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Editor Hunter O’Connell interviews author James Hornby about the first instalment of Cwej: Hidden Truths, The Midas Touch.
Q: What can you tell us about the book? A: The core of the story is a race against time to save Larles from a parasite that has given her powerful telekinetic abilities, but is also killing her. The rest is a fast-paced adventure across time and space. Q: How did you find the writing process? A: An absolute blast. Hunter gave me the initial concept of Larles and the parasite, beyond that I was free to do anything I wanted with the story. At the time I thought The Midas Touch might be my only shot at writing something in the universe of Doctor Who, so I pulled upon everything I’d wanted to see in a Doctor Who book whilst growing up: fun, mystery, and above all, adventure. Funnily enough, I finished writing The Midas Touch back in 2020, the day the UK lockdowns started. The book has been pushed back quite a bit due to scheduling reasons, but I hope it’s been worth the wait! Q: What should readers expect from The Midas Touch? A: In the past I’ve called The Midas Touch my love letter to the Eighth Doctor Adventures. That’s certainly true in a lot of ways: it features some characters I really wish we’d have seen more of during that series. It’s also the story I created Dionus for, who has since gone on to appear in lots of other stories. Q: What are you most proud of about your story? A: Using characters created by Lance Parkin. When I became a fan of Doctor Who, his books were some of the first I read, and most definitely shaped the Whovian I am today. I was nervous at first about getting in touch with Lance to use his concepts, but I shouldn’t have been. Lance was so kind and generous; I remember jumping up and down with excitement on my break at the day job when I received his reply. I guess sometimes you should meet your heroes! Q: Is there anything else we should know about The Midas Touch? A: There is, and it’s something you won’t find in the book: at one stage during the writing process I, very temporarily, was allowed a Fitz Kreiner cameo by BBC Books. A draft did exist of this version, before someone higher up decided it wasn’t to be. Q: Where else can we find your work? A: I’ve done a lot of work for Arcbeatle Press, some other stories for Cwej that take place before this one, and I’m also the range editor for the SIGNET series. Beyond Arcbeatle, I’ve written some Doctor Who charity stories for Altrix Books, Pencil Tip Publishing, and a UNIT short story for Candy Jar Books.
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Arcbeatle Press hits April with two spin-off novels in the form of SIGNET: Unstoppable by prolific Doctor Who author John Peel, and Cwej: The Midas Touch by James Hornby.
Unstoppable is the second book in the SIGNET series, following 2023’s Night of the Yssgaroth. SIGNET follows a privately funded organisation fighting alien incursions and investigating the supernatural. “John was originally asked to write Unstoppable for another series at Arcbeatle Press,” explains SIGNET creator and range editor James Hornby. “A restructuring in our output led the book to become a SIGNET adventure, and it’s all the better for it. John has put lots of thought into how the plot would affect our characters, and he really puts them through the wringer.” Unstoppable sees the SIGNET team investigate a series of resurrections across the globe, as well as teaming up with their cousins across the seas, the JDS. “I’m so pleased to see the JDS get their time in the limelight,” says publisher James Wylder. “They were inspired by the best parts of public service, something more important than ever to show. The Jovian Diplomatic Service shares the same ideals SIGNET has — but gives something new compared to the alien investigation groups you're used to!” “The most vicious and amoral drug dealer on Earth has just been found guilty of his crimes and legally executed. But he won’t stay dead… Is he now Unstoppable? He’s just the first to return from beyond the undiscovered country. Is it a good thing to have the dead returned? Or is this plague of resurrections Unstoppable? There’s an alien killer loose on Earth. He’ll do anything at all to reach his target, and kill anyone in his way. He’s impervious to bullets, grenades and anything else in the arsenal. Is he Unstoppable? Earth’s only hope is the understaffed, under-armed and under-appreciated team at SIGNET. But can they prevent all the death — and life! — and misery currently facing the human race? Could it possibly be that they are Unstoppable?” Arcbeatle’s second April release, Cwej: The Midas Touch is the first instalment of Hidden Truths, a new epoch in the life of the Adjudicator come temporal agent, continuing on from the epic conclusion of Down the Middle. Hidden Truths will consist of five novels published into four separate volumes, to be collected into one hardcover at a later date. “Cwej has been my life for the past half-a-decade,” says range editor Hunter O’Connell. “To be able to release this novel is truly an honor. And what a novel it is! Larles and Kwol get some excellent development thanks to author James Hornby’s unparalleled character work. An incredible adventure is going to reach through the page, and captivate you all.” “I’ve previously called The Midas Touch my love letter to the Eighth Doctor Adventures,” says author James Hornby. “Readers will see some definite references to that era of Doctor Who history, but the heart of the novel is definitely the connection between our main characters, in an adventure that takes them all over time and space.” SIGNET: Unstoppable will be available on 8 April and Cwej: The Midas Touch on 21 April, in ebook and print formats in most territories. Preorders for the Kindle editions are now open, with the print versions available for sale on the day of release. Inquiries can be send to [email protected]
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