COMPETITION TIME

To celebrate the release of Griff Rowland's new book The Search for Mister Lloyd, we are launching a new competition; #FindMyPigeon. The aim of the game is to figure out at which famous UK landmark Mister Lloyd the pigeon is hiding. Each week Mister Lloyd will be hiding in a different location, and clues giving more information will be released each day to help you figure out where he is.

To enter on Twitter, retweet & reply with your guess including the hashtag #FindMyPigeon, or Like, Share and Comment on Facebook to tell us where you think Mister Lloyd is hiding.*

If you guess right we'll enter you in to our prize draw to win a FREE copy of The Search For Mister Lloyd. 

**Remember: enter on Facebook and Twitter to be entered twice to draw!!**

Click here to get your copy of the book!

Happy searching!

*T&Cs: 
Entrants must like and share on Facebook, or retweet on Twitter, to qualify for entry to the competition. 
One winner will be chosen at the close of the competition week, and will be contacted directly.
Entry closes 4pm Friday, and the competition will re-open with a new landmark the following Monday.

HAY FESTIVAL

Yesterday Eileen and Hayley travelled up through part of the beautiful Brecon Beacons to attend the famous Hay Festival. Hay is renowned for its commendation of great writing. Poets, scientists, lyricists, comedians, novelists and environmentalists worldwide gather together to host talks on their innovative publications. The exchanging of views and collaboration of ideas has earned Hay Festival the label of ‘the Woodstock of the mind’. During May 2015, well-known writers and personalities such as Stephen Fry, Bear Grylls, Malorie Blackman and Michael Morpurgo were invited to join the literary celebrations as well as Candy Jar Books’ very own Eileen Younghusband.

Ninety-three year old Eileen was incredibly honoured and humbled to be invited to talk at the prestigious festival and even got bumped up to the largest tent on site. She was interviewed by the Telegraph’s, brilliant Martin Chilton and they had a great long chat about her extraordinary life in front of a captive audience. Eileen had a wonderful time and would like to thank all those who attended.

Eileen Younghusband talking to Martin Chilton at Hay 2015

Hannah Frank

THE CANDY JAR BOOK FESTIVAL... COMING SOON!

We are very excited to announce that this August we will be launching The Candy Jar Book Festival!

Featuring our top authors, the festival will be based in Cardiff’s city centre from Saturday 9th-16th August, with events taking place at nearby locations including Cardiff Central Library, WHSmith, Cardiff Story Museum and The Plan. Throughout the week there will be appearances from:

• Eileen Younghusband (One Woman’s War and Men I Have Known)
• Mark Brake (Space, Time, Machine, Monster)
• Anthony Ormond (Tommy Parker: Destiny Will Find You!)
• Colin Edwards (A Personal Portrait of the Royal Family)
• Michelle Briscombe (Silent Mountain)

And many more...

There will be plenty of opportunities to meet and chat to authors as they host creative writing discussions, workshops, subject talks, and readings. Keep an eye on our website and this blog for more details.

Avid readers and aspiring writers of all ages; we welcome you to come down and say hi. We look forward to seeing you!

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER - VIDEO

Check out an interview with See You In September author Joanne Teague:

When Joanne Teague learnt that she may only have a few months to live she decided to take her three children out of school and, with her husband, spend six months travelling around Europe. See You in September is the hilarious and uplifting account of this family’s journey through Europe. From the interviews with the children’s eccentric headteacher, to the vagaries of negotiating the Paris Metro with a toddler, the joys of navigating through Italian cities and the challenge of purchasing food for a family on a remote Greek island using only sign language, the book deals with every family’s holiday dreams – and nightmares – with a wonderfully light touch.

About the Author: Joanne Teague has lived in the Vale of Glamorgan for the last 16 years. She trained as an occupational therapist and is married with three children. Joanne's life changed when she became seriously ill and was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos -- a rare and still incurable, life-threatening condition. Notwithstanding, she continues to work, to travel and to have lots of fun.

See You In September is available from all good retailers, Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and the Candy Jar Books website. It is also available as an e-book via Kindle and all other e-reader devices.

Visit the Candy Jar Books website (www.candyjarbooks.co.uk) to order your copy of See You In September and check out our other titles!

CANDY JAR AUTHOR IN ACT OF PIRACY

Terry Cooper, the author of the KANGAZANG! Trilogy, has been seen in public quite a lot this year. Except that while most people won't recognise him, they'll definitely recognise his alter ego, a certain Pirate Captain from a saga of blockbuster movies.

Masquerading as 'Cardiff Jack Sparrow', Terry has been seen at numerous public events in Cardiff and the surrounding area, and he has been invited by the people at Cardiff's Heath Hospital to attend their Christmas Spectacular day on Friday 13th December.

Hosted and broadcast on the day by Real Radio Wales, it promises to be a fun day for everyone. It's open from 6am to the public, and the hospital hopes to raise funds and Christmas gifts from donations by the public, which will then be distributed among the hospital's patients. The event ends at 7pm, so there will be lots of opportunities to come along and have some fun.

Terry in his Piratey Alter-ego, Cardiff Jack Sparrow. PICTURE: Steve Upham at New Pixel Design

Terry is currently busy putting the finishing touches to his sci-fi comedy trilogy, with KANGAZANG: Small Cosmos due for release next year. Of his unexpected 'infamy' as Jack Sparrow, Terry says:

"It's been snowballing all the time. I initially did it for a bit of fun back in 2007, with a cheap, home made costume, but now I'm quite in demand. Everyone I meet tells me that I've got the look, voice and mannerisms of Jack Sparrow down perfectly. The public of all ages get a real buzz from meeting me and I enjoy it just as much as them. Sadly, I don't look like Johnny Depp at all in real life - that'd be great, but until Disney sign me up for his stand-in, it's back to struggling author. But if you're reading this, Mr. Bruckheimer, I'm available at very short notice!"

In 'civvies' - L-R: Publisher Shaun Russell, actor Colin Baker, and Terry Cooper

 So if you've always wanted to meet Johnny Depp... we can't help you there. But it's been said that Terry's Captain Jack is the next best thing! Pop along to the Heath Hospital on Friday December 13th and sea for yourself! (Sea what we did there?)

You can also find 'Cardiff Jack Sparrow' here on Facebook: CLICK HERE

FIRST CLASS COMPANIONS

A big thanks to Books Monthly for this glowing review of Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants in their December issue. Congratulations to them on 15 years on the web!

"If you're expecting an A-Z of Doctor Who companions, well, you'll get it, but you're in for a big surprise, because there have been many, many years when the Doctor Who canon continued without television, in print, of course, and only the most diehard, dedicated follower of the longest-running SF programme will remember the companions who journeyed with the various doctors in those dark days when their adventures were not televised. The author has achieved something quite remarkable in cataloguing and annotating all of those companions and turning the research into something very readable, very approachable. A brilliant book, beautifully produced and printed, and a most welcome addition to the vast library of Doctor Who literature. First class."

Books Monthly

The perfect gift for any Doctor Who fan this Christmas: BUY NOW

BOOKSLAM 2014

The Welsh Books Council has recently launched the 2014 BookSlam competition and Candy Jar’s very own, Silent Mountain is one of the recommended reads!

BookSlam, combined with its Welsh-language counterpart (Darllen Dros Gymru), is Wales’ largest reading competition and is open to years 3-6 across the country – for free! The Welsh Books Council is committed to promoting Welsh literacy and encouraging reading in schools. It is from these core values that BookSlam was formed. The competition has been revamped for 2014 and is set to be bigger and better than ever. 

The competition fits neatly within the National Literacy Framework and with a cash prize incentive and free books to children who reach the final rounds, there’s no reason for primary schools not to get involved.

For more information please download the BookSlam 2014 guide.

 

http://www.cllc.org.uk/gwasanaethau-services/plant-children/gweithgareddau-activities

BOOK OF THE MONTH

We are thrilled that BBC Sky at Night magazine listed New Stars For Old as book of the month in their November issue (#102).


"New Stars For Old brings the history of astronomy to life through a series of 20 highly readable short stories, each of which mixes facts with a good dose of fiction to introduce us to some of the important characters involved. From the Earth-centred theories of Aristotle and Ptolemy through to the visionary genius of Isaac Newton, the basic theme of the book is to outline the often turbulent path taken in the growth and development of the way we think about the Universe.

The chapters are a mixture of letters, narrative accounts and diary entries, which collectively remind us that the figures involved are not simply names drawn from textbooks, but were people in their own right.

The text focuses throughout on the interplay between astronomy, astrology and science, as well as offering an insight into the influences of religion and political culture on the way astronomers worked. Other characters, both fictional and real, are brought into the stories. The ‘Notes’ sections that follow each chapter inform us off which characters are real and which are imaginary, and provide historical background to the science.

In one of the tales, Johannes Kepler remarks that he followed “where (Tycho) left off, and he picked up from Copernicus who followed Regiomontanus, who relied on Peurbach and all the way back to Ptolemy, no, further, to Callipus and Aristotle, to Eudoxus, to un-named Babylonians.” New Stars For Old tells this story very well and brings history to life in an entertaining and informative way."

5 stars (Outstanding)

Brian Jones
Sky at Night Magazine

Sky at Night magazine is available online and from all good newsagents.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com

www.candy-jar.co.uk/marcread

AUTHOR MAKES APPEARANCE AT PENARTH BOOK FESTIVAL

Author Eileen Younghusband was in Penarth yesterday to give a talk about her latest book 'Men I Have Known'. Held at All Saint's Church, over forty attendees listened intently to Eileen's memories as she recalled the interesting men she has met over the course of a rich and varied life of 92 years. Eileen was joined by retired BBC Radio Wales journalist Hugh Turnbull, who quizzed her about the film stars, politicians, poets, scientists and other extraordinary men who made an impact on her life.

'Men I Have Known' is available in hardback from Candy Jar Books, online or via all good bookshops.

Candy Jar Books

CANDY JAR TAKES A TRIP TO THE AIRPORT!

In September 2013 the Candy Jar team took a trip... to Cardiff airport. Unlike the others there we had different plans. Our mission? To give 400 lucky travellers a free copy of our wonderful new publication See You in September – the perfect travelling companion.

When Joanne Teague became seriously ill and was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos – a rare and still incurable, life-threatening condition – she decided to grab as much life as she could get. Her solution was to spend six months travelling around Europe with her husband and three young children. Their travels were restricted to one continent but we want this book to travel the world.

If you are reading this with a copy in your hand please do read and enjoy it. All we ask is that you leave it somewhere (a train, hotel, coffee shop...) or pass it on to someone once you’re finished so that its adventure can continue.

Please share your experience with friends and keep us updated on its journey via Twitter #SYIS and like See You in September on Facebook.

 http://seeyouinseptember.wordpress.com/

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!

MEN I HAVE KNOWN LAUNCHES AT COWBRIDGE BOOK FESTIVAL

Author Eileen has published her second title through Candy Jar Books, Men I Have Known.

Not a straightforward autobiography, Men I Have Known is a tribute to the variety, the skills and the different characters of the huge range of people she has come across during a long life enriched by travel and adventure but also coloured by more than its fair share of tragedy. Giving a unique, intimate and personal perspective on some of the most influential men of the twentieth century, as well as some characters hitherto unknown, Eileen writes about Winston Churchill, Rex Harrison, Dylan Thomas, members of NASA, musicians at Glyndebourne, actors, caterers, soldiers, politicians, and even Idi Amin!

Eileen was interview by radio and TV broadcaster Roy Noble and you can watch it here:



The book is now available via all good book stores, online and via the Candy Jar website.

www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

VOTE FOR ONE WOMAN'S WAR AND KANGAZANG IN THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE!

Candy Jar Books is proud to announce that two of its books have been nominated for a People's Book Prize!

Founded by best-selling author Dame Beryl Bainbridge, The People's Book Prize is a national competition aimed at finding, supporting and promoting new and undiscovered works: a truly democratic book prize with no panel of judges but decided exclusively by the public.

One Woman's War by Eileen Younghusband has been nominated in the Non-Fiction category and Kangazang! Star Stuff by Terry Cooper has been nominated in the Fiction category.

We need your votes! Please visit the People's Book Prize website to vote for Candy Jar's books:

Vote for One Woman's War
Vote for Kangazang! Star Stuff


Candy Jar Books

AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT 'THE DIDDY TREE'

Here's our latest book video for Michelle McKenna's The Diddy Tree.



The Diddy Tree

A Candy Jar Books Publication.

KANGAZANG! GETS THE COMIC GURU TREATMENT!

Last week, Kangazang! author Terry Cooper visited Cardiff comic specialists 'Comic Guru' to sign preview copies of the sequel to his cult sci-fi comedy.

'Star Stuff' is the second in the Kangazang! trilogy which follows Jeff and Ray as they cut short their holiday in paradise to embark on a quest to find their missing loved ones, while an unholy alliance of evil forces pursues them across the galaxy – hell-bent on destroying the duo once and for all!

While at the signing, Terry did a short interview for ComicGuruTV, the Guru's YouTube channel. Check it out here:

Filmed and Edited by Adam at the Comic Guru

The Comic Guru

Candy Jar Books

ONE WOMAN'S WAR AND KANGAZANG! ON KINDLE!

You can now read two of Candy Jar's titles on the go with the Kindle version of both One Woman's War and Kangazang!

Available from the Kindle store, you can instantly purchase and download them and start reading right away! So, if you've missed the Christmas post, or have just treated yourself to Amazon's latest eReader, why not give them a try?

These books are also available in all other eBook formats, including Kobo and iBooks (accessible from your iPad or iPhone).

Links:

Amazon

Candy Jar

One Woman's War

Kangazang