Writers leap into publishing (From Oxford Mail)

Writers leap into publishing

3:48pm Sunday 13th December 2009

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A WOMEN’S writing club in South Oxfordshire has published its first book.

The Contemporary Women Writers’ Club, founded last year, has already won praise from national literary critics for The Leap Year, a self-published collection of 12 short stories.

Each writer, only two of whom had previously published novels, has written two short stories about women, which are set in different countries around the world.

Two members of the group, Jennie Walmsley, left, and Rachel Jackson, are pictured with copies of the book.

Australian writer Kathy Lette has written an introduction to the collection, and former Daily Express editor Rosie Boycott has described it as a “triumph for women writing today”.

The group only started meeting two years ago, after they discovered their passion for writing through mutual friends. Since then they have been meeting over a coffee once every three weeks to help each other grow as writers.

Their first book was on sale at Wallingford’s Edwardian evening, and the group held a book-reading at the town’s library on Thursday.

Women’s magazine journalist Ms Jackson, 35, from Preston Crowmarsh, said: “We all came together because we share a passion for writing.

“We didn’t really know each other beforehand, but we want to encourage women to get together to write collectively and creatively.

“I was quite nervous at first, because I had never exposed unfinished writing to other people.”

Ms Walmsley, 41, from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, a former news producer for BBC Radio 4, said: “Writing clubs are the new book clubs. To see your work in your hands is fantastic.”

The Leap Year, by the Contemporary Women Writers’ Club, priced £6.99, is available from queenbee.co.uk

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