Julia Busatto
DEADASS THO NYC
In 2018, Deadass Tho NYC Vol. 2 wowed us all with its fresh and honest portrayal of gentrification in NYC neighborhoods. We caught up with one of the editors, Daisy S Ruiz, to talk all things BP Zine Awards.
What encouraged you to submit Deadass Tho to the BP Zine Awards?
Daisy: Last year I joined a Latinx In Comics group on Facebook moderated by Kat Fajardo. They posted a link about the BP Zine awards and I felt that Deadass was a good contender for the Compilation zine category. We had so many amazing artists, writers, and photographers that I had faith that we could win.
Were you surprised to find out you had won best compilation zine? What was your reaction!聽
I was exhausted because I came to Canada on the bus lol! Sitting on that bus for 12 hrs was a lot…Anyways when I heard our name it was a wonderful feeling and my tiredness went away. I knew sitting on that bus would pay off. Most of us who worked on that zine are from low-income neighbourhoods that are facing gentrification. It鈥檚 amazing that we as a people were able to publish this on our own and have our voices acknowledged.
Any advice for folks submitting to the compilation category?
Have a good mix of everything in your zine but also keep it consistent and to a theme. Our theme was growing up in the hood and how that affects us as artists.
What鈥檚 life like after the BP Zine Awards? What have you been up to?
Life after the BP Zine awards is good, with the funds we were able to print out more copies of our zines. Currently, I鈥檝e stepped aside from that project to work on my personal art. But when the time is right I鈥檓 ready to jump back into it.
DREAM ZINE
Lily Kosmicki鈥檚 Dream Zine teleported us into the world of subconscious with collaged images, dream recollections, and surrealism. Here鈥檚 what Lily has to say about her experience with the BP Zine Awards.
What do you think made Dream Zine stand out?
Lily: Dream Zine is really intimate, it collects peoples innermost thoughts and feelings, some that they might not even be aware of since they appear in dreams. I am very careful to craft those sensitive topics with the sincerity, humor, and the tenderness they deserve! I think the art mixed with the vulnerability聽made Dream Zine stand out.聽
Any zines in particular that struck a chord with you from last year鈥檚 submissions and winners?
All of them are stunners! Sapphic Angst Fest made me happy and sad and mad, Yes Ma’am: The Dream Issue (more dreams!) taught me and broke my heart, and Back and Forth (a negotiation) is vivid and beautiful (as a fan of all things poetry). Hair was incredibly well done! A moving and authentic and humorous journey.聽
What鈥檚 life like after the BP Zine Awards? What have you been up to?
Today I attended the Denver Zine Fest to help with the Denver Zine Library’s table! I am also collecting dreams for more issues of dream zine. Please submit your dreams to [email protected], I love contributions. I am collecting dreams from poets and fellow zinesters for various volumes in the works! I can’t wait!
SAPPHIC ANGST FEST
Winning best fanzine in 2018 was none other that Sapphic Angst Fest, a zine straight from Merseyside, UK about lesbian representation in the British TV show Holby City. Created by Georgina Turner, a professor at the University of Liverpool, this zine explores how LGBTQ+ representation in media makes a difference in people鈥檚 lives.
Were you surprised to find out you had won Best Fanzine? What was your reaction?
Georgina: Massively surprised! I was at the ceremony in Toronto and all of the other entries were North American; I was worried that Sapphic Angst Fest wouldn’t translate. I stumbled up to the front of the room to collect the medal and felt a bit dazed.聽
Any advice for folks submitting to the fanzine category?
That’s a tough one. I think Sapphic Angst Fest succeeded thanks to the power and authenticity of people’s emotions (it certainly wasn’t for design or print quality!) so just go with your heart.
What鈥檚 life like after the BP Zine Awards? What have you been up to?
Life’s been busy since, and a planned second issue of the fanzine never happened because the canon storyline imploded and took the fandom with it. But I still talk to people about the power of zine-making for fandoms, especially queer fans.
Submit to the 2019 Zine Awards. Deadline extended to July 15 at 11:59 PM.