CANDY JAR BOOK FESTIVAL 2017
After their second successful Candy Jar Book Festival in 2015, Candy Jar is back again this summer with a fun-packed week of author panel events, book signings, illustrator workshops, and much more.
With seventeen great authors and illustrators in attendance, the festival showcases the very best of Welsh stories – from delightful detectives to tremendous time travellers.
That’s seven days celebrating great home-grown literature – all produced by the fantastic people at Welsh publisher Candy Jar Books. The festival takes place at venues across the city centre including ‘The Shed’ on the Hayes, Cardiff Central Library and Cardiff Story Museum.
In particular, Candy Jar Books is teaming up with Cardiff Central Library for their exciting Summer Reading Challenge. The League Red Nosed Gentlemen author Mark Carton is hosting a ‘Pet Detectives’ workshop.
Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar, says: “At Candy Jar we believe passionately in the power of reading. Studies show that the more a child reads the better they do at school. We wholeheartedly embrace the philosophy of the Summer Reading Challenge and feel privileged to be involved.”
The main event kicks off on Monday 14th August at 11am with open auditions for Nigel Hinton’s The Norris Girls book trailer at the Cardiff Story Museum. This is a chance for young performers to show off their talent. The book has been endorsed by Jacqueline Wilson and Cathy Cassidy, and has been described as the “modern version of Little Women”.
Nigel Hinton, the award-winning Buddy’s Song and Beaver Towers author, says:” “I’ve written a short script based on my book and entrants can download it from my website. We’re looking for three aspiring young actresses to play Beth, Georgy and Katie, who respectively are fourteen, twelve and ten years old.”
As a proud Cardiffian company, Candy Jar Books will be looking for these budding thespians in the capital itself.
Mark Jones, creator and author of Time to Sleep Stories will be hosting a “Sleep Workshop” at the Cardiff Story Museum on Monday 14th August at 3.00pm.
Mark says: “Several years ago I witnessed a number of work colleagues suffering from the effects of stress. At the same time it was being widely reported that children were suffering from a lack of sleep due to the onslaught of digital technology and bedtimes were becoming a battlefield for parents. I realised that I could use my storytelling skills by writing gentle fantasy tales, and including within the stories breathing and calming techniques that could help relax children at bedtime.”
In addition to these exciting events, Candy Jar Books is also launching The South Wales Short Story Competition for the third year on Thursday 17th August. Aspiring unpublished writers can submit up to two short stories based on the Doctor Who character Lethbridge-Stewart of no more than three thousand words.
The Lethbridge-Stewart South Wales Short Story Competition will be accepting submissions from 17th August. The competition is open to all unpublished writers across the UK.
Andy Frankham-Allen, Lethbridge-Stewart range editor, believes that short stories are an excellent way for writers to perfect their craft. He says: “The discipline and imagination required for creating and structuring a good short story is excellent practice for aspiring writers. The experience winning writers will gain will be invaluable in preparing them for any future writing career.”
Throughout the week, Candy Jar will be hosting book signing sessions, workshops, and “meet the artist” events. Attendees will be able to meet some of Candy Jar’s finest authors including former The Honeycombs bassist Roger J Simmonds, Hinterland director and award-winning author Griff Rowland, Michelle Briscombe, Jane Cohen, Laura Shire, and accomplished children’s author Sue Hampton (who will be signing exclusive copies her new Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off children’s novel The Lucy Wilson Mysteries).
Shaun Russell says: “We have a whole host of incredible authors and illustrators who have been announced as part of the seven-day festival. Our aim is promote reading, writing and creativity in the heart of the city.”
Lauren Thomas, publishing co-ordinator at Candy Jar, believes that the festival is a fantastic way to engage young people with reading. She says: “As with our previous festivals, the exciting activities on offer will help to engage the local youth with great children’s literature.”
LETHBRIDGE-STEWART – SOUTH WALES SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2017
Candy Jar Books is offering an exciting, new opportunity for aspiring writers. Launching at Candy Jar Book Festival in Cardiff, writers can submit a short story based on the Doctor Who character Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart.
These stories will be included in a book to be released early next year.
Shaun Russell, head of publishing, says: “We had huge success with the previous two short story competitions and we wanted to do something different this year. With the fiftieth anniversary of the Brigadier coming up we felt that this would be a fantastic opportunity for budding writers to write their very own Lethbridge-Stewart story.”
The overall winner will offered the chance to pen their very own Lethbridge-Stewart book, and work alongside range editor and creative director of the Haisman estate, Andy Frankham-Allen, and will also receive a Kindle Fire to read it on. Both the winner and runner-up will receive all the Lethbridge-Stewart novels from 2018. All winning entries will see their stories published in book form in 2018.
Lethbridge-Stewart has been an essential part of the Doctor Who universe since 1968. He was created by authors Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln for the six-part Doctor Who serial The Web of Fear. Forty-nine years since the Brigadier appeared in Doctor Who he has become one of the show’s most iconic characters, having appeared with ten different Doctors in countless TV episodes, books, audio dramas and comic strips. And his legacy continues on with his daughter appearing in Doctor Who since 2012.
The “Lethbridge-Stewart South Wales Short Story Competition” will launch at Candy Jar Book festival on 17th August. Candy Jar is hosting a free event at Cardiff Central Library at 1pm: a panel with Lethbridge-Stewart authors Nick Walters, Simon A Forward, Tim Gambrell, Alyson Leeds and range editor Andy Frankham-Allen, discussing writing Lethbridge-Stewart and Doctor Who novels and short stories. And prior to that, at 12pm, cover artist Richard Young will be hosting a drawing class.
Andy Frankham-Allen says: “It’s a unique opportunity to have so many of our authors together in one place. We’ll be talking about the differences between writing novels and short stories, and offer some hints and tips for those interested in entering the short story competition. We are extremely committed to encouraging new talent and hope the public will take the time to come along and possibly enter the competition.”
The South Wales Short Story Competition will be accepting submissions from 17th August. Entrants are permitted to submit up to two short stories of no more than three thousand words. The competition is open to all unpublished writers across the UK.
Andy Frankham-Allen believes that short stories are an excellent way for writers to perfect their craft. He said: “The discipline and imagination required for creating and structuring a good short story is excellent practice for aspiring writers. The experience winning writers will gain will be invaluable in preparing them for any future writing career.”
All submissions must be received by the end of September. The competition is £5 to enter per story. The terms and conditions, such as copyright restrictions, will be emailed once the entrant has paid.
Entries can be sent via the Candy Jar Book Festival website. www.candyjarbookfestival.co.uk.
Or here!
Alternatively, they can also be posted to Candy Jar Books, Mackintosh House, 136 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 1DJ
For more information please contact Shaun Russell on 02921 157 202