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Hot off the Press! Edge Hill
students publish 1st book
EDGE Hill University's student led
publishing house has produced its very first book, Head Land, a collection of
award winning short stories celebrating 10 years of the Edge Hill Short Story
Prize.
The book, which features stories from some of the authors who have been awarded
the Prize in the last decade, is published by Edge Hill University Press (EHUP),
a student led literary imprint designed to equip students with industry
knowledge and highly marketable skills. Staffed by a mixture of undergraduate
and postgraduate students, EHUP has worked in close partnership with
Glasgow based Freight Books, giving the interns an authentic industry experience
and helping them to build the skills and contacts they will need to secure a job
in the competitive world of publishing.
Rodge Glass, Creative Writing Programme Director and co-director of EHUP, said:-
"Every aspect of the book, from selecting the stories and liaising with
authors to booking promotional events and marketing the book on social media,
has been done by students. Most of the interns had never been involved in
publishing before so they have had to learn everything on the job; and they've
exceeded all of our expectations. This type of hands on publishing experience is
pretty rare in higher education and we hope it will give our students the edge
when it comes to applying for jobs after graduation."
Student intern Harriet Hirshman is responsible for arranging a book tour to
accompany the launch of Head Land. She added:- "It can be quite stressful,
particularly when I've had coursework or exams to do at the same time, but I'm
really glad to be doing the internship. It has given me so many opportunities to
develop new skills, talk to people and just get myself out there that will
definitely be useful in the future."
Head Land, 10 Years of the Edge Hill Short Story Prize brings together some of
the most acclaimed short story writers working today, including the previous Edge
Hill prize winners:- Kevin Barry, Colm Tóibín Jeremy Dyson and Kirsty Gunn. It
also features some of the best shortlisted authors and past winners of the
student judged Reader's Prize.
To celebrate Edge Hill's entry into the world of literary publishing,
3 of
the book's contributors will be reading from their award winning stories at a
special FREE event at the Arts Centre, on 22 November 2016.
Edge Hill graduate and rising star Carys Bray whose 1st novel:- 'A Song for Issy
Bradley', was shortlisted for the Costa Book, before winning the Author's Club
Best First Novel Award and the Utah Book Award.
Adam Marek, acclaimed author of 2 short story
collections, Instruction Manual for Swallowing and The Stone Thrower, whose work
is featured in The Penguin Book of the British Short Story. Rob Shearman, who has worked as a writer for
TV, radio and the stage, and published four collections of short stories,
including 2 that have been nominated for the Edge Hill Prize. He is well known
as 1 of the writers on the BAFTA winning revival of Doctor Who. The event
is free, but booking is essential. There will be drinks and canapés from 6.30pm,
plus an introduction by the Vice Chancellor, Dr John Cater. Tickets can be
booked
online or via the
Box Office on:- 01695 584480.
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