A snapshot of the launch
It took a little longer than planned but I’m finally here to point you in the direction of the Events page. We’ve loaded a few photos from the Issue 8 launch and hope you enjoy them.
The launch was a wonderful afternoon where, once again, we filled Burrinja Cafe with contributors, friends and anyone else keen to hear some poetry and enough tastes of short stories that they couldn’t help but buy the book then rush home to find out what happened.
It’s always a delight to listen to the contributors read their own pieces, and I admit to feeling a tear press against my eyelid as one of the readers announced it was the very first time she’d had her name in print. A brand spanking new writer. One of our favourite kinds.
It’s always exciting too to announce the competition winners, and even though contributors receive their copy of the magazine on arrival, it came as a shock to Leah Swann to be awarded first prize in the short story competition, as she hadn’t thought to look up the results. I think this is a first, and it was lovely to share her joy as she realised. I must admit, when I first read her story Streetsweeper I had little cry.
As with any publication, there are a lot of people who worked hard to make sure Issue 8 is as fantastic as it is. So, one last time, I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Vicki Thornton, Ashley Capes, Laurie Steed and Peter Farrar for their fabulous editorial decisions, Graham Nunn and Amanda le Bas de Plumetot for the fine selection of poems and stories from the annual competition and Amanda (again) and Marian Dalton for their exceptional proofreading.