Book makes profits (From Stroud News and Journal)

Book makes profits

AUTHORS of a book on Stroud Maternity Hospital have handed over the first profits from sales to the unit.

The book broke even in the autumn when the 700th copy of Stroud's Birthplace was sold and since then the publication has been making a profit.

Tracy Spiers and Diane Harris wrote the book as a tribute to the maternity hospital and to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Diane's two daughters Molly and Katie handed over the first £200 profit from the book together with Tracy's baby Megan.

The girls, who had all spent time in the unit, presented the money to head of midwifery Michelle Poole, a timely Christmas present for the hospital.

Now it is hoped more people will buy one of the remaining 250 copies of the book as Christmas presents.

"We were unsure as to how sales would go and risked footing the £4,000-plus bill for the book's design and printing, it was a real project of faith," said Tracy who spent a few days at Stroud Maternity earlier this year after giving birth to her third daughter Megan.

"But the hospital has such tremendous support that we sold several hundred of the 1,000 print run in the first few months.

"It was a big relief to break even on the project which received tremendous community support."

All stories are told through the eyes of mums, dads, midwives, doctors and nursing staff, some tales funny and other very poignant.

Copies of Stroud's Birthplace, priced at £7, are on sale at Stroud Bookshop, R&R Books, the Stroud News and Journal office, Mother Nature, Made in Stroud and several other venues in the town as well as Not Foxed in Nailsworth.

Signed copies can be obtained by contacting Tracy Spiers on 764110 or Diane Harris on 01453 755366.