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Top writer becomes University's Royal Literary Fellow
Students at the University of Kent can call upon the services of an award-winning author when they are stuck for words.
Simon Levack, a novelist and short story writer, has been appointed as the University's new Royal Literary Fellow. He will be based in the Student Learning Advisory Service in the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (UELT) at the Medway campus.
His remit is to provide students with advice and support in all aspects of their writing, through one-to-one coaching. The guidance he offers is wide-ranging, from tips on writing essays, reports and dissertations, to making presentations, carrying out research and even writing applications for work placements.
The Royal Literary Fellow is based in the Drill Hall Library at the Medway campus for two days a week and meets students on an appointment basis.
Simon has published four novels - Demon Of the Air, Shadow Of The Lords, City of Spies and Tribute Of Death - which are all historical mysteries set in Pre-Columbian Mexico, on the eve of the Spanish colonisation of the Americas. Demon Of The Air (2004) won the Debut Dagger Award, made by the UK Crime Writers' Association. His work has since been published in the United States, Spain and Russia.
His short fiction has also attracted critical acclaim, with his story Jade Skirt selected for the Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries (2008).
Simon said he found his role as Royal Literary Fellow a hugely rewarding one. 'The experience is certainly proving to be an education for me,' he said. 'I can stand back and look at a student's work from a non-academic perspective, think purely about the process of writing and offer a fresh point of view.
'The role is really all about providing guidance, and giving people the confidence to express themselves on paper.
Simon succeeds BBC broadcaster and award-winning travel writer Jonathan Gregson as the Royal Literary Fellow for Kent's Medway campus.
The Royal Literary Fund (RLF) Fellowship scheme for writers was launched in 1999 and is based mainly in British universities and higher education colleges. RLF Fellows are established professional writers of literary merit, representing a wide range of genres, including biography, translation and scientific writing.
Allia Wilson, Manager of the Student Learning Advisory Service, said many Kent students were taking up the chance to learn about good writing practice from a professional author. 'Students have told us how much they value this opportunity. The type of literary skills they learn from writers such as Simon will hold them in good stead, whatever careers they choose,' she said.
For details, please call 01634 888884 or contact learningmedway@kent.ac.uk
Contact: N.J.Ellwood@kent.ac.uk
Story published at 2:09pm 4 November 2008