Over the past year, members of Grace Eyre’s Creative Writing Group (one of our Active Lives sessions) have been working hard to produce Elephant in the Room, a remarkable collection of short stories that showcase their imagination, humour, and insight.
Featuring artwork by Reg Day, one of our Pioneer Artists, the anthology takes readers on a journey through love letters, epic adventures, and moving real-life reflections on treasured moments. The result is a heart-warming and thought-provoking book with a little bit of something for everyone.
On Monday 10th November, the group launched their brand new book at Waterstones Brighton and celebrated its publication with friends, family and supporters of Grace Eyre. Over a glass of bubbly, after hearing about the project from support worker and group lead Bill Bayley, everyone was entertained by excerpts hilariously read out by Grace Eyre Our Voices Co-ordinator and local stand-up comedian, Pagane Gacheva.
Guests were able to buy the book, along with other gifts created by people supported by Grace Eyre, including a jigsaw designed by another Pioneer Artist, Mario Antoon, and screen-printed t-shirts, all featuring fantastic, exclusive designs. See below for our photo gallery of the night.
There will be a further chance to buy the book and the other items at the Grace Eyre Christmas Concert on Thursday 11th December, when guests will also be able to enjoy entertainment from Brighton and Hove Girls School Choirs and Grace Eyre Performance Groups.
What people are saying about Elephant in the Room:
Liz Pichon – Award-winning author and illustrator of the bestselling Tom Gates series:
“Grace Eyre’s Creative Writing collective gives people the support and opportunity to write their own stories and to express themselves, which is such an important thing to do. A huge thank you to everyone who’s helped put this book together.”
Cerrie Burnell – Author of Wilder Than Midnight and former Cbeebies presenter:
“A collection of stories written from the heart, full of chaos, whimsy and warmth, each with their own unique edge, guaranteed to make you smile.”
Bethan Roberts – Critically acclaimed novelist, author of My Policeman (adapted into a major motion picture):
“What would happen if Taylor Swift were Vice President and Sean Connery was a bank robber? Find out in The Elephant in the Room, a riotous, high-energy collection of stories bursting with imagination, colour and life.”
Bill Bayley – Support Worker, Grace Eyre:
“Working with the Creative Writing group has been a blast. During my first session with them, we sat down and talked about many different genres, including comedy, romance, and horror. When everyone opened up about their favourite stories, I researched some small activities for us to do. From “A Story About Brighton” to “Write a Story for This Picture of a Little Green Alien.” From there, we all got very creative and began writing a story each week. Alongside that, they’ve been learning new words, spelling, and how to structure paragraphs. I’ve been collecting all their stories for you all to read. I hope you enjoy reading!”
Eva Eriksson – Chief Executive Officer, Grace Eyre:
“Creativity, co-production and providing the space for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people to share their unique voices have always been essential to the Grace Eyre ethos. This brilliant book brings all these elements together and shows what is possible when both imagination and expectations are set free. I’m so happy that, through this book, a wider audience will now have the privilege of reading and being inspired by the wonderful work of our Creative Writing Group.”
