FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (10/06/1998)
Two Last Chances To Join Small Press Epidemic!
The May 15th registration deadline for prospective exhibitors at SmallPOX '98 - the Small Press in Ottawa eXpo - slated for Saturday July 4th at the National Library of Canada is history. But, publishers of independent comic books, zines (pronounced "zeens",) and chapbooks still have two last chances at getting their books into this already jam packed convention hitting the capital this Summer.
A last minute registration window of opportunity has been opened up until the end of June for individuals and small presses still wanting to confirm their spot at SmallPOX '98. The new registration fee is $15 CDN ($12 US) per half table, or $30 CDN ($24 US) per full table. The fee also includes priority access and an invite to the post show Creators Only party. All domestic and non-Canadian cheques must be payable to "Stephen Bourne and Associates" and received by June 30th.
"We're still hearing from people who want to be at SmallPOX '98," explains Stephen Bourne, Organizing Coordinator of this one day event. "It was either make some kind of compromise on the deadline, or say 'over thirty creators from across Canada and the States is enough,' and turn away a number of truly wonderful talents for no good reason."
There will also be at least one table set aside for people who can't attend. The SmallPOX '98 Freebie Table borrows from a long-standing indie press tradition of accepting mailed in copies of books at no charge to be given away for free. "We've already received a pile of great stuff from Finland to give away," says Bourne.
Those interested should mail in their book submission copies to "The SmallPOX '98 Freebie Table," c/o P.O.Box 153, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6C4 Canada, to be received no later than June 30th, 1998.
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With the imminent onslaught of SmallPOX looming, the dead of Summer promises to never be the same again as over thirty published talents from Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the States gear up to press the flesh with throngs of fans, spill their guts (when prodded) and flog their books to the public on the freshly polished floor of the National Library of Canada in Ottawa.
"We're bursting with glee!" announced Stephen Bourne, Organizing Coordinator of this newest literary event to hit the region. "The response to our little book fair has been overwhelming," Bourne beams enthusiastically. "People in Europe have been asking about how to get involved!"
Jeff Mason, editor of the phenominally popular Indy Magazine and one of the sponsors of SmallPOX '98, is making the trek from Gainesville, Florida to spend his Independents Day north of the border. He's one of a handful of Americans coming.
For more information about SmallPOX '98, a text-based website has been created at http://www.oocities.org/SoHo/4758/SmallPOX.html
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Creator and self publisher of "Concave Up," his full sized and offset printed, dreams-oriented comic book series, Reklaw may be more well recognized as the artist of his self syndicated "Slow Wave" comic strip. This captivating and popular strip is featured in several North American newspapers, including the national capital's own Ottawa XPress.
"That's one of the things that convinced me to go," says Reklaw, in reference to "Slow Wave" recently being picked up by the Ottawa alternative press news weekly.
Reklaw, Mason and Elinskas make up three of the twenty small press and self publishers of comics, zines and chapbooks who have already booked their spots at this new, creator majority literary event. Others include J.Torres and Tim Levins (The Copybook Tales comic, Toronto,) Victoria Martin (Hook & Ladder chapbook, Ottawa,) and Hal Niedzviecki (Broken Pencil zine, Toronto.) The deadline for registration is May 15th, 1998.
For more information, contact Stephen Bourne. - 30 -
SmallPOX '98 hits the National Library of Canada on Saturday July 4th 1998 from 10am 'til 5pm with up to fifty deadly titles from the infectious world of small press and self published comics, zines and chapbooks created locally, nationally and beyond! For more information about this donation or SmallPOX '98, please contact Stephen Bourne at the number or addresses listed above. - 30 -