Monday, November 24, 2008

Gonzo Parenting updates

Happy Fall, Gonzo Friends!

I wanted to take a moment to update everyone on what Gonzo Parenting is up to, where it's been, and where it's going. First of all, the Fall 2008 issue is out, and full of great gonzo tales such as A Piercing Tale in the Yucatan by Anne Kundtz, Life is Dangerous by Jim Strickland, Baby Fight Club by Charles Van Zee, Notes from a Moderately Disastrous Camping Trip by Len Kannapell, Do as I Did Not by Doug Sandvick, Frederick's of Halloween by Greg Wright and, of course, my column, Because I Said So!

The Fall issue is now available, and if you don't have your copy yet, you can get it by sending a check or money order for $3.00 (payable to Wright Consulting) to P.O. Box 214, Chelan, WA 98816 or... save a stamp and send your payment by PayPal.









New Reader Alert

Thank you to our new reader, Melanie in Superior , Wisconsin , for her order! Your zines are in the mail, and should reach you this week. Also, welcome to Steve in Chicago, and about thirty REALTORS® who picked up copies at recent state and national events!

Bookstore Update

Gonzo has found a new home with Urban Think! Bookstore in Orlando , Florida (perhaps the only surviving independent bookstore in Orlando , amid all of the commercial Disney fluff), and it should be on their shelves sometime this week. Send manager Jim an email at jim AT urbanthinkorlando.com to let him know you appreciate his support of independent publications!

The new issue of Gonzo is on its way to two Chicago bookstores: Women & Children First, and Quimby's. Send an email to Women & Children First at wcfbooks AT aol.com to thank them for carrying Gonzo, and check out their website at www.womenandchildrenfirst.com. You can show your support and gratitude to Quimby's by dashing off an email to info AT quimbys.com and visit their site at www.quimbys.com.

Gonzo Parenting is still available at Riverwalk Books in Chelan, Washington (www.riverwalkbooks.com) and at Orondo Cider Works in Orondo , Washington (www.orondociderworks.com). Drop them a line to let them know you support their decision to carry independent zines!

Distro News

Gonzo Parenting has been picked up by a new distribution company called Sweet Candy. Sweet Candy's owner, Sage, is proud of her wide selection of zines and really puts her heart into gaining exposure for each publication. Drop her a line at sweetcandydistro AT gmail.com to ask about specials. You can view her entire catalog online at www.myspace.com/sweetcandymailorder. I promise you'll find something fun to read!

IndieBound.org

IndieBound.org is THE place to find independent businesses and bookstores near you, and to meet others who support indie enterprises and share your interests.

It's free and easy to join. Just set up your account, and then add your favorite independent businesses. Search for businesses you've visited and become a fan, or write a review of your experience.

Find me on IndieBound at www.indiebound.org/users/jarethamarie and add me as a friend! Don't forget to become a fan of Gonzo Parenting at www.indiebound.org/stores/gonzo-parenting.

Possible New Projects

I've been pretty busy entertaining ideas for new projects and appearances, and will send updates as things progress.

Possible projects include a new regular column that would be an extension of my Because I Said So! column, and an appearance on a radio program. I've also become involved in a compilation project with some of the best mama zinesters in the country. I'll definitely be sending more info on that as it progresses.

Riverwalk Books in Chelan, Washington is interested in having a reading of Gonzo Parenting contributors, and we are looking at March or April for that event. More info to come. In the meantime, get your stories to me, and let me know if you'd be willing to read your work in beautiful Lake Chelan!

I'm also working on getting set up to sell Gonzo t-shirts. It would help to have some idea on the level of interest on that, so let me know if you think you might like one, and depending on the response, I'll pursue that. Or not.

Let me hear from you!

I love to hear from readers on what they like about the zine, and how they think it can be improved. Even more than that, I love to receive submissions from parents who have a story to tell. Read the submission guidelines on our blog at www.myspace.com/GonzoParenting, then send your story to me at gonzoparentingzine AT yahoo.com.

Thanks for supporting indie zines, and Gonzo Parenting. It's you, the readers, who make it all worth it.

Stay Gonzo,

Christina-Marie Wright

Publisher/Editor, Gonzo Parenting zine