04/09/2025
Twenty years ago, my journey began in publishing.
Myself, along with a small group of friends, decided to form a collective and put out a free publication titled, ODmagazine. It was a gritty, underground zine that was built mostly by hand and available exclusively by coincidence.
'Onwards, downwards' was our motto, among others.
Our first ever event was tabling at Word On The Street. Well, actually, we somehow got accepted for their Word *Under* The Street subsection and snuck our way into the basement of the Vancouver Public Library. Once inside, we proceeded to tear up our own magazine infront of shocked vendors and built a collage that would serve as our spontaneous tabletop display.
No one knew what to make of us, and we very much enjoyed that.
Twenty years ago. Crazy how time flies.
We ended up releasing fifteen issues before the magazine folded, then I was involved with PickledWhaleMeat Records, then there was The 701 Magazine...and now here we are.
Wharfinger's Press has been around for over five years now, and we've released a dozen titles. It's wild to look back on.
Anyways, with that out of the way, and if you're still reading, I'm incredibly honoured to announce that we've been accepted at WordVancouver this year, on September 20th at UBC-Robson Square, and will be tabling on the main floor. With the other authors and publishers. Side by side.
Onwards...upwards?
- Jaimen Shires
