The fabulous five

Jeeve Publishing are a small group of five writers who publish books of short stories. Their latest is The Guilty Suitcase, which follows the success of their first release Fish Pie and Laughter.

The group is made up of Julie Roberts, Eileen Dickson, Elaine Douglas, Vera Morris and Eve Wibberley, who got together with the idea to produce an anthology during the Writers’ Summer School at Swanwick. They selected a local pub in Thames Valley and later Julie’s loft as their meeting points for developing plans and stories. Sue Tait meanwhile would provide illustrations.

Once the first collection was complete the friends decided they would self publish using a local printing firm and so Jeeve publishing was born (‘Jeeve’ being an acronym using their initials).

Fish Pie and Laughter sold well (it’s now in its second print) and was followed shortly by The Guilty Suitcase. Both books feature a selection of stories that showcase the five unique voices.

Julie feels their are many benefits to their way of writing as it not only makes writing more fun, but also allows them to share duties.

‘Writing is a solitary task,’ she explains, ‘but with five of us writing as a group, it becomes a collective pleasure. Deadlines are easier to achieve – who is going to be the “bad girl”? No one wants it to be them.’

Lately the group have been travelling the length and breadth of Thames Valley and beyond selling their books across events such as a Christmas Fair at Goring-on-Thames and the Writers’ Summer School itself. Some of the profit from sales also goes towards the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust for which they have raised over £1,500.

Both books are available by post and work has already begun on their third.
Details: The Guilty Suitcase, (£7.99, Jeeve Publishing) is available now from Jeeve Publishing, PO Box 2696, Reading RG1 9BQ; website: www.jeevestories.co.uk