A Bit of a Pickle: Zine Reviews

I think zine reviews could really help round out this blog. (And give it more content. Let’s just call that kettle black.) I was doing reviews for a while before life took me away to other things.

Now that I’m ‘back’, I’ve learned a few things about review in the book world. Specifically, I’ve learned about the stigma that exists against authors doing reviews of other books. The thinking is that there is some sort of conflict of interest (I’m not sure how, as any writer worth their brass does a lot of reading) but also in that it opens the author to ‘revenge reviews’ and the like.

I’d like to think that sort of nonsense doesn’t exist in the zine world, but am I naive in thinking so? In hoping so?

I’ll probably go ahead and do it anyway, but if people aren’t inclined to me doing so… shout out!

And Now for Something Completely Different

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In another life, I am not The Author or Nyx – I am an author. (If you’re curious about that stuff, I have an author blog.) I try to keep my zine life and my author life somewhat separate for the sake of my sanity aka organisation. But there is a bit of crossover needed on some occasions.

This is one of those times.

My third novel, Dark Echoes, has been been nominated by AusRomToday for the Cover of the Year Award. I’m very excited to have made it through the nomination round to be one of the ten finalists in the category.

This final round of voting is now up to the public and will be determined by the cover that gets the greatest amount of likes. There’s no signing up for anything, needing to like a page – it’s looking at the ten contestants and giving a like to the cover you think is the best of the lot. If you click the graphic at the top of this post, it’ll take you to the album. Click on the cover you like and then give the one you like the best a like.

It’s that easy.

There are a lot of great covers there, so definitely check everyone out. I do think, though, that Dark Echoes is in with a chance.

If I do win, it won’t be me alone winning. The business I get my covers from – Cohesion – is a small, local business on the way up. The cover designer himself (who works with Cohesion) is from the UK (and is amazing).

If, for some reason, clicking on the image doesn’t work, here is the direct link to the album where you can like to vote:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.742129079158300.1073741834.620418747996001&type=3

Many, many thanks from a self-publisher who dreams of success.

Call for Submissions: Girl Love

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hello! me and a friend are working on a zine called Girl Love and we’d love your contributions. it could be anything, like gendered language, girl hate, safety on a night out, how girls are brought up to see each other as competition, how to make your group more inclusive, girls working together now/ in history… or any of your ideas.

if you want to chat about an idea, message one of us or email girllovezine@hotmail.com.

please share this with anyone who might be interested xx

Do you have a call for submissions for your zine? Let me know!

Don’t Call Me Cupcake – My First Perzine!

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It’s finished! My very first perzine – Don’t Call Me Cupcake – is finished, and it’s available on Etsy!

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This issue focuses mostly on mental health stuff – my long road to finding a therapist I like, being in ‘bipolar denial’ for years, art therapy and so on. But I have a couple other things in there too, like how to get in touch plus a zine review!

Please check it out and let me know what you think. I want this to be the first of many.

Call for Submissions: Girl Love

girllove

hello! me and a friend are working on a zine called Girl Love and we’d love your contributions. it could be anything, like gendered language, girl hate, safety on a night out, how girls are brought up to see each other as competition, how to make your group more inclusive, girls working together now/ in history… or any of your ideas.

if you want to chat about an idea, message one of us or email girllovezine@hotmail.com.

please share this with anyone who might be interested xx

Do you have a call for submissions for your zine? Let me know!

Zine Ninja Approves – SGZ on Etsy!

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Zine Ninja approves of all the Sea Green Zines.

I am happy to announce that all Sea Green Zines (Dear Anonymous 1 & 2, Occupy Melbourne, The Perfect Pocket Guinness Guide) are now available on the InkyBlots Etsy Store.

Woohoo!

A special note: I’ve printed off 40 copies of Occupy Melbourne… and those are the last 40 copies that will be printed.

Yep, I am retiring one of my zines. I might be retiring the Guinness mini-zine as well, but I’m undecided at the moment. So if you’d like any of these, now you know where you can get them.

Time Well Spent

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Most Thursdays, I have the pleasure of meeting up with friends for writing/creative talk as well as yummy nibbles. We’ve also recently added wine, which was an excellent decision. 🙂

Today I had the extra pleasure of introducing the group to zines! I am so excited (as were they), and the number ideas we brainstormed… I am so looking forward to what they come up with next week.

I will even get a start on my next zine: Don’t Call Me Cupcake

Settling Down with a Printer

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Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our previous copier/scanner/printer. It did not operate as advertised.

Sigh.

Alas, we have found love! This beauty, henceforth named Sophie, is a copier/scanner/printer that does 2->2 copying, duplex printing for A4 and A5, scanning, photo printing…

I can see Sophie fitting in just fine at Sea Green Zines.