A new community interest publishing house has released its first book.

Axe River Books, based in the South West of England, is celebrating the launch of its first publication, Axe River Books Short Story Prize: Anthology 1.

This collection includes the top 15 entries from their inaugural short story competition, each offering a unique voice and style from across the region.

The anthology was made available from November 1 on Amazon.co.uk and at local independent retailers.

It features writers from Bridport, Cheddar, Highbridge, Ivybridge, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Sandford, South Molton, and more, illustrating the cultural and literary diversity of the South West.

The winner of the competition was Clare Reddaway with her story, Ripe Apricots Burning Oil.

Her narrative centres on a fry cook in a fish and chip shop who reminisces about his previous life as a history teacher in Iran.

Driven into exile by his political beliefs, he struggles to find meaning in his current existence in a small seaside town.

Ms Reddaway said: "I believe that stories are the bedrock of being human, and I find creating, tangling, and untangling them to be a source of constant fascination."

The judge and Wrington-based novelist, Mel Greenwood, praised the winning entry.

She said: "This is one of the most powerful and beautiful stories I have ever read.

"Every reading unveils new layers of depth.

"It's filmic, believable, and intelligent, with realistic descriptions and superbly crafted dialogue.

"The poetic opening contrasts brilliantly with the sudden, gritty reality of the chip shop job, leading us into the protagonist's tragic truth."

Emily Goodman, co-founder of Axe River Books, commented on the anthology: "We're incredibly proud to have published our first book and to share it with readers across the South West and beyond.

"The quality of the submissions blew us away, and we're confident these 15 stories will resonate with readers from start to finish."

Co-publisher Joe Williams added: "Seeing this book come to life after months of hard work has been an exciting journey.

"We owe a huge thanks to all our authors, our judge, and Gemma Trickey for her incredible support in making this dream a reality.

"This anthology is just the beginning—we look forward to continuing our mission of publishing great writing from the region."

Co-founder Andy Corp highlighted Axe River Books' community focus: "We are passionate about supporting writers and local retailers.

"This book is available to order on Amazon, but we're actively seeking partnerships with independent bookshops, libraries, and community groups across the South West.

"We want to spotlight the often unsung literary talent in the region."