ADVENT UPDATE!

Candy Jar Books has announced its final advent calendar freebies.

On Saturday the independent publisher gave away a brand new Lethbridge-Stewart story by Chris Thomas. Entitled Vampires of the Night this standalone tale focuses on Professor Travers’ World War II escapades.

On Sunday, Candy Jar gave away preview excerpts of the long-awaited sequel to the Reeltime straight-to-video Doctor Who drama, Downtime.

On Christmas Eve, it was the turn of Lethbridge-Stewart’s granddaughter, Lucy Wilson. Written by Tim Gambrell (author of the upcoming Laughing Gnome book, Lucy Wilson and the Bledoe Cadets) and Chris Lynch (author of the second Lucy Wilson novel, Curse of the Mirror Clowns) this one hundred page Christmas novel features malevolent Christmas crackers, and a timey-wimey anecdote inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.


Tim Gambrell has been following the advent calendar and is excited to be included within its line-up. He said: “Shaun outlined his requirements in two words: Christmas crackers. Bang! The spark ignited and the whole thing came together very organically. Christmas is a time that focuses a lot on family, and I knew from the off that I wanted plenty of family character ‘moments’ in the story, leaving the threat to lurk in the background until its moment arose. Just be careful when you pull your crackers after lunch on Christmas Day!”

Chris Lynch is also thrilled that fans of Lucy Wilson can enjoy his take on her adventures during the Christmas holidays. He said: “Writing for Candy Jar this year has been an amazing experience. I can't think of a better way to see out my writing year than sitting in the shadow of my Christmas tree, sending Lucy and Hobo out into the universe once more.”

Christmas Day saw the biggest giveaway yet, with the complete three hundred and forty pages of the Doctor Who non-fiction book Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants written by Lethbridge-Stewart range editor, Andy Frankham-Allen.

Andy said: “When Shaun told me that Candy Jar would be giving away something every day for twenty-five days I thought he was mad. I said, “You’ll regret it by day seventeen”, and indeed he did. However, I do feel that he has pulled it off, just! To be honest, I have actually enjoyed many of the freebies, particularly the Eileen Younghusband documentary. So, I am really pleased that he has chosen Companions as the Christmas Day giveaway. It deserves to be out there again. For six months I watched every episode of Doctor Who, and the book, in my opinion, encapsulates what is great to be the Doctor’s best friend. And Christmas is certainly a good time to celebrate this.”

Since December 1st Candy Jar’s freebies have included The Xmas Files, the first chapter of God Bless Hooky Street: A Celebration of Only Fools and Horses, A Very Private Haunting, The New Unusual & The Man from Yesterday on Kindle, Lethbridge-Stewart-inspired Spotify lists, the complete Kangazang!: Remote Possibilties audio drama (read by Colin Baker), plus a variety of Lethbridge-Stewart short stories.

Keren Williams, who has recently been promoted to publishing coordinator at Candy Jar, explained the thinking behind the advent calendar: “It’s a Christmas tradition that we give away some short stories to our loyal readers, and this year I thought why don’t we go the whole hog and really spoil everybody? I feel that, despite Andy’s reservations, the giveaways have been successful. I have certainly received many emails from readers who have been looking forward to each day. Perhaps this is something we might repeat in the future. Time can only tell.”

Visit to http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/adventcalendar.html to see all the giveaways.

SECRET PROJECT ANNOUNCED BY ANDY FRANKHAM-ALLEN!

Our very own Andy Frankham-Allen, author of Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants speaks about a very exciting upcoming project:

It’s very difficult to talk about a project that isn't allowed to be revealed in the public forum, but over the next few months, until it’s officially announced in December, I shall tell you what I can.

The process of securing the rights for this project took only a matter of weeks, really, such was the level of trust between the licence owner and I (and my publisher). You see, this property we now have the exclusive rights to is something very important to a lot of people, my publisher and me included, and we know how important it is to get this right.

And yet, in spite of the sheer weight of responsibility on us to get this right, we just knew we can do it. In some ways it feels like we were born to make this happen. Will it be hard work? You betcha. Will we be taking it seriously? You betcha. Will we be having fun? Abso-fracking-lutely!

© BBC 1966

My first task was to assemble a team of authors, who would normally have much more freedom, but this being the opening gambit, I had to set up a very specific shopping list for each of the first four books. Fortunately, this list proved to be another fun enticement for the authors who have joined us at this early stage of the project. With this part now completed, it’s become a case of writing the first batch of books. I’m writing the first, which I can reveal the title of: The Forgotten Son.

By the time of the official announcement the plan is to have the first three books, at least, in the bag. We’ve started talking about the style of covers, and I have to say it’s going to be very exciting. We’ve talked about the tone of the series, and likened it to Adam Adamant Lives! meets The Avengerswith a dash of Danger Man thrown in for good measure. We even have two (maybe three) different phases in mind for the series, three distinct periods in which to set it and utilising the same characters. What does all this mean? Well, obviously I cannot possibly explain any more than I have, but when all is revealed it will make perfect sense.

For now it’s time to start proper work on The Forgotten Son. Already Phil Raymond is feeling a chill in the air while he walks near Golitha Falls in Cornwall, and he’s not sure it’s the weather he feels…

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

WHO AT COWBRIDGE!

Fans of Doctor Who can meet two leading authorities on the BBC TV show at an event hosted by the Cowbridge Book Festival on 25th September. Alastair Reynolds, author of the BBC’s Doctor Who: Harvest of Time and Andy Frankham-Allen, author of Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants and will both be there to discuss writing, the long running popular sci-fi series and sign copies of their books.

Alastair Reynolds is one of the world's most renowned science fiction writers. Having won the British Science Fiction Award for his book Chasm City in 2001, the Doctor Who legacy was in more than capable hands when he turned his pen to Doctor Who. Harvest of Time transports readers back to the Jon Pertwee era, with UNIT, Jo, the Brigadiers and the Master in full attendance. The story centres on the Sild as they escape confinement and threaten to rewrite history.

Andy Frankham-Allen has been a Doctor Who fan since his childhood and has relished the opportunity to write Companions in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the series. The book follows the narrative of the series as seen through the eyes of the Doctor's ever-faithful companions and features a foreword by Gary Russell.

Both authors will be discussing the show with the Comic Guru's Kristian Barry. There will also be a charity raffle, where attendees will be able to win merchandise covering each Doctor (supplied by Candy Jar Books & The Comic Guru). These include signed Katy Manning and Deborah Watling photos, a copy of the Paul McGann TV Movie, Big Finish audios and comics, as well as signed copies of Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants. Tickets are available from www.cowbridgebookfestival.co.uk

The Cowbridge Book Festival hosts a number of literary events across the year raising money for Noah's Arc and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

ANDY FRANKHAM-ALLEN PLEDGES SUPPORT 'FOR LUCA'

Cardiff-based Doctor Who author, Andy Frankham-Allen has pledged his support for meningitis survivor Luca Williams.

 

In January 2012, three-year-old Luca was diagnosed with Meningococcal Septicaemia, a disease that ravaged his body within a couple of hours. With less than a 3% chance of survival, the little fighter pulled through – but at a cost. He lost both his legs from beneath the knee, and much muscle and skin from beneath his hips.

 

His family began the For Luca campaign – designed to both raise awareness and money to provide Luca with the best possible prosthetic legs for his future. It began with ‘Raising Your Hand’; simple and easy for everyone to support, you simply had to write ‘For Luca’ on your hand and raise it high. 

 

Stars including F1 hero Lewis Hamilton, Kiss legend Gene Simmons and former Guns and Roses bassist Duff McKagan have all offered their support.

 

It was during the ‘Raising Your Hand’ campaign that Andy Frankham-Allen became aware of Luca at the ‘Avengers Assemble’ red-carpet event in April 2012. Andy Frankham-Allen says: “Luca is an amazing boy; funny, intelligent, and an inspiration to us all. The devotion his family show to him is quite incredible, and it’s great to be able to support him in this way.”

 

In conjunction with Luca’s family and Waterstones, Cardiff-based Candy Jar Books arranged for a signing of Andy’s new book ‘Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants’, during which he gave out the blue ‘For Luca’ wristbands.

 

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar Books – who also had meningitis as a child – feels that Welsh business should get behind Luca’s cause. He said: “Meningitis is a devastating condition for many people and their families. When I first heard of Luca’s campaign I felt compelled to get involved and offer any help I could.”

 

At the Waterstones’ signing, Candy Jar presented with a copy of Andy’s book and an exclusively drawn portrait of Luca by Cardiff-artist Jack Adams. Sian Williams, Luca's mum, said: "We are extremely grateful for the support Andy has given us through the launch of his new and exciting book."

WONDERING WHAT'S MISSING FROM YOUR BOOKSHELF?

Well, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks here in the Candy Jar office as we cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the Dogs of More; more books that is.

 

Candy Jar Books

COMPANIONS SIGNING ANNOUNCED!

Candy Jar is deliciously proud to announce that in order to celebrate the release of the much anticipated Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants by Andy Frankham-Allen, London’s The Who Shop have organised a book-signing event this coming Saturday.

Why not get yourself along to 39-41 Barking Road, Upton Park, E6 1PY on Saturday and get a signed copy; no self-respecting Who collection would be complete without this definitive look at those who have travelled with the Doctor, remember: he only takes the best.

While you’re getting your copy signed, see if you can challenge Andy with a question, be warned though; he really knows his stuff!

You can buy on Amazon

ANDY FRANKHAM-ALLEN TALKS COMPANIONS

Candy Jar has a new book coming out soon, Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants, and author Andy Frankham-Allen has filmed a series of videos about some of the more well-known companions.

You can watch the first one (where Andy talks about Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright) here:



 www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

COMPANIONS - A NEW TITLE FROM CANDY JAR!

A brand new Doctor Who book is now available from Candy Jar Books for pre-order. Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants is an unofficial and frank guide of the Time Lord’s adventures in space and time. Drawing on plots from the TV series as well as other media, this book is fascinating reading for fans of both the classic and current series of Doctor Who.

To coincide with the launch of the book the publisher, Candy Jar, is asking fans to vote for their favourite Doctor Who companion. The results will be released when the book is published in June. To vote go to:

www.candy-jar.co.uk/companions/index.html

Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants provides readers with an in-depth account of each Doctor's fellow travellers.

Andy Frankham-Allen has been a Doctor Who fan since his childhood and has relished the opportunity to write this book in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the series. Andy, who penned several Short Trip stories for Big Finish, feels the time is right for a more detailed look at the journey of the Doctor Who companion. He said: “It's been a long time since there's been an honest and frank look at the Doctor's journey and the lives he changes. This book will challenge the notion that he always takes the best.”

Gary Russell, former Doctor Who Magazine editor, Big Finish producer, BBC script editor and Doctor Who novelist, has provided the book’s foreword. Garysaid: “Of course there have been books about companions before – but few of them go into this amount of detail, display this amount of in-depth knowledge and above all, this amount of love. As a celebration of everything that makes the Doctor’s (and therefore our) best friends unique and special, this book is essential.”

Signed copies of the book are now available to pre-order from the Candy Jar Books website (www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/companions.html) for no additional charge.