DC Thomson launches Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine

DC Thomson, publishers of The Beano and award-winning teen title Shout, have announced their biggest girls’ magazine launch of 2010: the Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine, based on the life and works of the popular and acclaimed children’s author and former staffer for the company.

Jacqueline’s books have become synonymous with the best in children’s publishing: her honest and warm writing style, coupled with signature Nick Sharratt artwork, resonates so strongly that she has sold over 25 million books in the UK to date.

Jacqueline’s history with DC Thomson stretches back to her first ever writing job: she began her career as a young journalist on the iconic Jackie magazine.

“I've often talked about my time as a very junior journalist with DC Thomson in the 1960s," Jacqueline says, "but I never dreamt that I would be connected to the company again in such delightful circumstances.

"It's been a joy to work with the talented team there," she adds. "They've done a wonderful job in producing the magazine. It looks so colourful, fun and entertaining, chockablock with creative activities. I'm sure it will be very popular, especially with fans of my books.”

With the tagline For Girls Who Love Reading!, the magazine offers something new to a celebrity-saturated tween girls’ market. While there doesn't appear to be any comic strip from the press material, the first issue does feature an exclusive story and writing tips by Jacky and drawing fun with Nick Sharratt.

Each issue will include a pull-out about one of Jacky’s best-loved books, plus quizzes, crafts and games.

The launch covermount is an exclusive sampler from Wilson’s new book, Little Darlings (published 4th March), plus a My Story Notes notebook and pen.

A new website, www.jw-mag.com, takes the magazine experience beyond the last page. On launch, it will contain information about each issue, discussion posts, puzzles, and an application to create your own stories.

• The Official Jacqueline Wilson Magazine will be available from supermarkets and independent retailers throughout the UK from 17th February 2010.

Most Bizarre British Comics Tie-In 2009

And the 2009 downthetubes award for the most bizarre British comics tie-in merchandise of the year goes to...

Firstly let's remember that our favourite piece of bizarre British comics tie-in merchandise to date has been the Jackie Knitting Set. DC Thomson have licenced a lot of different Jackie products over the last few years on the back of the success of the original Best Of Jackie hardback book published by Carlton/Prion in 2005. These have included mugs and key rings with the Jackie compilation music CDs being perhaps the most successful of the recent batch with the fourth album, Jackie The Annual 2010, being released last week. Despite these the Jackie Knitting Set still takes the biscuit and when we spoke to DCT editor Bill McLoughlin, who now works for the company's licencing department, about it he described it as "probably the most unusual and I'd be hard pushed to come up with something more quirky!"

In the meantime Ron Grosset and his team at Waverley Books have had a lot of success with their Broons tie-in books beginning with Maw Broon's Cookbook in 2007. These have always been lovingly compiled, beautifully produced and competitively priced. One reason for the competitive price is Waverley Books' deliberate policy that they are not sold for a big reduction in shops such as Bargain Books or as a loss leader in supermarkets.

The selection of Broons tie-in books from Waverley now include both the Maw Broon's Cookbook and Maw Broon's But An' Ben Cookbook as well as the Broon's Burns Night, Broon's Book Of Gairdening Wisdoms and the recent Maw Broon's Remedies An' Suchlike. Earlier this year Waverley branched out with Maw Broon's But An' Ben Apron which is exactly what it sounds like, an apron, even if Amazon confusingly list it as a 1 page paperback box set. The latest item from Waverley is Maw Broon's But An' Ben Spoon.

Jackie: New Collection

(With thanks to Jeremy Briggs): News of Egmont's Comic Specials prompts us to mention this new collection of material from Jackie magazine, which was published by D C Thomson & Co Ltd.

Launched in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania, the title remained a girl’s best friend until 1993 and this Special Collector’s Edition celebrates the denim-clad decade of the 1970s, when Jackie, famous for its romantic photo stories, sold over one million copies in a week.

Jackie of course brought girls endless features on David Cassidy's favourite colour during that period, and the much-cited agony column, 'The Cathy and Claire Page'. Models who appeared in the photo strips included Garbage band member Shirley Manson (who is now a Terminator on The Sarah Connor Chronicles), BBC news reader Fiona Bruce, who was paid just £3 an hour for her work, and actress Leslie Ash.

Contributors included author Jacquleine Wilson and it was edited at one time by TV critic Nina Msykow, although its first editor was an ex-RAF Engine Fitter, Gordon Small.

The title is essentially a Jackie version of last year's Beano special (which was effectively a preview for the History of Beano book).