Sarah Jane Smith is one of my favourite fictional characters. She's everything you want in a heroine, smart and funny, with soft edges and willing to take on the world to do the right thing.

When I had the opportunity to pitch my idea to Mary-Helen, I never thought I would seriously get the chance to do something as special as I have for this anthology. Not only do I get to write Sarah Jane during her adventures on Bannerman Road, I had the chance to explore a 'what it' story that has been on my mind for at least three years. Along side some marvellous writers who I am lucky to class as my friends. 

And then they landed me the bombshell and asked me to do all the interior and cover art work. I couldn't have been more thrilled! 

My story is set during Sarah Jane’s later years whilst she lives at 13 Bannerman Road. Clyde Langer is attending open days to study illustration but he and Sarah Jane noticed that this university isn't all what it seems. Who is the mysterious grey haired man and who is his prisoner? 

In the future, when the charity anthology is in print, I'd love to show you the process in which some of my inner drawings were created, but for now you'll have to wait in wonder. 

Featuring stories by: 
Josh Wanisko and his daughter, Lily Wanisko 
Kara Dennison 
Sophie Iles 
Jon Black 
James Bojaciuk 
Niki Haringsma 
Anna Maloney 
William J. Martin 
Scarlett Ward 
Tina Marie DeLucia 
Harry King 
James Macronas 
M.H. Norris

All proceeds will go to the Cancer Research Institute. 
You can order your physical copy here and get a digital copy straight away!
https://defendingearth.bigcartel.com/
​

In honour of Jacqueline Hill's 89th Birthday, I can now announce that #MildCuriosites is now available to pre order. Please keep in mind digital orders need to be sent manually, so there might be a little delay. Get your Ian and Barbara goodness here!

https://mildcuriosities.bigcartel.com/

This is where you can purchase your copy of Mild Curiosities, A Doctor Who fanzine inspired by the first two companions Ian and Barbara. All of the proceeds will be going to Breast Cancer Now the biggest breast cancer charity in the UK.

Here is our list of contributors:

Authors: 
James Bojaciuk 
Adam Christopher 
Peter Cumiskey 
Kara Dennison 
Logan Fairchild 
Jeff Goddard 
Stephen Hatcher 
Christopher Hawton 
Katie and Claire Lambeth 
Anna Maloney 
William J Martin
Dana Reboe

Introduction by John Dorney, 
Poetry from Beth Axford

Artists: 
Carolyn Edwards 
Daisy LaFarres 
Sophie Iles 
Paul Magrs 
Sarah Theimer 
Anne-Laure Tuduri 
Sam Shaw 
Raine Szramski

Sneak Peak of stories here: http://timetravelnexus.com/mild-curiosities-a-doctor-who-charity-anthology-sneak-peak/
Goodreads link here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43312620-mild-curiosities

Today is the 55th anniversary of the Doctor Who, a show that I love and admire, and has changed my life. You may be aware that since Doctor Who was shown on Twitch I have been putting together an unofficial charity fanzine to promote the two first companions to (unwillingly) travel with the Doctor in his time ship and have marvellous adventures. 

So today seemed to be a good day to give you some news!

Officially, the fanzine will be available to purchase on the 17th December, 2018 for Jacqueline Hill's 89th birthday and the funds will go towards Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity in her memory. 

Contributor announcements will be coming very soon but in the mean time, here is a first look at the front cover. 

I drew this image for an article I wrote for the Time Travel Nexus, which is a superb website for those like minded souls if you're interested in checking it out, and might I add, myself aside some pretty awesome people -- and I thought I'd share it with you.

I am going to miss Peter so much, and though I personally had many an issue with the Christmas Special (perhaps, like my other reviews, I should talk about it as a one off as it does involve the First Doctor....) I felt the cast were spectacular, and I know that they put their hearts into their performances. I just hope that Peter will still enjoy being part of Doctor Who, and it's long history. ​

​I found out that John Leeson was going months after I had bought the three day pass. I had had the opportunity to meet him a month before the big New York Trip in my current city of Cardiff but I had wanted to meet him during the big event. After all, it would make our meeting far more unique. 

And gosh, it really was as unique as I hoped. When he signed the picture I picked out I told him the story of how I came to be called K-9. This bright twinkly old man who could have been my grandfather who used his K-9 voice to greet me seemed taken aback with joy by my story. 

“One K-9 to another, I hope you enjoy this autograph.” 

I thought that was the end of it, a little emotional, a little shaky, but boy was I wrong. As the day continued, I found myself going to the bar to find my friends and one particular friend had spotted John Leeson at the bar. 

“Should I go over and say hello?” she asked me nervously, and I assured her there was nothing to be worried about, John had been very pleasant to me when I had gotten my autograph after all. 

When he saw us approach, he waved, and I introduced my friend, and he shook her hand, and then did something I had never expected. 

“Would you lovely ladies care to join me for a drink?”
So here I was, sat with the voice of K-9, partaking in a drink from the bar he insisted on paying, listening to him talk to me about his airplane trip, his opinions on my hometown, and then how much he loved cats and wine, being that they were the other two loves in his life. Honestly, I’ve never felt so blessed to be in a place at a particular time. The only reason why our conversation was halted was because he was discovered by an old friend’s sister, and he excused himself so politely. 

Even after that, whenever we ran into each other for the last two days he always greeted me fondly, hand in a wave, twinkly eyed. “Hello friend!”
I’ve never been so touched by an interaction, particularly a celebrity.
The day after the con was over, as our friends gathered to say goodbye and drive off their separate ways, myself included I ran into him one last time. John was also standing in the lobby, and other fans were getting selfies with him as they left the hotel. I decided to say hello one last time and wish him a safe trip home. 

And he was of course happy to have a picture with me. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask!” 
They say meeting your heroes can be a burden, they can be what you not expect, they can damage your expectations. But I would be mindful to remind others that celebrities are human too, and not every celebrity you meet is going to have the same mindset. If this is the only time I ever run into John Leeson again, I won’t be disappointed. For the rest of my life I will always remember the time the man who my nickname sake, as it were, the reason I got into this lovely sci-fi show in the first place, bought me a drink, and treated me as an equal.

Yes, meeting your heroes are a burden, but it’s always wonderful when you find new ones where you least expect it