Michaela Kahn, originally from Los Angeles is a Creative Writing student at the University. After gaining a masters degree at Naropa University, Colorado, she decided to travel further afield to study for a PhD after being impressed by books written by Professor Stevie Davies, of the University’s Creative Writing Department.

Swansea University has had good success with this particular prize in the past, with two students being shortlisted in both 2010 and 2011 and Roshi Fernando won the prize in 2009 for Homesick, a series of short stories about a community of Sri Lankan immigrants in London. 

Michaela Kahn said:  "I am so honoured to follow in the footsteps of all three of my cohorts with inclusion on shortlist for the 2012 Impress Prize. The fact that there's been a Swansea University Creative Writing student on the shortlist since 2009 says a lot about the quality of the Creative Writing team at Swansea University and the ethos of the programme in general."

Director of the University’s English Department's Creative Writing programme, Nigel Jenkins said: ‘Michaela Kahn is a joy to have as a PhD student on Swansea’s creative writing programme. We are delighted that she has joined a distinguished line of Swansea postgraduates who have been shortlisted for this prestigious prize. Whether or not she is announced winner remains to be seen, but I have no doubt that this wonderful writer has an exciting career ahead of her.’

Impress prize is in its sixth year and aims to find exciting new and unpublished writing talent. The winner will receive a publishing contract and chosen by a panel of judges next month.

For further information about studying Creative Writing at Swansea, please visit www.swansea.ac.uk/english