The Blog of Tom

Went to to an independent publishing fair organised by Publish & Be Damned yesterday. Self-publishing is a precarious business, but I was impressed by the range of work on display. If I’d been a bit more prepared, I might have taken some of my own work along, but it was very much a last minute thing. Although the quality of the publications was pretty varied, I’d like to recommend a number of independent/small press magazines.

Mustard is a not-for-profit comedy magazine that stood out on the basis of actually being funny. It has a good mixture of silly articles, comic strips, fake adverts and stuff, but is perhaps most notable for its featured interviews. The current issue (no.6) features a lengthy talk with Alan Moore about writing for comics, hallucinogenic drugs and learning magic. Previous issues feature Peter Cook, Douglas Adams and Michael Palin. Most of the content is available for free at their website, www.mustardweb.org, but I’d still recommend picking up the print edition if you can.

Diplo first came to my attention while trawling through the shelves at Borders and caught my eye due to the front cover shown here - Tony Blair in the classic Christine Keeler pose. Usually costing £4 an issue, the very nice editor gave me a copy for free. It’s a very professionally made magazine, both in terms of content and design and it’s well worth a read if you’re looking for an interesting take on current events. There’s a high standard of writing throughout and the page layout manages to enhance the content, rather than obscure it. My one quibble would be that the font size used for the articles is perhaps one point too small, which can make it slightly hard to read. Still, it’s worth the effort, as it contains interesting material from around the world. Their website appears to be down at the moment, but they have a myspace page here.

Pen Pusher gets a mention mainly due to the fact that it’s produced near to my home and is running a campaign to support independent bookshops. I must confess that I found some of the articles a little tweedy for my tastes, but it has a clean, simple finish to its design and will no doubt pick up as time goes on. It’s distributed free to selected bookshops and libraries in London, or you can request a copy here.

Guestroom have released the latest issue of their annual publication, which includes a DVD of short films. Interlude is also worth a look if you’re into abstract, arty stuff. It has a hands-off editorial policy, with authors designing their own pages.

For more information about independent publishing, check out Indy&Ink, the international society of independent publishers. Their website has lots of information about independent magazines and joining the society brings all sorts of benefits if you’re thinking of publishing your own comic/magazine/pamphlet.

The UK heatwave continues unabated and my productivity levels have reached new lows. This is partly due to the heat and partly due to the discovery of a hideously addictive platform game by Free Lunch Design

Icy Tower displays pure gaming aesthetics and is simply based around jumping from platform to platform, trying to climb the tower against the clock. It’s beautifully programmed and more addictive than crack. Be warned that this thing can take over your life.

The third issue of Market Movies, the free review of cheap DVDs is now available for download. As ever, all films reviewed cost £2 or less.

(PDF file. Right click and “save as…”

Reviewed in this issue: The Best Videos in the World… Ever!, Dementia 13, Space Marines, Russian Fishing Adventure, Freak, Mixed Nuts, Friday, D.A.R.Y.L., Little Shop of Horrors, Gangster Story.

As seen on a wall in Angel, Islington.

Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, they crown a “Princess Kay of the Milky Way” - a lovely young lady (often of a rather full figure) who is to act as ambassador for the state’s prodigous dairy farming industry. As if this coveted position wasn’t reward enough, the winner also gets a bust of their head carved for them. Out of butter.

Here’s a previous winner with her churned milk likeness.

Obviously, the queston remains - what to do with your butter head after all the hullaballoo of the event has died down? Thankfully, former winners of the Princess Kay of The Milky Way title share their thoughts on the PKotMW website. Their answers range from the simple (’I still have it’ say four of the previous winners), to the surreal (’We hosted a “Butter head Melt-Down” and served sweet corn. People rolled their ears of corn on my head.’) to the achingly sad (’I have just the cracked face.’)

Thanks to Becky B