Published: Thursday, 3rd December, 2009 9:00am

Something fishy's going on!

by Annabel Williams

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A QUINTET of women writers have done it again by publishing their third book.

Julie Roberts, Eileen Dickson, Elaine Douglas, Vera Morris and Eve Wibberley have written and produced The Virgin Sardine under their own publisher, Jeeve Publishing.

The fabulous five, all from Peppard or Caversham, met at creative writing classes at Chiltern Edge School in Sonning Common in 2002 and wrote and produced their first collection of short stories, Fish Pie and Laughter, within a year in 2005.

Another compilation, The Guilty Suitcase, followed in 2007.

The Virgin Sardine was launched at WordPlay book and toy shop in Prospect Street, Caversham, on Thursday last week, attended by Reading Mayor and Mayoress Fred and Jean Pugh.

Eve, whose real name is Jennifer Smith, said: "Each section is based on an element, fire, earth, air and water, and because we wanted five so we had one each, we also used the sun. We started each chapter with a little story about us."

The women, who describe their ages as over 60, have used their books, and the fees from talks to community groups about their works and donations, to raise £4,220 for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

Eve added: "Writing keeps us off the streets! We haven't run out of inspiration because we have made each book totally different each time.

"We may well write more, as you have to buy ISBN numbers ten at a time!"

See www.jeevestories.co.uk

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