The First-time Authors Network (FAN)

It is FUN to Write First Books Together!

The First-time Authors Network (FAN), a side initiative developed by USTA alumni, Sofya du Boulay, has been running since September 2025. This group unites junior and mid-career academics specialising in Central Asia across different social science disciplines to author a book stemming from doctoral research.

“Being part of the FAN community provides me with a sense of belonging and reassurance that I’m not alone in my journey to become an author. We have rare opportunities to learn from senior scholars who share their firsthand experiences and insights about publishing their books.” Dr Zarina Urmanbetova (Postdoc Researcher, Graduate Institute of Geneva)

“It was very useful to listen Professor Erica Marat's experiences on publishing books with university presses in her masterclass ‘From Dissertation to Book Manuscript’. She offered valuable tips on how to negotiate agreements with well-recognized publishing houses.” Dr Shoirakhon Nurdinova (Senior Lecturer, Namangan State University)

“The USTA mentorship 2024 workshop in Almaty served as a gathering point for emerging scholars from the region. Given that many have recently defended PhDs and are embarking on new career stages, uniting to support each other’s publication journey became an intuitive next step. The first book publication, a serious and potentially lengthy endeavour, might be more enjoyable and productive if approached as a collaborative effort.” Dr Sofya du Boulay (Postdoc Researcher, University of Sussex)

Interested in joining the FAN network? Email sd711@sussex.ac.uk for more details.