- Free Article: No
- Contents Category: Editorial
- Review Article: Yes
- Online Only: No
- Custom Highlight Text:
Welcome to our final issue for 2001! Our summer issue – arrestingly illustrated on the cover – is a double one, and longer than previous ones this year. Funds permitting, we hope to be able to publish more eighty-page issues in 2002, especially in the second half of the year, when so many Australian books, both general and scholarly, are published. This expansion allows us to add new features: ‘Best Books of the Year’ column (children’s as well as adult books); short fiction; and a ‘Summer Reading’ column, containing brief reviews of worthy titles for which we haven’t been able to find the wonted page or two. Columns such as ‘Best Books of the Year’, in which various critics nominate two favourite books of the year and one ‘surprise’, are certainly not intended to be the last word on the subject. Such columns are inevitably subjective. But it is interesting to hear from some of our regular critics and contributors about their assessment of quality publications here and overseas. If it points some readers to fine books they may have overlooked, I think it is worthwhile.
ABR’s inaugural National Short Story Competition attracted more than five hundred entries, from new and established writers all around the country. In this issue, we publish the winner of the first prize, ‘Dr Darnell’s Cure’, by the Melbourne writer Carrie Tiffany. The second prize has been awarded to ‘There Has to Be a Resemblance’, by B.E. Minifie of Cobargo, New South Wales; the third prize to ‘The End Is Where We Start From’, by Susan Yardley of South Caulfield, Victoria. Our congratulations go to all three authors – indeed, to all the entrants. The popularity of this competition attests to the vitality of the form itself.
ABR is grateful to our sponsors, especially our friends at Reader’s Feast. Timelily, each of our prizewinners will receive a book voucher from Reader’s Feast. Opera Australia, always supportive of ABR’s endeavours, has generously offered our winners tickets to one of its productions.
I am especially grateful to my fellow judges, Carmel Bird and Delia Falconer, whose patience and perspicacity have been much appreciated here at ABR.
Prizes of this kind can test the resources of small magazines, but ABR intends to go on adding to its present suite of prizes. In the New Year, I shall publish details of our first poetry competition, to be offered in the first half of 2002.
At the end of a year of constant change, challenge and rejuvenation, it just remains for me to thank the scores of people who have contributed to ABR throughout the year: staff, board members, editorial advisers, sponsors, advertisers and volunteers. To Chong, of Text Media, I am particularly grateful. No one has transformed the magazine more than Chong.
ABR exists for Australian readers and writers. Thank you for your growing support in 2001. The coming year will be equally exciting, and I look forward to announcing major innovations in the next issue (due in February). If you like what you read in ABR, think about giving a gift subscription to a friend or relative. It’s particularly good value this month. Full details of our special offer appear on page seven.
Happy reading from all of us at ABR!
Comments powered by CComment