Jelly Bean is pleased to announce its second ‘Book of the Month’, Old Clothes and Porridge by author Maureen Mullally-Clarke. This wonderful memoir looks back at a bygone age, particularly focusing on the 1930s and ‘40s.
Brought up by her grandmother in Glasgow, Maureen and her little sister Oonagh only saw their parents at eighteen month intervals. Old Clothes and Porridge tells the story of a childhood spent against the backdrop of the Depression, the launch of the Queen Mary, the Jarrow march, the abdication of King Edward VIII, the coronation of George VI, WW2 and the VE Day celebrations. Maureen says: “I wrote this book for my grandchildren. I’ve always told them about my childhood, and they have often said, “Why don’t you write it all down?”, so that’s exactly what I did.”
Candy Jar Publishing Co-ordinator, Keren Williams, says: “It is important to document our lives and the lives of our families, otherwise this information becomes lost. Old Clothes and Porridge is a personal memoir that the world will enjoy, and I’m certain Maureen’s family will treasure. More people should be encouraged to write about their lives, even if it is just for their family.”
Maureen agrees and would encourage others to write down their life stories. She continues: “Yes, I would and in fact I do. I know one woman who used to be a war correspondent and one man who had a brilliant military career. People have fascinating lives and they should be documented.”
One of Candy Jar’s most popular titles is Eileen Younghusband’s One Woman’s War, which offers a vivid insight into the life of a young woman facing the grim reality of war. Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing, says: “Old Clothes and Porridge reminds me so much of One Woman’s War. As soon as I read it, I knew Maureen’s story would touch hearts across the generations. This book is attention grabbing, well-written and also extremely funny. At this time of uncertainty this book is a joyous reminder how wonderful it is to be human. ”
After being advised by her best friend’s granddaughter of the benefits of being in control of the publishing process, Maureen decided to go with Jelly Bean. Maureen says: “It was great to receive an email from Shaun on 19th January and the books arrived on 19th March! And when you hold that book in your hands it’s like having a new baby.”
Overwhelmed by the support of her family and friends, Maureen is really delighted with the end product. She concludes: “I would like to send my gratitude to everyone who has read my book and for the lovely things they have been saying about it. I am so pleased that it now available on Amazon.”
Old Clothes and Porridge is now available worldwide through Amazon. To order the book visit: https://tinyurl.com/ycybtlg3
Jelly Bean is pleased to announce their new feature entitled ‘Book of the Month’, which aims to showcase new talent on a monthly basis. We will be publishing several categories. The first is children’s 7-12.
Kickstarting ‘Book of the Month’ is Rory and Harlow’s Time Travelling Taxi by Rob Willsher. In his children’s book two dogs, Rory and Harlow, find a magical Taxi which transports them back in time and into a historical adventure of a lifetime.
In a recent interview, Rob explains how the idea for Rory and Harlow’s Time Travelling Taxi was, in fact, more of a collaboration. He explained: “Many years ago I was a London cab driver. At the time we had some rescue dogs and on a few occasions I took one of the dogs, Toto, to work with me in the front of the taxi. That’s when my wife Fiona came up with the idea of us doing a book about a dog that travels to historical places in London, or even all around the world!”
The book’s target audience is four to eight and adheres to the National Curriculum for this age group. In the book, Rory and Harlow travel back in time and meet Alfred the Great, who defeated the Danes by sending messages to his officers, thus highlighting the importance of being able to read and write.
Rob states: “One of the greatest skills in life is the ability to read. Even if all you are reading is a tin of beans, it can take you so far in life. I hope I’m helping to encourage a new generation of readers.”
Rob is currently working on the second book in the series entitled The Woman with the Long Red Hair, which focuses on Boadicea, who was bullied by the Romans over how much land she was entitled to after her husband’s death, and is a topic that children can relate to.
Rob continues: “They are books that you can read to your child, or that your child can read to themselves. I gave Rory and Harlow’s Time Travelling Taxi to a twelve to thirteen year old to read and he couldn’t put it down, saying it was nice and easy to read, especially with the pictures. Even adults have said they’ve learned something from the book!”
Head of Publishing at sister company Candy Jar Books, Shaun Russell, says: “This book has a lot of potential and I can see lots of children and parents really taking an interest. The text is a mixture of fact and fiction and, paired with beautiful illustrations by artist Patrick Coombes, it is perfect for those who are just getting into reading. Once the Candy Jar schedule has cleared up, we are hoping to bring this book out as one of our own.”
With the promise of becoming a Candy Jar publication in the near future Rory and Harlow’s Time Travelling Taxi is sure to be a hit. Both entertaining and educational, the book will make a great addition to any bookshelf and is sure to give young eyes a workout!
For now Rory and Harlow’s Time Travelling Taxi can be bought and enjoyed straight from the author. To order the book visit https://roryandharlows.co.uk/
Until further notice, Jelly Bean has relocated to a number of different properties across the Cardiff area!
I know I speak for all of us – Will, Keren, Andy and myself – when I say that I sincerely hope you are safe and well in these difficult and uncertain times.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve all heard a lot of ideas about how best to keep ourselves occupied in the months to come: whether online classes, box sets – even Joe Wicks workout videos on YouTube!
Of course, you may have your own ideas: maybe working through that to-read pile , putting the final touches on a new manuscript, or starting something else creative.
Sadly, we know that the next three months are not to be ones of leisure. Every one of us will have our own difficulties to face: from setting up a workplace from our bedrooms, providing for vulnerable friends and family, or simply keeping ourselves healthy in body and mind during our suddenly constricted day to day lives.
And of course, the greatest pressures will fall on those of you who are key workers, to whom we can only extend our gratitude and admiration.
To say a big thank you to our clients and customers we will be giving free books away on Kindle every Friday until isolation is over. The first freebie is the Lucy Wilson book, Avatars of the Intelligence (available from 9am Friday morning).
We are also creating a Jelly Bean ‘Book of the Month/Week’ page on our Candy Jar website. If you like your book to be considered for this please get in touch. We will be sending this information out on Twitter, Facebook and via our subscriber list.
On the flipside, if you have any work you need doing such as editing, proofreading, website design, audiobooks or illustration work please do get in touch. If not, please pass this email on to your friends.
We are just a phone call away, and would love to discuss any new projects you may have, with no commitment on your behalf. Although for the foreseeable future, individually we are all holed away in our respective homes, we offer the same personal service as ever. In short, everything to take your work from draft to print and into the hands of readers.
The wheels keep on turning, albeit through a strange new landscape, and soon, I am sure, we will return to familiar ground.
From all of us here at Jelly Bean, stay safe.
Shaun Russell Head of Publishing Jelly Bean / Candy Jar Books
Mary Edith Pechey and Marie Curie were two of the most influential women of their times. Marie Curie conducted significant research on radioactivity as well as being the only person to win a Nobel prize in two different sciences. Edith Pechey was one of the first female doctors in the United Kingdom and a promoter of women’s rights. Both women were contrapuntal to the development of the human race, but what would happen if their lives were thrown off track?
Paul Robinson takes a small hiatus
from his Charlie Holmes series to write Time Split, a new novel
following the adventures of Jenny Johnson. Jenny finds herself launched into
the bodies of two teenage girls in the past. She must ensure that they are set
back onto the correct paths to secure their future influences, and the success
of humanity!
Inspired by a writing
exercise, Paul created Time Split after receiving the prompt “One day
she woke up…”. He combined this with his expansive knowledge of famous women
throughout history -– of which he has a list -– in order to raise more awareness
of their achievements.
Paul explains: “I am a strong believer in
writing about important female characters. I want to readdress the balance
between the genders while teaching younger girls about amazing, influential
women.”
Having taught young people
for the past 40 years, including working with those hard of hearing, Paul’s
main aspiration is to develop new role models in order to inspire his students.
He aims to create more relatable and exceptional characters; Charlie Holmes is
based on one of his deaf students, Charlotte.
Time Split encapsulates
adolescence in a realistic way, with a generous serving
of miscommunication, humour, love and heartbreak.
Hope and friendship can be found in the worst of situations. Things don’t always go to plan. Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes we get lost and we can’t find our way back. Often this leads to unexpected meetings, friends, adventures, and a brand new life.
The wonderful children’s book Oscar the Ferry Cat written by the talented Molly Arbuthnott, is heart-warming picture book that explores how we come to terms with loss and the positives that can be gained from this.
Loss is an unpleasant part of life that people don’t want to talk about, especially with children. As a primary school teacher, Molly Arbuthnott feels this is a missed opportunity. Loss is inevitable, we will all experience it.
But how we cope with it will make a difference to how it will shape the rest of our lives. She says: “I wanted my pupils to be able to read something that would help them understand the realities of life. And to teach them that hope, love, belonging, and friendship can always be found.” Her books achieve this in a masterful and light-hearted way that makes it very easy for children to understand.
Oscar is a Siamese cat with an adventurous streak. When he runs away from his family to explore, he loses his way and realises that he may never be able to get back. Although upset, he tries to make a new life for himself and meets lots of fantastic and interesting characters along the way. In the next part of Oscar’s tale, he and his new found friends explore the beautiful Hebrides and find themselves risking everything when they notice a girl in danger on a beach.
This daring book series challenges the concept of the ‘happy ending’ with a rewarding outcome. Molly Arbuthnott teaches children and adults alike that life takes some unexpected twists and turns. You may not end up where you wanted, but you will always find your way. Her exploration of loss is a beautifully crafted piece of work full of emotion, inspiration and hope.
Molly has written and published three Oscar books so far through Jelly Bean Books. These are Oscar the Ferry Cat, Oscar the Hebridean Cat and Oscar the London Cat. Molly Arbuthnott is currently working on her next book, the anticipated Angus the Robin, which will prove to have just as much depth, insight and meaning.
As of 2019 bees are currently at a higher risk of extinction than ever before. Pesticides appear to be the main culprit for this growing issue and with her new book Little Bee’s Sneeze Nerys Beattie hopes to send an important message to children and adults alike.
Nerys has taken time away from her three-year-old son, husband and small pack of dogs, to write and create her first ever short children’s fiction book. It follows the journey of a small bee with terrifyingly allergies to flowers. This means she cannot take part in day-to-day bee life, subsequently isolating her from the rest of the hive.
Having always wanted to write, but never having had the time before, Nerys was finally emboldened to start her labour of love after deciding to prioritise the idea she had been holding onto for as long as she can remember. She says: “Once I had thirty minutes to myself and I sat down at my desk, all of the ideas came spilling out. I started at 1pm and by 8pm I had written the entire book!”
Her first venture into children’s fiction is a real treat, shining light upon the trials and tribulations children may face, up against the backdrop of a walking, talking bee hive. Having always suffered from hay fever herself, Nerys wanted to incorporate this into her story. She also tackles issues such as bullying, running away from home and feeling excluded.
Nerys continues: “I wanted to include issues that were integral for parents to talk about with their children, but can often be tricky to handle. This book will hopefully help start the conversation. I also wanted to include bee poison as a representation of the pesticides that are killing bee communities, however, it needed to remain subtle and flow well within the storyline.”
Her collaborator on this project has been Inge Van Der Ham. Inge is a fellow colleague from over twenty years ago who reconnected with Nerys after the author posted her elation at finishing Little Bee’s Sneeze. Inge reached out and offered her skills as the illustrator for the book, and the pair then began to work alongside to bring the story to life.
Little Bee’s Sneeze is an adorable short rhyming story that shows children how our differences make us special. Nerys Beattie invites us to follow the story of a small bee who, by realising her potential, can achieve miraculous things. It is the perfect read for your children during this run up to Christmas.
Gemma
Greening never had plans to become a published author. It wasn’t until a
string of funny poems she had scribbled over birthday cards to her
husband; mainly for the amusement of her two sons, Alfie and Oliver,
snowballed into an idea for a children’s fiction book, and all of a
sudden ‘Messy Dad’ was born.
Having
always had a way with words; often writing short poems here and there
when she found the time, Gemma struck gold when she started constructing
and stringing together some silly and satirical rhymes all based on her
frustration with her partner Ben’s lack of initiative when it came to
housework.
Gemma
says: “It all started as a joke to be honest, the kids and I would
construct these poems to write on birthday and Christmas cards for their
dad. My eldest, Olli, really likes getting involved. After showing the
ideas of ‘messy dad’ to some close friends, I gained the confidence, but
I needed to decide to share it with an audience.”
Messy Dad is
a cheeky and brassy short rhyming story, with silly anecdotes.
Illustrator Matt Prewett successfully heaps on the comedy matching each
verse to an equally wacky cartoon, tying the book together as dessert
for your eyes. The story follows our leading man Messy Dad who happens
to have some rather questionable hygiene habits and struggles to hold
down the fort whilst his wife is at work.
We need to talk about Dementia! The illness has long been misunderstood and stigmatised. Despite millions of people being diagnosed or impacted by it every year we do not talk about it.
Enter Sally Flint. In her children’s picture book I Love My Grandpa!, Sally has approached the subject of dementia in a heart-warming and educational way. She aims to eliminate the stigma of the illness. She says: “There is still a lot about dementia that people don’t understand. We need to talk about it. Dementia is not as simple as forgetfulness.”
In the book, Sally’s explores how dementia affects all those involved, most particularly children. Her beautifully illustrated and poignantly written story tackles this issue with sensitivity, intelligence and love.
She continues: “When a family member is diagnosed with a type of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s or Lewey Body, the change to normal family life can be overwhelming. My story is about a boy, Chris and his grandpa. Despite Grandpa’s dementia they have a loving relationship. The story explores the coping mechanisms of dementia, while being entertaining, uncomplicated and thoughtful.”
The book has been published by Jelly Bean Books. Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, says: “I Love My Grandpa! has gorgeous illustrations by artist Terry Cooper. Alongside the sympathetic text by Sally Flint, it is humorous and offers a fresh perspective on the illness. You don’t need to have experienced dementia to read the book. Its overriding message is that family is important and love will conquer.”
I Love My Grandpa! is a sincere, insightful, and uplifting story that everyone needs to read. The message is clear! Those diagnosed with dementia are still human and have so much to offer.To order the book click https://www.sallyflint.com/shop.html
If you would like to self-publish your book please visit here.
As
a now published author, I was nearly kicked out of teaching college
because my spelling was so poor. To fix it, I read books and the words
stuck!
So, what to read is the question. Honestly, read what you love. It could be…
Horror: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is my favourite. A story of love and family.
Fantasy: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien… crazy ideas, he is a master.
Comedy: The Twits, or any book, by Roald Dahl… insane fun.
Picture books: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day… how is your day really?
Information: Everyone Poops… honest and hilarious.
Poetry: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss. Dr Seuss is another master of writing.
Enchanted: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone JK Rowling: my kids just loved it!
Life: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. How can one give more?
Feelings: The Red Balloon by A Lamorisse.
Wild Adventure: Revenge of the Cannibal Chickens by Gavin Lihou. Dead set greatest book of all time!
Let us look randomly at No. 3. Roald Dahl and The Twits!
Roald Dahl really does bend the mind of his readers. His use of
alliteration and similes is second to none. Ahhhh… but what is
alliteration? Here you go my friends, this is writing hack number 2!
Alliteration is the repetition of the same letter or sound of words. Like… She sells sea shells by the sea shore (a great tongue twister). Or… Three grey geese (Mother Goose).
But Dahl is very smart… he writes:
‘squiggly spaghetti’ (s and as).
‘Bogus and Bunce and Bean, one fat one short one lean.’ (carries the ‘b’ for Bogus and Bunce and Bean and even the Bean for lean) from Fantastic Mr Fox.
Roald Dahl also uses similes, but what are similes? This is writing hack number 3!
A simile compares one thing to another:
‘Mr Twits beard was like a hairy jungle.’
‘He was among the saucepans and machines like a child amongst Christmas presents.’ – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
In order to write well, these are two literary devices* that we should use.
*
literary devices: writing talk for stuff we should use in our writing.
Make a list of them and add them to your writing and it will improve. Trust me, I am the Cannibal Chicken after all!
So… young paduans (Star Wars
reference) I am your Jedi of writing. Follow me and become great
writers and change your writing for the best! One book at a time. The
Cannibal Chicken will help you to make your writing better, but practice
you must have, my young paduans. So your list is…
Read.
Add alliteration to your writing.
Add similes to your writing. The more personal the better.
And remember to…
WRITE, IMAGINE,
And most importantly…
DREAM!
From
The Cannibal Chicken
Wait for my next writing hack and stay tuned…
If you would like to see for yourself what all of this ‘Cannibal Chickens’ nonsense is about please follow this link! And, if you too would like to become an author please get in touch with submissions@jellybeanselfpublishing.co.uk or give us a call on 02921157202!
Imagine: you’re in your room and you can hear the whoosh of the rain outside. Opening your curtain it seems that the people out in the rain are running for shelter. It’s probably best you don’t go out for a while. You check your phone only to see that the Internet is down. You have enough food and drink, so you turn to your bookshelf. You have no idea when the storm will pass, and you have endless amounts of free time.
What books do you choose to read?
This is my own compilation of books for just such an occasion. These are books that I have read and personally enjoyed and I hope that you appreciate these books as much as I do.
1 – The Deepest Cut by Natalie Flynn
This book made me cry.
Not many books have done that, so I definitely recommend this one if you are in need of a compelling story about death, rock bottom, and finding your way out again.
We follow Adam’s guilt-ridden perspective as he tries to cope with his best friend, Jake’s, murder. After an attempt on his own life, Adam is taken to a mental health facility where he is too traumatised to speak. Instead, he writes down the events leading up to Jake’s murder and tries to come to terms with what happened.
The entire book is an extremely cathartic experience. The first time I read it, I finished it in only a few hours. The writing is especially engaging with Adam’s distinct character voice shining through.
Overall, a fantastic book that you won’t want to put down.
2 – The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) by Patrick Ness
The style of this book is phenomenal.
It is definitely a different type of mystery book than you’d find usually, it’s full of otherworldly things while at the same time making them seem ordinary.
Following Todd Hewitt on this alien world, we find out that while the men can hear each other’s thoughts, the women are missing; thought dead. While walking in the swamp with his dog, Todd discovers a gap in the noise of men’s thoughts. It’s terrifying. As Todd steps further into the mystery, he suspects that the men in his town are hiding something from him. Eventually, he has to run away with his dog Manchee, but he doesn’t get far before he runs into a girl. But didn’t all the women die years ago?
One of the most charming parts of the book, in my opinion, is the child-like spelling and grammar mistakes. This is because this informs you of Todd’s character immediately on the first page as someone who hasn’t had a proper education. This also helps to establish his unique character voice, which shines throughout the book.
It’s been a while since I first read it, but now, after looking at it again, I’m tempted to revisit it. It’s really one of those books you can’t put down, because you want to know where the story goes next or how the mystery gets solved, or even how everything gets worse.
I would recommend this book if you like both science fiction and mystery stories. This is well worth the read, and is only the first book in a trilogy. I guarantee that you’ll want to read the rest.
3 – Thunderbirds Agent’s Technical Manual by Haynes
As a Thunderbirds fanatic I had to include this on the list.
This is definitely a book to read on a rainy day; it’s incredibly fascinating to see how all the machines work from the 1965 era of the show.
This book shows the schematics of everything from Thunderbirds 1965; from Tracy Island to FAB1. Ever wondered how fast Thunderbird 1 really goes? Now you know. Want to know exactly how the boys make it into their respective ships, even to Thunderbird 4? It’s all right here for you to feast your eyes on.
I first received this as a birthday present and I’ve loved it ever since. With an introduction letter from Jeff Tracy himself, Haynes really gets the feel of the original show and even gives character profiles if you wanted to know more about all the lovable characters from the show.
If you yourself are a Thunderbirds fan, or you know someone who is, this is a must have.
4 – Steelheart (Reckoners #1) by Brandon Sanderson
This turns the entire superhero genre on its head.
Sanderson has done something special with this book. He’s given us an anti-hero story wherein the people you think are superheroes are really not.
When the star Calamity first appeared in the sky, select people gained different types of supernatural abilities, but it turns out, the more they use these abilities, the more they turn bad. The story starts with our narrator, David, recalling a memory from 10 years ago that is the key in fighting the superhumans called Epics: he’s seen Steelheart bleed. Steelheart killed David’s father, and David wants to fight back. The thing is that no one fights the Epics, at least, not anyone who wants to stay alive. So David joins the Reckoners, the people who are the only ones brave enough.
This is a brilliantly written and constructed fantasy story with elements of mystery. You have my dad to thank for this recommendation, because he made me listen to it in the car as an audiobook. The journey was 6 hours and was made miles more interesting (pun intended). Sanderson really immerses you in the action of the book. A must read for fantasy and action fans alike.
5 – World War Z by Max Brooks
‘An Oral History of the Zombie War’.
If you’ve seen the movie, forget it. It’s about as different from the book as the sun is from the moon. This is a different sort of zombie book that focuses on the aftermath.
Instead of the struggle of a single man against a horde of the undead, you have a single man interviewing a number of people about their experiences during the war. He travels across the world and each character he interviews has a different horrific story to tell about their experiences. The first interview is that of the doctor that discovered Patient Zero in the small village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China. The goal of these interviews, as stated by Brooks, is to include the ‘human factor’ in his book, because it is ‘the only true difference between us and the enemy’.
With each interview, you are immersed in their story, in their descriptions and in their clearly displayed emotion. This book is an incredible collection of humanity after such a dark time, and even though it is fiction, it feels very real. This is something to read that makes you feel like you’re reading actual accounts of survivors of a real war.
6 – Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida
A deliciously horrific manga that questions who the real monster is.
For those who are unaware, a manga is essentially a Japanese comic book. This specific manga looks at the transformation of a normal human into a flesh eating Ghoul; drawing strong parallels with Kafka’s Metamorphosis.
Ken Kaneki’s story begins with his crush on a girl, Rize, and she seems to be a bookworm like him, and they agree to go on a date. However, this date turns fatal. As Kaneki walks her home, he discovers way too late that she is a Ghoul and plans to eat him. Luckily, before she can, heavy construction beams fall on them. Waking up in hospital with an organ transplant from Rize, Kaneki notices that all the food he tries to eat tastes disgusting. This follows to his later, horrifying discovery that he has become a Ghoul, a creature who craves the flesh of humans. Follow him on his journey to come to terms with what he has become and what terrors await in the dark underworld in which he now finds himself.
The story, as bizarre as it sounds, is incredibly compelling, and Kaneki’s inner turmoil continues throughout the series. I personally enjoy stories that focus on an inner struggle, and this provides that and more.
Despite the physical needs of the two opposing forces in the series, the Ghouls and the CCG (an organisation that hunts down and kills Ghouls), they appear to all be people who have their own feelings and aspirations. This series is ambiguous as to who the real monsters are, and I love that uncertainty.
