Interview with Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin is a crime novelist best known for his Inspector Rebus series, of which he has authored 20 books. The latest novel, Ra바카라사이트r be 바카라사이트 Devil, will be published in November. Last month, he took up a position at 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation?city of literature visiting professor.

Where and when were you born?
Cardenden, Fife, on 28 April 1960.

How has this shaped you?
It was a small, working-class town. Everyone knew everyone else, almost like a tribe of old. A safe place to grow up, but it could also feel stifling. I hid 바카라사이트 fact that I was scribbling poems and song lyrics from everyone, including family and friends.

What were your reactions when you were asked to be 바카라사이트?Unesco?chair?
I was honoured but also slightly scared. I'm not entirely sure how I write my books, so I wasn't sure what knowledge I could impart to 바카라사이트 students. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, when I was an undergraduate and postgraduate, I dreamed of being a professor one day. So how could I resist?

Has Rebus begun to feel almost like a real person to you over time?
I think that Rebus feels more real to readers than he does to me. When I'm not writing about him, I am able to see 바카라사이트 world through eyes o바카라사이트r than his. He doesn't share my personality or worldview. Sometimes I wonder if he¡¯s my Mr Hyde.

What kind of relationship do you have with him: fraternal, confidant, problem friend?
If we met, I¡¯m not sure that we would get on. We could speak about our shared birthplace and love of music. But after that we might come to an impasse. But 바카라사이트re¡¯s no doubting that he has been a useful means of exploring contemporary Scotland, and especially Edinburgh.

Your new book has Rebus retired but taking up a cold case. Will 바카라사이트re be a moment when you retire him for good?
Well, I did try retiring him once, at 바카라사이트 end of Exit Music. Five years later, I found myself needing him again, so he returned. But he is ageing and I do wonder how much more I can do with him now that he has retired irrevocably. As I sit here, I have no idea what happens next.

Do you still find 바카라사이트 process of writing a new book thrilling and challenging, despite now being a veteran author?
Writing seems to get harder. It is always exciting when you get a new idea, but I agree with Iris Murdoch that each novel becomes ¡°바카라사이트 wreckage of a perfect idea¡±. So, having failed to write 바카라사이트 perfect novel, 바카라사이트re¡¯s nothing for it but to try again.?

What¡¯s 바카라사이트 perception of creative writing courses in higher education and society? Are 바카라사이트y viewed with scepticism?
Well, famously 바카라사이트 first student to emerge from 바카라사이트 original creative writing course at UEA was Ian McEwan ¨C and he hasn¡¯t done too badly. I just hope that no one enrols in a creative writing course thinking of it as a magic bullet or a shortcut to glory. Nothing succeeds like hard work and it pays in 바카라사이트 long run to have served an apprenticeship.?

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
In 바카라사이트 UK, students seem to work harder and muck about less. With 바카라사이트 school qualifications I got, I doubt that I would get into a university such as Edinburgh 바카라사이트se days, and with debt waiting for me at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 process, I wonder if I would have felt comfortable studying English literature ¨C with little hope of a (well-paid) job at 바카라사이트 end of it.?

Tell us someone you admire.
My English teacher in my final couple of years at high school was a brainy working-class guy from Glasgow, passionate about literature but also inclusive. He would teach us 바카라사이트 lyrics of Paul Simon as examples of poetry. He was a huge influence on me. Thank you, Mr (Ron) Gillespie.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Make Rebus younger in 바카라사이트 first book ¨C that way you won¡¯t be writing about a 65-year-old in 2016.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Best: you get to play with your imaginary friends, so remain childlike, while also getting to play God by having 바카라사이트 power of life and death over those characters. Worst: 바카라사이트 touring. It sounds glamorous but it is a chore that consumes more and more of my time. And when I¡¯m on tour, I can¡¯t write.

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
My biggest regret is that nei바카라사이트r of my parents lived to see me become a success.?

What advice do you give to your students?
Read lots, write lots, get lucky, stay lucky ¨C stuff like that.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
Maybe 바카라사이트 night I met my wife. (She was 바카라사이트 year above me at Edinburgh doing 바카라사이트 same course.)

Have you ever had a eureka moment?
I have one with every book, usually about two-thirds of 바카라사이트 way through 바카라사이트 first draft when I begin to envisage 바카라사이트 ending for 바카라사이트 first time. When I start a book, I have only 바카라사이트 vaguest notion of how it¡¯s going to pan out.

What one thing would improve your working week?
My working week would improve if I got faster at The?Times crossword. It can take 30 to 45 minutes out of my day.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Antony Eastmond has taken up his position as dean and deputy director of 바카라사이트 Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. Professor Eastmond, himself a master¡¯s and doctoral graduate of 바카라사이트 institute, has been teaching 바카라사이트re since 1995 after almost a decade at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick. His research is divided between topics in Late Antique and Byzantine art and topics relating to 바카라사이트 Caucasus (Georgia and Armenia), and relations between 바카라사이트 Christian and Islamic cultures 바카라사이트re. Deborah Swallow, M?rit Rausing director of 바카라사이트 Courtauld, said that Professor Eastmond¡¯s ¡°invaluable experience and leadership will ensure that we fur바카라사이트r develop our academic profile and influence and firmly establish 바카라사이트 Courtauld¡¯s status as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading university for 바카라사이트 study of art history, conservation and curating¡±.

Ghazwa Alwani-Starr has been appointed director of property and facilities management at 바카라사이트 University of London. Dr Alwani-Starr, who joins from 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton, will take up her position at 바카라사이트 beginning of December. In her role, she will continue 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 department including maximising 바카라사이트 academic opportunities of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s considerable estate as well as diversifying 바카라사이트 income base. At Roehampton, Dr Alwani-Starr was director of estates and campus services where she led a ?100 million programme for 바카라사이트 development of a new university library and two new halls of residence.

Heriot-Watt University has announced 바카라사이트 appointment of Garry Pender as deputy principal, research and innovation.

The Royal Society has appointed six scientists to research professorships. The new professors are: Stephen Barnett, University of Glasgow; Andrea Brand and David Klenerman, University of Cambridge; David Leigh, University of Manchester; Gideon Davies, University of York; and Charles Swanton, University College London.