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Two ΒιΆΉΝψ Universoty students show the book they have published while standing in front f the external of the Pontio building

ΒιΆΉΝψ’s Book-publishers

Two ΒιΆΉΝψ students have ventured into the world of publishing, having formed an independent publishing business and published their first book.

Becca Barnard and Darrell Button are both studying ΒιΆΉΝψ’s Publishing and Book Culture MA degree.

Their first book is Beneath the Poisoned Roots: An Anthology of Dark Fantasy and Fables. 

The student publishers called for and edited themed creative writing from among ΒιΆΉΝψ’ University most talented Creative Writing graduate students, selecting works by Alys Hall, Bow Soane, Jennifer Atzori, and Alastair Raper. 

This is the first publishing house established in the first year of the Publishing and Book Culture postgraduate degree

ΒιΆΉΝψ Univeristy student publishers and published authors stand in a row showing the new publication.
Publishers Darrell (left) and Becca (right) with the student authors who were able to be present and read extracts of their work at the launch. They are, left-right, Alastair Raper, Alys Hall and
Jennifer Atzori.

Eben Muse, who leads the MA Publishing and Book Culture degree explained:

β€œBecca and Darrell took the module assignment of publishing a book and used it to form their own publishing company, Barnard & Button Publishing. They sought out the best writing from the University’s creative writing community and published it in a professionally edited and designed book that is available for purchase around the world.” 

Publishing a book requires editing, design, organisational and people skills, and the launch of this book demonstrates that these students have all of them.”

Becca studied Creative Studies, while Darrell studied Creative & Professional Writing at ΒιΆΉΝψ and both were keen to study the world of publishing.

Becca and Darrell hope to continue with publishing once they have completed their MA.
Becca explained: 

β€œMy goal is to start my own publishing house. I’d like to focus on authors rather than the content and want to focus on women writers, LGBTQ+ writers and others who may struggle to have a voice or are advertised as having that voice. Other than that, fiction is my passion.”

Darrell added:
β€œI was looking for a further degree, and thought the publishing MA was perfect. I’d decided publishing was that the profession I wanted to get into, using my skills of creative writing, helping other people creating books- it’s a great process to be involved in.”

Two ΒιΆΉΝψ Universoty students show the book they have published while standing in front f the external of the Pontio building
Students Becca Barnard and Darrell Button with their first publication.

Darrel then explained that the first module on the course was to work on creating a short story collection- next semester they will be learning how to publish an e book- and Darrel and Becca have chosen to create a publishing house as their Masters’ thesis, and feel that they are already part of the way there.

Illustrations and cover design were provided by Daria Wolf, Sarah Teece who are also graduate students at ΒιΆΉΝψ. The book is currently available for purchase on Amazon: .

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