About Craig

​Craig Vann is the proud father of three strapping sons who thankfully take after their mother, Audrey, in the looks department. They feel blessed to live in beautiful Vancouver, Canada, with its vibrant literary community.

Ticking is Craig’s first novel, and the beginning of a series. The author is steaming ahead with Ticking II: The Hawking Sequence, forthcoming soon.
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Thanks to the author’s son, Clark Van Alstyne, who provided the hand-drawn portrait of the author.

Books

PREVIEW OF “TICKING: THE HAWKING SEQUENCE”
“Ticking: The Hawking Sequence” is the second time travel adventure of Skypilot Sewell and Zachary Burling after their historic inaugural mission to England in the year 1766.
But, their adventure immediately goes awry. The story unfolds at the theme wedding of Sky and Helena, two young lovers who traversed through time and back to be together. Invited to witness the wedding vows is family friend Sam Richter, the diplomatic agent who had volunteered to see young Skypilot safely home to Canada after his ordeal in Africa, when Sky’s parents were murdered. Now a CSIS agent, Sam is not in Fraserdale just for the wedding. He had been directed to find out more about the secretive work of the scientist, Beatrice Westover.
Also at the wedding is Alim, Beatrice's friend, colleague and milquetoast date for the evening.
Sky's aunt Beatrice has a mind-numbing mission in mind. She outlines the plan, saying that when one considers all the questions that humankind has had about its own history, many have been answered. A few, however, continue to perplex and fascinate us. She proposes a mission that she knows Sky’s missionary parents would endorse; to provide irrevocable proof that Jesus lived; that is, to travel back to Jesus’ time, find him and record him in order to prove his existence. And, Alim will travel with them; a third time traveller. But, before travelling to the ancient Middle East, the guys first have to learn the lingua franca of the time. Alim, that “kid from Palestine via the North End of Winnipeg”, teaches Sky and Zac Aramaic.
Dressed in the tunics of the ancients, the three are ready inside the K2 to fly through time. But, just as the time travel process is initiated, Beatrice's mischievous cat, Hawking, steps on the unattended computer keyboard, sending the chrononauts into a far different time and space than was intended.
Using a process called “key logging”, Beatrice traces where and when the chrononauts have gone, sort of...
Their only option is a rescue mission. Someone must follow the footsteps of Sky, Zac and Alim and bring them home within the time available.
What they see there, who they meet and what they do might be of interest to you.
Oh! Bring your goggles…

​Ticking: A Tale of Two Time Travellers

Skypilot Sewell loves the past. It’s no surprise then, that when his brilliant inventress aunt Beatrice provides him with the opportunity to time travel, Sky is immediately on board. His best friend Zac Burling will take a little more convincing…

So begins the young men’s journey through time, space and 18th century England—where, separated from each other immediately, they meet a host of fascinating characters. Among them are people of fancy and fact, including the charming and roguish highwayman Jacques DuTemps, the beautiful Lady Rachel, and Brummbär the famous bear, as well as history’s own Henry Cavendish, the celebrated scientist and natural philosopher, and John Fielding, the ‘Blind Beak’ of London and co-founder of Britain’s first police force, the Bow Street Runners.

The pair has 39 days to find each other and enjoy what history has to offer without being found out…  or hanged for witchcraft. Will Sky and Zac have the wits to survive the 1700s? Can Sky really leave Helena to the history books? And how to explain their Nikes?

Book Details

318 pages

Black & White

6 x 9 inches

ISBNs

Hardcover
978-1-5255-2350-2
Paperback
978-1-5255-2351-9
eBook
​978-1-5255-2352-6

BISAC/Categories

​FIC002000

FIC028080
​
FIC014000

Keywords

Humorous
​Time travel
Historical action and adventure
Eighteenth century adventure
Young time travellers
Aristocrats
Humorous young adult

Reviews

What people are saying about
​Ticking​: A Tale of Two Time Travellers...

Karen B.: A MUST READ BOOK! TICKING captured and held my attention from beginning to end. I am really looking forward to reading TICKING II: The Hawking Sequence to discover what adventures are in store for Sky and his best friend Zac.

Sue K.: The first thing that connected me to this novel was the beautiful, poetic prose. This novel was not only highly entertaining (and sometimes suspenseful), but it was also very informative. Craig blended an astounding amount of research with a solid, fictitious premise. The title, Ticking, created a thread that wove all parts of the story together. I have to admit that I chuckled at the familiar names: Westover, Pickett, Sewell, among others! Can’t wait for your next one, Craig.

Sheila W.: Have finished your book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Liked all the twists and turns that you threw in. Looking forward to the next one. I have ordered 4 more (from Indigo) for my Book Club. Once everyone has read it we would love you to come and discuss it, probably in the Fall. Keep writing.
Cam A.: I love time travel books, and especially if they engage me in the period (or periods) visited. Craig Vann does this masterfully in his story of life for two visitors from sometime near our era to the year 1766, London England. He adds such vivid details of what daily life - sights, sounds, events, social mores, societal values, ranging the spectrum from high-end aristocracy to the lowly poor and destitute.  He even throws in some science, and that appealed to the techie in me. The story moves along at a pace that keeps you turning pages and saying OK - 'one more chapter before ...' (whatever like going to bed, getting dinner, going out, etc.) For a good read, check this one out!
Doug P.: Craig, I recently read your book. A great read and am looking forward to the sequel. Lots of research, a great job. Congratulations.
[From Amazon Reviews] George J.: A superb time travel novel
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Young Skypilot Sewell is sent fleeing into the African night jungle by his Missionary parents as their camp is attacked. Sky's inventor aunt sends Sky and his friend Zac (carrying modern electronic aids) back to 1766 in an inaugural run of a time travel device. Interesting and memorable characters are introduced as Sky and Zac spend their 39 day adventure in 1766. There's a lot of historical information that's been capably researched by the author to give a very satisfying journey back in time for the reader. And the ending is a surprise as well.
This book is suitable for the whole family. There is no excessive violence, language or suggestive situations to make parents uncomfortable. I would recommend for the entire family. You'll all love it! The author promises more to come. I'm excited already!
[This October 18 comment is from one of my "Beta Readers" for "Ticking: The Hawking Sequence" after she had made some suggestions to the manuscript): So good to hear how you address changes. Being a writer is such an amazing craft. It is funny how things from the book pop into my mind from time to time. Demonstrates that I really connected with it. Waiting for your next one now. 

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