12 August 2009

University writers to showcase work at festival

A trio of students from the University of Dundee will display their literary prowess when they read extracts of their work at the Edinburgh International Book Festival later this month.

The three students will showcase their prose to an audience of literary agents, industry professionals and members of the public at Peppers Theatre on Tuesday, August 25th.

The prestigious event is being held to promote the exceptional creative talent that the University is producing. Anna Day, director of Literary Dundee and Dundee University Press will introduce students, Zoe Vendetozzi (34) of Newport-on-Tay, Perth’s Eddie Small (58) and 21-year-old Clare Skelton, originally from Northumberland, to the audience.

A unique creative writing course has been devised by award-winning author Kirsty Gunn, Professor of Creative Writing at the University, which has been responsible for attracting fresh talent such as Zoe, Eddie and Clare.

Ms Day will discuss the range of work the University is carrying out to promote interest and excellence in the study of literature. She will also talk about other projects in this area such as the Dundee Literary Festival, Literary Salons, a Literacy Programme, Dundee University Press and the University’s various publications.

She explained that the event represented an excellent opportunity for both for the students and for the University.

'The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind in the world,' she said. 'The students really have a fantastic chance to make their mark on influential people from within the publishing industry as well as being able to impress book-lovers who attend the event.'

'I’m delighted to be able to promote the amazing array of projects to promote creative writing and literature that we have going on at the University. Three writers as gifted as Zoe, Eddie and Clare will perfectly demonstrate the kind of talent we’re producing here.'

Tickets for the event, which takes place at 4pm, cost £9 and are available by visiting http://tickets.edbookfest.co.uk/.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk