www.canaanpress.co.uk

Canaan - Land of Promise - Third Installment

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:13:39 +0100

Don't forget to drop by and read the latest installment of the sequel to Infinity and Beyond -
www.canaanlandofpromise.wordpress.com
You can sign up to be notified when new chapters are added.
You may even read about youself in the story.

Sequel to Matthew's story

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:55:22 +0100

We have chosen to publish the sequel to Infinity and Beyond as a free Blog on wordpress.com. You can now read the long-awaited update on Matthew's story - Canaan, Land of Promise by clicking here.

We look forward to hearing from you there.

Blessings,

Lynette & Mark

BOOK LAUNCH FOR ALEX WARNE

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:15:18 +0000

The official launch of The Heaven Flower by Alex Warne is Friday 18th February 2011.

It will be attended by representatives from local council, Westminster, schools, libraries, churches, hospitals, charitable and help organisations, funeral services, the media, marketing, authors, and people in the public eye.

This is a remarkable story, the more so, since it was written by Alex when he was seven years old, himself suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, and following the death of his beloved grandad.

In sharing his story, it is Alex’s passion to reach out and make a difference in real lives across all walks of life.

We have seen the far-reaching impact of one young boy’s inspired ambition. David Seidler, himself a stutterer, was so inspired by George VI, that he ended up writing the screen play for this year’s film phemomenon, The Kings’s Speech. “For the first time ever”, says Seidler, now 73, “I feel I have a voice, I have been heard.”
Alex Warne believes children and young people need encouragement to express themselves when facing adversity. He hopes his inspiration will encourage them to use writing as a means of that expression.

Canaan Press is committed to helping Alex realise his ambition, that of becoming a professional writer and being a role model to young people, inspiring them to achieve lives they can be proud of, no matter what their past or present circumstances are.

Help us help Alex; help us help others, help us spread the word.

You can buy The Heaven Flower today, from our webshop.

Thank you for your support.

Nothing Just Happens

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:43:26 +0100

I don’t believe in chance meetings, so when Julie Warne emailed to tell us about a book her son had written and illustrated when he was seven, I was immediately intrigued to learn more.

It transpires that Alex Warne was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, aged six. His granddad, or Grandans, as Alex called him, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three weeks later. The generation gap was never an issue for these two inseparable pals, which made it all the more poignant as they went through their respective treatments together.

Tragically, Grandans lost his brave battle, but happily Alex survived.

Always nurturing a passion to write and tell stories, Alex wrote and illustrated a beautiful tale of love and loss through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy, to whom the world had dealt some difficult and painful circumstances. It was Alex’s way of dealing with the grief he felt, even though he couldn’t properly analyse those emotions.

Alex is now an extremely mature and sensitive boy of twelve, who can also add bullying to his list of life’s experiences, but he and his mum believe his spontaneous telling of that story has the ability to speak to countless other children, and adults, about facing the death of someone you love. His innocent and touching interpretation of Heaven encourages young and old alike to believe in a hope beyond this mortal life.

Canaan Press have teamed up with Alex to help him get his story into print. It is his heartfelt desire to bring comfort to anyone suffering loss of a loved one, and to help younger readers be able to speak about death, without fear of this vast, unknown frontier. The story has an amazing afterword, but I won't spoil your enjoyment by sharing that here - look out for its publication.

Not to be missed, The Heaven Flower ©Alexander Warne, will be available later this year through Canaan Press. Meanwhile, determined to make his name in the literary world, Alex is working hard on his second book, a mythical tale of courage and adventure, perhaps even reflecting something of this unique young man today.

Francophile yummy mummy is no one hit wonder

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:54:14 +0100

Louise Franklin’s enchanting and witty book Bananas in Bordeaux sparkles with humour, warmth and a sheer love of life. A tour-de-force of comic writing, it tells the tale of 12 months when the author’s life changes forever. Putting away her career-woman’s Filofax, the English-born 25-year-old, living in Bordeaux with her French husband, Eric, takes a plain notebook and starts to write and illustrate her hilarious and often moving diary. When they decide to ditch city living for a taste of self sufficiency, everyday mundane becomes a source of uniquely eloquent entertainment.

(Excerpt from The Bristol Evening Post 27th Jan 2010)

The story of Bristol-born mum-of-two Louise Franklin is an epic love story. Only the love of Louise's life is France and the French way of life.

The 37-year-old Francophile first fell in love with the country when her parents took her away from her Bristol home to live near Bordeaux for three years at the age of nine.

By the time she was 12, and her parents – both doctors – were ready to return from their extended sabbatical across the Channel, Louise had not only fallen in love with the Gallic nation, but had also become fluent in the French language.

"We came back to England but there was always something calling me back to France."

After three years at university in London – studying French, of course – Louise decided she would move to France permanently.

"I was fond of Bristol and it's not that I didn't want to go home to the West Country. But the draw to go back to Bordeaux was stronger," she says.

"It was 1994 and Britain was still obsessed by Peter Mayle's A Year In Provence. There were hundreds of British families emigrating across the Channel. Even here in my new home town, Jonzac, just outside Bordeaux, there are dozens of families from the West Country.

"But it didn't take me long to stop feeling like an ex-pat Brit out here. Now, 16 years on, to be honest, I feel more French than British. This is my home now."

Louise married a local man and had two sons. Despite later going through a divorce, Louise never considered returning to England.

In fact, she says her sons, Ben, 12, and Hugo, nine, are both perfectly bilingual but feel themselves to be more French than British.

Despite having two day-jobs – producing a website for local businesses and teaching French to British ex-pats – Louise has also found time to produce her second book. The Book We Cooked is a children's story, which gives a child's eye view of genealogy.

"I started writing it for Ben and Hugo, because I wanted them to have a record of the things that had happened to their family before they were born – simple things like how their grandparents met and things that they did when they were little.

"We liked it so much, we thought other children might like to read it, too. Each chapter tells a different story, but giving the ingredients of the story as if it was a cookery book."

Both books are published by Canaan Press - and proceeds will go towards Matt’s Canaan Trust, a charitable organization helping families facing a terminal illness.

"Ben, Hugo and I had great fun putting it together," Louise says. "So it's a real bonus that it's been published and will be making money for such a good cause."

Breaking the chains of Domestic Violence

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:58:59 +0100

Whilst some dates are specifically targeted to raise awareness of domestic abuse and violence, the battle continues every single day to help victims of this appalling crime.

Frightening statistics still reveal that at least two women are killed every week, by a current or ex partner; one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and perhaps surprisingly, one in six men.

This is a damning indictment, as it shows little sign of improvement between our supposed enlightened society and the dark ages.

Despite concerted efforts by numerous help organisations, victims of domestic abuse can be reluctant to leave their situations, which is why media exposure of the truths of this crime is always welcome.

A recently aired, riveting and brutally explicit drama, illustrated that perpetrators and victims are from all walks of life. The secrecy and shame that often surrounds domestic abuse merely enables it to continue destroying people’s lives, without redress, until perhaps, one shocking event, one desperate cry for help, changes everything forever. The effects are myriad and it is seldom a simple affair. (Criminal Justice – Season 2/BBC)

SPECIAL OFFER:

Read how one woman’s battle with domestic abuse lasted more than 30 years; how she finally made a brave decision to escape and how her experiences still affect her family today.

Buy SHACKLES now from our online shop for half price until end of November. Being armed with information could save yours or someone else’s life.

STEPHEN GATELY

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:39:01 +0100

STEPHEN GATELY 17^th March 1976 – 10^th October 2009

It was with shock and sadness we learned of the death of Boyzone member, Stephen. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family, partner and friends. Not only was he a gifted singer, but was directing his creative talents into writing a fantasy book for children. Steo will be hugely missed.

BRAND NEW TITLES FOR RELEASE

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:45:48 +0000

With four releases scheduled for April and May 2009, it promises to be another exciting year for Canaan Press.

cyberSky (for ages 8 – 12), the eagerly-awaited sequel to The Lying Tree, is available at Easter. A sinister and cautionary tale, it promises to be a real page-turner as writers, Alexa Tewkesbury and Steve Legg, tell a further adventure in the lives of a group of friends who, this time, are caught up in the dark world of cyber-bullying.

Paper Thongs and Other Misadventures is a quirky collection of true life mishaps that will not only have you laughing out loud, but will get you thinking about life, packed as it is with all its highs and lows. Sit back and let Steve Legg entertain you with his unique brand of humour - but avoid reading it in public, unless, like Steve, you’re prepared to make a spectacle of yourself!

Destiny Calls is proof that you can’t dream too big when God’s on the board of directors. Read how one couple impacted thousands of lives over five decades, and still show no signs of retiring from the race. Norman and Grace Barnes are living proof that an ordinary couple can do extraordinary and inspirational things …with God.

Life withers in a parched land. The fragrance of fresh, clear water has long been forgotten, but not the enmity between the Herders and the Millers, the only two remaining tribes. Or are they…? Rob Chidley’s gripping debut novel, The Third Tribe, will have you reading into the night to discover the fate of a people struggling to survive in a world of dying resources. Are there lessons to learn from this compelling tale that could be applied to 21st century earth before it’s too late?

"Love You Anyway" Boyzone New Single Release

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:54:17 +0100

Delirious? Serious? Crazy? Absolutely! "LOVE YOU ANYWAY", the long-awaited new single from Boyzone is set to be released on 29th September 2008.

After an absence of eight years the Boyz are back. Ronan, Stephen, Shane, Mikey, and Keith have given the fans exactly what they've been waiting for.

What started with a reunion appearance for Children in Need in 2007, culminated in the first public airing of "Love You Anyway" on Terry Wogan's morning show for the BBC today. Following their recent sell-out tour when more than 250,000 fans crowded into stadiums throughout the UK, it seems the love has never stopped flowing for the five guys from Dublin, assuring Boyzone they are loved more than ever!

They are busy filming the video for the single and working on an album for release in October 2008.

Shane shares his page-turning account of what is was like to be a member of Boyzone in his frank autobiography - The Chancer. Buy it now, here, from Canaan Press.

WALKING IN FREEDOM

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:08:58 +0100

Saturday 19^th July 2008 – EAST BEACH CAFÉ - Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Malaika Cohen is a strong and well-adjusted woman, despite the traumatic life she experienced at the hands of an abusive and alcoholic father and husband and a subsequent long-term abusive relationship.

A single mother of three daughters, she proudly refers to herself as a survivor of domestic abuse, not a victim. Since writing her harrowing story in a book entitled SHACKLES published earlier this year, and dealing with the after-effects of abuse on her children, she has valiantly battled to raise awareness of this appalling crime that claims two lives every week in the United Kingdom and cuts across class, race and gender.

Malaika is planning to walk in freedom next weekend in the hope that people will be encouraged to talk about this taboo subject, and seek help, whether they are the abuser or the abused. She wants to see generational abuse broken and innocent children set free from this destructive cycle.

She and her daughters, and friends she has made through her campaigning, will walk along the beach from Littlehampton to Ferring and back. Following recent visits to prison to help with a Restorative Justice scheme, where perpetrators of this crime are confronted with the consequences of their actions, she has been busy seeking sponsors to place a copy of her book in every prison in the United Kingdom.

At the completion of the walk, she hoped to release 200 purple balloons, but to conform to environmental policy, they will now be given away to onlookers instead.

If you would like further information, or to support her worthy endeavours, please buy a copy of her amazing story and please visit Malaika online at:

www.dontgiveup.me.uk

But whatever you do – don’t just remain silent – it could be the difference between life and death.

“Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter.” (Martin Luther King Jr)

The BOYZ are back in town

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:52:30 +0100

After an 8 year absence, the BOYZ are well and truly back!

BOYZONE kicked-off their sell-out UK tour with two appearances at the Odyssy Arena in Belfast to the deafening sound of close on 20,000 adoring fans.

During a surprise-packed and exciting two hour show, the years melted away as the BOYZ showed they still have what it takes to entertain.

All sporting awesome six-packs they look fitter than ever, following intense training to prepare for their busy schedule of appearances. Judging by the sizzling reception they received, it's going to be a hot summer for the five BOYZ from Dublin.

Amazing lighting and stunning presentation, coupled with slick costume changes and a desire to reward the loyalty of their fans, was a recipe for success. The audience was treated to songs old and new - and the BOYZ were treated to a resounding welcome back by thousands singing along with every word.

An emotional reunion for stars and fans alike, Mikey, Keith, Stephen, Shane and Ronan were noticeably overwhelmed by the reception they received. One thing's for sure, everyone was delighted that BOYZONE are back in town.

Shane will be signing copies of his book, THE CHANCER at various locations during the Boyzone Tour.

Check back here for details.

Confirmed:

June 3rd Wesley Owen Bookshop, 8 Castle Gate NOTTINGHAM - at 2pm

Visit Shane's web-site for tour dates: www.shane-lynch.com

WELL WORTH THE WAIT - SHANE TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:44:13 +0100

At last, the long awaited book by Shane Lynch will be released on 15^th May.

Former hell-raising Boyzone star Shane Lynch is set to launch his ‘warts and all’ autobiography ahead of the most eagerly awaited boy band reunion since ‘Take That’ went back on the road.

Read of the popular reality TV star’s amazing rise from a dyslexic schoolboy to international superstar.

In this exciting new release Shane reveals how:

he kept his expulsion from school a total secret
he escaped abductors on his first trip to the mainland from his native Ireland
the boys tried doing a runner from a top London hotel
over-generous Keith Duffy played the biggest shows on earth but found himself skint
he suffered “visitations” from demons from hell after playing with a Ouija board

and

his fight with Puff Daddy
behind the scenes chats with ‘Steve-o’ on Love Island
plus much, much more!

He also reveals life under Louis Walsh and how the X-Factor judge turned a bunch of Irish no-hopers into one of the biggest bands on earth.

PASTE THIS LINK ONTO YOUR WEB BROWSER TO DOWNLOAD SHANE'S INTERVIEW:

www.revivalmedia.org/media/audio/FL/shane.mp3

WE NEED A HERO

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:30:16 +0000

Two children’s books have more than the release date of April 8th in common. Though separated by thousands of years, their stories portray the reality of life through daily ups and downs. Both books are the joint achievements of Alexa Tewkesbury and Steve Legg.

The Lying Tree tells the story of Jamie Bryce, a lonely eleven-year-old boy, whose mum has walked out on him. When he and his dad move away to start a new life without her, Jamie decides no one’s ever going to know the truth. He’ll never tell anyone anything about himself - especially not that his mum didn’t love him enough to stay. If someone asks, he can make it all up. He can be whoever he wants to be, invent an entire life. It’ll be easy, right?
This emotive tale portrays how kids deal with tough issues today, and brings home the reality of what it’s like to feel rejection and guilt when relationships don’t work out. An excellent book for young people to read for themselves, covering an age-range of 8-11, this is also useful material for parents to read with their children. It doesn’t provide all the answers but encourages young people to voice their fears rather than face them alone.

Lions, Whales and Thrilling Tales is a collection of exciting Old Testament adventures retold as if by the adventurers themselves. Sometimes the storytellers are blessed. Often they face long, hard struggles. But through the ups and downs of their very different life journeys, they all come to realise one thing: God is with them. Always.
These time-honoured tales are enriched for the retelling, and not least for children. It is always good for us, as adults, to see the faithful God of the Bible keep His promise, never to leave us, no matter what life brings our way.

Alexa Tewkesbury is a single mum living in Devon with her two children. She is a full-time author and has written 7 books for children, published by CWR, with 2 more in the pipeline. She first teamed up with Steve Legg in 2003, when she wrote the screenplay for the Christmas animation, IT’S A BOY, also featuring on the soundtrack. The DVD has now been distributed to 26,000 primary schools in the UK, while the book version of the story, which Alexa wrote with Steve, won the 2006 UK Christian Book Awards in the children's category.

Steve Legg lives in West Sussex with his four children. An itinerant evangelist, Steve uses his diverse skills to entertain and draw large crowds, presenting visual parables to communicate the Christian message of hope through Jesus. He is especially passionate about teaching children about God. An established author of children’s books, Steve pioneered IT’S A BOY. He runs his charity BREAKOUT TRUST, and is the founder of THE SON newspaper, a quarterly publication, distributed to churches throughout the UK. His latest venture, SORTED, is a dynamic bi-monthly magazine for Christian men that seems to be proving popular with those in and outside church.

SHACKLES BOOK LAUNCH

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:09:01 +0000

The 19th February saw the release of SHACKLES by single mother of three, Malaika Cohen, with the official book launch in Angmering, West Sussex.

The evening event was well-attended by close family and friends and guests included the Mayor of Littlehampton and local Councillors who share a particular interest in the book’s subject matter of domestic abuse. Representatives from local help organisations and emergency services, who work on the front line in the battle against this crime, also added their support to Malaika’s campaign.

SHACKLES was unveiled with a choreographed street dance by local young people and the author broke chains wrapped around a mountain of the books, to hold them aloft in celebration of her freedom. Local radio stations were there to interview Malaika about her reasons for sharing her very frank autobiography. She wants to raise more awareness for all those affected by domestic abuse, and help victims break the cycle that reaches down through generations.

"As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (Marianne Williamson - A Return to Love)

1 in 4 women are affected by domestic abuse at some point in their lives

2 women are murdered and up to 10 suicides are attributed to it each week

For women under 44 it is the most common cause of death above both cancer and road accidents

1 in 6 men are also affected by domestic abuse

1000’s of children are caught up and affected living in a war called home

At Canaan Press we believe Malaika’s credibility will speak to victims of domestic abuse because she has already walked a mile in their shoes. She has proved it is possible to walk in freedom both physically and emotionally and a large part of that release has been the ability to forgive those who abused her.

Canaan Press also believes in helping people reap the rewards of their labours, enabling authors to take an active part in the marketing of their stories, for a large proportion of the profits. We hope that will encourage you to buy copies and in so doing, help this remarkable lady continue to improve her life, and that of her children.

Are You Sleeping With The Enemy?

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:02:18 +0000

SHACKLES – Overcoming Domestic Abuse

Malaika Cohen with Carole Yeoman

Two deaths a week result from domestic violence, yet only 30% of the abuse is reported. Those who remain silent, live a life shackled to fear and guilt, and the voices of their children are seldom heard. Is there life after abuse, and are we winning the war against this insidious crime?

The majority of violence is non-fatal, however, health effects can last for years. A modern day taboo, this silent crime stalks victims the world over, making no allowance for race, creed, gender, age or wealth.

Beginning against the backdrop of oppressive communism in East Germany, SHACKLES charts one woman's amazing battle to walk free from thirty four years of domestic abuse.

Now a survivor, Malaika shares intimate details of her life in her powerful autobiography, to raise awareness of all aspects of domestic abuse and prove there is a way out. There is life after abuse – and it can be a life of safety, hope and happiness. The chains can be smashed and the battle won.

“Our lives begin to end the day we are silent about things that matter.” (Martin Luther King)

SHACKLES - available from Canaan Press and bookstores – 19/02/08
Price: £7.99
ISBN: 978-0-9551816-1-0