Graduate Suzanne R Black talks to us about developing her PhD into a new book. Suzanne R Black has had her PhD thesis developed into a new monograph, Between Novel and Network: Technology and Literary Form in Fiction and Fanfiction (Louisiana State University Press, 2026). Suzanne first came to the University of Edinburgh as an undergraduate, then completed a masters in Literature and Modernity in 2012.She graduated with a PhD in English Literature in 2021 with a thesis about the role of the internet in the twenty-first-century digital literary sphere.While working as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) in Edinburgh, she developed the thesis into a full-length monograph published by Louisiana State University Press (LSU Press).We spoke to Suzanne about the publication process, how it feels to be a published author, and what’s coming next. Suzanne R Black photographed by Chris Scott. A textually informed era of networked connectivity Suzanne’s interests lie in many different forms of media, “from novels that win prestigious literary prizes”, she says, “to massive franchises like Marvel and the wealth of fanfiction that is written in response to these and many other texts.” Spanning almost a decade of research, her thesis and new book explore how these media come together to form the contemporary cultural landscape.In trying, as she puts it, “to untangle some of the connections and pathways between these media”, Suzanne draws on various methods developed in literary studies, the discipline in which her PhD is rooted.Such methods, she argues, are “well suited to navigating our textually informed era of networked connectivity.” Image courtesy of LSU Press. The emergence of fanfiction Asked about the process of turning a PhD thesis into a monograph, Suzanne says “I knew that LSU Press were actively seeking to publish books in the area of fan studies and my commissioning editor, Jenny Keegan, was incredibly welcoming when I reached out to her with a proposal to adapt my thesis for publication.” “Jenny and the press were so helpful, but I think I still underestimated how much work it would be to pivot from academic thesis to monograph, and, because my research topic is so current, I needed to update some chapters.”“I have been delighted that interest in the book has been in line with my current research, which is more about the entangled nature of contemporary fiction and publishing across physical and digital media. For example, there are now many high-profile instances of fanfiction being picked up by commercial publishers, leading to stylistic, genre and material changes in both fanfiction and contemporary publishing.”“It is so exciting to have a book with my name on it! Although I want to acknowledge that the work of so many others went into making it – from LSU Press, from the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) – especially my primary PhD supervisor Dr Anouk Lang – and my friends who listened to me talk about it over many years.”Suzanne is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Edinburgh on the Horizon Europe project INFINITY where she works on the ethics of digital cultural heritage. Are you in interested in a PhD in literature? A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city - a UNESCO World City of Literature. Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in all periods and genres of English and Scottish literature and literary analysis. Working with colleagues in LLC and across the wider University, we are able to support research which crosses boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. Find out more about postgraduate research in English and Scottish Literature Related links Find out more about the book on the LSU Press website [external site]Find out more about the INFINITY project [external site] Tags English and Scottish Literature Postgraduate Research This article was published on Tuesday 7 July 2026
