The Creative Arts Strand of the Aberdeen-Curtin Alliance recently launched Pause: new writing about time and change, a collection of 18 new works of fiction, memoir and poetry from current postgraduate students and recent alumni of the University of Aberdeen and Curtin University.
At the launch, Professor John Cordery, Curtin Provost, spoke about the growing relationship between the two universities, and three contributors read short extracts from the book, delighting the audience with their poignant and lively works.
Pause was edited by Dr Rachel Robertson and Dr Danielle O’Leary from Curtin University and Dr Wayne Price from Aberdeen University. Copy-editing, layout and publishing was managed by Dr Per Henningsgaard, Curtin University, with the help of six undergraduate professional writing and publishing students.
Potential contributors to Pause were asked to slow down and reflect upon time and change – and the result is this book. Only the best works submitted to the editors were chosen for inclusion here. From Orkney to Margaret River, from 1629 to the present day, from night swimming to walking in a forest, these stories and poems summon the passing of time, and those moments of joy and grief that never leave us.
While Aberdeen in NW Scotland and Perth in SW Australia initially seem very different, the collaboration between the two universities has shown us our commonalities. One of these areas of common experience is in the literature and writing programs, where staff and students have developed a strong and lively relationship.
For further information or copies of Pause, please contact Dr Rachel Robertson, Deputy Head of the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry.
Main image: a group of Pause contributors at the launch with Professor John Cordery, Pro Vice Chancellor Humanities, Professor Alan Dench and Head of the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Professor Steve Mickler.
Images provided by Danielle O’Leary.