Welcome to our new section, Staff Views! Through this space, you’ll get to meet key figures from Edinburgh Napier Big Read staff. This week, we start off with a bang! Dr. Sandra Cairncross has been working behind the scenes clearing the way for the student team to bring the #NapierBigRead and Detective McLevy’s Casebook to you all. Today she’s speaking on why she loves the scheme, and why you should all #GetInvolved.

What excites you about the Big Read? 

I’m an avid reader and am a member of a book group. I enjoy our monthly discussions and for me the Big Read is a book group writ large. I really like the idea of a large number of people reading the same book and then discussing it.

Why do you think the benefits of the Big Read scheme are for all students and staff, not just those who are already book lovers or studying literature? 

One benefit is that it may encourage students and staff who don’t normally read literature or read different genres to give it a go so they can join in the conversation and then be encouraged to read other books.

Another benefit is that it can bring people to together to share and discuss and common experience, and who knows, maybe some participants will be inspired to start their own book groups!

Why do you think Detective McLevy’s Casebook is a good choice for this year’s Big Read? 

I love the fact that it is set in Edinburgh and so can help us get to know the city better. I think this is something which appeals to long-time residents and those who have moved here more recently to work and study.

I also think it being a collection of short stories can be beneficial in persuading someone who doesn’t normally read literature or this genre to at least give one story a try.

What message would you pass on to new readers of Detective McLevy’s Casebook?  

Set aside time to read and focus on the book, think about what you liked/disliked, and talk to others about your thoughts on the book.

It’s Monday, which means another ‘Meet Our Team’! This week we have Publishing postgrad student Damarys Campos, our website manager and graphic designer. She’ll talk about her roles in this year’s #NapierBigRead, how to get involved, and what to look forward to in Detective McLevy’s Casebook. 

Describe your role in the Big Read? What is it that you do?

I’m the website manager, which means handling the webpage where you’re reading this very interview. I organise, style, and sometimes write the content that’s created for the Big Read. On the other hand, I’m also the graphic designer. I create the visuals needed for the project. Some of these include the website banner, the profile images used in the ‘Meet Our Team’ interviews, the email signature, and more.

Why did you decide to volunteer for the Big Read scheme?

I was really excited to take part on a project of this scale. I loved the idea of the whole university community reading the same book together. Being able to take part of the planning and execution of the Big Read has been a valuable learning experience.   

Why do you think this project is important for the university?

It’s very special when a group of people can unite and share something together, and the Big Read is a perfect example of this. This year, through Detective McLevy’s Casebook, students and staff alike can experience the book together, start a conversation, and get to know about the real-life inspiration behind the well-known Sherlock Holmes.

Why should students be enthusiastic about the Big Read?

First of all, and most importantly, you get the book for free! Who doesn’t love free things, especially books? With this one in particular, you’ll get to explore Victorian Edinburgh through the cases Detective McLevy investigated. And, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you could even visit some of the places where the stories take place.

How can students get involved?

Right now, you can take part by donating a book at the Big Read Bookcases that are placed throughout all three campuses. Make sure to do it soon! They’ll only be up until the 14th of February. Also, be sure to follow NapierBigRead on social media to get notified of all the great things coming your way soon.

Just for fun, what’s your favourite book?

My favourite book is Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie. It has mystery,  a secret organization, espionage, and Poirot’s unique wit. The copy I own is very special to me. It was printed in 1955 and gifted to me by one of my closest friends.

#NapierBigRead ‘Meet Our Team’ is back. This week we’re talking to postgrad students Elizabeth Eagan and Sarah Marks about what they do and why you should be excited for the release of Detective McLevy’s Casebook. We’re also revealing how you can get involved and even offering a few lucky people the chance to get your hands on a copy of the book before it’s been released.

Describe your role in the Big Read. What do you do?

Both: We manage Communications for #NapierBigRead. It is our responsibility to keep track of the activities and progress of each team and to keep everyone well informed. Being a small team, this requires effective planning, coordination, and sometimes, deadlines! Our main tasks involve liaising between teams and departments, scheduling and planning, and keeping an updated database of Big Read contacts. As the Big Read is a collaborative project, we are also members of #NapierBigRead’s Social Media Team, regularly engaging with our followers on Twitter.

Why did you decide to volunteer for the Big Read scheme?

E: Dedicating time each week to support the Big Read scheme, and contribute to the promotion of this year’s book Detective McLevy’s Casebook was an easy decision for me to make. I am enthusiastic about the scheme’s aim to inspire and bring together students and staff in the university through reading, creating a sense of community. I share the Big Read’s belief in the power of reading to positively impact people’s lives, and I thought it would be a great way to get to know and work with my fellow students.

S: Having the opportunity to get hands-on experience with projects like this is one of the reasons why I chose to study at Napier. It’s really rewarding to work as a team towards a tangible goal and it gives us as students the chance to explore different roles in publishing before we leave university.

What are you most excited about for the Big Read?

E:  I love the fact that anyone in the university can participate and enjoy this reading scheme, not just the typical booklover. This is a fantastic chance to be a part of something in the wider community of the university and to get to know other students and staff also reading the book. If you live in Edinburgh and enjoy exploring, then this is also your opportunity to visit some of McLevy’s old haunts, and some truly interesting spots!

S: Detective McLevy’s Casebook is right up my street. I love reading about real life historical characters and can’t wait to share that with other people! It’s amazing getting to see what old Edinburgh was like through the eyes of the #RealSherlockHolmes. Plus, I love the sassy lady thief that McLevy describes in the first chapter, you can tell he secretly admires her ingenuity and skill!

Why do you think this project is important for the university?

Both: The shared reading experience that this project represents holds so much potential for students and staff. It’s a great icebreaker and an easy way to get people talking across departments. It also provides international students with an engaging means of getting to grips with the city, its history and culture. And of course, the close ties to Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes have definitely helped us garner a really enthusiastic response to the book so far. It’s all very exciting!

How can students get involved?

Both: Students can get involved by engaging with our various social media platforms. Find us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @NapierBigRead. This is where you will hear about #NapierBigRead related events and the eagerly awaited release date of the book.  Of course, we’re also very open to potential collaborations. If students in other schools within the university are interested in working on the project with us, then simply get in touch with your ideas. We’ll be happy to chat with you!

We’d also love to know what you think about the book. So if you just can’t wait to get your hands on #DetectiveMcLevy’sCasebook then get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tell us why you should be given pre-release proofs and the chance to review the book before it hits campus!

Just for fun, what are you reading just now?

E: I’ve only just got around to starting The Wiseman’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. I love a good fantasy book and really enjoyed The Name of the Wind, the first novel of the series, so very happy to get stuck into this one.

S: I’ve actually just finished reading Pat Barker’s Regeneration which is set, coincidentally, here in Edinburgh – at Craiglockhart actually. It’s the story of a psychologist working at the hospital there during the First World War and features Siegfried Sassoon quite heavily. It’s a great book, one that negotiates the issue of war in a really sympathetic and interesting way.