Calendar 3 2011 - Twelve Big Tales

Featuring both well-known and emerging writers, Twelve Tales, The Big Issue’s 2011 fiction edition – launched on 26 August – includes 12 short stories covering a range of themes, from advertising culture and ageing, to the art of people-spotting and the laws of desire.

‘When we first launched the fiction edition in 2005, we didn’t know how readers would react to the short-story format,’ co-editor Melissa Cranenburgh said. ‘It has since become one of The Big Issue magazine’s most popular editions, proving that short stories have never gone out of style.’

Featuring 16 extra pages and with the support of a grant from CAL’s Cultural Fund, the seventh fiction edition is the biggest one yet.

Some of Australia’s great writers were commissioned to write stories including Chris Womersley, Frank Moorhouse, Nick Earls, Charlotte Wood, Peggy Frew and Amanda Lohrey. Six additional writers were selected from 200 open entries with no names attached. Two selected writers, Laura Jean McKay and Nic Low are up-and-comers but short stories by renowned writers Josephine Rowe, Krissy Kneen, Catherine Harris and Emma Schwarcz were also chosen for this edition.

Ms Case said the fiction edition had unearthed great local talent over the years, including Chris Womersley, who was on this year’s Miles Franklin shortlist (also supported by the CAL Cultural Fund) for his second novel Bereft and who is also shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year for Fiction. ‘When we first published Chris in our 2008 fiction edition he was still an emerging writer. It’s great to have him back as one of Australia’s finest writers.’

The Big Issue is for sale by authorised vendors on the streets for $5. The Big Issue annual subscription is available for $155. For more information, www.bigissue.org.au