If you want to find out why the cases of the CLAMP School Detectives sound like challenges from Taskmaster, why almost everything in Magic Knight Rayearth is named after a car, why the British Museum illustrated their manga exhibit using the soft-core lesbian manga Miyuki-chan in Wonderland, or why the Cardcaptor Sakura Kinomoto’s best friend has more than a whiff of The Fast Show’s 13th Duke of Wybourne about her, this is the book for you.
Find out more at: https://ianwolf.org/
-
In early 2020, Ian Wolf – manga critic in print and online, autistic comedic data specialist, and some time question writer for Richard Osman’s House of Games – decided that the best way to keep himself occupied while Britain was in Covid lockdown was to write a humorous book about his favorite manga artists – CLAMP... the women behind such works as Cardcaptor Sakura, xxxHOLiC, X and Magic Knight Rayearth.
-
TEESSIDE SEEN THROUGH AN APOCALYPTIC LENS...
It is coming.
We all feel it in our bones.
Join photographer Ian Robinson as he explores Teesside... an area haunted by the ghostly presence of its industrial past, around housing estates demolished but not rebuilt, under towers left empty and over roads now derelict.
And ponder for a while with some of the writers from the Post Apocalypse School of Teesside as we imagine how our world might end and what we can do to survive it.
Paperback, 70 page, glossy coffee-table photograph book -
Critical Nexus (SimCavalier Book Four)
Jack Sladen, tech billionaire and local hero, is coming back to his roots. Cameron Silvera, busy fighting a new cybercrime threat, doesn’t trust him. Is he out to save the world, or to destroy it? The Sladen Foundation seems like a great idea, but Cameron knows Jack Sladen of old, and has spent much of her infosec career tidying up the bugs and exploits in his software. Can he be trusted with this new venture, and why does he want Cameron’s help? Meanwhile, the Argentum team has caught wind of a new cybercrime outfit that is making waves and recruiting heavily. The Steamyard’s attacks look familiar. Who could be behind this new threat, and how are they connected to Jack? And what of the very special high security prisoner at Way House? As long as Yasmin the Admin is behind bars, Cameron knows that she and her family are safe. But black hat hackers have other plans, and as the Sladen Foundation celebrates its launch, their end game is set in motion – to create a monster that will take everyone down. -
On Terra, an Earth-like place, our resourceful friends Grynne, Gretchen and the Captain go from Puzzles to Pirates, from Looms to Dooms, from Taverns to Tales, from Laughter to Love and finally to Battles aided by a family of female Ninjas and a Blue Ocean Hawk.
The prospect of rescue or disaster looms large.
Can Grynne, Gretchen and the mysterious Captain storm Atoll Dubh and retain global peace?
-
Prepare to be disturbed…
A private investigator hunts for his client’s missing stepdaughter in a dieselpunk Los Angeles while keeping secrets of his own…
A middle-aged recluse has a phobia about teenage girls…
In a medieval England, what do the women get up to when all men and boys fall asleep every full moon? A young boy and his alchemist master try to find out…
Will Charlotte Bronte be tempted by the devil…?
All this and more as dark, quirky fantasy and wonderfully disturbing horror mix seamlessly in this collection of short stories from British writer, Liz Tuckwell.
-
After growing up in Newcastle on Tyne and graduating its Medical School in 1953, Geoffrey Marsh had a 34 year career as a GP in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, helping to transform General Practice from its 1950s pattern of single doctors working independently to its current pattern of multidisciplinary teams and targeted preventive work.
Upon retiring, he pursued his interests in gardening and creative writing. This book is a collection of his memories of Norton and writings on his medical school years, as well as his poetry, prose and ponderings on family, life and his favourite place to visit, Italy.
A wonderful mix of funny, poignant and insightful reflections, Northern Roots shares a glimpse of life as a GP in a very different time.
All proceeds from this book will be donated to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières).
-
An interplanetary package holiday takes a dark turn. A man is driven to madness by an unseen torturer. Construction workers discover a tunnel beneath the streets of the French Riviera. The author’s quest for a historical relic does not go to plan. Vengeance is sought in the Lowlands of Europe. A cat helps lay the foundations of a northern town.
These, and other strange tales, form an anthology of the arcane as Will Nett’s short stories are collected together for the first time. Journey with the author, where little is as it seems, as the reader is drawn in to the vague reality that is ‘Bank Notes’.
From the author of My Only Boro.
-
From Shrug to the Moon: The Robert Nichols Story
Available now from Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
Described as a subcultural force of nature, Rob Nichols is known throughout Teesside as the editor of the Boro Fanzine Fly Me To The Moon and equally as the front man of post-punk band Shrug, famous throughout Europe and still playing to sell out audiences.
Steve Spithray gets Rob to talk about both and much more besides, including archaeology, local history and his love of Teesside, giving an indepth, behind the scenes glimpse into an incredible character who has thrown his whole life, time, energy and enthusiasm into supporting the Boro, the Teesside music scene and everyone around him.
-
It’s the 1890s and a serial killer stalks the streets of Kingston-Upon-Hull, committing unspeakable crimes.
The Artistic Killer shows no remorse or mercy in his choice of victims.
Private investigator Stephen Howes, a man with his own secrets, is hired to catch the killer and its his last big job
Between drinking himself into oblivion to try and escape his haunting dreams, Howes must work under the guise of a special unit assigned to the police force of Hull to catch his man.
But things rarely go to plan and the longer he takes to find his prey, the more those around him find themselves in mortal danger.
-
Mira Chaudhri didn’t believe in ghosts until one killed the electrician.
Yesterday, Mira was a perfectly ordinary inhabitant of the historical city of York. Tonight, she’s going to learn that every scary story ever told about her city is true, and many more besides. But only one woman knows them all…
Holly Trinity has protected the city for longer than she’d care to admit. A lifetime spent battling supernatural horrors, patrolling the boundaries of the spirit world, and fighting off hell itself with nothing but an umbrella and a Kate Bush mixtape.
But now Holly needs a helping hand, and Mira’s about to become her new best friend.
Welcome to York. Where owt’s possible.
Holly Trinity and the Ghosts of York is the first novel in Ben Sawyer’s series of urban fantasy stories.
-
Gritty and raw, POETRY AND STORIES FROM A WORKING CLASS MIND by David Randall is a hard-hitting collection of poetry and prose with an underlying message that life can be better if we can just be better to each other.
David Andrew Randall was born in 1978 and raised in Hardwick, a council estate in Stockton on Tees. It was a time when doors were left unlocked and schools never had to be fenced off. The cornfields grew high and were a playground for all.
Having worked since he was 14, and suffering from long term agoraphobia and depression, this collection of poetry and stories is David’s first book. It is a raw, often harsh, but poignant and moving reflection of the life he has seen and experienced in the working class streets of Teesside.
His message…? Life is hard but it is also easy and beautiful at times. You just have to open your eyes and be better to each other…
Find out more at www.david-randall.co.uk
-
Stories are the lifeblood of human culture and more particularly, storytelling has sharpened social thinking, encouraged cooperation and been at the centre of human creativity and learning.
In his forty years as an educator, Nigel Northcott has found stories a helpful way to explain, illustrate and explore points and issues.
These one-hundred-and-one stories are a blend, and whilst none are blue, they are: old, new and borrowed. Several are stories that Nigel has heard or been told and for which there may be one or more ‘original’ sources or that ubiquitous pen of tradition.
What is common to the stories is the element of a moral, a meaning or lesson to be learnt and pleasure in reading them.
-
In the midst of the Covid-19 global lockdown of 2020, the Crossing the Tees Book Festival Short Story Competition carried on regardless, and gave the writers of the Tees area and beyond a chance to take part in Zoom workshops and work hard to craft their stories.
With many thanks going to this year’s judges, Peter Barron MBE (journalist and author), Laura Degnan (writer and film maker) and Kay Tranter (librarian), this anthology showcases the winners along with the rest of the brilliant stories that were short-listed from over ninety great entries.
Serious, poignant, funny, thought-provoking… there is no particular theme but all were written from the heart during the pandemic that stopped the world.
-
Welcome to our worlds… Looking to escape to another world with a super fast read? Looking for urban fantasy that is a bit different? Or weird stories to make you think? Wanting to discover speculative fiction from writers that could become your new favourite authors? Harvey Duckman presents the sixth in a series of short story anthologies featuring some of the most exciting voices in science fiction, fantasy, horror and steampunk today. Volume 6 includes stories by: Andy Hill, J.A. Wood, Mark Hayes, R. Bruce Connelly, A.D. Watts, Liz Tuckwell, Ben McQueeney, Melissa Wuidart Phillips, J.S. Collyer, Peter James Martin, C. K. Roebuck, Joseph Carrabis, Alexandrina Brant, Tony Harrison and D.T. Langdale, with a foreword from steampunk author Jon Hartless. Edited by C.G. Hatton. “Highly recommended… a great collection of weird tales!”
-
Stanley The Seagull is off on his adventures again, this time to visit all the football grounds that Sunderland AFC have ever played at.
Paperback available at:
Gary’s Kiosk, The Cat and Dog Steps, Seafront, Sunderland
Sue’s Cafe, Roker blockyard, Sunderland
Carnival House, Southwick, Sunderland
A Love Supreme, The Roker End Cafe, Sunderland (order online)
Sea Road Post Office, Seaburn
Paperback, 254x254mm, 48 pages, RRP £7.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-93-6
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, November 2020 -
Storytelling poet Steven Evetts has never shied away from sharing his deepest and most personal thoughts and Good News for the Bad News Blues is no exception as he contemplates the reality we inhabit but the message is clear 'everything is okay, in a not okay, sort of way’. Good News for the Bad News Blues is a collection of poems which vary from tragedy to comedy, written in his typically unique style of open form poetry with a gift for telling stories and playing with words to create an enthralling piece of work which takes the reader on a journey through his mind with a backdrop prominently centred around Americana. The collection is raw, honest, thought-provoking and witty. Steven Evetts, also known as The Rambling Pirate, uses his storytelling and dry wit to address a diverse plethora of topics throughout this collection which explores life, death, love, loss, cults, racism, violence and much more... The simplicity of some of the words are only matched by the complexity of their meaning. "I like the idea that anyone can pick up one of my books and have some idea of what I'm talking about. I'm not trying to sound smart, I'm just interested in sharing stories and thoughts in interesting ways which are open to the interpretation of whoever is reading them. To write complicated words for the sake of it seems a little braggadocio to me." Steven Evetts Paperback, 282 pages, RRP £9.99 ISBN 978-1-912218-96-7 Published by Sixth Element Publishing, November 2020
-
Tangled Fortunes (SimCavalier Book Three)
"Great book, well described characters and settings. Great story. Surprising plots. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!"
The Argentum Associates team responds to urgent calls for enhanced security at nuclear installations following a terrorist attack. As evidence grows of a sophisticated breach, Cameron, Ross and their colleagues join an international fight against a growing cybercriminal network with a global reach.
Paperback, 344 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-97-4
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, October 2020
-
Buy the paperback online at MFC Retail. Buy the Kindle eBook online at Amazon. Rob Nichols, editor of the Fly Me To The Moon Boro Fanzine, presents a stirring and nostalgic collection of Boro fan stories. Cigar smoke, fried onions and bright green grass… what do you remember of your first Boro match? In the strange lockdown year of 2020, when football stopped and then had to close its doors to fans, Rob invited everyone he knows to look back in time and tell the story of their first Boro match experience. From Ayresome Park in 1947 to the Riverside Stadium in 2020, from old fans to young, famous sons of Middlesbrough and former fan-favourite players, these stories have one common theme, a love of Boro through rain and shine, and that shall never end… Paperback, pocket-size, 306 pages, RRP £9.99 ISBN 978-1-912218-98-1 Published by Sixth Element Publishing, November 2020
-
Harvey Duckman presents a Pirates special edition in this awesome series of collected works of suspense and mystery in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and steampunkery… This anthology features work by exciting new voices in speculative fiction, including both established authors and previously unpublished writers. These short stories give a glimpse into some fantastic worlds that are already out there for you to enjoy, as well as a taste of more to come… so get your bottle of rum ready and hunker down to read...
-
Kindle eBook £2.99 or FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited
Welcome to our worlds…
Harvey Duckman presents the fourth in a series of collected works of suspense and mystery in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and steampunk.
This anthology features work by exciting new voices in speculative fiction, including both established authors and previously unpublished writers.
These short stories give a glimpse into some fantastic worlds that are already out there for you to enjoy, as well as a taste of more to come.
Volume 4 includes stories by: Adrian Bagley, Crysta K Coburn, Thomas Gregory, Christine King, Peter James Martin, John Holmes-Carrington, A.L. Buxton, Zack Brooks, Fred Johnson, Ben McQueeney, Keld Hope, Deborah Barwick, Jon Hartless, R. Bruce Connelly, and Mark Hayes, as well as a bonus ‘Harvey Duckman’ story by Andy Hill, and a foreword by Amy Wilson.
Edited by C.G. Hatton.
Paperback, 248 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-82-0
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, April 2020
-
The winning entries from the first Sixth Element We Are Boro short story competition Write about the Boro, we said. Fiction, true life, we didn’t mind, we just wanted to capture the passion, exasperation and true heart of the fans. And that’s exactly what is in this little book. From Ayresome Park to the Riverside, from tomato sauce buns to chicken parmos, from selkies to goblins, working men’s clubs to away games, what comes through in this collection of short-listed short story competition entries is a genuine, deep-rooted, through rain or shine love for the Boro… however well, or otherwise, it’s going on the pitch.
-
The winning entries from the first Sixth Element We Are Boro short story competition Write about the Boro, we said. Fiction, true life, we didn’t mind, we just wanted to capture the passion, exasperation and true heart of the fans. And that’s exactly what is in this little book. From Ayresome Park to the Riverside, from tomato sauce buns to chicken parmos, from selkies to goblins, working men’s clubs to away games, what comes through in this collection of short-listed short story competition entries is a genuine, deep-rooted, through rain or shine love for the Boro… however well, or otherwise, it’s going on the pitch.
-
Kindle eBook £2.99 or FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited
Welcome to our worlds…
Harvey Duckman presents the fourth in a series of collected works of suspense and mystery in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and steampunk.
This anthology features work by exciting new voices in speculative fiction, including both established authors and previously unpublished writers.
These short stories give a glimpse into some fantastic worlds that are already out there for you to enjoy, as well as a taste of more to come.
Volume 4 includes stories by: Adrian Bagley, Crysta K Coburn, Thomas Gregory, Christine King, Peter James Martin, John Holmes-Carrington, A.L. Buxton, Zack Brooks, Fred Johnson, Ben McQueeney, Keld Hope, Deborah Barwick, Jon Hartless, R. Bruce Connelly, and Mark Hayes, as well as a bonus ‘Harvey Duckman’ story by Andy Hill, and a foreword by Amy Wilson.
Edited by C.G. Hatton.
Paperback, 248 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-82-0
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, April 2020
-
Kindle eBook £3.49
The stunning new dark fantasy novella from the author of Greaveburn and The Alan Shaw Adventures.
The world ended long ago. Humanity, burnt out by a global fever, is a distant memory and the creatures that came before have returned. Christopher isn’t a survivor, The Sickness killed him long ago. Still, he walks through the wild paradise that the world has become, believing that he is alone. Until he finds a little dead girl chained in the ruins of a barn.
Emi.
As these two unlikely companions experience the new world and it’s host of weird inhabitants together, it becomes clear that even for the undead, there is something very wrong with Emi. As Christopher remembers more of his humanity, and Emi slips further away from her own, it seems there is still something to lose for the ancient Undying.
Inspired by Japanese mythology, this Apocalyptic Fantasy is like nothing you’ve ever read before. Read Emi now on Kindle or in paperback.
“So weirdly atmospheric, you get drawn into this world so much that you find yourself rooting for Christopher and Emi even though they’re already dead.”
Paperback, 148 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-83-7
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, April 2020
-
Kindle eBook 99p or read FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Rumble Crumble and the Monster Who Worried is a delightful, magical bedtime story to read to children at night to chase away any fears of the dark and the monster under the bed.
In this fourth book, one night, just before bedtime, Rumble Crumble can’t find his phone. Where could it be? Just as Freya and Pixie start to help him look for it, they spot a trail of brightly coloured foil wrappers leading into the forest. They look like Easter Egg wrappers… but what’s happened to the Easter Bunny?
For young readers, who are looking for magical adventure books to read all by themselves, this is also a wonderful introduction to short but grown-up paperback books with chapters.
Written by children for children…
Paperback, 32 pages, RRP £6.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-85-1
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, April 2020
-
Kindle eBook 99p or read FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Rumble Crumble and the Monster Who Worried is a delightful, magical bedtime story to read to children at night to chase away any fears of the dark and the monster under the bed.
In this third book, one night, just before bedtime, Rumble Crumble gets a note from one of his monster friends. Bert the Worry Monster has been asked to perform at the Monster Show… and he’s worried that he can’t dance. Can Freya, Pixie and Rumble Crumble help? Of course they can! They love to dance!
For young readers, who are looking for magical adventure books to read all by themselves, this is also a wonderful introduction to short but grown-up paperback books with chapters.
Written by children for children…
Paperback, 28 pages, RRP £6.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-84-4
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, April 2020
-
Kindle eBook £2.99 or FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited
WHO KNOWS WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?
Sometimes you never know what goes on within a marriage, even your own, until some catastrophe happens.
From a quiet village in North Yorkshire, a story of slow-burn domestic tension, discontent and tragedy compounded by cover‑up, and a desire for survival no matter what. Not so much a whodunnit, more a will-they-get-away-with-it that you won’t want to put down.
This cozy crime novel from Daniel Pascoe is now available on Kindle and in paperback.
“A great read, intelligent, explosive…”
Paperback, 332 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-69-1
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, February 2020
-
Kindle eBook £3.99 or FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited
The war against the alien horde is all but lost… human-occupied space is overrun while the Thieves’ Guild tries desperately to hold together a fragile alliance of Earth and Wintran resistance.
As the freak mutation of the alien virus continues to ravage his body, Zach Hilyer can’t be detected by the telepathic invaders. And with NG and LC out of the picture, he’s the most powerful remaining weapon the guild has against the Bhenykhn. Their only weapon.
Sent ever deeper into enemy territory on mission after mission, the demands of the Thieves’ Guild, the resistance and the Seven super AIs are pushing him to breaking point. But Hil isn’t just hiding from the aliens. His greatest fear isn’t losing the war, it’s losing himself.
Arunday’s Convergence is the sixth book set in the high-tech Thieves’ Guild universe of galactic war, knife-edge intrigue, alien invasion, thieves, assassins, bounty hunters and pirates.
Paperback, 336 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-80-6
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, December 2019
-
In June 2019, Lisette Auton and Sara Gibbeson took part in the Crossing the Tees Book Festival as Poet-in-Residence and Illustrator-in-Residence. The Festival is in its sixth year and takes place in libraries across the five boroughs which make up the Tees Valley. Over the course of the festival fortnight Lisette and Sara attended events, held workshops and masterclasses, worked in schools and scribbled incessantly. This collection is the culmination of their work together and includes some of the poetry produced by our incredibly talented Tees Valley pupils. The Ink Flows Poetry Collection, as part of Crossing the Tees Book Festival, has been made possible due to generous funding by the five borough library services, Arts Council England and Northern Festival of Illustration. Paperback, 58 pages, RRP £9.99 ISBN 978-1-912218-71-4 Published by Sixth Element Publishing, December 2019
-
Available now in paperback and Kindle.
Harvey Duckman presents a Christmas special edition in his series of collected works of suspense and mystery in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and steampunkery…
This anthology features work by exciting new voices in speculative fiction, including both established authors and previously unpublished writers.
These short stories give a glimpse into some fantastic worlds that are already out there for you to enjoy, as well as a taste of more to come… all with a flavour of the festive season.
The Harvey Duckman Presents… Special: Christmas 2019 includes stories by: Thomas Gregory, Andy Hill, Peter James Martin, Craig Hallam, Kate Baucherel, Cheryllynn Dyess, Marios Eracleous, Zack Brooks, Ben McQueeney, Maggie Kraus, Gerald Wiley, Lynne Lumsden Green, Mark Hayes, Ben Sawyer and R. Bruce Connelly.
Edited by C.G. Hatton.
-
OUT NOW The winning entries from the first Sixth Element We Are Boro short story competition Write about the Boro, we said. Fiction, true life, we didn’t mind, we just wanted to capture the passion, exasperation and true heart of the fans. And that’s exactly what is in this little book. From Ayresome Park to the Riverside, from tomato sauce buns to chicken parmos, from selkies to goblins, working men’s clubs to away games, what comes through in this collection of short-listed short story competition entries is a genuine, deep-rooted, through rain or shine love for the Boro… however well, or otherwise, it’s going on the pitch. Paperback, 182 pages, RRP £6.99 ISBN 978-1-912218-72-1 Published by Sixth Element Publishing, December 2019
-
Continuing the tradition from the summers of 2017 and 2018, Crossing the Tees Book Festival launched its third short story competition and attracted over a hundred spectacular entries from writers nationwide. With no specified theme again this year, everyone’s imaginations were once more freed to create a richly varied collection of thoughtful and downright entertaining stories. This anthology presents the winner, runners-up, and highly commended stories, as judged by Rob Scragg (author), Amy Lord (author) and Carol McIntosh (librarian), as well as the rest of the short-listed entries. Paperback, 238 pages, RRP £10 ISBN 978-1-912218-75-2 Published by Sixth Element Publishing, December 2019
-
Kindle eBook £2.99 or FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited
Jack Rutherford is back on the road… and trouble is waiting for him in the second of the Jack Rutherford 1820’s historical cattle droving adventures.
“An entertaining and charismatic main character who barges his way through the story with bold panache and goodwill galore.”
Jack Rutherford is now a successful man, living a good life with his wife and infant son. But he’s restless… adventure is calling him once again. Not only that, his past is starting to catch up with him as an old enemy comes out of the woodwork and threatens the safety of Jack’s family.
Soon, Jack and his faithful wolfhound Dag are out on the road again, travelling through the north of England, London and across the North Sea to France.
And, as always, danger, excitement and adventure are waiting for them.
Buy the new Jack Rutherford adventure now on Kindle.
Paperback, 230 pages, RRP £9.99
ISBN 978-1-912218-67-7
Published by Sixth Element Publishing, December 2019
