A HENFIELD woman is ‘enjoying the sense of achievement’ after winning a place in a book of short stories.
The tale by Stephanie Richards, 58, from Blackstone was one of 170 entries of which 20 were published.
Her story entitled ‘Ménage a Troisieme Age’ is in the book ‘It’s never too late to fall in love’, an anthology of romance stories about ‘third-agers’.
Stephanie became involved with the book after seeing a competition run by U3A News, the national magazine for the University of 3rd Age (U3A).
Although she has been published in magazines before this is Stephanie’s first venture into fiction.
Talking to the County Times she said: “It is my first story to be published which is great.
“There is a quiet joy at last doing it, writing something and having other people judge it as good enough to print. Does the self esteem a world of good.”
‘Ménage a Troisieme Age’ is in the style of a letter to a friend whose husband has just retired, giving tips and advice from someone who has been there and done that, on what to expect for two third-agers in one house 24/7 365.
As for her inspiration she said: “They say write about something you know, so it’s a combination of experience, imagination and eavesdropping.”
Speaking about being published she said: “It feels very satisfying and not a little unreal. It leaves me keen to do more writing.”
The anthology ‘It’s never too late to fall in love’ is available from Third Age Press, 6 Parkside Garden, London SW19 5EY, through bookshops or Amazon.co.uk.