The House on March Lane - out now!

Happy Publication Day Michelle Briscombe!!


We're incredibly pleased to officially release Michelle's latest endeavour, The House on March Lane. 

Full to the brim with mystery and ghostly goings-on, The House on March Lane is the second children's fiction novel from Barry author Michelle, and with an beautifully created cover by the wonderfully talented illustrator Hannah Peck, we're  proud to release this book to you!

With a cover that pulls you in to the mystery that lies behind the door, you won't be able to resist opening the book and taking that first step in to the story.

In 1836, Harriet’s papa, a ship’s officer on HMS Beagle, returns from a long journey at sea. On his arrival home, Harriet and her friend Lily become involved in a dangerous secret with tragic consequences.

Almost two centuries later, Flora’s best friend Archie experiences a ghostly encounter at her dad’s reclamation and salvage yard.

The haunting takes the two friends on a detective adventure with a difference, and leads them to an unexpected and supernatural discovery.

Flora and Archie & Harriet and Lily’s lives are soon entwined in a way that they could never have imagined possible.


The House on March Lane follows Michelle's first novel Silent Mountain, also published by Candy Jar Books. The story followed the adventures of Jack Jupiter, a hero with a difference. Readers who enjoyed Silent Mountain have been waiting for Michelle's return to children's fiction, and The House on March Lane is absolutely Michelle back with a bang.

Michelle Briscombe was born in Cardiff but now lives in Barry, South Wales, with her two children and husband. For the last twelve years she has worked in a primary school in the Vale of Glamorgan and is currently undertaking her final year for a BA in Primary Education.

If you want to find out more about Michelle, you can find her on Author Hotline, or follow her Twitter @MichelleBrisc.

If you love Hannah's artwork as much as we do, you can find her on Twitter and Instagram, and check out her website.

The House on March Lane, Michelle Briscombe
Cover work by Hannah Peck
ISBN: 978-0-9933221-2-9
RRP: £6.99
The House on March Lane is available to buy directly from Candy Jar Books, Amazon and all good retailers.
This title is available from Marstons, Bertrams and Gardners, as are all of our titles.

Hannah Peck - Hannah Peck Illustration

 

The House on March Lane by Michelle Briscombe: Now available to pre-order

Candy Jar Books is releasing the much awaited second book from Michelle Briscombe, author of Silent Mountain and Literature Wales Writers Bursary recipient of 2015. The House on March Lane is here, and the cover has finally been revealed! 

Following her first book featuring Jack Jupiter, a normal boy on a not so normal adventure, readers have been waiting with baited breath for Michelle's return to fiction. After Silent Mountain's Tir na n-Og award nomination, as well as it being the book of choice for the winning school of Bookslam 2014, we're certainly not the only ones who have been dying to see what other stories Michelle has to tell, and with The House on March Lane she definitely hasn't disappointed...

In 1836, Harriet's papa, a ship's officer on HMS Beagle, returns from a long journey at sea.

On his arrival home, Harriet and her friend Lily become involved in a dangerous secret with tragic consequences.

Almost two centuries later, Flora's best friend Archie experiences a ghostly encounter at her dad's reclamation and salvage yard.

The haunting takes the two friends on a detective adventure with a difference, and leads them to an unexpected and supernatural discovery.

Flora and Archie & Harriet and Lily's lives are soon entwined in a way that they could never have imagined possible.

With an elegant and and gorgeously eery design by the incredibly talented illustrator Hannah Peck, we are so excited to finally be able to reveal this new cover!

The House on March Lane is out April 21st, currently available to pre-order on the Candy Jar Store and Amazon.

Check out Hannah's other beautiful work on her Instagram and at www.hannahpeckillustration.com.

The House on March Lane by Michelle Briscombe

ISBN: 978-0993322129
RRP: £7.99

            

            Michelle Briscombe was born in Cardiff but now lives in Barry, South Wales, with her two children and husband. For the last twelve years she has worked in a primary school in the Vale of Glamorgan and is currently undertaking her final year for a BA in Primary Education.

9+

Keep up to date by following us @Candy_Jar, see what Michelle's up to @MichelleBrisc and have a peek at Hannah's latest creations @hpillustration_

SCHOOL KIDS PERFORM CANDY JAR TITLE AT NATIONAL COMPETITION

BookSlam 2014 saw hundreds of primary school pupils from all over Wales congregate in Brecon for a children’s literary bonanza. Over two rounds, dozens of schools competed to wow the judges with their enthusiasm for their favourite books. The children of Broadhaven School ran out the eventual winners, having impressed with their discussion of Nina Bawden’s Carrie’s War and a dramatic presentation of Silent Mountain, an adventure story with an ecological twist by Candy Jar’s own Michelle Briscombe.

Broadhaven’s headteacher, Mr A Williams, was delighted with his students’ success: ‘Our pupils got in touch with Michelle Briscombe… to say they would be presenting her work in the BookSlam competition. She wished them the best of luck, and her words obviously had the desired effect!’

BookSlam is an annual event ran by the Welsh Books Council. Medi Jones-Jackson, Children’s Books and Reading Promotion Officer for the council, was delighted to see the children ‘brimming with enthusiasm’ for the chance to analyse and perform their favourite books. Candy Jar is very proud to have played a part in inspiring the pupils of Broadhaven, and would like to congratulate them on their success (and impeccable taste)!

To find out what they’re so enthusiastic about, click here.

CANDY JAR BOOK FESTIVAL COMES TO A CLOSE!

We’d like to say a big thanks to everybody who was involved in our Candy Jar Book Festival!

© Candy Jar 2014

We began the festival on Saturday (August 2^nd) with a How to Write a Winning Short Story workshop at Cardiff Central Library with Andy Frankham-Allen and Laura Foakes. This workshop was extremely interesting and was a great introduction to our South Wales Short Story Competition.

The following Saturday (August 9^th) Mark Brake, author of Space, Time, Machine, Monster and TV presenter, John Chase entertained young Doctor Who fans with The Science of Doctor Who. Jon’s Doctor Who rap had the kids dancing in the aisles.

© Candy Jar 2014

On Monday (August 11^th) Lynda Nash shared her personal experiences of creating children’s pre-school book Danny Down the Drainpipe. After reading the book aloud she encouraged the kids to create their very own book.

On Tuesday (August 12^th) Laura Foakes and Emma Taylor, author-illustrator duo of The Liars’ and Fibbers’ Academy, wowed and amazed the audience with their shocking untruths in How to be a Fibber Extraordinaire.

© Candy Jar 2014

On Wednesday (August 13^th) Manic Mondays author Michaela Weaver shared her wisdom about all things literary in her creative writing workshop. Thanks to all those who turned up!

© Candy Jar 2014

On Thursday Eileen Younghusband BEM (August 14^th), author of One Woman’s War and Men I Have Known, dazzled the crowds indulging the secrets of the WW2 Filter Room, and shared her memories of how women helped to win the war. We had a big surprise for Eileen, when Britain’s Got Talent candidate Nathan Wyburn unveiled and presented his portrait of Eileen created from a collage of images.

Also on Thursday in Monsters, Magic and Michelle Briscombe Michelle discussed the horrible monsters and mystical magic in her book Silent Mountain, and got us all thinking about our favourite magical books and monstrous characters.

© Candy Jar 2014

On Friday (August 15^th) Benjamin Burford Jones and Andy Frankham-Allen talked about how monsters and mirrors have played a role in their writing, and royal enthusiast Colin Edwards shared his exclusive, intimate photographs, memories and stories of his meeting with the Queen Mother, the Queen, and Princess Diana.

We closed our week (Saturday August 16^th) with Anthony Ormond, who talked about how the concept of time travel has inspired books, television and films over the years, and how this impacted his book Tommy Parker: Destiny Will Find You!

© Candy Jar 2014

We’ve had a fantastic week. Thank you to everybody who came down to say hello, and we hope that you enjoyed our events. We hope that the festival will have been the first of many over the years!

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!

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