AXEL SCHEFFLER:FROMGRADUATE TOTHE GRUFFALOPAGE 04

BECOME ANALUMNIVOLUNTEERPAGE 06

GRADUATESEMPLOYINGGRADUATESPAGE 08

THE RHYTHMOF LIFE AS A POETPAGE 12

SPArtanBATH SPA ALUMN I AND FR I ENDS MAGAZ INE I S SUE TWO AUTUMN 2013

Welcome to the autumn 2013 edition of SPARTAN,the magazine for Alumni and Friends of Bath Spa

University and its predecessor colleges. If you are readingfor the first time, I hope you enjoy hearing about theexperiences of your fellow alumni and if you are a regularreader, welcome back.

The summer months have been a busy time for all, not leastthose graduating in July. I was honoured to receive an honorarydegree from the University last year and thoroughly enjoyedmy graduation, the sun shone and it was such a happy day.Congratulations to all who graduated this year. You have joinedthe ranks of a talented alumni community.

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

This issue of the magazine has an international theme and wedelve into the experiences of our fellow alumni who are livingand working in countries across the globe. The world is asmaller place today with technology helping to overcomebarriers to communication and allowing ideas and creativity toflow more freely…. I am not that good with technology but amgradually learning.

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

The University today offers students the chance to becomeglobal citizens, ready to take on challenges anywhere in theworld. As alumni we are each part of the community thatsupports and encourages the University’s students asthey strive to find their own path through life.

Mary Berry, CBE

Bath Spa University Alumni AssociationPresident

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The winner of the SPARTANissue 1 competition is KayleighJenkins (BA (Hons) CulturalStudies with MediaCommunications, 2012).Kayleigh wins a copy of Mary’sbook At Home having correctlyanswered the followingquestion:

What was the name of theCollege, now part of Bath SpaUniversity, that Mary attended?

Answer: Bath College ofDomestic Science.

HellofromourPresident

Our winner

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CorrespondenceYour feedback matters.We would love to hear yoursuggestions for future issuesof SPARTAN, along with yourcomments on this issue.Please write to us by emailat alumni@bathspa.ac.ukOr by post:Alumni AssociationBath Spa UniversityNewton ParkNewton St LoeBathBA2 9BN

Alumni enquiriesRuth Russellalumni@bathspa.ac.uk

Keep in touch

SPARTAN is published twicea year. The opinions expressedin its editorial are those ofthe writers concerned andnot necessarily those of BathSpa University.

CoverCover image by Axel Scheffler.© Julia Donaldson,Axel Scheffler 1999 MacmillanChildren’s Books.

Axel Scheffler:From Graduate to The GruffaloThe former Bath Academy of Art student answersquestions on his life as a world-acclaimed illustrator.

Graduates employing graduatesCompetition winner Rosanna Mead explains howemploying Bath Spa graduates is helping to grow herbusiness.

Become an alumni volunteerContinue to support Bath Spa University aftergraduation.

CorrespondenceA selection of tweets, Facebook posts, letters andemails from our alumni.

The rhythm of life as a poetMA CreativeWriting graduate Jodie Hollander talks topoet and critic Roy Marshall.

Q &A with Professor Kate PullingerProfessor of CreativeWriting and New Media at BathSpa University.

A final noteProfessor Christina Slade,Vice-Chancellor of Bath SpaUniversity.

Contents

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4

Axel Scheffler was born in Hamburg, Germany.At school he was good at art, but didn’t think ofa career in illustration until he won a cuddly purplecow in a drawing competition. He moved to Englandin 1982 to learn English and study illustration at theBath Academy of Art.

Axel illustrated a number of books for variouspublishers, and in 1993 KateWilson of Nosy Crowsuggested him as the illustrator for Julia Donaldson’sfirst picture book text, A Squash and a Squeeze. Thiswas the start of a hugely successful partnership:their bestselling modern classic, The Gruffalo, hassold over three-and-a-half million copies worldwide,and the TV animation was broadcast on Christmasday 2009.

Tell us about your journey from Bath Academyof Art student to illustrator. Did you know youwanted to illustrate children's books at the timeof your graduation or did you imagine you wouldhave a different sort of career?

I knew I wanted to work as an illustrator, and alwaysthought children’s books would be quite suitable formy style and the most rewarding area to work in. Ialso did a lot of editorial and some advertising workwhen I left college, and enjoyed the variety.

What advice would you give to current studentsand graduates who aspire to a career inillustration?

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

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

The college was still in Corsham then, in the middleof the countryside in beautiful surroundings – I likedthat. I used to drive into Bath quite often onSaturdays for a bit of urban life, though.

Pip&Posy:TheLittlePuddle.Writtenand

illustratedbyAxelScheffler

5

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

We work completely separately and anyconversation goes via the editor. Keeping out of eachother’s field of work has worked out rather well. Ithink the best way of doing this is, once theillustrator has been chosen, for the author (and theauthor should have a say in this) not to interfere inthe 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 imagesusing traditional methods and has the prevalenceof digital software helped your practice in anyway?

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

Are there any illustrators who particularly caughtyour attention as a child?

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

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

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

Axel Schefflerstudied illustrationat Bath Academy ofArt (1982-1985). Hehas since achievedworldwide acclaimfor his children’sbook illustration,and his books havebeen translatedinto over twentylanguages.

Axel Scheffler:fromgraduate to

the gruffalo

6

Becomean AlumniVolunteer

The Graduate Mentor, Industry Insightsand other alumni panel schemes are greatways in which you can help a Bath Spastudent explore career options, builda professional network and gain a

real-world perspective.

As an Alumni Volunteer, you can make ameaningful difference to today’s studentsand continue to support Bath Spa Universityafter graduation.

The role of a Graduate Mentor is simply to share yourexperience – you will not be expected to act as aprofessional adviser. You will volunteer a small amountof your time as a practical resource for those seekinganswers about their chosen career or profession. Onthe whole, it involves simple questions being answeredby email or phone on an occasional basis. One contactwith 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 theyhave helped someone make progress. As a mentor, youwill also find that the experience builds your own skills.And because the scheme works primarily viaemail/phone contact, it doesn’t matter where in theworld you are; contact can be managed at your paceand convenience.

Industry Insights events are designed to help studentslook into the real world of work before graduation. Ifyou would prefer to meet the students in person, youcan come back to campus and share your experiencessince graduating and the steps you’ve taken to progressyour career.

The events take the form of a panel of four people fromindustries broadly related to a particular degree topic orindustry sector. As an 'industry insider' you will beinvited to make a short presentation about your owncareer path, issues in the industry, what yourorganisation is looking for in graduates and whatopportunities exist. This is followed by a Q&A sessionwith the students and some time for networkinginformally afterwards.

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Meet A Volunteer

Bath Spa University courses often includeadditional Alumni Panels in curriculum

sessions, whereby alumni volunteers givestudents a direct insight into their careerexperiences. The School of Society, Enterpriseand Environment recently held an Alumni Panelevent for first year Business and Managementstudents in which Harriet Formby volunteeredto take part.

Harriet graduated with a First Class Businessand Management degree from the School ofSociety, Enterprise and Environment in 2012.She is now studying for a Masters in Businessand Management at Bath Spa. Alongsidepostgraduate study, Harriet is managing asocial enterprise start-up and pursuing avariety of other professional interests spanningaccountancy, business strategy, marketing andrecruitment. Harriet is also a former Presidentof the Enterprise Society.

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

I volunteered my time because I have enjoyed beingat Bath Spa and I remember what it’s like to be afirst year and a bit clueless about careers andemployability. But I now know how much it pays tobe organised, start thinking early about getting workexperience and to think about what you’d like to do.I know it would have helped me a lot to hear directlyfrom recent graduates and it’s also nice to givesomething back to an institution I have been a partof for several years.

How do you think it benefits the students you aretalking to?

I think it helps them to hear about the experiencesof recent graduates because they will be at the samestage in only a few years, so they should be able torelate well to the experiences shared, especially ifthey are studying the same course. Using realgraduates rather than examples and advice aloneseems to be an authentic and powerful way to sharealumni experiences.

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

I would recommend it. It was a good experiencefor me, enabling me to reflect on academic andprofessional development and to maintain linkswith the University.

What benefits have there been for you?

I found it to be good experience in terms of publicspeaking, to talk to a whole lecture theatre of people.It was inspiring for me to hear what other graduateshave been doing. I also think it’s a positive thing tocontribute to University life after graduating withthe aim of helping others whose situation you havebeen in.

To enquire about becoming an alumnivolunteer email alumni@bathspa.ac.ukor call Ruth on 01225 876300.

“It’s a positive thing tocontribute to University life after

graduating with the aim ofhelping others.”

8

HowAgraduateemployinggraduatesled to a

successfulmusic

businessWith a recent report highlighting the

continuous battle graduates face whenapplying for graduate entry-level jobs,who is providing that helping hand?How about graduates themselves…

9

In May 2010, BA (Hons) Music with EnglishLiterature student, Rosanna Mead (née Campbell),

won the Bath Spa University Business and EnterpriseCompetition and was awarded £1,000 prize moneywhich allowed her to set up her business, Musica.

The company provides interactive music workshopsto benefit the health and well-being of older adultsand particularly those with dementia. Following theinitial success of the business in Dorset, care homesacross the SouthWest expressed interest and Musicabegan employing a team of representatives to runworkshops in other parts of the country.

Of the people now leading Musica sessions, four aremusic graduates from Bath Spa University. FrankieWhittingham, who graduated in 2012, has taken onthe first Musica license – MusicaWiltshire – andthrough this Frankie will be running her own Musicabusiness providing workshops for older adults in carehomes and hospitals across the county.

Music is a powerful tool and studies have shown thepart of the brain that processes music is not affectedby dementia, with sufferers able to recall songs andmusic from their youth. Oliver Sacks, a renownedneurologist from Columbia University MedicalCenter, said: “Music imprints itself on the braindeeper than any other human experience.”

Pairing music with everyday tasks such as having abrief chat or taking medicine, can help sufferersdevelop a rhythm they can use later to recall thememory of that conversation or medicine. However,it is not just patterns and rhythms - music also tapsinto the brain's emotional centres, as Sacksexplained: “Music evokes emotion, and emotion canbring with it memory, it brings back the feeling oflife when nothing else can.”

Musica is successfully implementing this techniquefor the benefit of numerous people.

Reflecting on the success of her business, Rosannasaid: “The support I have received from Bath SpaUniversity since winning the Competition back in2010 has been fantastic. I can honestly say that if ithadn’t been for the support and encouragementfrom Bath Spa I don’t think that my business wouldhave expanded at the rate that it has.

The purpose of the Business and EnterpriseCompetition is to encourage an enterprise culturewithin the University and, for those studentsthinking of starting their own business, to help themfollow their idea through and keep the business inthe local community. Students are supported withworkshops on how to structure a business plan,presentation skills and one-to-one advice sessionson their business plan.

All applications are assessed against a matrix ofbusiness-related criteria and feedback is given toeach applicant on the strengths of their plan andareas to work on. Shortlisted finalists get theopportunity to showcase their business idea andreceive valuable feedback from the judges that theycan use to improve and develop their venture. Atthe same time, the judging panel of local businessleaders sees first-hand the talent at the Universityand potential ventures to invest in or support withmentoring or practical assistance.

Enterprise and Employer Liaison Manager at BathSpa University, Susan Cherrett, said: “Bath SpaUniversity has developed the Business andEnterprise Competition over the last five yearsto support both budding entrepreneurs andemployability in the curriculum.

“As well as a complimentary range of enterpriseskills development workshops running alongsidethe competition timeline, which are facilitated byindustry experts, an increasing number of courseenterprise modules have embedded thecompetition into the learning experience forstudents.

“This combination of activities gives students agrounding in sound business planning principlesand external feedback on their business concepts.”

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

Rosanna Mead(née Campbell)used the prize moneyfrom the Bath SpaUniversity Businessand EnterpriseCompetition tostart up a musicworkshop business.

To explorehow studentsand graduatescould help yourbusiness, contactour recruitmentand employerliaison team atenterprise@bathspa.ac.ukor call Susan on01225 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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...Classmates from 1974-77

Keith Oswin (Teacher Training, Newton ParkCollege 1974-77) writes in the hope ofreconnecting with former classmates, andto share some humorous reminiscences:

“It would be great if you could add a'Desperately Seeking...' message in the nextmagazine. I would like to catch up with anyonewho remembers me from between 1974-1977.

Incidentally, there is a curious link between theold Newton Park College and the company Iwork for (luxury/boutique hotel bookers Mr &Mrs Smith) in that The Queensberry Hotel inRussell Street used to be one of the halls ofresidence during my time at the college. It'sbeen scrubbed up a bit since the days whenMiss Downer was the strict custodian of thegirls' morals - although she may have justturned a blind eye to the fact that the 'safetyhatches' that served as fire escapes between thehouses at top floor level also allowed unofficial(male) 'residents' to make their escape whenshe 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 myfellow students held the record for the Porter'sLodge to Globe Gateway Grand Prix during mytime there. And no one could touch me on theMain House to Newton St Loe Sprint course!

Happy days!”

If you remember Keith and would like to getin touch, email alumni@bathspa.ac.uk and wewill connect you.

Sylvia Okyere (CreativeWriting and Drama Studies, 2013) is thelucky winner of the iPad Mini draw prize from the now-notoriousGolden Scroll Photos of Graduation 2013.

Like us on Facebook – enjoy the news

and photos; find old friends.

facebook.com/BathSpaUniversityAlumni

Desperately Seeking…

Featured Tweet:

correspondence

Featured Facebook Post:

We always love to hear from you. Keep writing, postingand tweeting or email alumni@bathspa.ac.uk

Laurie Wilkins @Lauriejade9 15 Aug3 years ago today I found out I had a place at Bath Spa, can’t believeI now have my degree and its all over :( Onto the next chapter now...

Expand

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

Hide conversation

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

Sylvia Okyere changed her cover photo.

August 9

Share 56 4

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

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

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

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

Follow us on Twitter – keep up with

the very latest from Bath Spa alumni.

twitter.com/BathSpaAlumni

Over the years, our group from the Class of1963 has met from time to time either inBath or at the Globe Inn. This year, 50 yearssince we left, we were invited to hold ourreunion at the University itself. The dayproved to be most enjoyable; we shared ourold photographs and other memorabilia withthe BSUArchive team and were blessed withglorious weather as we strolled around thecampus. The beautiful countryside ofNewton Park brought back happy memoriesof being at College and of carrying out farmduties on the College farm throughout theseasons.

In those days we were very fortunate toreceive a free education, from which webenefited enormously. In order to supporttoday’s students, I’m pleased to be able tomake a regular donation to the bursariesscheme.

JeremyWhite, Director of International Relations,writes: “The University is working with U.S-basededucation provider Shorelight Education todevelopment a ‘Pathway College’ for internationalstudents, as well as a Global Business LeadershipCollege that will offer a portfolio of business andmanagement-related degree programmes. Around300 international students will join the PathwayCollege in 2014 and the intake is expected to riseto 2,000 over the following four years.”

50th Anniversary celebrationsReunion Thanks

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

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Utah

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

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

12

It’s great to have the opportunity to interview anAmerican 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 aUK based press and also in that I imagine you have otherwriting contacts and associations with Britain throughyour studies and scholarships.Are there particularaspects of the UK scene which attract you? Are youequally active and engaged with the US poetry scene interms of reading publications and submitting work tomagazines? Also, do you detect any obvious differencesin the type of poetry being published in America?

That’s a good question, and one I’m still exploring theanswer to. Since I decided to devote myself fully to writing,doors have opened for me in the UK, and this has been lessthe case in the US. I started by trying for MFA programs inthe US, and none of them wanted me, so I tried the UK, andthe response was completely different. Similar thingshappened with journal publications and fellowships, andnow with my book being published by tall-lighthouse, itreally does have me wondering! Perhaps there is anaesthetic difference between contemporary poetry in theUS and UK, yet there is just so much poetry being writtenright now in the US, it’s difficult to characterise Americanwriting in any one particular way. I have often wondered ifthe musicality of my poems appeals more to a Britishreading audience than an American one, but I don’t reallyknow.Whatever it is, though, I do think it works both ways,as I’ve always felt an inextricable pull not only towardsBritish poetry, but also to the country itself. My best writingtends to happen on UK soil.

I wondered if the publication of your work last yearchanged your relationship to your writing, morespecifically if publication has impacted your motivationto write.

Knowing there is an audience for one’s work always feelsgood, yet publication also causes anxiety.When my bookfirst came out, I couldn’t help but worry that people weregoing 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 bepersonal, emotional, and revealing), and my worries wereabsolutely founded, because that’s exactly what publicationdoes – it exposes you to judgment. I wouldn’t necessarilychange that – if no one were judging my poems, then noone would be reading my poems.Yet being exposed to theovert opinions of others was definitely something I had tolearn to be OK with. So I guess publishing a book has forcedme to develop a thicker skin, but that’s all right.

therhythmof life

as a poetJodie 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.

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I don’t think my motivation has changed much as a resultof my publications. I seem to have this sense that there isnever enough time to write all the poems I want to write.I’m also aware of ways I could improve my craft, yet poeticgrowth is painfully slow. It’s not like lifting weights, whereyou think, ‘OK, I’ve been working on my arms now for sixweeks, it’s time to see some muscle definition.’ Poetrymatures when it’s good and ready, and that almost neverhappens as quickly as I’d like it to.

Your work has been described as romantic, surreal andtender, which seems to me to be an accurate descriptionof the unique qualities I found when reading yourpublication. I suppose one might add ‘confessional’ tothis list, as the publication has some aspects of memoir.Would you agree with any or all of these descriptions ofyour work, and do you find some more comfortable thanothers?

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

I read that you are working on writing in various metricalforms- dimeter, trimeter, and loose iambic pentameterfor your next book.What aspects of using form attractyou?

Trying to get the meter right is my top priority at themoment. I never learned how to scan a poem in school, nordid I work in meter even as a graduate writing student. I’vealways admired metrical poems, but I never thought I’d beable to write in meter myself, at least not successfully. Iworried my poems would sound stilted, that I’d end upforcing in extra words or taking out important words just toget the meter right. Thankfully, none of this turned out to

be true. A few years ago, I started working with RobertMezey, who really pushed me to write in meter. I’m so gladhe 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 thatfashionable right now. Sure, like everything else there aretrends in writing, but I think meter should be part of thebasic tool kit for any poet. This isn’t to say there aren’tplenty of gorgeous free verse poems out there, but I dothink a poet ought to be able to write successfully in bothmeter and in free verse.

Do you have any particular conditions that you findconducive to writing?

Movement is always helpful, and oftentimes a good walkcan get things going. Being in a natural environment alsohelps me. Right now I live in Montana, and the muse heredoes seem friendlier than the one I used to court inWashington, DC. Muses have also been spotted hangingaround in the shower or in the bathtub – one never reallyknows – but the trick is to get down what she has to saybefore she flies away.

Interview originally published onhttp://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.

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14

Kate joined Bath Spa University as Professor of CreativeWriting and New Media in September 2012. She was

born in Cranbrook, British Columbia and went to high schoolon Vancouver Island. She did not finish her degree at McGillUniversity, Montreal and instead spent a year working in acopper mine in the Yukon, northern Canada, where shecrushed rocks and saved money! She spent that moneytravelling and ended up in London, where she has beenever since.

She writes for both print and digital platforms and in 2009her novel The Mistress of Nothing won the GovernorGeneral’s Literary Award for Fiction, one of Canada’s mostprestigious literary prizes. Her prize-winning digital fictionprojects Inanimate Alice and Flight Paths: A Networked Novel

have reached audiences around the world.

Her new novel Landing Gear will be publishedinApril 2014 and Kate will be undertaking

a series of digital experimentsbased on the novel.

How are you enjoyingyour Professorship at

Bath Spa?

I am so enjoying working atBath Spa. The physical beautyof the two campuses I work on(Newton Park and CorshamCourt) combined with the highlycollegial and convivial atmosphereamongst students and staff isunbeaten in my experience.

Where did your travels take you afteryour university experience and before

you arrived in London?

I travelled to Israel, Greece, Turkey, what wasthenWest Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and thenLondon, spending a fair amount of time in all

those places. But it was the three weeks I spent in Egyptearly on in that trip that had the greatest impact on me;that time helped form the novel I began to write morethan two decades later, The Mistress of Nothing.

When did you first begin to write?

I first started writing when I was very young, and moreseriously as a teenager.When I was 16 I had an Englishteacher who really encouraged me to write. The fact thathe was working on a novel somehow made me think I couldwrite a novel too.

Is digital literature the future for writers?

If only I could predict the future! Sadly I’m not quite upto that. However, I am fairly sure that as far as the digitaltransformation of reading, writing, and publishing goes, weare only at the very beginning of what is possible. So, yes,I do think that there will be more and more opportunitiesfor writers to work on projects that are digital, and this isvery exciting for both writers and readers. But I also thinkthat the book as a physical object will be with us for a longtime; we love ideas and stories, but we also love things anda 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 lovethe way that so many students are passionate about readingand writing. Students teach me new things – they are youngand I am not – they know about things that I don’t knowabout, 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 thatisn’t possible (and it usually isn’t – as much as I love livingin England, please do something about the weather), in thebath (non-digital only) or in bed.

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 teenageself what would it be?

As the parent of two teenagers, that’s a tricky question.My experience of university the first time round, as anundergraduate at McGill, wasn’t great – I went when I was17 and I think now that I was simply too young. I thinkI 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 readnothing more up-to-date than Beowulf. I think a good mixof creative writing and contemporary literature wouldhave been perfect for me – the kind of courses thatundergraduates who are interested in writing can doat Bath Spa.

What’s your guilty literature pleasure?

Ahh, good question. I go through phases with this – mylast proper phase was a while ago, the poorly written butstrangely compelling crime novels of Patricia Cornwell, withher many-degreed character, Kay Scarpetta. But I’ve given upon Kay. I guess my main source of guilt and pleasure aroundreading these days is the fact that I have given myself thepermission to abandon books without a second thought ifI don’t like them or don’t find them interesting. My life islittered with half-read abandoned books – and that’s okaywith me.

A Q&A with ProfessorKate Pullinger

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A finalnote....

Ihope you enjoyed this issue of SPARTAN andreading about your fellow alumni. In July wecelebrated graduation and as I conferred the awards,I reflected on what the future will hold for these newgraduates. As they become Bath Spa Universityalumni they join a global community of talented,determined and successful people.

This year’s graduation ceremonies were once againhighly enjoyable, I was delighted to present honorarydegrees to local head teacher Anne Bull OBE andacclaimed composer Professor Sir Harrison Birtwistle.I was also very pleased to welcome back artist andalumnus Peter Randall-Page, a former student of theBath Academy of Art.

For those of you who graduated in previous years,I am sure you remember clearly your own graduationand the exhilarating, if slightly nervous wonder ofwhat will come next. As Bath Spa alumni, yourachievements, knowledge, expertise and experienceare invaluable to our students. You support andinspire. You offer a view of the world beyondacademia. As part of the alumni community, thereare many ways you can engage with students today,so please take a look at page 6 for ways to participateor get in touch to find out more.

As alumni of Bath Spa University you are alwayswelcome on campus.You may be interested to hearabout our new professorial lecture series as a reasonto make the visit back to see us. In the last 12 monthsthe University has recruited a number of high profileprofessors in the fields of art, creative writing andmusic including FayWeldon, Gavin Turk and AmandaBayley. The lecture series, starting in October, offersa fascinating insight into academic pursuits emergingat Bath Spa University. For further information pleasevisit www.bathspa.ac.uk/pls

Thank you for being part of Bath Spa University’salumni community and please do continue to keepin touch.

Professor Christina Slade

Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University

The Royal Society of Literature andBath Spa University Discussion

AngusWilson:A CelebrationMonday 25 November 2013, 7pmCourtauld Institute of Art, London

This RSL event, sponsored by theSchool of Humanities and CulturalIndustries, discusses the life of one ofthe leading novelists of the post warera, AngusWilson. Angus’ friend PeterJ Conradi will chair this event and willbe joined by Ian McEwan, one of thefirst students on the creative writingMA established by AngusWilson andMalcolm Bradbury at UEA;Wilson'sfriend Margaret Drabble who wrotehis biography; and the literaryjournalist Edmund Gordon.

rslit.org/angus-wilson-a-celebration

Comedy CavernThursday 7 November 2013, 7.30pmBurdall’s Yard, Bath

Comedy Cavern returns to Burdall's!Join a host of hilarious comediansand experience '10 in 10 minutes',where 10 student comedians take tothe stage for their first minute ofstand-up comedy.

Jazz Night: Corey Mwamba TrioFriday 6 December 2013Burdall’s Yard, Bath

Bath Spa student performerscollaborate with professionalmusicians Corey Mwamba Trio foran evening of small band jazz. TheCorey Mwamba Trio improvisecollectively to create open, livingmusic. Their music is a free-wheeling,spontaneous mixture of styles.

bathspampa.com/bathspalive

diary dates

Friday 28 February – Sunday 9March 2014

The Bath Literature Festival featuressome of the most intelligent, creative,and cutting edge thinkers alive today.The 2013 festival saw its seventeenthyear in existence, having hostedNobel and Booker Prize winners suchas Bath Spa Honorary Graduate HilaryMantel; leading political thinkers suchas Tony Benn; poets ranging frompoets laureate Andrew Motion andCarol Ann Duffy toWendy Cope andSimon Armitage, and humourists fromGarrison Keillor to Terry Pratchett.

The 2014 Festival is produced by anew Artistic Director, critic, columnistand broadcaster,Viv Groskop. TheUniversity is the Festival’s CreativePartner again for 2014.

bathfestivals.org.uk/literature