Steyning author's book supports Amnesty International

Amnesty supporter David Chesters is donating the royalties of his new book to charity.
David Chesters with his new book Embracing Change. Picture: Derek Martin DM16154912aDavid Chesters with his new book Embracing Change. Picture: Derek Martin DM16154912a
David Chesters with his new book Embracing Change. Picture: Derek Martin DM16154912a

The retired teacher has recently published a book of short stories entitled Embracing Change and all his royalties will go to Amnesty International UK.

Mr Chesters, 66, of Roman Road, Steyning, is a member of Shoreham and Worthing Amnesty Group and works as a volunteer in the Brighton Amnesty Bookshop.

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He said: “I have taken part in a number of events to raise money for charity, mainly Amnesty but also Oxfam, the British Heart Foundation and the National Deaf Children’s Society.

“Set predominantly along the Sussex coast and the South Downs, Embracing Change is a wide-reaching collection of short stories which explores universal themes of both men and women facing change.

“Each of the 16 stories poses a range of questions about how to deal with life’s setbacks - broken relationships, illness and ageing, regrets and the sense of failure. A healthy dose of black humour underpins the births and deaths, the sexual exploits and the hints of murder.”

Aside from writing, Mr Chesters likes to keep fit since retiring from a career with BT and then as a teacher at the West Sussex School of English in Steyning. Next year’s Brighton Marathon will be his 15th full marathon and he has completed numerous half-marathons, as well as cycling across Cuba to raise funds for NDCS.

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The short stories vary in style, with some following a conventional structure and others more experimental, binding together disparate images, locations and time zones in ways that can challenge preconceptions.

Mr Chesters said: “This approach helps to make the scope of the collection far broader than its south coast setting. Each story employs flashbacks to illustrate the characters’ backgrounds, amplifying the strong and diverse voices throughout.”

The stories ask questions but may not provide the answers. Each story is open-ended, more often than not leaving the reader wondering what happens next.

Strongly inspired by the works of Tania Hershman, in particular The White Road, Embracing Change will appeal to readers living in or around the Sussex coast as well as those with a particular interest in the area and those who enjoy short stories more generally.

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Mr Chesters has already held a successful launch party and the book, priced £7.99, can be purchased from Steyning Bookshop and in Brighton at Waterstones, City Books and Books for Amnesty. It is also available online from Amazon.

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