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

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!

FAIRWATER LIBRARY CELEBRATES WORLD BOOK NIGHT

Candy Jar has joined forces with Fairwater Library to celebrate ‘World Book Night’ on 23rd April with a special author signing at Fairwater Library. The event, which features two of Candy Jar’s top authors, Eileen Younghusband and Barbara Pontin, is expected to be popular with local residents.

First to appear will be former WAAF, Eileen Younghusband, who has written her memoirs of WW2, entitled One Woman’s War.

The book reveals the truth about the forgotten wartime women, barely out of their teens, who were employed for this critical job because they were quicker than men. It also has contributions from Dame Vera Lynn and Emma Soames. Emma Soames, who is Winston Churchill’s granddaughter and editor-at-large at Saga Magazine, believes that this story must be heard. She says: “It is excellent to be reminded what a great debt we owe to this group of brave, dedicated young women who, in a highly charged and stressful situation, where time was of the essence, did so much to save our country from destruction.

Now in her 91st year, Eileen has appeared on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Breakfast, and has contributed to a documentary series "WW2: The Last Heroes”. She has also been in talks with a production company about turning aspects of her life into a drama series.

For 83-year-old Barbara Pontin it is almost like coming home. She worked in the Fairwater Library for twenty years and is excited to be returning as a published author. Barbara began writing her book, Merlys, in her early forties. She says: “With a family to look after it became increasingly difficult to devote my time to the book, and although I did have some interest from Hollywood, I put the manuscript away and forgot about it.”

Early in 2011 Barbara came across the 40-year-old manuscript and decided to breathe new life into the 18th century story of murder, anguish and love across the Welsh valleys. She continues: “I wanted my story to reach as many people as possible, so I contacted Candy Jar Books in Cardiff. They were very supportive, but did encourage me to start the book with a shock. I don’t think they expected it to be so blood-curdling though.”

Barbara is quietly pleased by the reaction to the pre-release of Merlys. Mischievously she says: “My friends have been very shocked by this book. They didn’t know that I had it in me. Most thought butter would not melt in my mouth. It has been fun to prove them wrong!”

Shaun Russell, director at Candy Jar Books, is very proud of Eileen and Barbara. He says: “At Candy Jar we like to support new talent. Barbara Pontin’s Merlys is quite a brave book. It takes romantic fiction into a slightly gruesome world of wreckers and highwaymen. On the other hand, Eileen Younghusband’s One Woman’s War describes WW2 in considerable detail. It is an important account of women’s contribution to the Allied victory in 1945. Eileen's story is an inspiration to us all.”

Eileen Younghusband will be at Fairwater Library between 11am-1pm, with Barbara Pontin there between 2pm- 4pm.

One Woman's War is out now. Merlys will be released in August.

LOCAL HORROR AUTHOR TO MEET FANS

Listen to the songs of the spiders, if you are brave enough...

International author Mark Howard Jones, from Cardiff, will be signing copies of his latest book Songs from Spider Street at The Comic Guru, Cardiff on Saturday October 29^th from 12pm onwards.

Reading like a warped episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’, the stories in this book range from fantastical steam-punk to modern tales of the macabre.

Mark Howard Jones has had dozens of short stories published on both sides of the Atlantic. His 2007 novella, 'The Garden of Doubt On The Island Of Shadows' drew praise from respected American science fiction legend Ray Bradbury, among others.

Steve Upham, friend of Candy Jar and publisher at Screaming Dreams, said: “I got an adrenaline rush when I first read this book. The quality of Mark’s storytelling really shines through; the characters are well-drawn, and despite some of the scenarios seeming hopeless, the book is impossible to put down.”

Kristian Barry, owner of The Comic Guru, is excited to be introducing the Cardiff public to such an outstanding author. He said: “Songs from Spider Street is a cornucopia of cool creepiness. It has always been our mission to introduce new fiction to our audience. Mark has proved very popular in the past and we are excited that he will be celebrating Halloween with us on Saturday.”

Songs from Spider Street takes the audience on a disturbing journey: to an apocalyptic Paris, giant prisons made of ice, trains journeys with unexpected destinations, hospitals that cure the unknown, and a spider-haunted future, for the chilling climax.

Stephen King once wrote that every person, no matter how normal, has a dark side, and that this inherent dark side needs to be fed. The 25 short stories in this new book all draw on that attraction to the unsettling.

The Comic Guru has also announced that popular comic illustrator Simon Wyatt will be in store on November 5th to sign copies of his new graphic novel 'Unbelievable: The Man Who Ate Daffodils'.