Cast Iron Books, publishers of the fantasy story Candles by Lyndon White and Future by Tom Woodman and Rupert Smissen, are about to open submissions for new graphic novel projects.
Based in north west England, Cast Iron Books is a new independent publisher of graphic novels, illustrated books and experimental fiction, who have published a number of great looking titles so far.
They’ve successfully utilised crowdfunding to deliver their books most recently securing backing for Hans Vogel is Dead, an anti-fascist fairytale about a World War Two fighter pilot navigating the afterlife by Sierra Barnes.
“We believe in empowering writers and artists to create stories that stay with a reader long after the last page has been turned,” their mission statement reads. “Most of all we believe that books should be things of beauty, that good storytelling should be an end in itself, and that if you want to make something that lasts, make sure there’s some graphite in it.”
“At Cast Iron Books we are looking for graphic novels, illustrated books and works of experimental fiction that at their core have something meaningful to say about the world we live in,” says publisher Lizzie Kaye.
“As a boutique publisher, we aim to release a very limited number of books each year, using the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform and so at this time we are looking for fully completed, or near completed, projects only.
“Genre is irrelevant, so is format, as long as this simple question has an answer: What are you trying to say?
“And… perhaps there’ll be a follow-up: Why?”
If you can answer those two questions, then Cast Iron Books would like to see your project.
The range of their catalogue so far is varied but the team have a clear instinct for good quality material. You’d be well advised to check out their catalogue before making a pitch.
In Future, a 128-page full colour original graphic novel about time travel, the apocalypse, and finding hope in the ultimate power of love by Tom Woodman and Rupert Smissen, lettered by Aditya Bidikar, humanity is clinging on to an Earth facing imminent collapse. Kay Mielniczuk, fierce optimist, convinces her dying wife, astronaut Murray Mielniczuk, to take on one last assignment.
Catapulted through time on a wing, a prayer, and some theoretically correct science, they set out in search of a cure… for Murray and for the planet.
Candles, for me, is an absolute gem of a fantasy story, beautifully told and executed; an all-ages story about magic, family and a plague that has no mercy, the latest graphic novel from Lyndon White, creator of Reanimator, for lovers of fantasy, fairy tales, monsters and magic.
Generation after generation, people are taught one thing – never use magic…
When a plague known as Dark-bark spreads over the land one by one infected villagers disappear into the enchanted forest never to be seen again. When it reaches her village, a young girl called Grace sets out to destroy the evil witch responsible and save her family by any means possible – even if she must steal the witch’s magic.
As candles flicker and wolves howl into the night sky, Idris, a flamboyant sorcerer, and his talented apprentice Ava, are cast out of their town when their talent for magic is discovered. Determined to find the source of the misery that has made them outsiders, they too begin to hunt the root of the Dark-bark… but all is not as it seems.
Cast Iron Books diverse catalogue also includes The Plague and Doctor Caim by G.E. Gallas; The Boy with Nails for Eyes by Shaun Gardiner; and Isabella and Blodwen by Rachael Smith.
Launching on Hallowe’en, the deadline for submissions is New Year’s Eve 2021.
• Check site out the Cast Iron Books site here: castironbooks.com | Find them on Instagram | Twitter
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
The Panharmonion Chronicles continues with “Ghosts of Sound” 
John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs, aka Metaphrog, sign two-book deal with Scholastic UK 
Bryan Talbot’s “The Casebook of Stamford Hawksmoor” heads to bookshops later this year 
A Night Out with Kate Charlesworth and Mary Talbot