Lecturer's novel to be published by Simon and Schuster
The Bellwether Revivals, Benjamin Wood's debut novel, will be published in February.
2012 will see the publication of Benjamin Wood’s debut novel, The Bellwether Revivals (Simon and Schuster, February). It’s set in Cambridge and follows the relationships which develop between Oscar Lowe, who works in a nursing home, and Iris and Eden Bellwether, a beautiful and charismatic sister and brother from a privileged background.
In an interview with The Bookseller, Wood describes how he drew on his experiences of living in Cambridge and growing up in a nursing home run by his parents. His novel explores the tensions which arise from being ‘in an academic city but not really being part of it.’ Just as Oscar struggles to find his place in an unfamiliar academic environment, so Iris and Eden try to fit into the world of everyday life.
Writers are always learning
Wood’s job as lecturer of Creative Writing at Birkbeck was equally important in helping him complete the book. He explains that the Birkbeck environment ‘keeps your mind on reading, writing and thinking about the process of writing’, all of which helped him to improve his writing.
If you’re interested in developing your creative writing and want to join an environment where ‘reading, writing and thinking about the process of writing’ are actively encouraged, then take a look at our short courses in creative writing.
The novel will also be published by Viking Penguin in the USA in the summer of 2012.