Tag: Sorted Digital

  • Friends of Sorted Magazine champion Sorted Digital online magazine!

    I’ve been astonished and encouraged by the many wonderful comments from friends of Sorted Magazine. When I first tabled the idea of a magazine published via Substack to Bekah Legg, and eventually to the whole team, I hadn’t a clue if Sorted readers would want to make that giant leap from print to digital. It seemed a lot to ask and I confess to being apprehensive about whether it would take off. I needn’t have worried at all, turns out you lot are far more tech savvy than I’d imagined! So many of you have come over to Substack and seem perfectly happy to read the magazine on your digital device.

    So I want to say a massive thank you for making the journey, for being part of this new adventure, thank you for your public and private messages of encouragement and especially for your prayers. These precious words mean so much to me, to Bekah and to the whole team. Here are just a few messages from the SD public comments section on Substack:

    “Thank you. Looking forward to seeing the project grow.”

    “I’m thrilled to see that Sorted Magazine is coming back in some capacity. It has been a fantastic magazine to share to the men’s groups I’m involved in. I’m very excited to see what the new version looks like and will be sharing with everyone possible.”

    “Looking forward to receiving the first instalment, thanks Val & team, every blessing!”

    “Great news, looking forward to the first issue. Only saying the other day that I missed the magazine. Will be praying for the team.”

    “Really well done Val.”

    “Great idea keeping the vision alive!”

    “Thanks Val and the editorial team for moving forward with Sorted Digital – looking forward to reading the first edition!”

    “Sounds great – glad you are continuing the mission!”

    “Looking forwards to the digital version. I do miss the magazines. So happy this has been allowed and a great legacy for Steve.”

    “Good ! I really like Sorted and it’s right that Steve’s legacy should continue.”

    “Brilliant … it was a really nice surprise to get the email. I have really missed my Sorted, and really looking forward to the digital version, sounds great and would like to support you – Val, in any way I can. Bring it on!”

    “So pleased to see Sorted reborn digitally. Looking forward to it.”

    “Well done for this initiative- supporting you and cheering you on!”

    Aren’t these readers wonderful?! Every now and then I sense a tiny glimpse of what it might have been like for Steve at the very beginning, all those years ago. Comments such as these have the power to propel a vision forward, because they reaffirm what God has already placed in the heart.

    The next issue of Sorted Digital will be out soon, if you haven’t already, please come along for the ride! Sign up for free here Subscribe to Sorted Digital.

    Here are some more stories about Sorted Digital online magazine:

    Announcement: A new future for Sorted Magazine – Sorted Magazine

    Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) shares Sorted Digital news – Sorted Magazine

    CRE update: Sorted, socks and All Saints, Stock!

    Bekah blesses Val’s venture – Sorted Magazine

    Announcement: Dave Hopwood joins the Sorted Digital talent pool – Sorted Magazine

    Main Photo Credit: Joao-Paulo-Carnevalli-De-Oliveira via Unsplash

  • Announcement: Dave Hopwood joins the Sorted Digital talent pool

    I’m so pleased to welcome the versatile and prolific writer, Dave Hopwood, to the Sorted Digital talent pool. Dave is the author of over 70 books including The Bloke’s Bible, The Shed, Sons of Thunder, Raging Grace and Diary of a Wimpy Christian. His writing is warm, intuitive, engaging and accessible.

    Full disclosure: Here at house of Fraser, we are huge Dave Hopwood fans and we’re feeling pretty giddy about this latest development. Sorted Digital is all about publishing quality writing which informs and blesses the reader, while gently pointing them towards the God of hope. It’s good to have Dave on board to help out with that.

    Hubs and I sometimes enjoy an hour or so when we just sit together in the same space, quietly reading. It’s a special time. Many of Dave’s books have featured in these sessions including some of those mentioned above. However, the silence would often be broken by some laugh out loud moments!

    Dave is very familiar with Sorted, having written for the print magazine from 2019 to 2021. He enthused: “It’s a privilege and a pleasure to be writing again for Sorted, and it’s so good to have Sorted Digital online magazine as a means of encouraging and inspiring our faith.”

    Dave loves communicating the Bible using contemporary media, humour and stories. He is author of a series of books retelling the Bible. He passionately believes that the Bible was and is aimed at ordinary people, and that it is earthy, funny and incisive in the way it tells of God’s interaction with the world. These days he spends much of his time retelling the Bible using anything that seems useful, TV, movies, internet, adverts, news stories etc. He speaks at various places and regularly publishes ideas and material via his website www.davehopwood.com

    Sorted Digital is published monthly via Substack and delivered by email. It’s free and the next issue will be out in April, sign up here: Subscribe to Sorted Digital

  • Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) shares Sorted Digital news

    Our good friends at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) have shared the news about Sorted Digital online magazine with their supporters. CRE Press Officer, David Hall, reached out to Sorted Digital Editor Val Fraser to get the details. Val explained: “It was so lovely to chat with Dave and tell him all about the new project. He’s an old school journalist and really understands what the day to day work of an editor actually entails. I think we will be chatting again very soon!”

    Bekah blesses Val’s Venture

    Dave also included comments from Steve Legg’s widow, Bekah Legg, in his report. Bekah unpacks some of the organisational arrangements and gives her blessing to Val’s venture. Find the CRE newsletter and report on Sorted Digital here CRE update: Sorted, socks and All Saints, Stock!

  • Announcement: A new future for Sorted Magazine

    In September 2024 the founder and editor of Sorted Magazine, Steve Legg, went to be with Jesus. Before his death, Steve and his wife Bekah came to the difficult decision that the print magazine simply could not go on without Steve’s unique and sacrificial input. Following Steve’s death Bekah shared: “Now the race has been run. Steve has been, in his words, promoted to Glory. Please pray for those of us left behind as we face a future without our funny and faithful man – that we would continue to find joy in unexpected places and to find our security in the unshakeable kingdom of God.”

    Just a few days before the final print issue of Sorted Magazine dropped through letter boxes, God birthed a new vision in the heart of our Digital Editor, Val Fraser. She explained: “The vision of a digital future for Sorted Magazine had been burning in my heart for months. I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer and I finally plucked up the courage to outline a proposal to Bekah.”

    Now, many meetings later, Sorted Magazine has been lovingly re-imagined for you, our reader. We are calling it Sorted Digital. The editor of Sorted Digital, Val Fraser, is committed to faithfully upholding Steve’s vision for a wholesome magazine aimed primarily at a male readership. Sorted Digital will continue to offer all the great things which readers loved about Sorted Magazine.

    So what is different? Sorted Digital could be likened to a nimble, more frequent, mini version of Sorted Magazine. It’s lighter, leaner and faster than the printed version. It’s free to all (with an option to financially support). It’s monthly, shareable, paper-free, ad-free and algorithm-free. It’s an online magazine published via email (with an associated website). Expect to scroll through features, culture, cars, columns and humour, along with comment and conversations about life and faith.

    Bekah concluded: “I’m entrusting the future of Sorted Digital to seasoned media professional, Val Fraser, who has served Steve’s vision faithfully for almost five years. Won’t you join us for this new season? Whether you’re a longstanding reader or you’ve never even heard of us, we would love to have you on board. Existing email subscribers will automatically receive Sorted Digital online magazine. New readers can start receiving Sorted Digital online magazine (for free) by signing up here.”

    Main Photo Credit: Val Fraser

  • News: Author wins prestigious book award

    Digital Editor’s Note: It is with great delight that I welcome Louise Jane, the CEO of the prestigious Christlit Book Awards as a Sorted Magazine Guest Writer. My little book Notes from the North End of Nowhere was shortlisted for the Creative Future Writers’ Award, it has also won a Christlit Book Award and The Christlit Book of The Year 2024 Award. Louise has very kindly written this lovely endorsement. It’s very humbling to see my work standing alongside authors I admire, such as Joyce Meyer and Louie Giglio.

    Louise writes: Val Fraser’s Notes from the North End of Nowhere is a brilliant concept for a book that feels refreshingly original. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I picked it up, but I found myself laughing out loud more than I ever have with any other book!

    The warmth and familiarity of the narrative enveloped me, making it the ideal companion for a laid-back weekend spent on the couch with a hot brew in hand. It’s the type of book that draws you in so completely that you lose all sense of time and space. As I read, I often found myself wishing I could sit down with the author to discuss her intriguing and inventive thoughts. Her unfiltered, candid writing style makes the reading experience feel so intimate and engaging.

    With a remarkable ability to weave beautiful metaphors, Fraser showcases a talent for imaginative and thought-provoking writing. While I was engaged with the text, I also found myself longing for the magnificent northern landscapes, like those in Wales and the Lake District, as each description stirred a deep appreciation for the beauty of our planet.

    One part that particularly stood out to me was the brilliantly written Notes on Noticing, which made me chuckle more than a few times. Val cleverly weaves together religious themes and humour, using sheep as a metaphor to demonstrate how Christianity can be a force for good, all while keeping that classic Northern wit. I couldn’t resist sharing some quotes with my Northerner pals, who enjoyed the humour just as much as I did. Additionally, the author’s references to TV shows like The Repair Shop and Gardeners’ World not only piqued my interest in watching them but also highlighted her ability to draw connections between everyday life and faith.

    Altogether, this unique and brilliant book is a must-read! And I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a delightful literary experience.

    Notes from the North End of Nowhere, published by scm, won The Christlit Book Award, The Christlist Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for The Creative Future Writers’ Award. Available here Notes from the North end of Nowhere: An uplifting collection of narratives exploring northern resilience, cake and proper chips: Amazon.co.uk: Fraser, Val: 9780993574993: Books.

    Photo Credits: Getty Images. Book cover Val Fraser. Photo design and badge courtesy of The Christlit Book Awards.

  • Are close friendships possible in the workplace?

    Research carried out by www.hampers.com revealed that 61% of working adults consider at least one co-worker as a close friend. These investigations were carried out as part of an ongoing study into happiness in the workplace, following on from a study in September 2020.

    The study initially found that 90% of respondents are close enough to at least one of their co-workers to consider them a friend (up from 87% in 2020). What’s more, three fifths went as far as saying they’d class at least one co-worker as a close friend, if not one of their best friends (61%), up from 52% in 2020. According to this study the top five reasons colleagues were thought of as close friends are:

    1. We tell each other everything: 68%

    2. We’ve got a lot of shared experiences: 63%

    3. I enjoy spending time with them outside of work: 50%

    4. We’re always talking on the phone (texting or calling): 49%

    5. I feel they truly care about me: 37%

    Over three quarters of those who stated they spend time together outside of work said they have introduced their work place best friend to their partner, family or other close friends (76%). Almost all respondents (95%) stated that getting on well with their colleagues and having friends (close or not) helps contribute to their overall happiness in the workplace. In fact, workplace friendships are considered one of the key factors why UK adults would be hesitant to leave the company and get a job elsewhere (71%).

    Patrick Gore, Managing Director of www.hampers.com said: “The findings of this study were incredibly interesting, largely because we have data from just two years ago to compare it to. More UK adults than two years ago have someone they consider a friend, if not a close friend, in the workplace and this really can make the world of difference. There have been a lot of changes over the last few years as a result of the covid pandemic, with people made to work from home during the numerous lockdowns and feeling isolated as a result. It’s no wonder people are yearning for human interaction, even those who may still be working in a hybrid capacity. If we all took one thing away from the pandemic, it’s that relationships are incredibly important for our happiness and mental health.”

    Main Photo Credit: Unsplash