The Return

So, the sleeper awakes. 2012 has become 2014 and a lot has happened in that time. Were the other options really that bad to make Tony Abbott the people’s choice for PM? Since when could a pope just resign? And what the hell is twerking?

You’d think in that time the compound interest in our bank accounts could have accumulated to make us the richest editors in the known universe. But no.

Therefore, in the absence of a fortune that would have been made redundant from inflation anyway, we’ve rubbed the gunk out of our eyes and ordered an oil drum full of coffee to help kick-start the brain cells. There’s a lot of work to do, and you can be a part of it if you have a story to tell. Or even if you’re intrigued by the idea of owning a collection of stories and poems, hand-picked from emerging talent from Australia and beyond.

page seventeen is back for Issue 11.

In 2013 we needed to take a hiatus. Partly because at the time I wasn’t able to devote myself to the level required, and that’s my failing. But also because we needed time to slow down and consider how we can keep this beautiful little collection going.

It’s probably worth noting here that I define ‘going’ as different from ‘surviving’. We’re surviving just fine. But now more than ever, freshness and adaptability is part of a process to ensure we’re not just surviving, we’re thriving. Page seventeen is about showcasing the writers that no one’s heard of yet, and celebrating new talent. Anything which bolsters page seventeen’s presence, and increases its reach across Australia and international markets, is added exposure for the featured writers.

All of this preamble leads to page seventeen’s first e-edition, currently intended to run alongside the print edition so that both the old-fashioned and the new-fangled can enjoy the latest collection. More on this further down the line.

Our submission window will open on April 15 as per previous issues. The traditional competitions will also be in effect from April 15 until June 30, so be prepared as we want to be wowed. Wake us up. We want your most unpredictable mysteries, your most captivating characters and your most dynamic tangents. You – yes, you, the one I’m aggressively pointing at – can make this issue the best yet.

There’ll be more activities on the horizon, which we’ll talk about as we go along. But for now, watch this space. Like us on Facebook and Twitter if you haven’t already. Drop us a line at pageseventeen.at.busybird.com.au. And get excited!

Beau Hillier | Editor, page seventeen