Marcus Sedgwick takes up role of Author-in-Residence at Bath Spa University
19th November 2009
Marcus Sedgwick has been welcomed to Bath Spa University as Author-in-Residence, to share the benefit of his experience in publishing and expertise as an author with creative writing students and staff in the University’s School of Humanities & Cultural Industries.
In this role, Marcus will be giving talks and workshops that will help students to think widely about the industry and prepare for the practical application of their skills and knowledge. He will also be mentoring two students over a six month period each, to develop their career aspirations and provide advice and guidance.
Marcus Sedgwick comments, “I really enjoy working with writers, particularly in workshop sessions, and I find that the mentoring of a student's hopes and expectations is as rewarding as discussing the nuts and bolts of writing itself.”
At the start of his publishing career, Marcus Sedgwick worked for three years as a bookseller at Heffer's Children's Bookshop in Cambridge, which was a wonderful place to learn about children's books. He then spent 16 years working in children's publishing, first as a sales rep, then as Publishing Manager at Templar Publishing, where he also edited the picture book list. After that Marcus moved to Walker where he became UK Sales Manager, responsible for running the sales team and for key account management of Waterstones, WH Smiths, etc. Since July 2009 Marcus has turned to writing full-time.
Marcus has won the Branford-Boase award for best debut children's novel and has been nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Independent Reading Association award and the Portsmouth Book Award. His books have also been shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, The Carnegie Medal, the Blue Peter Book Award and the Sheffield Book Award. His latest book is ‘Revolver’, published in the UK in July 2009, and has been long-listed for the Guardian Children's Book Prize.
Marcus also illustrates some of his books, and has provided wood-engravings for a couple of private press books. In addition, he regularly teaches creative writing in schools and on residential courses at The National Writers' Centre for Wales, as well as running workshops at festivals over the years.
Marcus Sedgwick - Author-in-Residence
For reference
This initiative has been funded by the Knowledge Escalator project, which is part financed by the European Union's ERDF Competitiveness and Employment Programme 2007-13 securing £1,833,000 of ERDF investment through the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA).
ERDF
SWRDA
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