An anthology of prose and poetry from the University of Edinburgh MSc in Creative Writing
 
From Arthur's Seat

Team

Team

Meet the team behind the 2022-2023 edition of From Arthur’s Seat.

Editors-In-Chief

Rasika Bhale
Prose Editor-In-Chief

Likes to Read: Anything that challenges her perception of the world.

Likes to Write: Emotionally stirring fiction that challenges other people's perceptions of the world!

Favourite Book: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie.

Austin Crowley
Poetry Editor-In-Chief

Likes to Read: Any poetry, new or old!

Likes to Write: About struggles with mental health (and sometimes birds).

Favourite Book: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.


Editorial – Poetry

Olivia Duff
Poetry Managing Editor

Likes to Read: Hispanic fiction and anything thought provoking! 

Likes to Write: Pieces which explore intersections of identity, and those that incorporate classical themes. 

Favourite Book: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Alessandra Heitmann
Poetry Editor

Likes to Read: Just about everything, but particularly loves poetry, fiction, and historical fiction. 

Likes to Write: Mostly poetry, exploring themes like mental health, illness, and personal relationships. 

Favourite Book: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. 

Charlie Hilton
Poetry Editor

Likes to Read: Both fiction and poetry but especially the work of Billy Collins, Alice Oswald, Roberto Bolaño, among others!

Likes to Write: Comedic pieces, often drawing insight on little human absurdities through seemingly irreverent observations. 

Favourite Book: The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante.

Oona MacKinnon-Hoban
Poetry Editor

Likes to Read: Everything! Lit fic, middle grade mysteries, memoirs...

Likes to Write: Poetry focused on themes of grief, nostalgia, and family.

Favourite Book: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion.

Kate Schwartz
Poetry Editor

Likes to Read: Historical fiction novels, or books centred around the intricacies of relationships.

Likes to Write: Prose pieces, or poetry about the ambiguity of sex and trauma. 

Favourite Book: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Kinslee Sikes
Poetry Editor

Likes to Read: Long, rambling books about mentally unwell people. 

Likes to Write: Poetry that makes you remember you have bodily fluids.

Favourite Book: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.


Editorial – Prose

Zain Rishi
Prose Managing Editor

Likes to Read: Literary fiction that integrates cultural issues, often in the style or horror, or absurdism.

Likes to Write: Fiction in folk and gothic settings, sometimes experimenting with magic realism.

Favourite Book: The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Raine Bracken
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Fantasy, myth, and fairytale retellings!

Likes to Write: Fantasy stories, spooky stories, tales about women. 

Favourite Book: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Nadine Brito
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Anything that is feminist, haunting, or fantastical!

Likes to Write: Magic realism and over dramatic action sequences!

Favourite Book: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. 

Charlie Chapman
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Magical realism, historical fiction, and fantasy. 

Likes to Write: Fantasy or mythology-based pieces—anything with a strong sense of the supernatural!

Favourite Book: The Atlas Six by Olivia Blake.

Connie Coneybeer
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Fantasy, sci-fi—anything that develops new worlds, or encourages new ways of thinking!

Likes to Write: Literary fiction, occasionally experimental fiction, often focused on interpersonal dynamics and conveying emotion through language. 

Favourite Book: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. 

Suzy Enoch
Prose Editor
Lily Frenette
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Fantasy, sci-fi, experimental and hybrid works, and romance!

Likes to Write: Pieces about nature, art, community dynamics and magic!

Favourite Book: Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade. 

Charlotte Haley
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Literary fiction and horror, or else anything and everything by Irvine Welsh!

Likes to Write: Anything that makes a reader uncomfortable, often in the genres of lit fiction and horror.  

Favourite Book: The Art of Joy by Goliarda Sapienza. 

Sofia Reyes Valencia
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Gravitates towards horror, historical fiction and poetry. 

Likes to Write: In a stream of consciousness, often with heavy interiority; allowing protagonists to look inwards and reflect.

Favourite Book: Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje. 

Anne-Marie Saich
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: All genres, though with a soft spot for science fiction...

Likes to Write: Surreal and fantastical stories about humans, machines, things that don't exist!

Favourite Book: The Summer Book by Tove Jansson.

Tara Troiano
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Short stories, literary fiction, or anything gothic or absurd. 

Likes to Write: Self-described eclectic writer—but always finds her way back to Young Adult!

Favourite Book: The Powerbook by Jeanette Winterson. 

Claire Wallace
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Any local authors, but also lots of fantasy action!

Likes to Write: Urban fantasy! Claire loves to create cities inspired by those she has visited, and then add a dash of magic!

Favourite Book: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

Hazel Weng
Prose Editor

Likes to Read: Fiction, non-fiction, or academic works that shine light upon social and political issues.

Likes to Write: Literary short fiction, but currently experimenting with a longer utopian piece...

Favourite Book: Dawn by Sevgi Soysal. 


Copyediting and Proofing

Olivia Duff
Copyeditor & Proofreader

Likes to Read: Hispanic fiction and anything thought provoking! 

Likes to Write: Pieces which explore intersections of identity, and those that incorporate classical themes. 

Favourite Book: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Felix Foote
Copyeditor & Proofreader

Likes to Read: Fiction, or any pieces with a good sense of humour!

Likes to Write: Fiction set outside the bounds of reality, like sci-fi, fantasy, and supernatural stories!

Favourite Book: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. 

Alessandra Heitmann
Copyeditor & Proofreader

Likes to Read: Just about everything, but particularly loves poetry, fiction, and historical fiction. 

Likes to Write: Mostly poetry, exploring themes like mental health, illness, and personal relationships. 

Favourite Book: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. 

Zain Rishi
Copyeditor & Proofreader

Likes to Read: Literary fiction that integrates cultural issues, often in the style or horror, or absurdism.

Likes to Write: Fiction in folk and gothic settings, sometimes experimenting with magic realism.

Favourite Book: The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

Alison Schultz
Copyeditor & Proofreader

Likes to Read: Anything exploring character psychology and complex relationships!

Likes to Write: Long fiction, particularly about women in sports and athletic environments. 

Favourite Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. 


Art Department

Alice Eaves
Art Director

Likes to Read: For poetry a bit of Keats, or for fiction James Baldwin and Amor Towles.

Likes to Write: About her home country of Lancashire, folklore, and the natural world.

Favourite Book: Wild Swans by Jung Chang.

Raine Bracken
Art Team

Likes to Read: Fantasy, myth, and fairytale retellings!

Likes to Write: Fantasy stories, spooky stories, tales about women. 

Favourite Book: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Kinslee Sikes
Art Team

Likes to Read: Long, rambling books about mentally unwell people. 

Likes to Write: Poetry that makes you remember you have bodily fluids.

Favourite Book: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.


Marketing

Charotte Haley
Marketing Director & Book Launch Manager

Likes to Read: Literary fiction and horror, or else anything and everything by Irvine Welsh!

Likes to Write: Anything that makes a reader uncomfortable, often in the genres of lit fiction and horror.  

Favourite Book: The Art of Joy by Goliarda Sapienza. 

Nadine Brito
Website

Likes to Read: Anything that is feminist, haunting, or fantastical!

Likes to Write: Magic realism and over dramatic action sequences!

Favourite Book: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. 

Charlie Chapman
Marketing Team & Social Media

Likes to Read: Magical realism, historical fiction, and fantasy. 

Likes to Write: Fantasy or mythology-based pieces—anything with a strong sense of the supernatural!

Favourite Book: The Atlas Six by Olivia Blake.

Oona MacKinnon-Hoban
Marketing Team & Social Media

Likes to Read: Everything! Lit fic, middle grade mysteries, memoirs...

Likes to Write: Poetry focused on themes of grief, nostalgia, and family.

Favourite Book: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion.

Sofia Reyes Valencia
Marketing Team

Likes to Read: Gravitates towards horror, historical fiction and poetry. 

Likes to Write: In a stream of consciousness, often with heavy interiority; allowing protagonists to look inwards and reflect.

Favourite Book: Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje. 

Claire Wallace
Marketing Team

Likes to Read: Any local authors, but also lots of fantasy action!

Likes to Write: Urban fantasy! Claire loves to create cities inspired by those she has visited, and then add a dash of magic!

Favourite Book: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

Hazel Weng
Marketing Team

Likes to Read: Fiction, non-fiction, or academic works that shine light upon social and political issues.

Likes to Write: Literary short fiction, but currently experimenting with a longer utopian piece...

Favourite Book: Dawn by Sevgi Soysal.