AN innovative Whitefield company is giving unpublished authors a world-wide shop window on the web.

Business partners Anthony Sherman, John Chadd and Peter Maw are harnessing the global opportunities of the Internet to feature the work of aspiring writers.

Ultimately, the trio hope their unique and ambitious "netpublished.net" site will become a veritable hunting ground for publishers desperate to discover new material and the Jeffrey Archers of tomorrow.

Already their site, which embraces everything from novels and poems to film scripts and music, has generated considerable interest in America.

The partners are convinced their net business will prove popular with amateur authors anxious to display their literary skills to potential publishers around the world.

John Chadd, whose own novel commands a presence on the website, explained: "We want to give writers access to the Internet, particularly those who normally find it very difficult to have their work published.

"Tens of thousands of top quality authors remain unknown and fantastic works of fiction and non-fiction never see the light of day."

John, who is handling the sales aspect of the business, added: "That's because literary agents and publishing houses are too busy, too shortsighted or too intent on their golf handicaps to care one way or the other.

"Obviously, it's not only the writers who are losing out. A reading-hungry public are deprived of valuable new works. It's a crying shame and about time something was done."

Now, thanks to "netpublished.net", says John, his company is redressing that vital balance.

"At the moment, there are more than 275.5 million regular users of the Internet. There has never been such a huge, pinpointed audience at any time in history and it is growing daily." Budding authors who opt to use this unique Internet service pay £75 annually to have their material featured on-line.

And avid readers who wish to download material from the website can pay £3 for the privilege.

As part of the deal with the participating writers, should their book be ultimately published, the Whitefield business will be paid 15 per cent of the royalties for the first year.

Anthony Sherman, creative consultant who is involved in film and books, said: "It took us two months to establish this site, thanks to Peter Maw's technical skills, and as far as we are concerned it's a world first.

"Sometime ago, I came up with an idea to put my own material on the net. So, I thought to myself why not do it for other people seeking publishers?

"If it wasn't for our website, then really the only other way for writers to get noticed would be through vanity publishing, which can cost anything between £2,000-£3,000."

To illustrate the global appeal and influence of "netpublished.net", more than 90 per cent of the "hits" so far have come from the USA.

There are already several works of fiction and non-fiction available on the website and the Whitefield team can even design a suitable book "front cover" complete with illustrative and graphic work plus, most importantly, the author's name. Because, to their knowledge, no similar website exists elsewhere on the Internet, the three business partners are pinning their hopes on success.

"We are the only company in the world to have this," declares Anthony. "No-one else specialises in unpublished works."

In the coming months, the website will feature a collection of poems and other pages devoted to music, complete with sound, and fine arts.

Any budding authors who would like to take advantage of the service, or any businessman or woman wishing to invest in the company, should log on to "netpublished.net".