Posted in competitions, info

Giveaway: War’s End by Victoria Bowen

2008 is the 90th anniversary of the end of The Great War. We have one copy of War’s End by Victoria Bowen to give away to a Soup Blog reader.

From the blurb: ‘Dad is finally on his way home from The Great War. Twelve-year-old Nell barely remembers him but when the Spanish Influenza enters their lives, threatening Dad’s return, she begins to understand the gap in the family his absence has created. This is one family’s experience of the end of the war, a time of hope that turned into a time of trial.’

Email us at editor @ alphabetsoup.net.au (remove the space after editor) with War’s End in the subject line. In the body of your email, include the statement ‘I agree to the terms and conditions of this giveaway.’ Then, in 25 words or less, tell us why you’d like to receive a copy of War’s End.

If your entry is the winner, we’ll contact you by email.

Terms and conditions:

1. Immediate family members of Alphabet Soup staff are not eligible to enter. 2. The prize is only open to Australian citizens or residents and can only be sent to an Australian delivery address. 3. Email entries must be received by midnight (in Western Australia) on Friday 14 November 2008. 4. Chance plays no part in this giveaway. 5. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6. The prize is one copy of War’s End by Victoria Bowen. 7. Entry is free 8. All entries become the property of Alphabet Soup Publishing and will be destroyed after the winner has been announced. 9. The winner’s initial of their first name, surname and Australian state of residence will appear on Soup Blog and remain for as long as Alphabet Soup Publishing desires.  10. You must abide by these conditions to be eligible to enter the giveaway.

Posted in illustrator, info

About the illustrator

Boy writing a fabulous story

Greg Mitchell is our talented illustrator! (The header for this blog is taken from one of his drawings.)

Greg and his wife Kate are Education Consultants and somehow Greg finds time to draw all the illustrations for the magazine as well! We send Greg pages from the magazine with just the text. He draws all his pictures on white paper and posts them to us. We can then scan his drawings and place them exactly where we want them on each page of the magazine (and enlarge or reduce them if we need to).

We keep him very busy. 🙂

Posted in Christmas, info

What we’re reading!

Roland Harvey's Big Book of Christmas

The latest book on our ‘to read’ pile is Roland Harvey’s big book of Christmas. (Roland Harvey’s pictures are always fun and full of detail and we admit that’s possibly what shifted BBOC to the top of the reading pile.)

This is a new and updated edition of an old Australian favourite. It’s an entertaining book, with explanations about Christmas traditions around the world, recipes, activities and crafts, instructions for making your own gifts, games, even pages of sheet music for Christmas carols, and gift tag stickers.

We highly recommend it!

And now we’re off to find a billycan to try out Billycan Pudding. Mmmmm.

Review copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
Posted in info

Libraries and geography lessons

As part of our promotion and marketing, we are sending a free copy of the magazine to most public libraries in Western Australia. So this week the printer is working overtime churning out address labels and we’re buying up big at Officeworks on envelopes … and labels.

The whole label printing-and-sticking exercise has also exposed the shocking ignorance of the Alphabet Soup office when it comes to the names of towns in Western Australia. For example – there was general consensus that none of us had heard of Grass Patch. (Apologies if you live in Grass Patch. If it’s any consolation we all thought it was a fabulous name for a town and just like something out of a book.)

So if you live in Grass Patch and would like to preview a copy of the magazine, next week you can ask your librarian about Alphabet Soup. 🙂

Posted in authors, info

Duncan Ball

I interviewed Duncan Ball for the ‘meet the author’ section in issue 2 of Alphabet Soup (due out in February 2009). When issue 1 was published I sent him a copy, so he could see what he was in for (naturally we hoped we wouldn’t get an email saying ‘I hereby remove previous consent to have interview appear in your publication. D. Ball’.)

As it happened, he must have thought AS came up to scratch – he sent a handwritten note of support and goodwill.

Thanks Duncan!

Buy more Selby books!

Posted in competitions, info

Writing competition closes 21 November 2008!

Entries for the first children’s writing competition are keeping the post office staff busy filling up the PO Box! The competition closes on 21 November, so if your budding writer hasn’t sent something in yet, tell them to get to it! There are three age categories: ages 6 & 7, ages 8 & 9 and age 10.

Book voucher prizes! Kudos! And the possibility of having their winning entry published in Issue 2! They don’t have to subscribe to the magazine to enter, but there are some rules to read before posting in an entry. Go to www.alphabetsoup.net.au and click on ‘competitions’ for more info.

Posted in info

MEDIA RELEASE: Alphabet Soup. A new children’s literary magazine.

Issue 1 cover
Issue 1 cover

Perth editor and mother-of-three, Rebecca Newman, has launched Alphabet Soup magazine for primary-school aged kids who love books and reading. Rebecca started work on the magazine 18 months ago, after she was unable to find a suitable magazine for her young daughter, who is an avid reader.

Schools, children’s libraries and early childhood educators have been enthusiastic about issue 1. Specialist literacy educators have previously imported similar publications from Canada and the USA — while despairing at the lack of a local product. Alphabet Soup magazine, with a section devoted to showcasing children’s writing, has found a ready-made readership.

Alphabet Soup will be very popular with children who love books, and already write their own stories,’ commented primary school teacher, Paulina Sweeney. ‘But magazines like this are also valuable for kids struggling with literacy. Seeing their writing in print gives a huge boost to their confidence, and that flows into their schoolwork.’

The magazine is not limited to children’s own work. ‘I aim to help kids develop a love of reading and literature, from a young age,’ says Mrs Newman. ‘I want to expose children to a variety of writing styles and genres … and also to give parents some ideas about suitable books for their children. There are many excellent children’s authors writing quality literature — but it’s not always easy for parents to know where to start.’

Inside issue 1, readers will find:
•    Q&A with children’s author, Jackie French
•    An interest article — interview with a WA bushfire brigade firefighter
•    Stories, poems and book reviews for children (by adults)
•    A crossword
•    A kids’ writing competition
•    6 pages of kids’ writing (stories, poems and book reviews)

Greg Mitchell’s colourful and quirky illustrations round out a really fun read!

Alphabet Soup is published quarterly and can be ordered online (www.alphabetsoup.net.au), or by sending address details with a cheque or money order to the publisher.

CONTACT DETAILS:
Rebecca Newman (Publisher and Editor)
Ph: 0412 820 478

Alphabet Soup Publishing
PO Box 742
Willetton WA 6955 AUSTRALIA

Website: www.alphabetsoup.net.au

Email: editor@alphabetsoup.net.au

Single copies: $7.00 (including GST)

1-year subscription (4 copies): $25.00 (including GST)

Free postage and handling until 31 December 2008 for all orders with Australian delivery addresses. Contact the editor for postage and handling costs to addresses outside Australia.

Rebecca Newman is available for interview.

Posted in info

What is Alphabet Soup magazine?

Alphabet Soup is an Australian literary magazine for children aged 6 – 12. Issue 1 is out now!

From February 2009, the magazine will be published quarterly.

Single copies cost $7.00 and a 1-year subscription (4 issues) costs $25.00. Orders can be placed online at www.alphabetsoup.net.au and Westbooks (the specialist children’s bookstore in Victoria Park) also stock Alphabet Soup.

Westbooks
396 Mill Point Road
Victoria Park WA 6100
Ph: +61 8 9361 4211

See www.alphabetsoup.net.au for more information.