so now he keeps the books in the garage

Astonished Eric Sponge wins the prestigious Pure Vanity Press Award 

for the first volume of his memoirs
 'Forty Years on the Cheese Counter - My Thrills and Spills as a High Street Grocer"
 (published by Pure Vanity)

"We had to sell the car and remortgage the bungalow to help cover
 the printing costs," his wife Beryl explained  after the ceremony.
"But it was certainly worth it.  He's really delighted by the award
 and plans to use the prize money as a down-payment on the next volume.