CALPE PRESS: A NEW PUBLISHING HOUSE AND ITS FIRST BOOK

Culture Minister Edwin Reyes welcomed the launch of Gibraltar's new independent publishing house Calpe Press and its first book The Murder in Whirligig Lane a historical detective novel set in Gibraltar in 1813. In the gardens of the Garrison Library, Mr Reyes, described authors Sam Benady and Mary Chiappe as two living institutional figures paying tribute to their work and acknowledging the positive venture Jennifer Ballantine Perera, founder of Calpe Press, had embarked on.

Having had an advance copy of the book, he affirmed, he had been intrigued by it, especially the references made to Gibraltar and its "Gibraltarian flavour". In the days of the yellow fever epidemic in Gibraltar this traditional whodunit mystery surrounds the discovery of the body of a young, beautiful, aristocratic Spanish woman. Although believed initially to be a victim of the fever, the traces left on her body are sufficient to around the suspicions of Giovanni Bresciano, a local businessman of Anglo Genoese descent. From that moment on it is up to Bresciano to resolve the mystery of her death. The Murder in Whirligig Lane is the first of the Bresciano mysteries.

Mary Chiappe recalls the idea came out of casual conversation when both writers discovered they both liked the idea of writing a whodunit.

"I also mentioned that I wanted to write a novel set in early 19th century in Gibraltar because one of Jane Austen's heroes is mentioned as having served in Gibraltar at that time and I thought it would be fun to bring him into a novel," she said.

Sam Benady says it was Mary who had the idea of a Gibraltar detective story set in the past, and suggested it to him for his historical expertise.

"I had thought of the same in the past but would almost certainly never have got round to it," he added.

At the launch Mr Reyes recognised Mrs Ballantine Perera's idea to promote local literature.

He said, "she has great ideas: novels, works of fiction, non-fiction, printing books that have gone out of print. I have a vested interest of course as Minister for Culture. By working together we are going to promote literature, we are going to promote historical records."

Calpe Press is a specialist publisher focusing on Gibraltar and related subjects to include scholarly publications as well as fiction and non fiction. Jennifer Ballantine Perera said Calpe e Press aims were to be a small, bespoke, high quality press with rigorous editorial standards to support authors in assessing local and wider markets.

Calpe Press will also operate as a reprint library and is to re-publish books on Gibraltar that are now out of print. These will be available with the addition of new introductions and notes which will contextualise each title within its historical or literary setting.

The Murder in Whirligig Lane published by Calpe Press is available in all local bookshops.

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