Book fundraiser a good story for charity

WORDSMITHS: Carterton writer Wendy Moore and Masterton writer Margaret Orange at the launch of Sweet As. PHOTO/VOMLE SPRINGFORD

The hard work and creativity of two Wairarapa writers has helped raise almost $3000 for Kiwis with intellectual disabilities.

Stories by Masterton's Margaret Orange and Carterton's Wendy Moore have been published in Sweet As: Contemporary Short Stories by New Zealanders, launched at Almo's Books in Carterton recently.

Ms Moore, also co-editor, said it took about eight months to produce the collection of 29 short stories after the idea was floated at a Wellington writers' group meeting.

At the launch, Ms Moore, a member of the Blairlogie Writers' Group in Masterton, read an excerpt of her story, set in Bratislava, where she lived for several years.

Despite the book's title, not all the stories are sweet, she said.

"New Zealand is a country of light, but it also has a dark side."

Mrs Orange, part of the same writing group, read her story about a boy dealing with his grandfather's death.

She started writing when she and her husband Bill did a writing course for their 50th wedding anniversary.

"We thought we would write stories to pass on to our children and grandchildren on what life was like when we were young."

Wellington writer and co-editor Blair Polly said there weren't many opportunities to get short stories published so they put out a call for submissions around the country.

Some authors are Katherine Mansfield Award winners and some are new writers, he said.

"The main idea was to give New Zealand writers a vehicle to tell their stories and at the same time raise money for an incredibly good cause."

A book launch was also held in Wellington last Tuesday, drawing more than 150 people.

All sale proceeds go to IHC, which is New Zealand's largest provider of services to people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

"If this helps in some way to help them live a life that is ordinary to us but extraordinary to them that's great," said Mr Polly.

-The book is available at Almo's Books, as an e-book on Amazon or contact SweetAsShortStories@gmail.com.