Time for another giveaway! In celebration of the Manna covers on Tumblr.com we are giving away this signed 8×10 print from the Manna’s Creative Director, Joe Willey. “Like” the Manna‘s Facebook page (click here) to be entered in the drawing. Winner announced this Friday!

Q: The Manna covers have a simple, but powerful look. How would you describe its style?

A: Uncluttered, I hope. I like the word “powerful” and since the issues are thematic, one cover design to set the tone for the entire issue has a lot of weight and should get your attention quickly.

Q: Where does the creative inspiration for the Manna covers come from?

A: I think about the broad theme. The January 2012 edition was about guilt, so I thought about all of the things that guilt implied and looked for photos that loosely supported the idea. The text worked with the image of someone bent over in a chair. To me, it looked like the weight of guilt.

Q: How has the Manna covers evolved over the years?

A: The Manna was originally a newspaper and the front page had a headline and text, like a typical newspaper. The changes were subtle at first, like an illustration that incorporated a headline above the fold. Most newspapers only used photos to support the stories, but we were trying to capture interest with graphics.

Q: Has the Manna‘s transition to a digital platform hurt, or helped the creative/production aspects of the covers?

A: It’s helped creatively, because it has distilled the cover down to a manageable visual size, and I think there is more impact when you see the cover without a fold like the newspaper. It has helped with production because the image we need for a digital prublication can be a lower resolution than for print.

Q: How do the Manna covers differ from other webzine covers?

A: I think the Manna resists the temptation to fill the cover with a list of what’s between the covers. The Manna covers are more like book jackets or posters, than magazine covers. I’m happy with the comparison.

Q: In March, the Manna will release its first print magazine. Will the cover differ from the digital covers?

A: The goal is to make them similar if not exactly the same, but I also want to make them the most useful for their application. I hope casual observers say, “that’s different than what i usually see. I want to read that.”

Check out the Manna covers on Tumblr at  http://themanna.tumblr.com

Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or blogging, the Manna team is always looking for ways to connect through social media– which is why we are excited to announce the launch of our Tumblr.com page! The Manna on Tumblr will highlight all the Manna covers throughout the years. It’s a great way to view the inspirational artwork that comprises the Manna!

Take a look at http://themanna.tumblr.com

The article Chronic Condition by Karen Tull exemplifies the personal turmoil that guilt can cause. Tull tells a story of a college friend whose self-condemnation caused her to walk away from the faith:

“She couldn’t escape the voice inside her head. If people only knew the things you’ve done, they would reject you. You’ll never be one of them, so stop fooling yourself. I know what you’re really like. I saw what you did at those parties. I saw you get drunk time and time again. I saw you with each of those guys. How could anyone, especially God, love you after all that? Just face it–you’ll never be good enough.”

The mental battle of the college friend, who is left nameless in the article, brings  moments of introspection and confession on how we can constantly belabor past and current mistakes. The article goes on to assure readers that Christ died for ALL our sins and encourages believers to live a guilt-free life.

To read Chronic Condition and other life changing articles visit readthemanna.org.

Click here  to read or visit readthemanna.org

Looking forward, 2012 is sure to be a very busy and exciting year for all of us here at the Manna. We cannot close out the year without saying THANK YOU for all of your support! Please tell us ways we can better serve you in 2012 at info@readthemanna.org

May you have a joyous New Year and a blessed 2012!!

Lose weight-  The Body Fitness app creates a personal workout plan to improve your results. Pair that with the Calorie Track app, a customized calorie monitor, and you’ll be on your way to a slimmer, more healthy you!

Pay off debt- Getting out of debt is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. The Debt Free(Lite) app  help users focus on knocking out one debt at a time until they reach their goal of becoming debt free.

Try something new- Ready to go sky diving or taste exotic food in 2012? The Living Social app offers savings on hotels, restaurants, adventure activities and beauty therapies in most major cities and surrounding areas.

Spend more time with family- Sometimes that’s easier said than done. Especially with picky teenagers who are too cool for family game night. The Blasterous app helps you get creative when planning  your next family activity with a list of events going on near you.

Quit smoking and other bad habits-  The Quitter app is like having a personal motivator. It records how many days since you last indulged, and how much money you have saved as a result.

Merry Christmas, from all your friends at the Manna!

Issuu’s blog says, “BIG day at Issuu! The BETA release of Issuu for iPad is finally here. It’s a web-based HTML5 reader for Safari. We’re really proud of bringing the beautiful reading experience from the Issuu desktop browser to Apple’s tablet.” (click for full article)

The post goes on to say that,  as a BETA, some features will not be available such as links, sharing, downloading, and printing. BUT, it’s a start!

This news could not have come at a better time for the Manna. With our quarterly print magazine coming out in 2012, and the BETA release of Issuu for ipad,  the Manna will truly have the ability to reach people on all platforms: online, print, smartphones, & tablets. What better way(s) to share and spread the good news of Christ!