Page Seventeen

I can hardly believe we are launching Issue 8 in just 4 days.

I would probably feel the reality of it if I there were boxes of books beside me, but that won’t happen for a couple more days. Once (issue 6 I think) they weren’t ready for collection from the printer until 4pm the day before we launched. A guaranteed way to test the nerves, but this year, it won’t come to that and I have every belief they will be ready on time.

In case you’ve forgotten the details, here they are.

We’ll be kicking things off this Saturday, 13th November, with special guest Graham Nunn at 1pm, Burrinja cafe, 351 Glenfern Rd (cnr Matson Dve), Upwey. Come along for an afternoon of friendly faces, contributor readings, the announcement and presentation of the 2010 short story and poetry competition prizes, not to mention for a great cuppa.

If you’re catching the train, this map might help. Make sure you allow about 20 minutes to walk from the station, and an hour for the train (Belgrave line).

Copies of issue 8 will be available for just $15 (cash only). They’ll revert to full price ($19.95) after the weekend. If you can’t get to the launch, there’s still time to order a copy at the discounted price, but not long. So get to it. Limited copies of back issues will also be available.

I’m back and I must admit, it feels really odd trying to organise myself after so long away. It doesn’t help that all of the hardcopy poetry submissions have disappeared in the Australia Post system. (Which means if you made a snail mail poetry submission, you probably haven’t heard back from us yet, so please be patient, and believe that we’re terribly sorry.)

Even so Issue 8 is shaping up to be one very impressive issue. As well as at least ten new writers (I don’t have a final figure yet), there’s also great work by some of your favourites, including Graham Nunn, Jane Williams, David Prater, Ivy Alvarez, Matt Hetherington, Anna Ryan-Punch, Jeremy Balius, Ryan O’Neill and of course, so many more.

So, set aside the afternoon of Saturday November 13th, allow enough time to trek out to the Burrinja cafe in Upwey, so you can be one of the first to check it out.