ON 12th July the Wye Valley Writers will be launching their latest anthology of short stories and poems: number nine in the Borderline series.

On the theme ‘Turning Points’, it is an eclectic mix with settings including medieval England, the forests of India, the aisles of a supermarket and of course the Wye Valley itself.

Its cover – from an oil painting by Wye Valley Writers member Susan Peterken – shows the Chepstow Bridge, whose 200th anniversary is celebrated this summer.

The book will be launched at a reading evening, from 7pm to 9pm on Tuesday 12th July hosted by the Chepstow Library as part of the Chepstow Festival.

Admission is free and refreshments are provided, with donations to the Friends of Chepstow Library.

All are welcome to come and listen and there will also be an ‘open mic’ opportunity for audience members to read their own short pieces of poetry or prose.

The Wye Valley Writers group is a long-established part of Chepstow’s cultural scene: it began in 1997 and members have been meeting fortnightly ever since.

Currently there are a dozen or so members, ranging in age from twenty-something to seventy-something. Some of the group write mainly for their own pleasure; others publish regularly.

Rose Parkhouse, the event organiser, explained the group’s role:

“If you are a writer, it’s really important to be able to share your work and get constructive comments.

“It’s a friendly and supportive group, and we all get help to improve our writing.”

Copies of the book will be available for £5 on the night and afterwards at various local outlets including Chepstow Bookshop.

More information on the group is available on their website www.wyevalleywriters.wordpress.com