Hello everyone!
Before I start out with the news and updates, I must apologise for the format of this week's newsletter. The software I used for last week's newsletter has been giving me problems. But I had a lot of exciting updates and news, so I didn't want to give this week's newsletter a skip. I am hoping that I can fix the problem soon, but until then, please bear with me.
It is with great pleasure, I invite Aanyaa Tekwani to our team of editors. She will be seeing to the blog.
As Christmas holidays begin, and the days become shorter, it is time you put your creativity to test! We are open to submissions for our very first issue, scheduled for March 2026 and our blog. Please do visit our submissions page for more details.
We also require volunteers to join our team. We are a student-led non-profit, and while we prioritize student volunteers, we welcome adult professionals to apply for Board Member roles based on their expertise.
We are currently seeking help in these areas:
- Blog Writing
- Workshop Facilitation (Students & Adults Welcome)
- Submission Review
- Marketing & Outreach
This is a great opportunity for you all to work with a creative non-profit. We also provide certificates after you finish your term, which can be used for college applications/resumes.
Interested? Get more details here
Beyond The Lines, is a book club for teens based in Asia, run by the Stone Soup Magazine where we contemplate, question and criticize. It is led by two members of our team, Elaine, Aanyaa and Keziah. We're very excited to announce what book we'll be discussing in our very first session, on the last Sunday of January! As a reminder, it will be at 1PM IST / 3.30PM SGT, and go for 1 and a half hours.
Our book is— The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis! This beautiful fantasy book follows the four Pevensie siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, as they are swept into the land of Narnia, where it is always winter, never Christmas, and never Spring. They embark on an adventure to save Narnia from this spell; and, along the way, they learn powerful lessons of betrayal, courage and love.
If you are interested please sign-up for the next session: Sign up here
Stuck for inspiration? Here is a prompt to break the ice.
New Submission Prompt: The Magic of Food
Food plays an integral role in our life—and not just because it is a source of sustenance! Food has an emotional, historical, and cultural depth that makes it a vital part of our lives.
The Inspiration: The Kamogawa Food Detectives
Recently, I have been reading a book called 'The Kamogawa Food Detectives' by Hisashi Kashiwai that inspired me to write this prompt. The story revolves around the Kamogawa Diner, an inconspicuous, casual restaurant in a quiet backstreet in the heart of Kyoto.
Run by a father and daughter duo, the restaurant can only be traced through a one-line advertisement in Gourmet Monthly. Customers are drawn to the diner, as though by fate, not only because of the delectable delicacies but because the duo can trace any food from your past! From Napolitan Spaghetti for a much-loved grandfather suffering from dementia to Nabeyaki Udon for a man missing his late wife's cooking, the detectives were able to recreate any request, however whimsical, bizarre, or vague.
Your Challenge
This magical connection between food, memory, and emotion is what we want to explore with The Blue Bell Review community. We invite you to explore the stories, science, and creativity wrapped up in FOOD.
What can you submit? Anything! Write a story, poem, or recipe. Record a podcast. Draw, photograph, sculpt, or make a collage. It could be about:
- Your favourite dish.
- Something you eat during festivals.
- The food you reach for when you are tired or ill.
- A secret family recipe (or a "recipe for disaster").
Creative "Jumping Off" Points
1. Idioms and Sayings
Think about how we use food in our language. Could you create a piece based on one of these?
- "Spill the beans"
- "Crying over spilled milk"
- "Couch potato"
- "Say cheese…"
2. Just Add Magic (Wordplay & Spells)
I love how the TV series Just Add Magic uses food as a medium for spells. I really admire the clever wordplay they use to name their magical dishes:
- "Settle the Beef Sandwich"
- "Shut 'em Shortcake"
- "Lost and Fondue"
- "Walk Through Wall-fles"
Can you come up with your own "magical" food pun or a story where a meal has a supernatural effect?
Ready to submit?
Head over to our Submissions Page for further details. We can't wait to see what you're cooking up! We have decided that the best piece we receive based on this prompt will be featured in an upcoming newsletter!
If you are looking for something interesting to read, head over to our blog page where we have curated a list of books suitable for the Christmas season. If you have a book, song, movie, tv show, place, restaurant or food item that gets you into the Christmas spirit, you could write a review or a piece for the blog. Head over to our submissions page for further details.
To submit a blog piece | Christmas Reading Recommendations
Until next time.
Warm regards
Elaine Elizabeth Jinto
Founder, Editor-In-Chief
The Blue Bell Review
