over three-and-a-half million copies worldwide, and the TV animation was broadcast on Christmas day 2009.

Tell us about your journey from Bath Academy of Art student to illustrator. Did you know you wanted to illustrate children's books at the time of your graduation or did you imagine you would have a different sort of career?

I knew I wanted to work as an illustrator, and always thought children’s books would be quite suitable for my style and the most rewarding area to work in. I also did a lot of editorial and some advertising work when I left college, and enjoyed the variety.

What advice would you give to current students and graduates who aspire to a career in illustration?

I just went round with my portfolio and showed my work – I guess it’s done digitally now. Just think a little about what you want to do and to whom you show your work to achieve that.

What are your favourite memories of being a student at Bath Academy of Art, and of the city of Bath?

Pip & Posy: The Little Puddle. Written and illustrated by Axel Scheffler

The college was still in Corsham then, in the middle of the countryside in beautiful surroundings – I liked that. I used to drive into Bath quite often on Saturdays for a bit of urban life, though.

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How much do you collaborate with Julia (Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo) or any of the authors that you have worked with? Does this ever get tricky?

We work completely separately and any conversation goes via the editor. Keeping out of each other’s field of work has worked out rather well. I think the best way of doing this is, once the illustrator has been chosen, for the author (and the author should have a say in this) not to interfere in the illustration. It’s never been tricky with Julia, maybe more so with the editor!

How do you go about creating your illustrations?

What media do you use? Do you still make images using traditional methods and has the prevalence of digital software helped your practice in any way?

I‘d start creating the characters first, then do some sketches in pencil or felt tip pen and then some more detailed ones. All very traditional. I use a dippen, ink, eco-line liquid watercolours, colour crayons and a little of white gouache. I don’t use PhotoShop.

Are there any illustrators who particularly caught your attention as a child?

Not really when I was a child. I discovered my favourite illustrators (Tomi Ungerer, E,Gorey, Sempé, William Steig, etc) and cartoonists later when I was a teenager or in my early twenties.

If you were to illustrate a book from the past which would it be any why?

Usually the good books from the past have been illustrated brilliantly and I couldn’t do it any better.

Axel Scheffler: from graduate to the gruffalo Axel Scheffler studied illustration at Bath Academy of Art (1982-1985). He has since achieved worldwide acclaim for his children’s book illustration, and his books have been translated into over twenty languages.

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s an Alumni Volunteer, you can make a meaningful difference to today’s students and continue to support Bath Spa University after graduation.

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The role of a Graduate Mentor is simply to share your experience – you will not be expected to act as a professional adviser. You will volunteer a small amount of your time as a practical resource for those seeking answers about their chosen career or profession. On the whole, it involves simple questions being answered by email or phone on an occasional basis. One contact with an individual student may be all that is needed.

You may also opt out of the scheme at any time.

Mentors say they feel real satisfaction knowing they have helped someone make progress. As a mentor, you will also find that the experience builds your own skills.

And because the scheme works primarily via email/phone contact, it doesn’t matter where in the world you are; contact can be managed at your pace and convenience.

Become an Alumni Volunteer The Graduate Mentor, Industry Insights and other alumni panel schemes are great ways in which you can help a Bath Spa student explore career options, build a professional network and gain a real-world perspective.

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Industry Insights events are designed to help students look into the real world of work before graduation. If you would prefer to meet the students in person, you can come back to campus and share your experiences since graduating and the steps you’ve taken to progress your career.

The events take the form of a panel of four people from industries broadly related to a particular degree topic or industry sector. As an 'industry insider' you will be invited to make a short presentation about your own career path, issues in the industry, what your organisation is looking for in graduates and what opportunities exist. This is followed by a Q&A session with the students and some time for networking informally afterwards.

Meet A Volunteer ath Spa University courses often include additional Alumni Panels in curriculum sessions, whereby alumni volunteers give students a direct insight into their career experiences. The School of Society, Enterprise and Environment recently held an Alumni Panel event for first year Business and Management students in which Harriet Formby volunteered to take part.

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Harriet graduated with a First Class Business and Management degree from the School of Society, Enterprise and Environment in 2012.

She is now studying for a Masters in Business and Management at Bath Spa. Alongside postgraduate study, Harriet is managing a social enterprise start-up and pursuing a variety of other professional interests spanning accountancy, business strategy, marketing and recruitment. Harriet is also a former President of the Enterprise Society.

Why did you initially choose to volunteer your time and offer career advice to current students?

I volunteered my time because I have enjoyed being at Bath Spa and I remember what it’s like to be a first year and a bit clueless about careers and employability. But I now know how much it pays to be organised, start thinking early about getting work experience and to think about what you’d like to do.

I know it would have helped me a lot to hear directly from recent graduates and it’s also nice to give something back to an institution I have been a part of for several years.

How do you think it benefits the students you are talking to?

I think it helps them to hear about the experiences of recent graduates because they will be at the same stage in only a few years, so they should be able to relate well to the experiences shared, especially if they are studying the same course. Using real graduates rather than examples and advice alone seems to be an authentic and powerful way to share alumni experiences.

What would you say to other alumni who are considering volunteering their time in this way?

I would recommend it. It was a good experience for me, enabling me to reflect on academic and professional development and to maintain links with the University.

“It’s a positive thing to contribute to University life after graduating with the aim of helping others.”

What benefits have there been for you?

I found it to be good experience in terms of public speaking, to talk to a whole lecture theatre of people.

It was inspiring for me to hear what other graduates have been doing. I also think it’s a positive thing to contribute to University life after graduating with the aim of helping others whose situation you have been in.

To enquire about becoming an alumni volunteer email alumni@bathspa.ac.uk or call Ruth on 01225 876300.

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How A graduate employing graduates led to a successful music business With a recent report highlighting the continuous battle graduates face when applying for graduate entry-level jobs, who is providing that helping hand?

How about graduates themselves‌

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n May 2010, BA (Hons) Music with English Literature student, Rosanna Mead (née Campbell), won the Bath Spa University Business and Enterprise Competition and was awarded £1,000 prize money which allowed her to set up her business, Musica.

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The company provides interactive music workshops to benefit the health and well-being of older adults and particularly those with dementia. Following the initial success of the business in Dorset, care homes across the South West expressed interest and Musica began employing a team of representatives to run workshops in other parts of the country.

Rosanna Mead (née Campbell) used the prize money from the Bath Spa University Business and Enterprise Competition to start up a music workshop business.

Of the people now leading Musica sessions, four are music graduates from Bath Spa University. Frankie Whittingham, who graduated in 2012, has taken on the first Musica license – Musica Wiltshire – and through this Frankie will be running her own Musica business providing workshops for older adults in care homes and hospitals across the county.

Music is a powerful tool and studies have shown the part of the brain that processes music is not affected by dementia, with sufferers able to recall songs and music from their youth. Oliver Sacks, a renowned neurologist from Columbia University Medical Center, said: “Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience.”

Pairing music with everyday tasks such as having a brief chat or taking medicine, can help sufferers develop a rhythm they can use later to recall the memory of that conversation or medicine. However, it is not just patterns and rhythms - music also taps into the brain's emotional centres, as Sacks explained: “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it memory, it brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.”

Musica is successfully implementing this technique for the benefit of numerous people.

Reflecting on the success of her business, Rosanna said: “The support I have received from Bath Spa University since winning the Competition back in 2010 has been fantastic. I can honestly say that if it hadn’t been for the support and encouragement from Bath Spa I don’t think that my business would have expanded at the rate that it has.

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The purpose of the Business and Enterprise Competition is to encourage an enterprise culture within the University and, for those students thinking of starting their own business, to help them follow their idea through and keep the business in the local community. Students are supported with workshops on how to structure a business plan, presentation skills and one-to-one advice sessions on their business plan.

All applications are assessed against a matrix of business-related criteria and feedback is given to each applicant on the strengths of their plan and areas to work on. Shortlisted finalists get the opportunity to showcase their business idea and receive valuable feedback from the judges that they can use to improve and develop their venture. At the same time, the judging panel of local business leaders sees first-hand the talent at the University and potential ventures to invest in or support with mentoring or practical assistance.

Enterprise and Employer Liaison Manager at Bath Spa University, Susan Cherrett, said: “Bath Spa University has developed the Business and Enterprise Competition over the last five years to support both budding entrepreneurs and employability in the curriculum.

“As well as a complimentary range of enterprise skills development workshops running alongside the competition timeline, which are facilitated by industry experts, an increasing number of course enterprise modules have embedded the competition into the learning experience for students.

“This combination of activities gives students a grounding in sound business planning principles and external feedback on their business concepts.”

More information about Musica is available at: www.Musica-music.co.uk

To explore how students and graduates could help your business, contact our recruitment and employer liaison team at enterprise @bathspa.ac.uk or call Susan on 01225 875556

Taking on Bath Spa graduates to run Musica workshops has been an excellent decision and I have been overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and professionalism. They are an asset to the company and are already proving popular, with many clients making repeat bookings.”

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correspondence We always love to hear from you. Keep writing, posting and tweeting or email alumni@bathspa.ac.uk Desperately Seeking… ...Classmates from 1974-77 Featured Tweet:

15 Aug Laurie Wilkins @Lauriejade9 3 years ago today I found out I had a place at Bath Spa, can’t believe I now have my degree and its all over :( Onto the next chapter now...

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15 Aug Bath Spa Uni SU @bathspasu @Lauriejade9 3 yrs goes by in a flash! We’ll always be here! Good luck with the next chapter! Keep in touch! @BathSpaAlumni #bathspaforever Hide conversation

Featured Facebook Post: Sylvia Okyere (Creative Writing and Drama Studies, 2013) is the lucky winner of the iPad Mini draw prize from the now-notorious Golden Scroll Photos of Graduation 2013.

Keith Oswin (Teacher Training, Newton Park College 1974-77) writes in the hope of reconnecting with former classmates, and to share some humorous reminiscences: “It would be great if you could add a 'Desperately Seeking...' message in the next magazine. I would like to catch up with anyone who remembers me from between 1974-1977.

Incidentally, there is a curious link between the old Newton Park College and the company I work for (luxury/boutique hotel bookers Mr & Mrs Smith) in that The Queensberry Hotel in Russell Street used to be one of the halls of residence during my time at the college. It's been scrubbed up a bit since the days when Miss Downer was the strict custodian of the girls' morals - although she may have just turned a blind eye to the fact that the 'safety hatches' that served as fire escapes between the houses at top floor level also allowed unofficial (male) 'residents' to make their escape when she was on the prowl...or so I'm told...ahem! ;-) As for the new speed humps on Corston Drive, that's just not sporting! I'm sure I or one of my fellow students held the record for the Porter's Lodge to Globe Gateway Grand Prix during my time there. And no one could touch me on the Main House to Newton St Loe Sprint course!

Happy days!”

Sylvia Okyere changed her cover photo.

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The picture that won me the iPad Mini, Thanks Bath Spa :)

If you remember Keith and would like to get in touch, email alumni@bathspa.ac.uk and we will connect you.

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Like us on Facebook – enjoy the news and photos; find old friends. facebook.com/BathSpaUniversityAlumni

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Reunion Thanks

50th Anniversary celebrations

Thank you for hosting the very enjoyable reunion day last Monday, (8th July). We all had a great time reminiscing and catching up with people.

Class of 1960-63 reunion at Newton Park, Kathleen Hodkinson, standing sixth from left, Carola Beckett, seated third from left

Also a very special thank you from Utah, I'm sure he enjoyed the day and I appreciated the care he received from the students. I hope no one minded him stealing all the limelight!

Best wishes, Kathleen Hodkinson née Giles (Teacher Training, Newton Park College, 1960-63)

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Carola Beckett née Hulbert (Rural Studies, Newton Park College, 1960-63) who attended the celebrations, writes:

Over the years, our group from the Class of 1963 has met from time to time either in Bath or at the Globe Inn. This year, 50 years since we left, we were invited to hold our reunion at the University itself. The day proved to be most enjoyable; we shared our old photographs and other memorabilia with the BSU Archive team and were blessed with glorious weather as we strolled around the campus. The beautiful countryside of Newton Park brought back happy memories of being at College and of carrying out farm duties on the College farm throughout the seasons.

In those days we were very fortunate to receive a free education, from which we benefited enormously. In order to support today’s students, I’m pleased to be able to make a regular donation to the bursaries scheme.

Bath Spa launches joint-venture with Shorelight Education to recruit new international students

Jeremy White, Director of International Relations, writes: “The University is working with U.S-based education provider Shorelight Education to development a ‘Pathway College’ for international students, as well as a Global Business Leadership College that will offer a portfolio of business and management-related degree programmes. Around 300 international students will join the Pathway College in 2014 and the intake is expected to rise to 2,000 over the following four years.”

Follow us on Twitter – keep up with the very latest from Bath Spa alumni. twitter.com/BathSpaAlumni

Join the LinkedIn professional network, connect with successful alumni and stay one step ahead in your career. Search for the Bath Spa University Alumni Association group on LinkedIn or use bit.ly/BSULinkAlumni

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t’s great to have the opportunity to interview an American poet for this series, although it would seem that like many of your predecessors you are a ‘transatlantic poet’ in that you have been published by a UK based press and also in that I imagine you have other writing contacts and associations with Britain through your studies and scholarships. Are there particular aspects of the UK scene which attract you? Are you equally active and engaged with the US poetry scene in terms of reading publications and submitting work to magazines? Also, do you detect any obvious differences in the type of poetry being published in America?

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the rhythm of life as a poet Jodie Hollander is an American poet.

She graduated from the MA Creative Writing course in 2010. Her poems have been published in the UK, Australia and the US. She is the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship, a Hawthornden Fellowship and is due to be writer in residence at the Betsy Hotel in January, 2014. She has recently been enjoying success with her debut publication The Humane Society, published by tall-lighthouse. In this interview, Jodie speaks to poet and critic Roy Marshall about being an American poet publishing in the UK.

That’s a good question, and one I’m still exploring the answer to. Since I decided to devote myself fully to writing, doors have opened for me in the UK, and this has been less the case in the US. I started by trying for MFA programs in the US, and none of them wanted me, so I tried the UK, and the response was completely different. Similar things happened with journal publications and fellowships, and now with my book being published by tall-lighthouse, it really does have me wondering! Perhaps there is an aesthetic difference between contemporary poetry in the US and UK, yet there is just so much poetry being written right now in the US, it’s difficult to characterise American writing in any one particular way. I have often wondered if the musicality of my poems appeals more to a British reading audience than an American one, but I don’t really know. Whatever it is, though, I do think it works both ways, as I’ve always felt an inextricable pull not only towards British poetry, but also to the country itself. My best writing tends to happen on UK soil.

I wondered if the publication of your work last year changed your relationship to your writing, more specifically if publication has impacted your motivation to write.

Knowing there is an audience for one’s work always feels good, yet publication also causes anxiety. When my book first came out, I couldn’t help but worry that people were going to judge me/my work (I purposely link “me” with “my work,” here because I think they are tightly related, particularly given the type of writing I do, which tends to be personal, emotional, and revealing), and my worries were absolutely founded, because that’s exactly what publication does – it exposes you to judgment. I wouldn’t necessarily change that – if no one were judging my poems, then no one would be reading my poems. Yet being exposed to the overt opinions of others was definitely something I had to learn to be OK with. So I guess publishing a book has forced me to develop a thicker skin, but that’s all right.

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I don’t think my motivation has changed much as a result of my publications. I seem to have this sense that there is never enough time to write all the poems I want to write.

I’m also aware of ways I could improve my craft, yet poetic growth is painfully slow. It’s not like lifting weights, where you think, ‘OK, I’ve been working on my arms now for six weeks, it’s time to see some muscle definition.’ Poetry matures when it’s good and ready, and that almost never happens as quickly as I’d like it to.

Your work has been described as romantic, surreal and tender, which seems to me to be an accurate description of the unique qualities I found when reading your publication. I suppose one might add ‘confessional’ to this list, as the publication has some aspects of memoir.

Would you agree with any or all of these descriptions of your work, and do you find some more comfortable than others?

These are nice descriptions, and I think they do fit. I’m after extracting the raw emotion from experiences and conveying them creatively to a wide range of readers. I do work with deeply personal experiences, and I use language that shares them openly. I don’t know if that necessarily renders me a confessional poet. The problem for me is that the term “confessional” carries too many negative connotations. I’m not a big fan of poets like Sharon Olds, in part because of the subject matter, but more importantly because I think the lines can get long and prosy, and sometimes they don’t hold up. That being said, I’d rather read poems that give too much emotion rather than too little – that is one thing that can depress me about contemporary poetry – oftentimes, I’ll read through an entire journal and not find a single poem with any real feeling in it, and that’s just not satisfying. It’s like skimming all the cream out of milk, and being left with this watery and tasteless liquid, which isn’t even really worth drinking. I’m not sure why in certain circles it has become fashionable to write these types of poems, but I don’t like them very much. In my opinion, good poetry always has emotion at its core.

be true. A few years ago, I started working with Robert Mezey, who really pushed me to write in meter. I’m so glad he did—meter creates this beautiful musical backbone, which is much more difficult to achieve in free verse.

Unfortunately, meter doesn’t seem to be all that fashionable right now. Sure, like everything else there are trends in writing, but I think meter should be part of the basic tool kit for any poet. This isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of gorgeous free verse poems out there, but I do think a poet ought to be able to write successfully in both meter and in free verse.

Do you have any particular conditions that you find conducive to writing?

Movement is always helpful, and oftentimes a good walk can get things going. Being in a natural environment also helps me. Right now I live in Montana, and the muse here does seem friendlier than the one I used to court in Washington, DC. Muses have also been spotted hanging around in the shower or in the bathtub – one never really knows – but the trick is to get down what she has to say before she flies away.

Interview originally published on http://roymarshall.wordpress.com

She set the metronome ticking, her children the pendulum, rocking back and forth from Mother to Father, Father back to Mother. Then she’d twist the knob to Father-Mother, Mother-Father, or call out Allegro!, and they’d speed up: FatherMother, MotherFather, FatherMother.

I read that you are working on writing in various metrical forms- dimeter, trimeter, and loose iambic pentameter for your next book. What aspects of using form attract you?

Trying to get the meter right is my top priority at the moment. I never learned how to scan a poem in school, nor did I work in meter even as a graduate writing student. I’ve always admired metrical poems, but I never thought I’d be able to write in meter myself, at least not successfully. I worried my poems would sound stilted, that I’d end up forcing in extra words or taking out important words just to get the meter right. Thankfully, none of this turned out to

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A Q&A with Professor Kate Pullinger ate joined Bath Spa University as Professor of Creative Writing and New Media in September 2012. She was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia and went to high school on Vancouver Island. She did not finish her degree at McGill University, Montreal and instead spent a year working in a copper mine in the Yukon, northern Canada, where she crushed rocks and saved money! She spent that money travelling and ended up in London, where she has been ever since.

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She writes for both print and digital platforms and in 2009 her novel The Mistress of Nothing won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction, one of Canada’s most prestigious literary prizes. Her prize-winning digital fiction projects Inanimate Alice and Flight Paths: A Networked Novel have reached audiences around the world.

Her new novel Landing Gear will be published in April 2014 and Kate will be undertaking a series of digital experiments based on the novel.

Is digital literature the future for writers?

If only I could predict the future! Sadly I’m not quite up to that. However, I am fairly sure that as far as the digital transformation of reading, writing, and publishing goes, we are only at the very beginning of what is possible. So, yes, I do think that there will be more and more opportunities for writers to work on projects that are digital, and this is very exciting for both writers and readers. But I also think that the book as a physical object will be with us for a long time; we love ideas and stories, but we also love things and a beautiful book is a lovely thing.

What is your favourite aspect of teaching?

In general, I find people fascinating, but as well as that, I love the way that so many students are passionate about reading and writing. Students teach me new things – they are young and I am not – they know about things that I don’t know about, and visa versa. That exchange is invaluable.

When reading a book, where do you like to be?

Lying on a sun-lounge beside a pool or at the beach. If that isn’t possible (and it usually isn’t – as much as I love living in England, please do something about the weather), in the bath (non-digital only) or in bed.

How are you enjoying your Professorship at Bath Spa? I am so enjoying working at Bath Spa. The physical beauty of the two campuses I work on (Newton Park and Corsham Court) combined with the highly collegial and convivial atmosphere amongst students and staff is unbeaten in my experience.

Where did your travels take you after your university experience and before you arrived in London?

I travelled to Israel, Greece, Turkey, what was then West Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and then London, spending a fair amount of time in all those places. But it was the three weeks I spent in Egypt early on in that trip that had the greatest impact on me; that time helped form the novel I began to write more than two decades later, The Mistress of Nothing.

When did you first begin to write?

I first started writing when I was very young, and more seriously as a teenager. When I was 16 I had an English teacher who really encouraged me to write. The fact that he was working on a novel somehow made me think I could write a novel too.

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What’s your favourite snack to accompany reading?

I tend not to eat while I’m reading! I’m not sure why – maybe I should start?

If you could recommend a degree course to your teenage self what would it be?

As the parent of two teenagers, that’s a tricky question.

My experience of university the first time round, as an undergraduate at McGill, wasn’t great – I went when I was 17 and I think now that I was simply too young. I think I would have been happy in a creative writing department, but such things didn’t exist when I was an undergraduate, and English departments tended to make students read nothing more up-to-date than Beowulf. I think a good mix of creative writing and contemporary literature would have been perfect for me – the kind of courses that undergraduates who are interested in writing can do at Bath Spa. What’s your guilty literature pleasure?

Ahh, good question. I go through phases with this – my last proper phase was a while ago, the poorly written but strangely compelling crime novels of Patricia Cornwell, with her many-degreed character, Kay Scarpetta. But I’ve given up on Kay. I guess my main source of guilt and pleasure around reading these days is the fact that I have given myself the permission to abandon books without a second thought if I don’t like them or don’t find them interesting. My life is littered with half-read abandoned books – and that’s okay with me.

hope you enjoyed this issue of SPARTAN and reading about your fellow alumni. In July we celebrated graduation and as I conferred the awards, I reflected on what the future will hold for these new graduates. As they become Bath Spa University alumni they join a global community of talented, determined and successful people.

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A final note....

This year’s graduation ceremonies were once again highly enjoyable, I was delighted to present honorary degrees to local head teacher Anne Bull OBE and acclaimed composer Professor Sir Harrison Birtwistle.

I was also very pleased to welcome back artist and alumnus Peter Randall-Page, a former student of the Bath Academy of Art. For those of you who graduated in previous years, I am sure you remember clearly your own graduation and the exhilarating, if slightly nervous wonder of what will come next. As Bath Spa alumni, your achievements, knowledge, expertise and experience are invaluable to our students. You support and inspire. You offer a view of the world beyond academia. As part of the alumni community, there are many ways you can engage with students today, so please take a look at page 6 for ways to participate or get in touch to find out more.

As alumni of Bath Spa University you are always welcome on campus. You may be interested to hear about our new professorial lecture series as a reason to make the visit back to see us. In the last 12 months the University has recruited a number of high profile professors in the fields of art, creative writing and music including Fay Weldon, Gavin Turk and Amanda Bayley. The lecture series, starting in October, offers a fascinating insight into academic pursuits emerging at Bath Spa University. For further information please visit www.bathspa.ac.uk/pls Thank you for being part of Bath Spa University’s alumni community and please do continue to keep in touch.

Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University

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diary dates The Royal Society of Literature and Bath Spa University Discussion

Angus Wilson: A Celebration Monday 25 November 2013, 7pm Courtauld Institute of Art, London This RSL event, sponsored by the School of Humanities and Cultural Industries, discusses the life of one of the leading novelists of the post war era, Angus Wilson. Angus’ friend Peter J Conradi will chair this event and will be joined by Ian McEwan, one of the first students on the creative writing MA established by Angus Wilson and Malcolm Bradbury at UEA; Wilson's friend Margaret Drabble who wrote his biography; and the literary journalist Edmund Gordon. rslit.org/angus-wilson-a-celebration

Comedy Cavern Thursday 7 November 2013, 7.30pm Burdall’s Yard, Bath Comedy Cavern returns to Burdall's!

Join a host of hilarious comedians and experience '10 in 10 minutes', where 10 student comedians take to the stage for their first minute of stand-up comedy.

Jazz Night: Corey Mwamba Trio Friday 6 December 2013 Burdall’s Yard, Bath Bath Spa student performers collaborate with professional musicians Corey Mwamba Trio for an evening of small band jazz. The Corey Mwamba Trio improvise collectively to create open, living music. Their music is a free-wheeling, spontaneous mixture of styles. bathspampa.com/bathspalive

Friday 28 February – Sunday 9 March 2014 The Bath Literature Festival features some of the most intelligent, creative, and cutting edge thinkers alive today.

The 2013 festival saw its seventeenth year in existence, having hosted Nobel and Booker Prize winners such as Bath Spa Honorary Graduate Hilary Mantel; leading political thinkers such as Tony Benn; poets ranging from poets laureate Andrew Motion and Carol Ann Duffy to Wendy Cope and Simon Armitage, and humourists from Garrison Keillor to Terry Pratchett.

The 2014 Festival is produced by a new Artistic Director, critic, columnist and broadcaster, Viv Groskop. The University is the Festival’s Creative Partner again for 2014. bathfestivals.org.uk/literature