Spread The Word!

Last Thursday was World Book Day, and to celebrate we headed on mass down to Merthyr Tydfil for the inaugural Spread The Word Festival, organised by Stephens and George Charitable Trust. School children of all ages were invited in their thousands to enter a world of pure imagination from loads of the local schools. Among the sea of craft stalls and fairground rides, Candy Jar was on hand selling books signed by our authors and meeting all the local school children. There were nearly three hundred events at various locations across Merthyr Tydfil, including a drama workshop with Waterloo Road’s Richard Mylan. Candy Jar authors Mark Brake and Jon Chase, Alison Thomas, Andy Frankham-Allen and Lorraine Bowen hosted sessions at the event, as well as a workshop run by illustrator Richard Young. Even Captain Jack Sparrow was able to turn up, also known as entertainer, performer and illustrator Terry Cooper.

In St David’s Parish Church Andy Frankham-Allen hosted a workshop talking about the everyday dilemma’s of time-travel, covering everything from Doctor Who and Anthony Ormond’s Tommy Parker: Destiny Will Find You! to Back To The Future.

Science duo Mark Brake and Jon Chase were there too and blew away the children of Merthyr with their The Science of Doctor Who road-show, talking all things sci-fi and inspiring the audience to make their own real life science experiments for their Space Time Machine Monster Competition, in partnership with the Welsh Books Council.

In the Tydfil Training Centre, author Alison Thomas lead a workshop with her magical friend Ddraig, chatting about her children’s fantasy-adventure book Amulet and inviting the children to take part in a fold-over poem. At Hope Church, Britain’s Got Talent contestant and crumble enthusiast Lorraine Bowen put on an all-singing all-dancing show for the children, who sang along and learnt that everybody’s good at cooking something, and Lorraine’s good at cooking crumble! 

With all this excitement going on elsewhere, the rest of us were all hands on deck at our outdoor stall, selling signed copies of the author’s books and getting involved with the action in the Charitable Trust’s spectacular reinvention of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. It got really intense...

Thanks so much to Stephens and George for inviting us to get involved with the Merthyr literary community. We met a load  of great people, and it was so lovely to see all the school children getting into the workshops and dressing up as their favourite book characters. With the Roald Dahl theme, we have never see so many Oompa Loompas in our lives! 

                                                                  

Primary Times Review and Competition: Amulet

The lovely people at Primary Times have given Alison Thomas's debut book Amulet a read - and a sparkling review as well!

"Amulet is a valuable reading resource for individuals, families, professionals, carers and schools. Throughout the book Dion talks about his autism and explains the ways in which he copes with daily challenges."

As always, we appreciate the time taken to read and review any book, so a big thank you to Primary Times. This is yet another fabulous recommendation for Amulet, sitting proudly alongside the glowing review given by none other than Anna Kennedy OBE Autism Ambassador: 

"Amulet is a delightful story... On one level the reader is taken through a beautiful fantasy world which is a product of the children's imagination. On another level it intelligently highlights the difficulties presented by the real world to a child on the autism spectrum. The reader is shown how the child on the autism spectrum can be guided through life such that he becomes a full participant. I have no hesitation in recommending this book."

We're so pleased that people are enjoying Amulet just as much as we do, keep reading everybody and let us know what you think!

In other news... Primary Times are also hosting a great competition for the book! There are five signed First Edition copies of Amulet up for grabs, and one of them could be yours (you lucky thing you!)

All you have to do is click here and answer the question: 

What is the name of the boy in the story?

A. Dion

B. Dave

C. Dan

The competition closes Sunday 28th February and you can enter online, via email, Facebook or post!

Amulet is out now and available as paperback and Kindle e-book. 

RRP: £6.99

ISBN: 978-0993322167

@PrimaryTimes

@Candy_Jar

@AlisonTomAmulet

Amulet - out now!

The greatly anticipated, and already much celebrated children's book Amulet by Alison Thomas is out and available to purchase from Amazon and the Candy Jar Store.

Amulet is a fantasy adventure story about Dion, an intelligent boy who has trouble fitting in with the world and grappling with the frustrations of everyday life, and he definitely doesn't like change.

'When Dion is taken away to a world beyond the imagination, he finds that his disciplined mind becomes his strength. But little does he realise his life is now in danger.

Will his sister Megan get to him in time? Not if the evil Queen has anything to do with it.

For a boy who doesn't like change, Dion's strength and determination are the things that he will have to rely on.'

We're super excited to be releasing Alison's debut children's book, reviewed  by Anna Kennedy OBE:

“Amulet is a delightful story about Megan and Dion. On one level the reader is taken through a beautiful fantasy world which is a product of the children's imagination. On another level it intelligently highlights the difficulties presented by the real world to a child on the autism spectrum. The reader is shown how the child on the autism spectrum can be guided through life such that he becomes a full participant. I have no hesitation in recommending this book."

Alison said: “This story is about a brother and sister: Megan and Dion Coombes. Dion has some social and communication difficulties. The family employ many strategies used by children with Dion’s difficulties. Should the strategies help anyone, then Dion, Megan and I will have achieved something worthwhile.”

Amulet is out now and available on Kindle and paperback.

RRP: £6.99
ISBN: 978-0993322167

@Candy_Jar
@AlisonTomAmulet