60 seconds with… Kate Fagan

Kate is a lecturer in literary studies in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts. “I’m part of the Writing and Society Research Centre, where I feel happy and privileged to work with a terrific group of thinkers and writers,” she says.

Kate has explored the world of words in many facets; she’s a poet, editor and songwriter and finished a PhD on contemporary American poetry and poetics before working as a musician. In fact, Kate recently published her third collection of poetry, entitled First Light. The poems were written over the course of five years while working as both an academic and a musician.

Kate started her career at UWS working part-time with the Writing and Society Research Centre late in 2008 and taught casually in the School of Humanities and Communication Arts in 2009 and 2010.

Take 60 seconds to find out more about Kate...

What’s the best thing about working here?
My colleagues and students are what I enjoy most about UWS. I was delighted to start a full-time lectureship in 2011.

Which campus are you based on?
I’ve been based on the Kingswood campus since moving last year to the Blue Mountains.

What is your favourite place on campus and why?
Sitting at the café tables outside the Ward Library on the Werrington South campus, in the sun, gazing out across the open green spaces. It’s a really lovely spot.

When you’re not at work, what will we find you doing?
Laughing at the invented songs and endless word games of my toddler, who’s almost two years old (and preventing her from tumbling off things). Reading books and writing, playing and listening to music and spending time with my partner. I adore gardening when I can find a few spare hours.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Airline steward was high on the list when I was three. I vaguely remember wanting to be a perfume maker when I was five. This was soon replaced by rock star (along with every kid I knew), children’s doctor, journalist and, eventually, writer.

What was your first job?
I’d have to say musician; it was probably the first thing I actually got paid to do.

What has been your greatest success?
My daughter! It’s clichéd but true. She’s the greatest thing ever. I was absolutely thrilled when my new collection of poetry was short-listed for the Age Book of the Year award this week and I’m proud to have become a poet and songwriter in my adult life. Those creative drives have taken me on some great adventures around the world.

If you could go to just one country in the world for a vacation, which would you choose?
Japan. My partner speaks Japanese and lived there for a year. It’s impossible not to feel moved by images of statuesque gardens across Japan and be thrilled by the technological energies of Tokyo. But Antarctica would be a dream. There’s such faultless, romantic drama to all that ice and sky.

What is your favourite book, movie and/or album?
A single book is hard to choose! I love Xenia by the Russian poet Arkadii Dragomoschenko. I could watch Johnny Depp acting in anything. As for albums, Joni Mitchell’s Hejira is hard to look past. It’s like a friend I’ve known all my life.

If you could invite anyone to dinner who would it be and why?
Right now, Bill Bailey. Even just thinking about him makes me laugh and there’s nothing better.