candy jar books

RETURN TO FANG ROCK!

14 May 2021 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce a very special book for 2021, the hardback illustrated edition of Beast of Fang Rock by Andy Frankham-Allen.

Inspired by the illustrated Doctor Who Target books from the early 1970s, combined with the popularity of the recent Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book, Candy Jar asked Martin Baines to undertake this task.

Head of Publishing at Candy Jar, Shaun Russell, says:

“Beast of Fang Rock has always been one our most popular novels and like Mutually Assured Domination and Times Squared we always planned to reissue it. While I was working on Kklak!: The Doctor Who Art of Chris Achilléos last year I revisited many old Target books, and was struck by the captivating artwork seen in titles such as Doctor Who and The Cave-Monsters. I thought it would be nice to replicate this. I had recently worked with Martin Baines on 100 Objects of Dr Who and thought he would be ideal for the task.”

Almost forty-five years after that last Target book Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders was issued with illustrations, Martin welcomed the opportunity to illustrate Beast of Fang Rock. He says:

“Shaun wanted me to read the book and choose my own sequences to illustrate. In my opinion the TV version of Horror of Fang Rock is a tightly written atmospheric story, but due to television budgets it’s not as visually interesting as it could have been. I wanted to evoke a similar kind of atmosphere as the brilliant Ridley Scott TV series, The Terror.”

Andy Frankham-Allen was also pleased to revisiting Beast of Fang Rock. He says:

“It’s been great to return the book over five years later, as there were a few things I wanted to fix. I especially took the chance to get rid of the god-awful prologue (which I’ve hated since the book was released), and tidied up a few others things that never quite worked for me. Martin has created some wonderful illustrations of some of his favourite scenes, which really elevates the book even more. Coupled with his splendid cover, I can’t wait to see what the fans make of it.”

Martin drew his inspiration for the cover on 1960s iconography. He continues:

“I wanted to evoke look of an old Hammer Horror movie poster and particularly enjoyed redesigning the Rutan with this in mind. I hope fans embrace my take on this classic monster as much as I enjoyed drawing it.”

“Horror of Fang Rock has always been a favourite with the fans,” says Louise Jameson in her reprinted foreword to Beast of Fang Rock. “Part of the ‘recipe’ for a frightening yarn is to create something claustrophobic. And that feeling of climbing the stairs at night taps in to almost everyone’s personal childhood terror.”

Beast of Fang Rock: The Illustrated Edition comes with a free postcard, as well as a brand new Lucy Wilson Mysteries book, The Keeper of Fang Rock written by Andy Frankham-Allen.

Andy continues:

“I’ve written bits of Lucy Wilson before, even started writing one, but time got away with me and Tim Gambrell finished it for me. So, when Shaun and I discussed the companion book to Beast of Fang Rock, we both latched on the idea of doing a sequel with Lucy. The basic idea was simple enough; Lucy goes to Fang Rock and gets caught up in an adventure with a ghost. What’s been really great about this one, is that usually I’m writing about the past (with the LS books it normally the 1970s), but with this one I got to write a story set in the (almost) present. (In this case 2019.) Which meant I could deal with some modern issues and bring in some real diversity. And, of course, Lucy is a great window into today’s world, being so young and receptive to the ever-changing culture we currently live in.”

Blurb for Beast of Fang Rock:

“There’s always death on the rock when the Beast’s about.”

Fang Rock has always had a bad reputation. Since 1955 the lighthouse has been out of commission, shut down because of fire that gutted the entire tower. But now, finally updated and fully renovated, the island and lighthouse is once again about to be brought back into service.

Students have gathered on Fang Rock to celebrate the opening of the ‘most haunted lighthouse of the British Isles’, but they get more than they bargained for when the ghosts of long-dead men return, accompanied by a falling star.

Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart is brought in to investigate what he believes to be signs of alien involvement. But it is not only Lethbridge-Stewart who has an interest in Fang Rock. Anne Travers is called to her family solicitor’s, who have in their possession a letter from Archibald Goff, the paranormal investigator who once visited Fang Rock back in the 1820s, and along with it a piece of alien technology.

What connects a shooting star, ghosts of men killed in 1902 and the beast that roamed Fang Rock in 1823? Lethbridge-Stewart and Anne Travers are about to discover the answer first hand…

Blurb for The Keeper of Fang Rock:

Lucy is taken to Fang Rock by her cousin, Kat. The location of one of her grandad’s greatest adventures. Only the adventure isn’t over yet. It looks like Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart might have left something behind…

Please visit http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/beast-of-fang-rock-illustrated-edition.html to order the book.

NB: BEAST OF FANG ROCK OR THE KEEPER OF FANG ROCK ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.

An Allen & Young Double Bill!

11 April 2021 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce the final novel of its eighth series of Lethbridge-Stewart novels.

The Haunting of Gabriel Chase is the debut novel of Andrew Allen, who has previously written a few short stories for the Lethbridge-Stewart series.

As the title suggests, The Haunting of Gabriel Chase is a sequel to the popular 1989 Doctor Who serial Ghost Light by Marc Platt.

Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen says:

“We are always looking for connections to the larger Doctor Who universe, and wondering what good sequels or prequels there are to tell, that will fit into the LSVerse. And while I was working on Child of the New World, a sequel to Marc Platt’s Downtime, it occurred to me that Marc also wrote one of my favourite Doctor Who serials. Keith Barnfarther put me in touch with Marc, and after I explained what I had in mind for the sequel, he was delighted to give me the green light. But I didn’t want it to just be my vision, I wanted to know what Marc would have done had he continued the story of Josiah, Control, etc. Marc was happy to share his ideas, and sent me a few notes. As one would expect, they were very interesting, and a great launching pad. Then it just became a case of finding the right author.”

Enter Andrew Allen. He has previously contributed short stories for such things as The HAVOC Files collections and the Lineage anthology, as well writing a Doctor Who short trip for Big Finish.

Frankham-Allen continues:

“I’ve always enjoyed Andrew’s work. I was aware of his upcoming Travers & Wells book, and knowing he had a feeling for the more esoteric kind of story, I approached him. Needless to say, he was daunted by the prospect, but 100% up for it. I told him my basic idea, which amounted to the prologue and general direction of the story, and sent him Marc’s notes.”

Andrew Allen says:

“A couple of years ago, I was excited to see have chance to submit a short story for a Candy Jar anthology – and even more pleased to get a chance to write for one of my favourite classic Doctor Who characters, Anne Travers. Since then, I’ve been able to write a couple more short stories for the range, and even a novella featuring Anne’s father Edward, and HG Wells, as they face up to the monstrous Dr Moreau. When I was offered the chance to write The Haunting of Gabriel Chase, it was an opportunity both terrifying and irresistible.”

He continues:

“Ghost Light, of course, ends up being a sequel to itself – Ace has burned down the house before we see it for the first time, and so, in The Haunting of Gabriel Chase, we see it being burned down before going inside, and back to a time before any of that happens – and also after Light has been banished. It’s as much of an ‘inter-quel’ as it is a sequel. It has been a hugely humbling experience to get the chance to play with the iconic characters not only created by Mervyn Haisman & Henry Lincoln, but also Marc Platt. As well as a traditional ‘haunted house’ story, I wanted to talk a little about the nuances of memory when we look back at the things that we remember fondly, and also examine the things that truly haunt us, and stop us from going forward in our futures.”

Richard Young is back for cover art duties, his second for 2021.

Richard says:

“I love Ghost Light! The chance to do the cover for the sequel was something I couldn’t say no to. Doing an older, ‘80s era Brig was something I couldn’t resist either. However, this presented an unforeseen challenge, as the original portrait I did, which was from his time at Brendon School, just didn’t look right. And it soon became apparent that the Brig just isn’t the Brig without his moustache. Gabriel Chase was a bit of an issue as there aren’t that many good reference images of the (real) building in the daylight. And then there’s fire! The last few covers I’ve done have included fire or some such – it’s almost like I’m the Candy Jar fire starter (can I have a nice, eerie, night-time misty story to illustrate next time please, with no fire?).”

Blurb:

1983, and Gabriel Chase burns. Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, teacher at Brendon School for Boys, had almost forgotten about the house. But the memories soon return to him, memories of thirteen years earlier…

1970, and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Anne Travers, Captain William Bishop and RSM Samson Ware are brought to an old house in Perivale by an old friend of Samson’s. An officer has been lost, and it is believed he may be in the house.

They decide the only way to find out is to investigate within the house. But Gabriel Chase is waiting. It is always waiting. And once you’re inside, you’ll be very lucky to leave.

Ghosts haunt Gabriel Chase. But who is in control? What is the angel? And who will escape? Darkness falls. And heaven help anybody still inside after dark…

The official sequel to the 1989 Doctor Who serial Ghost Light. Inspired by ideas developed by Marc Platt

The long-awaited second book in the Travers & Wells series is also written by Andrew Allen, and features a cover by Richard Young (sans fire!), and is called The City of Dr Moreau.

Frankham-Allen says:

“This one was finished ages ago – we never intended there to be such a long gap between book one and two, but unfortunately with the outbreak of the COVID last year, many things needed to be rearranged. But finally, I’m glad to say it’s all done and on the way.”

Andrew Allen says:

“In my book, Travers and Wells have managed to escape the world of The War of The Worlds as brilliantly introduced by Robert Mammone in his novella Other Wars, Other Worlds. Now, they’re in yet another alternative version of Earth. This one looks much more like the one that both men see as familiar, except they quickly meet a distinguished scientist known as Dr Moreau. Not only was it a delight to get a chance to borrow the characters of HG Wells and Professor Travers, but I also found myself fascinated by how those characters would respond when confronted with a character they previously believed to be fictional, as well as examining how they – and even the readers of the book – would react if it wasn’t necessarily guaranteed that they’d survive the story, even if it was the second book of four. I had a lot of fun pulling together many different elements, from the locations our heroes pass through (including a real-life island where legend says people tried to talk to God), to small tributes to some of my favourite films.”

Blurb:

“Wells blinked a couple of times, balling a fist into his eyes to rub away the sweat trickling there. But it was no good; the room was too dark and he still couldn’t see anything. Nonetheless, he was painfully aware that someone – something – was in the room with him. He heard a snuffling, a guttural breathing, and the thing moved closer.”

Edward Travers and HG Wells are flung once again into an alternative reality: a London both achingly familiar and quite unlike the city either of them know. In the dying days of the Edwardian empire, public protests over the increasing use of vivisection in animal research collide with rising fears about looming war.

Connecting both is the mysterious Dr Moreau. Wells is fascinated by the accomplished scientist, but Travers is horrified by the dark truth of the man that he previously had believed to be mere fiction.

As the two men begin to discover the purpose behind their adventures out of time and come face to face with who is controlling their journey, they pursue Moreau to the inevitable conclusion: his very own island of creation, a perverse garden of Eden that’s very close to home…

The Haunting of Gabriel Chase will be available late April 2021, and followed shortly by The City of Dr Moreau (both a limited hardback and a mass-market paperback) in May 2021.

The Lethbridge-Stewart range continues in July with the three-book series nine, starting with Warriors of Mondu by Gareth Madgwick. And the Travers & Wells series continues later in 2021 as part of Candy Jar’s annual crossover event, with The Invisible Women by John Peel.

If you have subscription with Candy Jar Books, The Haunting of Gabriel Chase is covered by this.

To order The Haunting of Gabriel Chase visit Lethbridge-Stewart: The Haunting of Gabriel Chase – Candy Jar Books (candy-jar.co.uk)

To order The City of Dr Moreau visit Travers and Wells – The City of Dr Moreau – Candy Jar Books (candy-jar.co.uk)

100 Objects Of Doctor Who To Feature An Interview With Christopher Eccleston

5 April 2021 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books’ 100 Objects of Dr Who will include an interview with Christopher Eccleston, who played the Ninth Doctor in 2005.

100 Objects of Doctor Who

The interview coincides with Eccleston returning to play the Time Lord for audio company Big Finish and finds the actor reflecting on Doctor Who series 1, enthusing about audio dramas, and talking about his love of Shakespeare.

With fresh adventures on the horizon for this incarnation of the Doctor, it’s the perfect way to whet your appetitite while waiting to hear The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Ravagers.

100 Objects of Dr Who is an unconventional biography of the world’s greatest sci-fi show, as told through one-hundred chapters, each detailing a different object associated with the show.

Alongside all the behind-the-scenes details you’d expect, you’ll also find niche trivia, sojourns into the lesser-explored corners of fandom, and answers to the questions few have dared to ask: which planets has the Doctor visited more than once? How many companions have met the Cybermen? And who first named the Sontarans’ home planet?

Author Philip Bates says:

“Rose introduced me to Doctor Who – although I knew a bit about it before then because Dad watched it when he was growing up too – so I was thrilled to get the chance to interview Christopher. And, of course, he was witty and friendly and everything you want the Doctor to be.”

It’s one of numerous brand-new interviews scattered throughout the book, including: Nick Abadzis, writer of Titan Comics’ The Tenth Doctor comic; James Whittington, who worked on Cubicle 7’s Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space roleplaying game; and Colin Brockhurst and Gareth Kavanagh, editors of the popular Vworp Vworp! fanzine. Kavanagh is also the head honcho of Cutaway Comics.

Philip continues:

“I’ve been lucky enough to interview a few Doctor Who cast and crew members over the years, so readers will also find quotes from, for instance, Matt Smith [who played the Eleventh Doctor], artist Anthony Dry [responsible for the recent Target novelisation covers], and Mark Strickson [Turlough].

“I wanted to give readers a pretty comprehensive tour of the Doctor Who universe, so there’s something new for all fans, whether they’ve been watching since An Unearthly Child or are relatively new to the series.”

100 Objects of Dr Who also features stunning new illustrations by Martin Baines, inspired by the objects inside. Readers who would like to sample the book can download a forty-three-page PDF book, 10 Objects of Dr Who, completely free from the following link:

Candy Jar’s Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, says:

“100 Objects is a fascinating adventure through Doctor Who history. It is a wildly original take, which reads almost like a ‘make your own adventure’. The addition of exclusive material from Christopher Eccleston makes it an indispensable tour of the timey-wimey history of Doctor Who.”

100 Objects of Doctor Who is currently only available to order from the Candy Jar website, for £9.99 (+ p&p). To order, click here. It will be released on April 7th.

The Great World Book Day Giveaway!

3 March 2021 admin Comments 0 Comment

This time last year children were celebrating World Book Day in schools, but one year on, things look very different. To mark a World Book Day like no other, Cardiff-based publisher Candy Jar Books is making a swathe of its children’s books available for free.

World Book Day 2021 will take place on the 4th of March, and with children across the country beginning to return to school, Candy Jar thought it was fitting to mark this dual occasion with a giveaway.

Head of Publishing at Candy Jar, Shaun Russell, says:

“As a whole, publishers have been relatively lucky throughout the pandemic. While like everyone we have faced exceptional pressures, lockdown has reintroduced many to the escapism that only reading can offer.”

“It is well-established that reading leads to higher educational achievement in children, so perhaps in the long run this newfound enthusiasm might prove a silver lining to all of the disruption young people have faced when it comes to their education.”

“As hopefully some semblance of normality begins to return to our lives, we thought it would be in the spirit of things to furnish young readers with something to keep their reading habits going for the months and years to come.”

Included within Candy Jar’s giveaway are The Norris Girls by Nigel Hinton, an author that has been a fixture of English curriculums for decades, Something I Should Know, a debut young adult novel by Siobhan Kalli, Tommy Parker: Destiny Will Find You by Cardiff-based Anthony Ormond, The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Avatars of the Intelligence and The Bandril Invasion, a Doctor Who spin-off featuring a lead female character of mixed heritage who lives in Ogmore-by-Sea, and Keeping Clear of Paradise Street, the memoir of beloved children’s poet Brian Moses.

Candy Jar will also be including titles from Jelly Bean Self-Publishing in including Messy Dad Goes to the Beach by Gemma Greening and Timesplit by Paul Robinson. Jelly Bean Self-Publishing was awarded Self-Publishing Company of the Year at the 2020 Welsh Enterprise awards. The Welsh Enterprise awards recognise the contribution of small to medium-sized businesses to the Welsh economy.

Since its inception in 2013, Jelly Bean Self-Publishing has provided a range of publishing services to independent authors all around the world. Shaun continues:

“Self-publishing has grown enormously as an industry over recent years. Thanks to lockdown, the Internet, the rise of eBooks, and the refinement of Print on Demand technology, it is now viable both economically and practically for independent authors to find engaged readerships in an incredible variety of ways.”

Jelly Bean author Molly Arbuthnott has kindly offered her picture book Oscar the Ferry Cat. She hopes it gives stretched parents a helping hand. She says: “As we can’t be together in person this year, it is a great treat to be able to share stories through a giveaway. Oscar has at its heart a message about never giving up – very apt, I think – and I hope it proves a tonic to readers young and old!”

Former teacher, Phillip Davies, has also given Candy Jar permission to giveaway his sci-fi adventure book Borc Attack. He says:

“Having spent over thirty years teaching children and encouraging a love of reading, I feel it is a story most children will thoroughly enjoy. However, I realise that buying new reading material for children can be an expensive business. This giveaway will be great for children and parents alike.”

The giveaway will run for five days, starting on World Book Day (4th March), and the full list of titles is available below. There’s no catch: no sign ups required, no add ons – just free books for all.

Shaun concludes:

“There hasn’t been much to celebrate this past year, but there has at least been a recognition that we’re all in this together. It’s a spirit we will hopefully take with us as we return to the patterns of our previous lives. With so many parents feeling the pinch, with so much uncertainty as to what the future holds, we thought making our titles available for free was only one way to truly embrace the spirit of the times.”

So come one, come all, the Candy Jar Great world Book Day Giveaway goes live on March 4th! www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

THE LETHBRIDGE-STEWART COLOURING BOOK

18 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce that the Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book will be released just in time for Christmas.

This fantastic collection of artwork is a must for all Doctor Who fans, as well as collectors of adult colouring books. It features twenty brand new pieces of art by Thunderbirds, Danger Mouse and Doctor Who artist Martin Baines.

The artwork concentrates on the Lethbridge-Stewart series of novels and features the Dominators, Quarks, Yeti, Anne Travers, Bandrils and much more. Added to this, the book also explores the UNIT era of Doctor Who.

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar Books, says:

“2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. Lockdown has taken it’s toll, and it is quite likely that we still haven’t seen the end of COVID-19. Normally we do something special for Christmas. For instance, in 2016 we released The Xmas Files – a collection of Lethbridge-Stewart-inspired Christmas stories, in 2018 our online advent calendar (still available on the Candy jar Books website), and last year The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Christmas Crackers collection of stories. Sadly, due to other commitments, this has not been possible this year. So, when Martin approached me to do the colouring book, I thought why not. This is not strictly a Christmas project, but it certainly is a great stocking filler.”

In 2020 Martin created some of Candy Jar’s most popular covers, including the Downtime sequel Child of the New World (released this summer), as well as Kiss of the Ice Maiden and 100 Objects of Doctor Who, both of which are due out in a couple of months.

Martin says:

“Shaun and I chat regularly about future projects. The conversations are always great fun, particularly when it’s about Lethbridge Stewart and Doctor Who. We are currently developing an epic comic strip starring the Brig (which will hopefully be released 2021). So, having worked on this artwork, I thought a Lethbridge-Stewart colouring book would be something special to end the year. I was so glad when Shaun agreed. The Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book is the celebration of the Brigadier and classic Who in general. If you like the Brigadier, UNIT, Quarks, Yetis and even the Bandrils this is the book for you!”

Shaun continues:

“I suspect some people will prefer not to colour Martin’s images, but instead keep them as a lockdown memento. I’m certainly considering framing one or two of his striking pieces personally.”

Martin concludes:

“Early Doctor Who has for me been a real discovery and I hope this book adds to the legend. I have put in a lot of research and fleshed out certain elements. The Bandrils were particularly interesting to draw, and fleshing out the Lucy Wilson characters was quite fun. I also loved drawing Professor Travers and Sergeant Benton.”

The Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book is available from…

With guaranteed delivery before Christmas if ordered before the 16^th of December 2020!

THE PHANTOMS OF TUSKER ROCK

15 September 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce that The Phantoms of Tusker Rock, the latest instalment of The Lucy Wilson Mysteries, is now available for pre-order, exclusively from the Candy Jar and Lethbridge-Stewart websites.

Lucy Wilson is the granddaughter of the iconic Doctor Who favourite Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, and the last three years have seen her contend with a succession of extra-terrestrial threats drawn to her home in the seaside village of Ogmore-by-Sea, just outside of Bridgend.

Like several of Lucy’s previous adventures, the latest mystery is rooted in the area’s ancient legends. It was a concept that appealed to author Christopher Bryant, whose Welsh heritage has always informed his life and work.

Christopher says:

“One of the things I’ve always loved about Doctor Who is how it opens a portal – sometimes literally – between the everyday and the fantastic. In particular I’ve always liked the episodes that take the viewer into history. Whether it’s the Doctor’s flirting with Elizabeth I, or taking a jaunt around Dickensian London, it’s such a cool way of giving young viewers a sense of connection to their heritage. When Candy Jar approached me, I saw the opportunity to root around in that rich trove of folklore and myth and, hopefully, introduce it to a new generation.”

In The Phantoms of Tusker Rock we find Lucy and her superbrain sidekick Hobo encountering the ghostly cyhyraeth – a disembodied howl portending the death of the listener, which, legends say, can be heard emanating from Ogmore’s Tusker Rock to this day.

The Rock has long been a source of legend, the ruin of unwary ships for centuries. And where myths collide, and the supernatural threatens, Lucy Wilson is sure to be found.

South Wales, of course, has been a hotspot of all things extra-terrestrial, extratemporal and extraordinary ever since the BBC established the home of Doctor Who in Cardiff. As the capital of not only (unquestionably) the world’s most beautiful country, but also one of its most loved and enduring franchises, in recent years the city has drawn in tourists from all over the world, keen to see the real-life home of the Doctor’s adventures.

As Candy Jar’s Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, puts it:

“You can go anywhere in the world and people know Wales because of the Doctor. When we started the Lucy Wilson series, we knew we wanted to build on this connection; not only did basing our stories in Wales help establish an internal logic within the wider universe, but being a Cardiff company built up Lucy’s adventures. Lucy is a mixed-race character, who moved to the area from London. Using her character as the means to explore Wales’ folklore, we hope to paint a picture of Wales in the modern day – a country proud of its traditions yet cosmopolitan, diverse, and entirely at home in the twenty-first century.”

Blurb of The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: The Phantoms of Tusker Rock:

Lucy Wilson might be the scourge of all things extra-terrestrial, but her latest opponent is a little closer to home. Try as Lucy might, her dad just doesn’t get it. Earth’s last line of defence doesn’t get to take days off, even if it means staying out on a school night!

Particularly when those nights are broken by the sound of supernatural howling. And ghostly Vikings stalking the streets. And a mysterious coven of druids, led by someone who looks awfully like the little old woman down the road…

Whatever her dad says, Lucy’s got a job to do. But with night falling, and the waters rising, soon she finds herself cut off from everyone she loves.

The Lucy Wilson Mysteries is a Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off adventure inspired by characters created for Doctor Who by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln.

The Lucy Wilson Mysteries:

The Phantoms of Tusker Rock is available from

http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/thephantomsoftuskerrock.html

THE BRIGADIER FACES HIS WORST FEAR!

15 September 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce a very special book for 2020, the second of its standalone Lethbridge-Stewart hardback novels, Kiss of the Ice Maiden by Michael Sloan.

Michael Sloan has hundreds of TV credits to his name, including Battlestar Galactica, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Six Million Dollar Man, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. However, he is perhaps best known as the creator of the original The Equalizer TV series, which has subsequently been adapted into a billion-dollar franchise starring Denzel Washington.

In the late ‘60s, early ‘70s Michael spent a great deal of time in the UK and fell in love with Doctor Who, particularly the Jon Pertwee era.

Michael says:

“I have been a fan of Doctor Who for as long as I can remember. I wanted my Lethbridge-Stewart book to be a distinctive departure for his character. So, in my book the Brigadier falls in love! This is a thriller and, as you would imagine, the course of true love does not run smooth. Despite this, I thought it would make a change for the readers to see Lethbridge-Stewart wrestling with his emotions. He is vulnerable and his normal stalwart persona has been emotionally comprised.”

Kiss of the Ice Maiden is reminiscent of the early 1970s Hammer Horror films set in present day such as Dracula A.D. 1972. It has supernatural and horrific overtones, and is the kind of book that would expect from the creator of The Equalizer.

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar, says:

“A few years ago I worked together with Michael on Lost in Christmas, a children’s book about a family who become trapped inside Christmas cards and have to find a way to escape. While working on this, I sent Michael some Lethbridge-Stewart books and he devoured them. It wasn’t long before he pitched his own idea and I jumped at it. His story is certainly a different perspective on our hero. It also takes us right back to the 1970s, and picks up where we left off after A Very Private Haunting.”

The Kiss of the Ice Maiden delves deeper into the Brig’s past to find out what makes him tick. Alongside this, Anne Travers has lost her father to the Great Intelligence, and has turned her back on HAVOC. Michael’s story is an emotional punch-up and is reminiscent of The Equalizer.

Michael continues:

“The book does echo some of my screenplays I have written over the years, where the hero is flawed, but still very much a hero. I did this with some effect in the three Equalizer books. The Robert McCall character is tough, edgy and mercurial, all qualities that he shares with Lethbridge-Stewart. Particularly when he has been played with such strength and vision by Denzel Washington in the two Equalizer movies that have been shot by Sony/Columbia.”

The striking cover art is by artist Martin Baines, who created artwork for the Downtime hardback. Martin says:

“For me book covers need to convey the feel and mood inside a book. I don’t think you are treating the reader well if every cover looks the same with a generic photoshopped face of the hero on the cover and is often short sighted. When I was briefed by Candy Jar I instantly thought of the brilliant painted covers for Pan’s paperbacks in the sixties and posters for Hammer Horror. I do not normally use this type of palette so it was a bit of experiment but I really liked the poster of Hammer’s The Gorgan and thought it was a good starting point. I think it makes this cover slightly different and more special for the readers. The empty fairground also brought great images in my head”

Preview of the book:

“Lethbridge-Stewart moved through the overlapping shadows in the cemetery with his heart pounding in his chest. The coffin was shrouded by rain that sheeted across the ground. He knew what would be waiting for him, but he could not turn away from it. He approached the grave carefully, aware that one of the shadows could manifest itself into the shape of the creatures. Vines had wrapped their tentacles around the coffin. Lethbridge-Stewart stepped up alongside it, holding onto his revolver, and lifted the lid. He shoved it to one side, revealing the creature lying beneath. She was a scarecrow of the vision he had in his mind. Her skin was dry and flaked off when he touched it. She was a husk, wasting away as if ravaged by a deadly disease. Her eyes were obsidian, her long eyelashes a mockery of the once beautiful face. Its texture repelled him. It was his worst nightmare.”

A Lethbridge-Stewart thriller by Michael Sloan.

NB: THE KISS OF THE ICE MAIDEN IS NOT COVERED BY ANY SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.

There will be two editions of The Kiss of the Ice Maiden, both now available for pre-order:

Standard paperback edition (limited to 300 copies) for £10.00 (+ p&p).

Limited hardback edition for £25 (+ p&p). This will include a postcard and free book featuring stories from the LSVerse.

You can also buy a bundle of Kiss of the Ice Maiden and Lost in Christmas.

LUCY WILSON FREE LUCY WILSON AUDIO STORY

26 August 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce its latest free-for-download short story, Edge of Glory. This time it is something different! The story is an audio version of Alan Stott’s story as featured in The Lucy Wilson Mysteries book, Lockdown.

Head of publishing at Candy Jar, Shaun Russell, says:

“Alan and I were discussing ways to sell our final copies of the book, so we could raise as much money for the NHS charities as possible. I then suggested he recorded an audio version of his story.”

Alan, whose own children’s book Those Kids Next Door has been affected by the pandemic, accepted the challenge. He says:

“Shaun and I have been working closely on Those Kids Next Door, but COVID-19 has delayed its release until the autumn. So when Shaun suggested an audio version of my Lucy Wilson short story I was intrigued. However, given the difficulty of recording at the moment, we made the decision for me to record the audio at home, and Shaun’s colleague, Justin Chaloner, to add the music and sound effects separately. I must say I was pleased with the result.”

Shaun continues:

“Alan really put his heart and soul into the recording and, with a few false starts, we got there in the end. The free download is 30-minutes long and available from the Candy Jar website. If you have yet to buy the Lockdown paperback please do so before we run out. Go on, it’s for a good cause!”

The collection contains eight short stories. Aside from Alan, the other authors include Andy Frankham-Allen & Tim Gambrell (who take Lucy back to Invasion of the Dinosaurs), John Peel, Tom Dexter, Alan Stott, Cherry Cobb, Paul W Robinson, Adrian Sherlock and Shaun Russell.

For Doctor Who fans that are unaware of Lucy Wilson, she is the granddaughter of the iconic Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, one of Doctor Who’s longest running characters. “The Brigadier”, as he is known to fans, was played by the late Nicholas Courtney.

Those Kids Next Door is available from www.thosekidsnextdoor.com

Lockdown, a collection of pandemic-inspired Lucy Wilson short stories is still available. The royalties from sales will be donated to NHS charities and Candy Jar will double this amount.

To purchase The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Lockdown please visit: http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/freestory.html

100 OBJECTS OF DR WHO

12 July 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce 100 Objects of Dr Who. Written by Philip Bates, the book collects together facts and opinions from all fifty-seven years of the best science-fiction series in the world.

Objects of interest include the Space-Time Visualiser, the sonic screwdriver, a talking cabbage, the Revenge of the Cybermen VHS, River Song’s diary, the BBC Sound Effects No. 19: Doctor Who Sound Effects vinyl, the 1996 Series Bible, a Bubble Shock bottle, the Seal of the High Council of Gallifrey, and a mouldy old Slitheen.

Philip Bates currently runs the Doctor Who Companion website (the popular successor to Kasterborous), and has previously written for Candy Jar. His ‘10 Objects of the Brigadier’ piece was featured in non-fiction book The Brigadier: Declassified.

Candy Jar Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, says:

“When Philip submitted his piece for The Brigadier: Declassified I was blown away by the quality of writing. His take on the series was unlike anything I’ve read before. His writing reminds me of Doctor Who: The Completely Useless Encyclodpedia from 1996 by Chris Howarth and Steve Lyons. I am truly excited that we have been able expand beyond ten objects.”

100 Objects of Dr Who tells the story of the series in a rather unconventional way. It’s not a straight chronology of the series, but more a temporal guide, jam-packed with fascinating information for the distinguished Doctor Who fan. Philip says:

“My book does feature the behind-the-scenes trivia you would expect, but I wanted to go one further. So, I’ve included sections on the live events not everyone’s been lucky enough to experience, asked the question how Christ the Redeemer relates to Doctor Who, as well as looking at the bizarre world of fake merchandise. I basically wanted to go off the beaten track, jumping backwards and forwards in Who history.”

The cover has been lovingly produced by Martin Baines, who recently completed the art for Candy Jar’s hardback edition of the Downtime sequel, Child of the New World. Martin says:

“I really enjoyed working on this book. I wanted to emulate the look of 1970s comics such as Scorcher, Valiant or TV Comic. Added to this, I’ve always loved Doctor Who Weekly and it was great to pay homage to this as well.”

Philip really likes the cover and feels it sums up his book perfectly. Philip continues:

“When Shaun sent me Martin’s cover I thought, wow! You don’t need me to tell you how brilliant it is: feast your eyes! Spotting the small details is a joy, but the most impressive thing is how evocative the piece is. There’s a warmth and playfulness about it. The yellowing page surrounding instantly brings to mind that wonderful smell that encompasses you when you enter a second-hand book store – a reminder that all these stories have been experienced by previous generations. Suffice to say, I love it.”

Blurb:

“So, all of time and space, everything that ever happened or ever will: where do you want to start…?”

100 Objects of Doctor Who is a celebration of everyone’s favourite sci-fi show. Perfect for fans, no matter your mileage – whether you’ve just started your journey through all of time and space, or have lived through the highs, the lows, the Wildernesses, the Androzanis, and the Twin Dilemmas.

Inside, you’ll find: A terrifying army of three Daleks! Death’s Head’s head! A really quite astonishingly heavy door! Dinosaur fossils! A framed piece of wall!

And much, much more!

This is a book about Doctor Who. But probably not the one you’re expecting.

100 Objects of Dr Who is currently only available from the Candy Jar website, for £9.99 (+ p&p). To order click here.

Downtime: Child the New World is also available from the Candy Jar website, for £10 paperback; £25, hardback (+ p&p). To order click here.

LUCY WILSON BRAND NEW SHORT STORY IN EIGHT MINUTES AND FORTY-SIX SECONDS

12 July 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce its latest free-for-download short story, 8.46. The story sees Lucy Wilson and Hobo Kostinen face the realities of prejudice.

Written by critically acclaimed African American author, Julia Press Simmons, 8.46 has been created in response to the death of George Floyd and protests that followed. She says:

“When Shaun at Candy Jar asked me to work on this story I was so pleased. Lucy Wilson is an amazing character and I am honoured and humbled to play a small part in her universe.”

Head of publishing, Shaun Russell, felt that it was very important to tackle this subject. He says:

“Lucy Wilson is a not only a lead female character (which there are very few), but also a person of colour. I felt it would be a dereliction of duty to not cover this topic. I also wanted the story to feel authentic so, through a mutual friend, I contacted the wonderful Julia Press Simmons.”

Julia has written more than twenty books including The Strawberry Mansion, and the award-winning play Down There (selected by the Black Festival Emerging Playwright’s series in Nashville). 8.46 is a departure from the standard Lucy Wilson tale. Julia has written a story which is based on her real-life experiences growing up. She continues:

“I must admit that initially I struggled with the tone of this project. Lucy is such a marvellous role model for children and I wanted her story to capture my personal experiences while keeping it age-appropriate. Although BAME life in the UK is different from the African American experience I felt that there was enough commonality for me to tell this tale.”

Tim Gambrell, who has written Lucy Wilson & the Bledoe Cadets, as well as several short stories including the upcoming The Midwife & the Alien, was involved in the editing process of this story. He says: “8.46 is a brief and powerful story that needs to be told, in my view. It doesn’t labour the fact. It doesn’t accuse the reader of anything. It just tells a simple story and packs quite an emotional punch with it.”

Blurb:

It’s 2020 and Lucy Wilson has just witnessed the death of George Floyd, followed by the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol.

Over eight minutes and forty-six seconds, Lucy and Hobo travel through time to discover why the past still has lessons to teach us all.

To download The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: 8.46 please visit: http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/freestory.html

Lockdown, a collection of pandemic-inspired Lucy Wilson short stories is still available. The royalties from sales will be donated to NHS charities and Candy Jar will double this amount.

http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/lockdown.html

To purchase The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Lockdown please visit: http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/freestory.html