Anyone who subscribes, resubscribes or donates over the next week goes into the draw to win some spectacular prizes. This year’s prizes include a holiday to Ubud, original artworks, locally roasted coffee, wine, workshops – and piles of books and subscriptions.
Remember: current subscribers can also take this opportunity to resubscribe and go into the draw – we’ll simply add another year your existing subscription. Subscribe today.
Ten reasons to subscribe to Overland
ONE
Because you love to read. Look at all these back issues you can start working your way through right now.
TWO
Because we publish first-rate fiction, curated by one of Australia’s leading writers and editors, Jennifer Mills (with whom you could win a one-day Overland fiction-writing workshop). Each year we publish compelling short stories by new and established writers in each print edition, and at least two online fiction issues guest-edited by emerging writer-editors, each featuring original fiction pieces from at least four writers, and we run a number of lucrative literary competitions that award outstanding fiction writers, such as the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers, the Story Wine Prize, the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize and the Overland Victoria University Short Story Prize for New Writers.
Here are but some of the brilliant stories we’ve published over the past couple of years:
‘Letter to Salvador’ by Claudia Salazar Jimenez; translated by Elizabeth Bryer (Overland #223)
‘Broad Hatchet’ by Julia Tulloh Harper (winner of this year’s VU Short Story Prize)
‘No breaks’ by Omar Musa (Overland #220)
‘Backa Bourke’ by Marika Duczynski (2015 Nakata Brophy prizewinner)
‘Zero hours’ by Pip Adam (published in 2015’s special New Zealand / Aotearoa issue)
THREE
Because poetry is central to the Overland project – it always has been. In addition to the superb poetry in Overland’s print magazines, we also publish special online editions experimenting with form, a new poetry podcast, and run a number of poetry competitions, including the Judith Wright Poetry Prize (first place $6000) and the poetry section of the Fair Australia Prize (first place $4000). Overland fosters a broad poetry community, one that embraces different styles, aesthetics and expression. Overland’s poetry is commissioned and selected by the ebullient Toby Fitch, with the help of a dedicated group of volunteer poetry readers, whom we appreciate enormously. (We also greatly appreciate our sensational volunteer fiction readers, whom we forgot to mention above!)
A taste of our recent poetry:
‘alkaway’ by Ella O’Keefe (winner of this year’s Judith Wright Poetry Prize)
‘Not so wild’ by Omar Sakr (runner-up in this year’s Judith Wright Poetry Prize)
‘Their talk’ by Ouyang Yu
‘Night pieces’ by Leif Mahoney
‘And they are angry’ by Fiona Wright
‘Expert’ by Ellen van Neerven (winner of this year’s Nakata Brophy Prize)
The Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize
FOUR
Because you like our substantive, thought-provoking literary and political essays that examine alternatives to the current state of the world, which can often feel overwhelming. In our nonfiction we examine politics, culture and activism head-on. The standard of work we publish is mostly thanks to our excellent contributors, but also to the hard work of editor Jacinda Woodhead and contributing editor John Marnell.
Some of our best work from the past few months:
‘End of the rainbow’ by Sisonke Msimang
‘The gun’ by Dean Biron
‘Out of touch’ by Ben Eltham
‘Engaged and enraged’ by Rachel Hennessy
‘Inside the sweatshop of the world’ by Tim Robertson
‘Get your hands off my sister’ by Stephanie Convery
‘Production lines of flesh and bone’ by Ben Brooker
FIVE
Because you want to be engaged in culture, politics and contemporary debate. You want to know what other people think about the world, hear other perspectives and ideas, and expand your horizons. Overland’s online magazine provides this on a daily basis. Just yesterday we published emerging writer Andy Butler arguing that arts organisations and literary festivals need to move beyond the idea of diversity being guests on a panel.
In the online magazine over the past few weeks, we’ve published:
‘Khaki fervour and the new militarism’ – Guy Rundle on Trump’s militarism
‘To the Australian people, from Manus prison’ – a letter from Behrouz Boochani
‘The undead past’ – Daniel Reeders on homophobia and contemporary gay rights activism
A series on whether writers need literary theory or creative writing degrees
Multiple perspectives on the politics of Dolly Parton
SIX
Because if you read Overland, there’s a good chance that you’re also a writer, and we provide many opportunities to publish. We think everyone should be a writer: it’s natural to want to participate in culture and debate.
We currently have opportunities to be published via the:
– print magazine (fiction, poetry and nonfiction)
– online magazine (short nonfiction only)
– literary competitions (for all forms)
– pitch page (for all writers)
– callouts for special issues
Obviously now is a great chance to subscribe because you also have the opportunity to win prizes!
SEVEN
Because you want a thriving literary culture. With the cuts to the arts over the past couple of years, it’s more important than ever that we support the journals and organisations that we like. Subscriberthon isn’t just about Overland – it’s about continuing a literary culture for all Australian readers and writers.
Consider taking out one of our joint subscriptions, which means you can support Overland and another excellent Australian publication.
EIGHT
Because you like how we support underrepresented writers. We recognise that not everyone has the same access to literature in Australia. Even in an era of mass education, it’s much harder to write if you’re a single parent, or if you face the constant material consequences of racism, sexism and/or homophobia. In 2016, these voices are still excluded in the majority of Australian dominant culture. We believe publishing writers from these perspectives is an important political project; moreover, that there’s actually a rich tapestry of narratives and poetic engagements that make everything else seem culturally bankrupt.
Some of our projects focusing on underrepresented writers:
The Overland Writers Residency (for women writers who are single parents)
Overland’s print and online magazines (which frequently publish underrepresented writers or perspectives)
The Nakata Brophy Short Fiction and Poetry Prize for Young Indigenous Writers
NINE
Because you want to be part of literary history! Overland is indexed and archived, so your contributions, whether literary or financial, are recorded. But more than that, it’s the debates that take place in the pages of Overland over the years that helped shape our past and present. We regularly look back at these to reflect on how we got here, or what literature and culture looked like at certain points in history. Our history helps us to form opinions about the world and culture today – about ideas and challenges new and old.
TEN
Because you read the journal, online or in print. We believe that literature is something that should be accessed by all – that’s why we publish all our material online for free. If you support that idea and can afford it, support Overland by taking out a subscription. They start at as little as $45. Not only will you get four excellent editions and be supporting all of the above, you’ll also be helping people who can’t afford it to maintain their access to Overland.
Day Seven: ‘We live here!’ – the Mel-burn pack
(Sorry non-Melburnians! Please see our many regional prizes)
2 x bottles of Story Wines 2014 Shiraz (featuring the inaugural Story Wine Prize winner Leah Swann with ‘That inward eye’)
1 x block of handcrafted Wawa chocolate
1 x $50 Toff in Town voucher
1 x $50 Local Folk voucher
1 x Malthouse double-pass to Blaque Showgirls
1 x Wheeler Centre double-pass to Harmontown
These great titles:
- Every time you close your eyes by Bel Schenk
- Flavours of Melbourne
- On Brunswick Ground by Catherine de Saint Phalle
- Westography: Images of a Vanishing Suburbia by Warren Kirk
- Captives by Angela Meyer
- Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall
- The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
- Australian Love Stories edited by Cate Kennedy
1 x Black Inc. tote bag
See the list of Subscriberthon Prizes for 2016, including these Major Prizes:
Major Prize 1: Book to Bali
5 x nights at the Honeymoon Guesthouse in Ubud, plus return flights to Bali (from anywhere in Australia)
2 x bottles of Story Wines 2014 Shiraz (featuring the inaugural Story Wine Prize winner Leah Swann with ‘That inward eye’)
1 x 250g of Padre espresso coffee beans, freshly roasted in Brunswick
1 x embossed Padre coffee tin
1 x Scribe pack, including a Scribe tote bag and these 10 books:
The Love of a Bad Man by Laura Elizabeth Wollett
Cairo by Chris Womersley
Lion Attack by Oliver Mol
We Are All Stardust by Stefan Klein
My Brilliant Career: Malcolm Turnbull: a political life, in cartoons edited by Russ Radcliffe
Money Shot by Jeff Sparrow
Fear and Politics by Carmen Lawrence
Kiffy Rubbo: curating the 1970s edited by Janine Burke and Helen Hughes
The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge
Rise of the Machines by Thomas Rid
1 x copy of It’s a Long Way from Acca-Dacca to Zappa, 1969–1979: The Photography of Philip Morris
Major Prize 2: Emerging Writers’ Boot Camp
1 x Overland fiction writing workshop for you and five members of your writing group/community; to be facilitated by Jennifer Mills in Melbourne in early 2017
1 x Pilot 2017: A Diary for Writers
1 x Cinema Nova silver pass (three months of films for you and a friend!)
1 x Lifted Brow collection, including:
TLB tote bag
copy of The Island Will Sink
6 x back issues (including latest issue)
1 x $30 Voucher to North Melbourne Books
1 x 250g of Padre espresso coffee beans, freshly roasted in Brunswick
1 x embossed Padre coffee tin
1 x Puzzle Peace art puzzle
As well as these superb titles:
The Hate Race by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Black Rock White City by AS Patrić
Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic
Captives by Angela Meyer
Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Ghost Girls by Cath Ferla
Australian Love Stories edited by Cate Kennedy
Double Dissolution by Lee Zacariah
Westography: Images of a Vanishing Suburbia by Warren Kirk
Major Prize 3: Cultural Defibrillator Pack
1 x Kobo Glo HD ereader
1 x Wide Open Road pack, including:
Aerobie AeroPress Espresso Maker – ‘The best coffee maker I’ve ever owned’
1 x 250g coffee beans (or ground), freshly roasted in Brunswick
‘It’s in our blood’ mug
Wide Open Road tote bag
2 x hessian sacks
1 x one-year Griffith Review subscription
1 x one-year Meanjin subscription
3 x back issues of Southerly
1 x Bee Sustainable pack containing:
1 x beekeeping workshop
The Australian Beekeeping Manual by Robert Owen
1 x Scribe pack, including a Scribe tote bag and these 10 books:
The Near and the Far: new stories from the Asia-Pacific region edited by David Carlin and Francesca Rendle-Short
The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
Fever of Animals by Miles Allinson
So Sad Today by Melissa Broder
The Middlepause by Marina Benjamin
What is a refugee? by William Maley
The Ice Age by Luke Williams
Best Australian Political Cartoons 2015
Mrs Engels by Gavin McCrea
There’s not one by Jennifer Higgie
1 x copy of It’s a Long Way from Acca-Dacca to Zappa, 1969–1979: The Photography of Philip Morris
1 x Komorebi opalite, pearl, moonstone and quartz necklace
1 x salted caramel sauce
Major Prize 4: Pretty as a Picture
1 x Savina Hopkins framed original collage artwork, Woman with Book
1 x $50 Readings voucher (can be used online)
1 x 250g of Padre espresso coffee beans, freshly roasted in Brunswick
1 x embossed Padre coffee tin
2 x bottles of Story Wines 2014 Shiraz (featuring the inaugural Story Wine Prize winner Leah Swann with ‘That inward eye’)
1 x Fremantle Press TAG Hungerfield Prize pack, including:
Troppo by Madeline Dickie
The Weaver Fish by Robert Edeson
What is left over, after by Natasha Lester
Red Dirt Talking by Jacqueline Wright
The Whip Hand by Michaela Nicolescu and Nadine Browne
The Last Sky by Alice Nelson
Stories from Suburban Road by Tom Hungerford
1 x Komorebi Picasso Jasper necklace
1 x copy of Westography: Images of a Vanishing Suburbia by Warren Kirk
1 x copy of The Unknown Judith Wright by Georgina Arnott
1 x copy of It’s a Long Way from Acca-Dacca to Zappa, 1969–1979: The Photography of Philip Morris
1 x salted caramel sauce
And the following art books:
Behind the Doors: An art history from Yuendumu by Philip Jones
Cornucopia by Adrian Feint
Elvis Has Entered the Building by Ian W Adbulla
