1:59pm Friday 8th December 2006
By Charlotte Potter
Why enjoy the work of one author when you could curl up with a book featuring sinister stories from seven?
A group of scribes from Southend, Leigh, Westcliff, Rayleigh and Shoebury have published an anthology of dark tales and poems.
The group, which calls itself Writers Anonymous, is made up of creative writers who met while on a course at Shoeburyness High School.
Member Paul Bunn, 43, explains: "In January 2005 we all met on a creative writing course. At the end of it we met in a pub and did a reading. A discussion came up about doing an anthology of stories and that's really where it started.
"From there we agreed we'd meet up in the summer and started meeting monthly from then on. Over the months we have developed our stories, read them to each other and got a publisher involved."
Although Paul began writing ten years ago, it wasn't until the creative writing course that his passion for putting pen to paper really took hold.
He says: "It wasn't until I began the course, that my interest really took off.
"For the first time I got to meet other aspiring writers and through class activities became more confident in my own ability.
"I'd always enjoyed writing, especially the challenge of writing a story and seeing how it developed along the way, but never felt confident enough to push myself into trying to get it published."
Writers Anonymous is funding the printing of the anthology and is using self-publishers Trafford Publishing.
It was the group's member Simon Woodward, author of the children's adventure series Brave Dave, who came up with the theme of the anthology.
Paul, from Rayleigh, says: "Simon said let's do something sinister. The subject matter is quite wide ranging so most people can cope with a theme like that."
Paul's contribution goes under the title of Witness and tells the story of a man called Steve.
Things start happening that he can't explain; dreams that seem real, a hoax call that can't be traced telling him his sister Gina has been rushed into hospital and repeatedly seeing a car accident that hasn't happened.
Frantically he tries to find answers, is he losing his mind or does it have something to do with the trauma of the house fire that left him and Gina orphaned when they were children?
As he investigates further he realises there are forces at work which he can't control and what he is witnessing is his own worst nightmare.
The group is hoping the self-published book, entitled Sinister, will give them recognition and interest other publishers in their work.
"Self-publishing is there, it's available, there's advertising and it will get us recognition," says Paul.
"For new writers it's a very good way of getting a book published and getting your name known.
"It's difficult to go to a publisher and say are you interested in my book or story? Most of them say no because they are looking for established writers."
Initially the group has ordered 120 copies of Sinister, which can be purchased via the group's website or the publisher's.
Plans are also under way for the second anthology, but Paul says the group is being cautious.
"We're already trying to plan a second one, although we're not trying to get too ahead of ourselves as we want to see how well this one does first."
For more information on Writers Anonymous visit www.sinister- anthology.co.uk.
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