Story To reaches destination
A new publication offering a literary alternative to the usual commuter fare was launched today in Melbourne.
The joint venture of co-founders and editors Kate Nicholson and Beth Keating, Story To… is a 12-page collection of transport-themed photography and fiction pieces by local emerging creators.
“We’ve been working on this idea for over a year so it’s great to see Story To… in print,” said Nicholson. “We’re just happy we can offer Melbourne’s public a great read for their daily commute.”
Nicholson, originally from New Zealand, is an independent arts writer and reviewer as well as an Editor for the Who's Who in Australia range of publications, and one of the founders of Show Me Shorts, a film festival screening New Zealand and Australian short films.
Keating is an emerging writer and editor who divides her time between freelance projects and professional work. She is currently also the Fiction Editor for Vibewire.net and has been published in zines such as Small Lust. This year she was on the judging panel for the Emerging Writers’ Festival Reading Room Short Story Competition.
The pair conceived of the publication thanks to their mutual passion for independent publishing. Said Keating: “We recognised there was a gap in the ‘commuter literary landscape’ for decent, well-written short stories and decided to try to change that. [We hope] to connect Melbourne’s wide and sophisticated commuter audience with literature created by emerging talent and to give the readers an alternative to tabloid gossip”.
The project received assistance in the form of a grant from Vibewire’s Media Makers Mini Fund.
Lisa Pham, Project Coordinator for the Melbourne Media Makers 2008 program, commented that “Vibewire is pleased to be giving young people the opportunity to create their own media.”
Copies are available for purchase from Sticky Institute, or are downloadable as a PDF from the StoryTo... website.
A reading of one of the Story To... pieces will take place at the Melbourne Media Makers Showcase at Horse Bazaar on Sunday 13 July, 4-9pm.
