Top Tips for Submissions!

If you’re thinking about submitting some work to us, we’d love to hear from you, but you might like to have a look at these guides for sending your work to us. 

1. Include a cover letter – We’d like to know a little more about you and your story. You can tell us anything you think is relevant about who you are and where your inspiration for the story came from.
2. A synopsis is always helpful – You will only be sending us a small portion of your book, so it’s helpful to us if you can send us a synopsis. Just a brief account of the plot of your book is what we need. 
3. Don’t send us too much – We love reading your work and finding new authors, but we do receive a lot of submissions. Just 2-3 chapters are enough to give us an idea of what your book is like.
4. Is your book like another you’ve read? – It’s always helpful for us to know the sort of books you think yours is like. If you’ve written the first book in a series of books about a boy who discovers he’s a wizard, and also the son of a god, you might liken your book to Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.
5. Who is going to read it? – It’s also useful to us to have an idea of who your book will appeal to. Is it a general fiction novel? Is it a children’s fantasy novel? Or a Young Adult Contemporary novel? Either way, we’d like to know.  
6. Have patience – We receive a lot of submissions, and while we try hard to get through all of them as quickly as possible it does take time, so please have patience with us while waiting for a response.

So there you have it! 6 key tips for sending in your submissions to us. For more information on where to send them, visit our website!

Lethbridge-Stewart: 2 for 1 Super Sale!

Candy Jar Books Exclusive
 

Super Sale!

Lethbridge-Stewart Two Book Bundle

For a limited time only! Buy The Schizoid Earth (Lethbridge-Stewart Series 1, Book 2) and receive Beast of Fang Rock (Lethbridge-Stewart Series 1, Book 3) completely free!

 

Head over to our shop right now to claim this exclusive deal!

The Schizoid Earth (Lethbridge-Stewart Series 1, Book 2):-

Lethbridge-Stewart was supposed to be in the mountains of the east. Things didn't quite go according to plan.

On the eve of war, something appeared in the sky; a presence that blotted out the moon. Now it has returned, and no battle plan can survive first contact with this enemy.

Plagued by nightmares of being trapped in a past that never happened, Lethbridge-Stewart must unravel the mystery of a man ten years out of his time; a man who cannot possibly still exist.

Why do the ghosts of fallen soldiers still fight long-forgotten battles against living men? What is the secret of the rural English town of Deepdene? Lethbridge-Stewart has good reason to doubt his own sanity, but is he suffering illness or injury, or is something more sinister going on?
The second novel in a brand-new series of novels set just after the Doctor Who serial The Web of Fear, featuring the characters and concepts created by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln.
Beast of Fang Rock (Lethbridge-Stewart Series 1, Book 3): -

Fang Rock has always had a bad reputation. Since 1955 the lighthouse has been out of commission, shut down because of fire that gutted the entire tower. But now, finally updated and fully renovated, the island and lighthouse is once again about to be brought back into service.

Students have gathered on Fang Rock to celebrate the opening of the ‘most haunted lighthouse of the British Isles’, but they get more than they bargained for when the ghosts of long-dead men return, accompanied by a falling star.

Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart is brought in to investigate what he believes to be signs of alien involvement. But it is not only Lethbridge-Stewart who has an interest in Fang Rock. Anne Travers is called to her family solicitor’s, who have in their possession a letter from Archibald Goff, the paranormal investigator who once visited Fang Rock back in the 1820s, and along with it a piece of alien technology.

What connects a shooting star, ghosts of men killed in 1902 and the beast that roamed Fang Rock in 1823? Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers are about to discover the answer first hand.

Don’t miss out! Order now while the offer lasts!

Lethbridge-Stewart: THE HAVOC FILES

Calling all fans of Lethbridge-Stewart! The Havoc Files are back! 

The Havoc Files 2 is available to pre-order now. Check out the synopsis below:-

Ghosts in Cornwall, zombies in Australia, aliens at Wembley, trouble in Egypt, and a siege on the Kent coast. Just a few things our heroes have to face in this volume of collected short stories.

Add to that, an investigation into the strange goings on in a small house in Mevagissey, which sees Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers cut down to size. And much later, the ashes from a destroyed Earth fall on Lethbridge-Stewart and his family.

Contains five short stories previously only available in digital format, two brand-new stories dealing with the fallout of two popular Doctor Who serials, and previously unpublished material from the latest Lethbridge-Stewart novels.

A collection of short stories from the classic era of Doctor Who, starring Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers, based on the characters and concepts created by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln.

As always, The Havoc Files 2 is only a limited run. We have less than 75 copies left now, and they’re going fast, so head on over to our shop to pre-order your very own copy now!

This exciting short story collection includes: -

Ashes of the Inferno by Andy Frankham-Allen (brand new, print exclusive)
House of Giants by Rick Cross (brand new, print exclusive)
In His Kiss by Sue Hampton
The Lock-In by Sarah Groenewegen BEM
The Black Eggs of Khufu by Tom Dexter
The Band of Evil by Roger J Simmonds & Shaun Russell
The Playing Dead by Adrian Sherlock
and
Schädengeists Lot by Jonathan Cooper (previously unpublished interludes from The Showstoppers)
Exodus from Venus by John Peel (original prologue from The Grandfather Infestation)

Also, for a limited time, you can also order Beast of Fang Rock at the same time as The Havoc Files 2 for half price! So you can enjoy all those short stories, plus the sequel to The Horror of Fang Rock (first broadcast in 1977) all at once for only £14.48 (plus p&p).

Make sure you get your hands on all those brand new and exclusive titles by pre-ordering now!

NEW CANDY JAR FILMS SHOWREEL

We've just edited together a shiny new showreel which you can view here:

Candy Jar Films Website

Candy Jar Films offers HD video production services across Wales and the South West of England. Experienced in delivering corporate, promotional and training videos for satisfied clients, Candy Jar draws on the experience of a multi-talented production team.

Our extensive experience means we can deliver all kinds of productions, big or small.

If you or anyone you know requires help with getting a video made, please get in touch by visiting our website or calling us on 029 2115 7202.

BRYN'S A HAPPY CHAPPY! HERE'S WHY...

Bryn Lloyd is our Media Assistant and joined Candy Jar in August thanks to the Jobs Growth Wales Scheme. The Scheme supports businesses in recruiting young people aged between 16-24 by subsidising the wages of the new recruit for the first six months of their employment. Acorn Recruitment in Newport worked closely with Candy Jar to help them take Bryn on full time through JGW.

Candy Jar Ltd has found the scheme to be a great boost. Taking away the risk of recruiting new staff has meant the Directors can focus on building the company and using the extra help to do more. With big plans for the future, JGW could well be the helping hand that pushes Candy Jar up to the next level as a creative business.

Bryn has proved to be a great asset to the team, and has settled well into his role.

He says: "My job covers the two sides of the company – video production and publishing. Because of that, it's impressively varied. One day I may be copy editing a new book title, the other I might be out on a film shoot. It requires a broad set of skills and in my time at Candy Jar so far, I've learnt some valuable lessons about the industry."

Bryn is a Glamorgan University graduate, having studied Film for three years. "My course was almost entirely theoretical, so I didn't have much of a chance to get 'hands on' with camera equipment or anything. However, working for Candy Jar has meant taking on exciting challenges where I have learned more practical skills, such as using a digital camcorder or editing in Final Cut Pro, so naturally it's enormous fun."

Bryn has benefitted greatly from his first full time employment since graduating: "It's great to be in the office – because the work is so varied, no two days are the same and I'm grateful to have had an opportunity to play my part in Candy Jar's exciting growth over the coming months."

SELF-PUBLISH WITH JELLY BEAN!

Candy Jar's sister imprint, Jelly Bean Books, is keen to develop new titles across a range of genres. Whether your idea is fiction, non-fiction, crime, thriller, science fiction, children's (or anything in between!) we'd love to hear from you.

Our partnership publishing package can turn your manuscript into a marketable book. This route combines the benefits of self-publishing with the advantages of traditional publishing.

We provide professional support to all titles accepted on the programme, from initial guidance on the first draft through to publicising and marketing of the final book. Our scheme is very competitive and we always work closely with our authors, respecting the time and effort that has been put into their idea.

Check out our latest video below!

www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

CANDY JAR DISTRIBUTION

Candy Jar has recently signed up with book distributors Marston Book Services PLC. Marston is one of the UKs leading book distributors, providing a comprehensive and impressively high-quality range of fulfilment and print services.

The company handles a huge cross-section of books, journals and electronic products from publishers throughout the world, straddling the trade, academic, STM, arts, religion, educational and professional sectors.

Marston is owned and managed by John Holloran (Chairman) and Ross Clayton (Managing Director) and there are 150 staff employed in the offices and warehouses near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

We are excited about this new development which will enable us to reach a wider audience of readers, and we look forward to working with Marston and the team over the coming years.

NOW RELEASED: PENNY RICHARDS' THRILLING SHORT STORY COLLECTION!

Jelly Bean Books is pleased to announce the release of its latest book, A Cracked Imagination, by Barry-based author Penny Richards.

By using her own life as inspiration, Penny has created an anthology of ten short stories, each focused on, or relating to, an act of evil. Through her dark and gripping style, the reader is given an uncomfortable, but ultimately rewarding, lesson of insanity, evil and desperation.

The book captures perfectly the complicated nature of the mind itself, and maintains that none of our lives are as black and white as we think.

Each story teaches a valuable lesson: Who are we? What is real? What is our natural breaking point? Nothing is held back as the reader is thrust into disturbing the world of Nancy Burbank, the middle-aged wife on the verge of mental breakdown or Isabella Rashid, the subject of one girl’s brutal search for revenge. Each person lives and breathes within the pages, as part of your thrilling read.

Penny’s own imagination is undeniably crackling with ideas. Her life in itself has inspired many of the book’s own characters, with examples such as her career experience in airport service, and her deep family bonds providing an emotionally resonant, and narratively compelling book to read. Each character behaves as an extension of the reader’s own lives, perfectly encapsulating our insecurities, fears and desires.

Now released in paperback, A Cracked Imagination is a Jelly Bean Book which will have you turning pages with a smile… and maybe a scream!

Click here to buy your copy now!

GOODBYE ROSE

We are very sad here at Candy Jar to have to say goodbye to Rose Widlake.

Having only joined Candy Jar in September 2012, Rose achieved a substantial amount during her short time here. In just six months, Rose worked side-by-side with several authors to make their upcoming titles the best they could be, she created, publicized and hosted a self-publishing workshop which was incredibly well received, and she even found the time to present for a Candy Jar promo video and act in the recently completed music video, "Just Let It Go".

Rose is leaving to start a new life in Australia. We wish her all the luck in the world.

Rose leaves the Candy Jar office for the last time

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Best wishes for 2013 from all of us here at Candy Jar!

We've got some really exciting projects lined up for this year so subscribe now for our sweet updates!

www.candy-jar.co.uk

WARTIME CHRISTMAS WITH EILEEN YOUNGHUSBAND

We recently filmed some interviews with Eileen Younghusband, and asked her to talk about her wartime experiences.

To find out more, visit:
www.onewomanswar.co.uk
www.candy-jar.co.uk

A PERFECT CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Candy Jar's popular title, One Woman's War, is now available gift-wrapped for Christmas and signed by the author, Eileen Younghusband*.

Priced at just £16.99 (plus p&p), you can order direct from Candy Jar Books, or via the Amazon store.

Make sure you get your order in early! Final post for Royal Mail is Wednesday the 14th December (for more information on Last Posting Dates for Christmas, please visit the Royal Mail website).

*While stocks last.

To find out more about Candy Jar Books, please visit the Candy Jar site:
www.candy-jar.co.uk 

CANDY JAR JOINS FORCES WITH SCREAMING DREAMS

Candy Jar has teamed up with horror and fantasy publisher, Screaming Dreams.

Appearing at FantasyCon at the Royal Albion Hotel in Brighton on September 30th to October 2nd, Screaming Dreams will be launching two new book titles: Lest You Should Suffer Nightmares, a biography of the editor Herbert van Thal and a debut novella, Hunter's Moon by Charlotte Bond. You will also be able to buy copies of the Candy Jar CD, Kangazang! featuring Dr Who's Colin Baker.

Screaming Dreams will be in the Dealers' Room all weekend, where visitors can purchase new and existing books. But if you run out of money during the weekend, never fear as you will be able to order the titles online at http://www.screamingdreams.com

In addition, if you want to purchase any books from the extensive Screaming Dreams back catalogue you can also visit the Candy Jar Amazon shop by clicking here.

CANDY JAR SUPPORTS CAMPAIGN TO SAVE LIBRARIES

Over 500 libraries are threatened with the prospect of closure.

Your help is needed.

We must try and change this decision.

522 libraries (462 buildings and 60 mobiles) are currently under threat of losing funding out of 4517 in the UK. Cuts of this magnitude could do lasting damage to the public library service.

We need our libraries because:
• they are a community resource and meeting place and promote social cohesion
• libraries provide books and other resources free to people on low incomes and the elderly
• children who visit the library are twice as likely to read well as those who don’t
• children who are read to every day at age three have a vocabulary at five two months more advanced than those who do not
• 30% of UK citizens do not have access to the Internet. Public libraries provide it free of charge
• three million people lack adequate reading skills. Libraries can help them access education and work
• librarians provide expert support to the public
• the OECD says that finding ways to engage pupils in reading is one of the most effective ways to leverage social change.

LIBRARIES MATTER - KEEP THEM SAFE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION!

Please write to your MP and tell them to support this campaign.


Don’t know who your MP is, or how to contact him/her?

Go to www.writetothem.com, put in your postcode and you will be given the names of – and contact details for – your MP, Councillors, MSPs or AMs.

NEW CANDY JAR SHOWREEL - WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

CANDY JAR LOOKING FOR NEW AUTHORS

Are you a writer? Do you have an idea you'd like to see in print? Candy Jar can help!

We have just launched our new self-publishing programme for new authors.

As an up and coming publisher, Candy Jar is keen to develop new titles across a range of genres. Whether your idea is fiction, non-fiction, crime, thriller, science fiction, children's (or anything in between!) we'd love to hear from you.

We give professional support to all titles accepted on the programme, from initial guidance on the first draft through to publicity and marketing of the final book. Our scheme is very competitive and we always work closely with our authors, respecting the time and effort that has been put into their idea.

Visit our website for more information.