Two recent graduates from the University of Worcester will officially release their prize-winning books at a free public event at The Hive on Thursday, May 2nd.
Margaret Adkins, from Malvern, and Michael Wheatley, from Pershore, both studied Creative Writing at Worcester and were both awarded prizes at their Graduation ceremony last year, in recognition of the excellence of their work on the course. Those prize-winning pieces of work have now been published and will be launched at The Hive.
Margaret Adkins, who won the V. Press Prize for Poetry for her pamphlet Mingled Space, said: “I feel over the moon. I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity to have work published with V. Press. I have bought several past publications of theirs, and I’m delighted to feature alongside these voices. It is an honour to be chosen as the inaugural winner of the V. Press Prize for Poetry.”
Michael Wheatley, who won the Black Pear Press Prize for Fiction for his novella called The Writers’ Block, said: “I feel honoured to have received the inaugural Black Pear Press Prize for Fiction. When I was completing my Extending Writing Project in my final year at Worcester, I wasn’t even aware that there may be an award at the end of this, so it was an incredible surprise. It’s something I’m very proud of.”
He added: “I’ve had various pieces of prose and poetry published in online magazines before this but never a full collection, and never in print. I’m really excited to see the final print copy.
“Without the creative writing course at Worcester, this would not have happened. I mean that both in terms of receiving the award and in regards to being a strong enough writer to receive it.
“The support, advice, and skills which the University of Worcester gave me, and continues to give me, is indescribable. Worcester gave me the confidence to go on and do a Masters, and made me into a completely different writer to the one I was when I started the course.
Margaret said: “Without the University of Worcester’s Creative Writing course, I wouldn’t be receiving this prize or seeing my work published in any form. My background is in nursing and midwifery. To be in this position is something I never dared to dream. I have always loved reading, but I wasn’t writing creatively before university.
“The Creative Writing course helped me to find a voice, it then gave me the tools to craft it and have the confidence to use it.”
Ruth Stacey, a Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Worcester, said: “I am really pleased for Margaret and Michael, and very proud of their achievements. I hope they are as excited about seeing their work in print as I am.”
“I would urge anyone with an interest in writing to join us to celebrate the launch of our inaugural Creative Writing Prize winners,” she added. “It will be a wonderful celebration, you will be able to hear readings from both writers, and there will be a book signing afterwards.”
“As a University, we are thrilled to be able to contribute to the professional progress of two such talented writers, and to help to strengthen the arts and culture scene within the city itself.”
Margaret is currently studying for an MRes in Theatre and Performance at the University of Worcester, and hopes to become a freelance writer in the future. Michael is also continuing his studies at postgraduate level with a Masters in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, and plans to continue on to a PhD.
The book launch of the inaugural University of Worcester Creative Writing prize winners is a free event. For more information please contact Ruth Stacey on r.stacey@worc.ac.uk
To book your place, please visit the events page.