Issue 16 Autumn 2012 - Brunel University

sTUdeNT ANd GrAdUATe NeWs :: eXPRess MAGAZINe
16
“I was on the tube
when the characters
in the book suddenly
appeared inside my
head. They were
having an almighty
row and I just had
to write it down.”
“I relish the challenge
to develop the
outreach of BUCS to
its membership and
to the community.”
Creative Writing student secures
international book deal
School of Arts research student Liesel Schwarz has been offered
a spectacular three-book international publishing contract by
Random House.
The contract, for Liesel’s belle époque steampunk trilogy The Chronicles
of Light and Shadow, is one of the most impressive in British publishing
this year. The deal is the first international signing for a Brunel
student and includes publication in the UK, USA and Germany.
“I am absolutely delighted,” said Liesel. “As an author one hopes against
all hope to be published one day and I am humbled by the amazing
feedback I’ve had so far. It has exceeded my wildest expectations.”
Opening with A Conspiracy of Alchemists, The Chronicles of Light
and Shadow is a series of fantasy novels set in an alternative
Europe in 1903 and focusing on the adventures of airship pilot
Eleanor Chance. The series has been described as a fast-paced
romantic adventure within a richly textured and complex world,
where the forces of Shadow and Light battle for power.
Liesel began writing the first book during her MA in Creative Writing
at Brunel, and is currently working on the second book for her PhD.
“I am a lifelong fan of 19 th century Gothic fiction and steampunk,”
she said. “One day I was travelling home on the tube past Baker
Street when the characters in the book suddenly appeared inside
my head. They were having an almighty row and I just had to write
it down. The scene I wrote was part of my MA Elements of Fiction
coursework and following the feedback I had from that, I developed
the novel. The first draft of the book was also my MA dissertation.”
Random House will publish A Conspiracy of Alchemists in November 2012.
Vp Student Activities elected
as national student officer
Gary o’Brien, the Union of Brunel Students’ Vice-president for Student
Activities, has been elected one of the four national student officers for
British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
The role involves representing over 160 BUCS-affiliated universities by
ensuring that communications are transparent and in depth and meet the
needs of the UK’s students.
“After giving the National Union of Students a lot of attention in my first
year of office, I wanted to turn my priorities to BUCS for my second year,”
said Gary. “I relish the challenge to enhance and develop the outreach of
BUCS to its membership and to the community.”
BUCS is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK,
and aims to enhance student performance, competition and participation.
Over 100,000 students regularly compete in BUCS competitions, leagues
and events in 50 different sports.
Brunel is currently second out of 29 institutions in London in the overall
BUCS rankings.