Celebrating YSJ Alumni – Nuala Ellwood
Throughout 2017 we featured a number of York St John alumni across our social media and online magazine who have achieved great successes in their chosen careers, done amazing things in their local communities, or been incredible ambassadors for the university.
Over the course of this week we will revisit some of our favourite alumni stories from 2017, before we start to look ahead into 2018 and the many stories I’m sure we’ll have the pleasure of sharing with you as the year goes on.
When it comes to York St John alumni in 2017, there is no better place to start than with Creative Writing alumna Nuala Ellwood.
Having been listed by the Guardian as one of the best debut authors of 2017 back in January, Nuala published her first novel ‘My Sister’s Bone’ in February, which was positively received by critics, with favourable comparisons to the highly successful ‘The Girl On The Train’ amongst others. In September 2017 Nuala was delighted to announce that the film rights for ‘My Sister’s Bones’ had been optioned by the renowned Bill Kenwright.
Nuala has always cited her experience of studying at York St John as an important factor in helping turn her ambition of becoming a writer into a reality, “It was a wonderful experience. It’s a very nurturing and supportive place. It has the feeling that no matter when you graduate you’re still part of the university, they’re still there for you and because it’s in the centre of the city it has that lovely close knit feel”.
That link has certainly remained strong. Nuala now teaches part-time on the MA course, offering other aspiring writers the benefit of her practical experience around things like finding an agent, pitching your work and getting published.
You can find out more about postgraduate study at York St John by visiting our website
