Little Elegy at SF Zinefest

Labor Day Weekend found me (and many others) at the highly anticipated 2004 SF Zinefest. I did a special reprint of issue one for the occasion, and had a small quantity of issue two available as well.  I exhibited alongside my sister, who makes unique art books (usually featuring equine images) and amazing studded leather bracelets.

I was also the festival's workshop coordinator — you can see the fruits of my labor here: workshops. There were fantastic speakers and topics covered everything from open relationships to basic bookbinding! I served on a panel entitled "How to Make Your Zine Outlive You". I think that's going to be a bit hard for Little Elegy, seeing as most my family has lived to be over 100, but we'll see!

Issue #2 Media Coverage

Issue two was discovered at the Alternative Press Expo in February by SF Weekly writer Karen Zuercher! She had some lovely things to say about Little Elegy. You can read the full expo review online.

Issue two (and I) will also be the focus of a radio program on sudden fiction! Hosted by Roman Mars, Invisible Ink is a "radio zine" that works to promote and celebrate indy press and other alternative media. The program featuring Little Elegy will air on Sunday, March 14th, on SF station KALW 91.7FM. Listen live online at 2pm Pacific Standard time! (free RealPlayer required)

Issue #2 Released

Say "Hallo!" to little elegy, issue two. The writing for this issue is fantastic, featuring works of übershort fiction by writers in California, Washington, Michigan and Illinois. View the full list of contributors here.

The average length of the pieces hovers around 75 words. I seem to be the most verbose of all my TinyLit writers, with three pieces clocking in at 109, 122, and 128! 128 words is major verbosity. Jeez, why don't I just go off and write a freakin' novel?

Well this issue is really nice folks. It is subtitled melancholy melodies on a cotton candy high. I'm very fond of this issue. Lovingly hand-crafted they are, and with a retro design accent that the ladies (and possibly some gents) of my generation should find familiar.

If you'd like to purchase copies of issue two, please email Colleen using our online contact form, and ask for details. The price is $2, which includes postage and handling. Discounts are available for bulk orders or distributors!

Issue two is also on sale at Ecolibrium in Burlingame, CA. Right now, they're the only shop that has issue two, so if you're a Bay Area local please patronize this great DIY resource and groovy shop. You should also want to check out the lovely review of issue one by Ecolibrium entrepreneur and local poet, Christopher Robin.

Gordon West Wins "Best Entry" for Issue #2

Gordon West won the best entry contest for issue two with his story "Harry's Coat." The artist in his own (126) words:

Poetry, prose and screenwriting are the preferred creative escapes for Gordon West, though he is also an advocate of painting shoes and reciting lines from such film classics as Death Becomes Her and 9 to 5.  Currently living in Chicago, he endeavors to give birth to the coveted Great American Novel cum Screenplay but would be more than satisfied with Le Grand Roman Français.  At present a theatre critic for Centerstage Chicago, he's always at the service of anyone craving his talent as scribe — namely his tortoise, Tallulah, for whom he is currently writing a biography.  Film adoration runs thick through his veins and he hopes to utilize his "75 words or less" abilities cultivated with Little Elegy when presenting a pleasantly concise Oscar acceptance speech.

Release Party Shenanigans

The release party at Hotel Cosmo (ably co-hosted by Jeanne Powell and ArtworkSF — thank you Jeanne!) was fantastic.

The readings from issue #2 featured the vocal stylings of authors Johnny Eponymous, Wayne Wolfson and Scott Russell. My good friend, and orator in the grand tradition, Don Huntington also made an appearance. We should have captured these readings on tape. They were not to be missed!

Some highlights included:

• Wayne's hat (But is it an unruly hat?)
• Mr. Eponymous dedicating "Latin" to anyone who's ever lived in Boston and knows there's no Safeways there
• Don reading "Interstellar Possible Lies," with dramatic climax
• Scott's schizophrenic reading of the Amway dialogue from "The Encounter"
• David Hopkins' rendition of "Carnival," complete with creepy carny music in the background and BBC reporter accent
• I sold my entire stock (30 copies) of issue two!

Sadly, along with forgetting to record the event for posterity I also forgot to take pictures. Perhaps we'll get some of the Alternative Press Expo.

Please browse and enjoy all the TinyLit collecting on these pages! Thanks for reading!

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