The adventure begins: I’ve been accepted!

bg-logoI heard this morning from Lancaster University in England:

“I am writing to advise you that the University is pleased to make you an offer of a place for postgraduate study, as detailed below.”

Shriek! I’ve been accepted into the Ph.D. in Creative Writing program, to start in October 2017. The title of my research project is “The Comforter: Narrative Truth and Reader Expectations in Popular Fiction About Utopian Faith Communities.” How’s that for a handle?

I’ve been assigned a thesis supervisor, Professor John Schad, who has interests in religion in literature as well as the period between the world wars, when my book will be set, so I think it will be a good match. In May next year I had planned to be in Cornwall to do additional research for my steampunk novels, so a side trip to Lancaster (in the northwest of England) is definitely now on the agenda. I want to meet my supervisor, as well as some of the faculty involved in the “Authors and the World” project, which I believe will have a significant impact on the research portion of the dissertation.

The book that eventually comes out of this will be an Adina Senft novel—working title The Comforter—and may even be the first in a series. But one thing at a time …

This is so exciting! Celebrate with me!

 

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23 Comments

  1. congratulations! I went for undergrad studies (theatre) to The Universty Of Hull in Yorkshire for a year. Sounds like your studies will be mostly electoronic. I’m excited for you!

  2. I’m so happy for you! This will be such a wonderful journey, and I confess I’m looking forward to hearing all I can about it. Wish I could physically go along- but reading about it will be just dandy. Thanks for sharing this great news.
    Michele

    1. Thanks, Michele! I hope to document as much as I can, if only for the sake of other students who are considering the same thing. Luckily there’s lots of help out there.

  3. Congratulations, Shelley! Impressed that, even though you are already a successful author, you are interested enough in continuing to hone your craft that you are willing to take the considerable time and energy (and expense) required to pursue a Ph.D. in Creative Writing. You go, girl!

    1. Thanks, Ron! There is always something to learn, isn’t there? I always feel as though with each new book, I’m biting off more than I can chew. I really feel that way now, so it must be the right thing to do 🙂

  4. I never doubted it. Enjoy your new adventures and I can’t wait ro read about them. It sounds as if your professor is a perfect match and I can see where a novel set between the two wars and featuring a protagonist who’s deeply religious could be very interesting.

  5. Your news is fabulous!!! Congratulations!
    You tell the best stories, and I cannot think of a better author to be in this particular program!?

  6. You are an inspiration woman! I’m happy for you and look forward to reading more of your work… so far I have ALL your books! ???? here’s to many, many more!

  7. Adina,
    I am just so very pleased you get to do this!
    I am looking forward to hearing about this experience and
    wish you the very best success in this adventure!!
    Congratulations
    ET

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