A while back, I was interviewed by a freelance journalist named Tim Ford, and his story has appeared on the CBC Arts website. You may have seen it on your local CBC page.
I provided Tim with some early photographs, including a photo from the official On Spec “launchpad” party, featuring our first Art Director, Tim Hammell, and my then five year old daughter Danica LeBlanc. There’s also a photo of our long-time Poetry editor, Barry Hammond, sitting at a science fiction convention display table with Business Manager Cath Jackel. We had so much fun at those conventions over the years, meeting our writers and readers, and showing off the fabulous artists on the covers of our little magazine.
I’ve already seen comments from people saying they’ve never heard of On Spec, and all we can say is that it’s been a “word of mouth” process for years. Granting agencies are generous in providing money for physical production, but there is seldom anything to pay for the kind of advertising and promotion that might bring us to the attention of the masses. Similarly, bookstore sales were iffy at best, and placing copies in a store was no guarantee they’d be picked up by a curious reader. Conventions were our way of being visible to and engaging with potential readers of our genre. And most of the time, the volunteer editors and staff were paying their own travel and meal costs to be there. It adds up.
So if you are new to On Spec, there is still a chance to purchase and download a number of our back issues that have been available in digital format. The stories don’t get stale with age, and many can be read over and over again, with something new revealed in each reading. Funds will go towards future projects by our publisher, the Copper Pig Writers’ Society. You can subscribe to this blog to be kept apprised of new developments.
Meanwhile, enjoy your reading! The final issue will be a big one.
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