CANDY JAR BOOKS - READ ABOUT OUR CURRENT TITLES!

Summer is drawing to a close, and now is the perfect time to get your autumn reading list ready for the cooler days and longer nights. Candy Jar Books have a wide and diverse range to keep all ages entertained and enthralled as the seasons change, whether you fancy fact or fiction, short stories or novels. Check out our selection of available titles, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for our eagerly anticipated upcoming releases over the coming months.

Click any of the book covers to find out more.

Beware of the Mirror Man - Benjamin Burford-Jones

When 12 year old Sophie befriends the strange ‘mimics’ living in a TV set, she is horrified to discover a dark power lurking at the edge of the mirrors, threatening to destroy them. She embarks on the trail of an evil curse, but things takes an even darker turn when she discovers a note left for her… BEWARE THE MIRROR MAN!

The first book from Benjamin Burford-Jones, Beware of the Mirror Man is a captivating tale of curses, friends and formidable forces for children aged 9-12.

Silent Mountain - Michelle Briscombe

Jack Jupiter has an unremarkable life – except for his Gran. Following her prophecy of ‘the freeze’, Jack finds more than he could ever have imagined at the frozen lake. Jack needs all his courage and strength to face fantastical creatures and enemies, in order to reveal the secrets of Silent Mountain and discover the truth about his father.

Silent Mountain is the first novel in the series of Jack Jupiter books, written by first time novelist Michelle Briscombe, for children aged 9-12.

Men I Have Known - Eileen Younghusband

Eileen Younghusband’s latest book is an autobiographical account of the friendships and rapport with men, both famous and unknown, that she has cultivated in her life, and the impact they have had on her. Including detailed and personal accounts of meeting men such as Rex Harrison, Dylan Thomas and John Barrowman, Men I Have Known recounts an enthralling 92 years of intrigue, adventure and tragedy.

Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants - Andy Frankham-Allen

Doctor Who has captivated fans with eleven incarnations of the iconic Doctor – but what about the people who helped shape him? Companions provides in-depth accounts of 50 years of assistants, documenting the trials and triumphs, and delving into the men and women who changed the Doctor throughout his adventures.

New Stars for Old - Marc Read

From Aristotle to Newton, Marc Read charts the development of ideas about our solar system by blending together the historical fact of astronomy and its discoveries, with the charming fictional account of those involved. New Stars for Old gives a unique and informative perspective on some of the key ideas that have helped shape our world.

See you in September - Joanne Teague (Sept, 2013)

When Joanne Teague was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she took the decision to make the absolute best of her time left with her family, and embarked on a six month adventure around Europe. See you in September tells the uplifting, hilarious and moving story of the Teague family’s journey, as they negotiate Europe and each other.

Megan Williams

THE BIG KANGAZANG! INTERVIEW PART FOUR: YOSS NUTT

This week:

Meet YOSS NUTT, IT slave and general Sci-Fi fan with a mild fetish for tattoos...

What’s your connection to Terry?

I first met Terry whilst working in Cardiff. He quickly stood out as one of the most interesting people to chat with during those oasis moments of quiet in the office. His sense of humour and fondness for Sci-Fi notched him up as a kindred spirit.

How did you first find out about Kangazang?

I was honoured to be included in the few given a sneak preview and knew I had to have a copy of the full version before I finished reading the preview.

Did you read the book, and what were your thoughts? 

I have read both versions of the first book and the second book. I thoroughly enjoyed the style and the content, Terry has managed to encapsulate many facets of the childhoods of people ‘our’ age and interwoven it with a light hearted but compelling story and characters I came to care about. If I were to make a tick sheet for things to recommend a book for, Kangazang manages to tick all boxes other than the one for a long story arc over many books. But with number three in the ether that will hopefully be fulfilled at some point.

What kinds of books/TV/movies do you usually go for? 

Sci-Fi or Fantasy or Horror are my usual genres, either serious or humorous. My reading tends to be mostly Sci-Fi with the most recent books being from Isaac Asimov, Harry Harrison, Philip Jose Farmer, Fred Saberhagen, Orson Scott Card and Stephen King. For TV or Film, it is anything by Joss Whedon in both categories, True Blood, The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica. I can’t fail to mention a little saga by the name of Star Wars.

If you could cast some of the characters in a movie version, who would you pick? 

I find it hard to fault Terry’s ideal cast, but if I had to recast the only sure fire actors for me would be Rosie Marcel as Shelly, Marshall Lancaster as Kelvin, Alan Rickman as Lord Rancydd and  Martin Freeman as Jeff,

As it’s a proposed trilogy, what kind of ending would you like to see - happy, sad, open or a final end? 

I would like it to be a completion of the story arc in progress, but if any potential tangential stories were hinted at I would be quite happy.

Have you heard any of the Audiobook? 

I have the audiobook and it is a mighty fine experience. I had read the book a few times before listening to the audiobook so I had already made up my mind how the characters sound, but the voice work is fantastic.

Have you ever written a book or story? If you could, what would you write about? 

I have difficulty finishing writing my name, so no story writing from me. 

http://candy-jar.co.uk/

THE BIG KANGAZANG! INTERVIEW PART THREE: ASH COLLINS

This Week:

Meet ASH COLLINS, and find out how he created the fantastic illustrations as seen in the MAXIMUM GALACTIC TRUMPAGE card game…

Ash Collins is a 2D Animator/Illustrator, versed in the ‘occult’ (digital) arts, ‘dragged up in Wales and living in London with my fiancée, two small, destructive children  and a terrified cat’. He describes his work life as ‘doing some freelance here and there when I'm not wiping various foodstuffs off the furniture and/or walls’.

How and when did you first find out about Kangazang?

I was catching the train from Pontypridd to Cardiff with my fiancée every morning, and would often get on the same train as Mr. Cooper. It was upon those rain-sodden journeys that he imparted to us the details of this book he was writing...

What’s your connection to Terry?

I met Terry when I was studying animation at Glamorgan University; he was doing CG animation, a year ahead of me, so I just thought, ‘Oh, another CG animator…’  It wasn't long before I discovered that he was some kind of artist/animator/voice artist/rapper/prop maker/actor extraordinaire.  Talented git.  I live too far away to see him in person anymore, so I have to rely on the internet in order to harass and antagonise him.  (You know, as friends do, right?)

When you read Kangazang, what were your thoughts?

I read the book, and I thought, ‘this has everything I need’. (I.E: sci-fi and comedy). Being 'fortunate' enough to hail from the valleys, I got a big laugh out of the Welsh idiosyncrasies, as well as the little hat-tips to various bits of geek culture and pop culture throughout. It's full of memorable characters and dramatic moments, not to mention heart, and - importantly - laugh out loud slapstick. Well it's important to me!

Regarding books/TV/movie, what genres do you usually prefer?

Comedy. Sci-fi. That kind of thing. I generally need lots of guns and to be made to laugh like a maniac. You have a deep, romantic subplot? Get lost. But I ain't no stranger to classical literature. For reals.

If you found yourself responsible for casting some of the characters in a movie version, who would you pick?

That's a tough one; Terry already mentioned a few actors he had in mind when creating these characters, and he mentioned a lot more when we were discussing the art for the Maximum Galactic Trumpage cards, so I automatically think of those people now! (Jeff will always be Marc Warren in my mind, and Ray is naturally Bill Bailey).

The idea of Matt Berry as philandering Rev. Wilson really tickles me though, as well as Martine McCutcheon as the bald cockney queen Shelley.

As the trilogy draws to a close in the third book, what kind of ending would you like to see?

A happy one, innit? Jeff got off to a sad enough start, I think he needs a happy ending. And I don't have time for open endings - I get distracted so easily, and I don't need to be wandering around musing about a book's ending weeks after I've read it. Headache.

Then again, the books are so much fun, that paving the way for more could only be a good thing...

Have you heard any of the Audiobook?

I have not! I can't concentrate on being read to while I'm doing things, and if I'm sitting still, it's faster to read! Although I see that it's read by Doctor Who legend Colin Baker, so I may be persuaded yet...

If you were to write something, what would you write about?

I'm far too self-critical for that. Anything I write, I immediately declare plagiarised or trite and bin it. Because it is. Although if I could wrestle an original story onto paper, it would probably be about the things covered above (Comedy & Sci-Fi).  And even then it would probably turn out to be Kangazang. You know what? I think I'll leave this writing lark to the pros.

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

KANGAZANG 2: STAR STUFF EXCLUSIVE SIGNING AT COMIC GURU CARDIFF!

Kangazang! author Terry Cooper will be making an appearance at the legendary Comic Guru in Cardiff on the 24th March 2012 for an exclusive signing of the much-anticipated sequel, Kangazang!: Star Stuff.

Kangazang!: Star Stuff is a continuation of Jeff Spooner's travels through space with his alien barber Ray. After saving the Universe, their adventures are kicked off once again as Ray's father goes missing (and insane) and Jeff's girlfriend (an android) runs off to find him the child he always wanted.

Terry will be in store signing all Kangazang merchandise and there will be no less than forty exclusive preview copies of the book left to sign, so don't wait to get in and grab your stuff! We're excited to be teaming up with The Comic Guru - Cardiff's premier comic book store (and the UK's greatest online comic retailer, no less!) who have been a terrific supporter of all things Kangazang!

Also, look out for the Comic Guru film crew who will be recording a special edition of their regular video blog (who knows, you may even get to appear on camera with the guru himself!)

www.kangazang.co.uk
www.thecomicguru.com
www.candy-jar.co.uk

KANGAZANG! BOUNCES INTO SPRING WITH A FANTASTIC SALE!

Candy Jar Books have announced their spring sale. The four disc Kangazang! CD has been slashed from £15.99 to £7.99, with the book dropping from £9.99 to £5.99*.

Colin Baker narrates the story about Earthling Jeff Spooner and his alien barber, Ray Scump, as they search for the fabled Universal Remote Control – avoiding danger, doom and embarrassing situations as they go. Aided by two badly programmed robots and an army of warrior Space Hoppers, our heroes dive and try to dodge the biggest threats in the galaxy: Supreme Overlord Kelvin (Emperor of Skragg), the terminally depressed Emo people and Queen Shelley (a bald, cannibalistic Amazon who has a score to settle from way back)...

Actress Claire Cage, who also features in Kangazang!, can be seen this week in Submarine – the highly anticipated movie from The IT Crowd’s, Richard Ayoade.

Kangazang! – a triple CD disc set, with a bonus DVD – was actually produced in the same building where the Doctor Who episode Blink, and the new series of Torchwood, was filmed.

Shaun Russell, director of Candy Jar Books, is excited that Kangazang! will reach more listeners. He said: “We’ve had fantastic reaction to both the book and CD. However, at Candy Jar we are focusing on new projects including a wartime memoir and children’s book. It is now time to clear the decks, so if you have not purchased the CD yet this maybe your last opportunity to do so. We also have a handful of Mike Collins prints to give away.”

For every Kangazang CD or book sold online, we will give a £1 donation to the Atlantic Dash team. They will be rowing the Atlantic for three months later this year, raising money for three worthwhile causes: Help for Heroes, Breast Cancer Care and The Fire Fighters Charity.

Don't delay - get your copy of Kangazang! here.

*plus p&p