25 March 2009

Prize-winning author to help launch University anthology

Photo Opportunity: 3.50pm, Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at Dundee Contemporary Arts. Whitbread Prize winner and Booker nominee Ali Smith will help to launch New Writing Dundee anthology.

Whitbread Prize-winning author Ali Smith will help launch the latest edition of New Writing Dundee, a University of Dundee book that champions new writing from around the world, when she takes part in a Literary Salon in the city tomorrow.

Originally a magazine produced by students at the University, the publication has evolved into an international anthology of literary fiction whilst retaining a strong Dundee flavour.

This year’s edition is packed with new work by unpublished local writers as well as award-winning authors such as Douglas Dunn, Cynthia Rogerson, Tom Bryan, Andrew Murray Scott and Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It also includes an interview with author Peter Hobbes and a forward by Kirsty Gunn, chair of Creative Writing at the University.

The book will be available for sale at tomorrow’s event, which takes place at DCA from 4pm.

Last year’s New Writing Dundee sold out three print runs and editor Rachel Marsh is confident of a similar success for this edition, which received around 600 entries from across the globe.

“With 600 submissions it was very difficult to whittle them down to the entries contained in this book, but we are delighted to find that this year’s anthology has exceeded all expectations. This year’s project is well rounded and a true testament to Dundee’s publishing ability.

“The community has been very much behind us all the way. In fact, the word has already gotten out as we have gotten pre-orders on Amazon and requests from the public for copies well before the publication date.”

The Ali Smith Salon is sold out, but anyone interested in attending should note that a waiting system will be in place to reallocate any spare spaces that arise on the day although entry is not guaranteed.

Copies of the book, costing £5, will be available on the launch. Borders and Waterstones will both be carrying copies of the anthology, which can also be purchased online through Amazon and at http://www.dup.dundee.ac.uk/order.html.

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
MOBILE: 07854 953277