Once I shared this with my mother (and the art world), it was safe to share with the world! You can find my latest zine - Trev's Books: Unpacking My Grandfather's Library at Issuu.) Without repeating the zine itself verbatim, this zine is an extremely personal one for me. When my grandfather passed away in … Continue reading Read Trev’s Books (not all of them) at Issuu
Category: News
Shameless plugs for new projects and publications.
A Breach at Stronghold – now on Gumroad!
You are all members of the Society, a group of monster hunters headquartered in the Stronghold, a secret underground bunker in Kansas. When one of you is found dead, everyone must work together to find the killer.
Inspire Courage Crafts
Even in my leisure activities tilt towards geekery. Not content to just crochet granny squares, I started a collection of dice bags for all your favourite polyhedral friends. Not to be outdone, each bag has a character. Follow me over to Inspire Courage Crafts if you're interest is sufficiently piqued.
Museum of the Western World & Trev’s Books with BIBLIOCACHE
As a certain big-eyed ingenue once said, life moves pretty fast sometimes. We've barely got Museum of the Western World printed and it's already out in the world! So is Trev's Books! (I've also sent them my old classic What I Did on a Saturday Afternoon!) I was invited by Aaron Moran to contribute new … Continue reading Museum of the Western World & Trev’s Books with BIBLIOCACHE
Read Museum of the Western World at Issuu!
Not only have Amy and I put the finishing touches on Museum of the Western World, but the final beast can be perused and pillaged over at issuu! Museum of the Western World Behold our works, Ye Mighty!
A Happy New Year with Every Day Fiction!
In which I cap off a dark year by publishing a dark piece.
Reviews are in for Redwing!
Black Gate's review of 'Redwing: Speculative Fiction Takes Flight,' the anthology featuring "Ticker Tape Kings."
Madrid, Before a Recession
In which I can't believe I published a poem.
Vancouver Notables: Ashleigh Rajala
In which Sad Mag kindly label me as "notable."
Interview with Polygon for ‘Archie out of Context’
In which I confess I have something of a "side hustle."
Interview with Quarter Castle Publishing
Another shameless plug. This time an interview with Quarter Castle Publishing. Behold, my majesty!
I have to admit that I love talking about my writing process.
It forces a level of self-reflexivity that I think is healthy, as well as provides a valuable time to reflect on the effectiveness of my process.
Also, I am vain.
(Also also… that picture of me had a plate of pierogis artfully cropped out.)
Ashleigh Rajala of New Westminster, British Columbia, is the author of Working Title, the winning submission in Quarter Castle Publishing’s first short story writing contest.
Recently Quarter Castle Publishing interviewed Ashleigh.
QCP: When did you decide to become a writer?
Ashleigh: I remember a moment as a book-obsessed child where I realized that someone created those books and that I too could do that. The first story I wrote was about a dinosaur, and my mum sewed a cover onto it and everything. Sadly, this opus has been lost to history. So I never really decided, it was just something I have always done.
QCP: Do you write every day? If not, how many days do you dedicate to writing?
Ashleigh: I write every day. Sometimes life gets in the way, but that’s okay. But I try to never let myself stop if I’m feeling blocked or less than…
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Quarter Castle Chronicles… chronicled
I am extremely thrilled and humbled to share that Quarter Castle Chronicles, Volume One, is now available in print and e-book! Quarter Castle Chronicles ~ Volume One showcases 13 short stories by 12 Canadian authors. They take place in settings across the country, both in the present and the past. From the rugged coast of … Continue reading Quarter Castle Chronicles… chronicled
Consider the Working Title Worked
I'm happy to share that one of my works has been included in the latest issue of WomenArts Quarterly Journal. Based out of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, WomenArts Quarterly Journal (WAG) is: an initiative of Women in the Arts, aspires to nurture, provide support, and challenge women of all cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, and abilities … Continue reading Consider the Working Title Worked
Unmasked with Crab Fat!
A short story of mine - a slightly awkward New Journalism-inspired piece - is up online at Crab Fat Literary Magazine. Unmasked! is an expose of the long-since retired superhero as he at long last reveals his true identity to the world. I'm quite pleased with this piece, but I've been sitting on it for … Continue reading Unmasked with Crab Fat!
The Review is in!
The first review came in for Redwing: Speculative Fiction Takes Flight. It is a glowing review from fantasy magazine Black Gate that also includes an enlightening discussion about the increasing visibility of small presses and what that means for niche readers and writers. “Ticker Tape Kings” by Ashleigh Rajala is next, a time travel story … Continue reading The Review is in!
Presenting Redwing
Ah ha! The much awaited publication of Redwing is here! Redwing: Speculative Fiction Takes Flight is available as an e-book for Kindle and Kobo. With ten stories for $2.99, that's mere pennies per mind-blowing experience! Somewhere within that epic of majesty is my piece, Ticker Tape Kings... a strange meditation on time travel and the realities of the … Continue reading Presenting Redwing
When I was Thirteen a Thesaurus Lied to Me
Contrary to the alleged wisdom of Roget's Super Thesaurus 1995 edition (what deemed it "super" the tome never explained): "poetry" and "prose" are NOT synonyms. Thirteen-year-old me did not realize this. I trusted the almighty power of the printed word. Old notebooks now hold embarrassing hand-lettered titlepages. Of course, by "hand-lettered," I mean letters cut from … Continue reading When I was Thirteen a Thesaurus Lied to Me
Hark! A Prophecy!
In the hallowed halls of Main Street, in the aptly named Cottage Bistro, there shall be a gathering, and this gathering shall be called "The Launch! with PRISM, Event, poetry is dead, and Room Magazine." The date of this party shall be the seventeenth of April (a Thursday, methinks), in the year of 2014. And … Continue reading Hark! A Prophecy!
A ROOM of My Own… Bad Puns
I have a short story in the latest issue of Room, Canada's oldest literary journal by and about women! This print journal is available at bookstores around Canada (if you're lucky enough to a.) live in Canada, and b.) frequent bookstores, and c.) be capable of reading things undeliverable via an electronic device). The piece … Continue reading A ROOM of My Own… Bad Puns
Chiselling Away at Genre Expectations
Over at The Steel Chisel, you can find a short story of mine, "Scenes from a Road Movie." This is a piece I'd been sculpting away at for a while, so it seems only appropriate that it be published somewhere with "chisel" in the name. The Road Movie is one of my favourite film genres. I … Continue reading Chiselling Away at Genre Expectations
Fiction and Festivities with Sassafras Literary Magazine
The pleasure is mine to announce - imaginary megaphone in hand - that I have a piece published in the most recent issue of Sassafras Literary Magazine. In their sixth issue, Sassafras, have gathered an excellent collection of other short works of art, poetry, fiction and non-fiction that I am proud to be in the company … Continue reading Fiction and Festivities with Sassafras Literary Magazine
Plug Away, You Shameless Plug
I'm not even going to try for the humblebrag. I straight-up won the Sad Magazine Fantasy Fiction Contest. *cheers* I've known about this for a month, where I received the news first thing in the morning whilst unshowered and annoyed in a terrible London hostel. It made my day then and it still makes my … Continue reading Plug Away, You Shameless Plug
Which Drunken Story to Tell…?
The good people at The Round Up Writer's Zine have published a piece of mine of great intellectual snobbery... ... namely the story of time I got really drunk on Sambuca while camping. This was for The Moonshine Edition, which was seeking embarrassing drunken stories. With the piece entitled "Always the Sambuca," I have to admit that … Continue reading Which Drunken Story to Tell…?
Waiting (2010)
After all that... *ahem* waiting, my short film, Waiting, is finally up on the interwebs. https://youtu.be/wb6EXkUZX_c This was a short I did for Langara Film Arts program in April 2010. It screened at a few film festivals around the world, as well as in the (surely annoyed) faces of last year's Langara students as a … Continue reading Waiting (2010)
The Kudzu Review: A Live Studio Audience
More shameless self-promotion! A variation on A Hatred of Clubbing That Transcends Generations, now named A Live Studio Audience has found a home in the virtual pages of the inaugural edition of The Kudzu Review. Commence celebratory dancing in the streets now.
Archie… Out of Context and into the fire
So, The Commune is full of Archie comics. The explanation is thus: When Dr. Roommate, Ex-Roommate, and myself all moved in together, Dr. Roommate found a couple of Archie comics in a box of random shit she had. Naturally, we indulged in some gleeful nostalgia and read them cover to cover. One day my thirteen-year-old … Continue reading Archie… Out of Context and into the fire
re:moved
I've recently had the chance to join an interesting project by Allison Lasorda. The Re:moved Project is "an interactive visual narrative project that features individuals’ experiences with home. by examining unique perspectives on homes that have been “lost” (whether through relocation, demolition, or (re)construction) this project aims to remove the stigma associated with nostalgia and, … Continue reading re:moved
SFU Writer’s Studio Reading Series
If you, like most of humanity, find me charming, intelligent, affable and engaging as hell to listen to, then thank whichever god you think created you because I am going to be doing a reading! If you find me to be none of the above, then luckily for you there will be other readers as … Continue reading SFU Writer’s Studio Reading Series
Anno Domini Gallery’s 2011 Art of Zines in San Jose
The 2011 ART OF ZINES exhibition will run for four weeks at the Anno Domini gallery in the SoFA District of San Jose, California. Quoth Anno Domini: "Zines are one of the last frontiers for freedom of speech and creative self expression and we need it now more than ever." This year's zine exhibition will … Continue reading Anno Domini Gallery’s 2011 Art of Zines in San Jose
A Tale of Two Distros
Thanks to Harley Pageot for letting me get my grubby mitts on the copy of this! And thanks to Alex Gurnham for making me sound smart! Check it out in the Fall 2010 issue of Broken Pencil (#49)!
Langara College Film Arts Unlock the Vault
Come one, come all to Unlock the Vault, the night we unleash our final project films upon the world! 7 pm on August 20 at Langara College (100 W 49th, Vancouver) My little labour of love, My Funny Valentine (ecrit par Robyn Thomas, realise par moi) will be closing the night, following: Sparrow, written by … Continue reading Langara College Film Arts Unlock the Vault
Excerpts from an Interview with Myself
Okay, exciting, I know. Transcript/rip-off of my interview with Whohub.com (from sometime last spring). I was discussing my writing process with someone today, and it made me want to blog about it (naturally). Then I remembered this interview, so I thought I would share this instead. I wrote all the answers, so I feel no … Continue reading Excerpts from an Interview with Myself
On to the next project that will encompass my entire waking life for the next several weeks.
Filmtoberfest was this past Saturday, so that explains my: a) lack of blog posts, b) lack of sleep, c) lack of a balanced diet, d) lack of a social life, e) any other number of reason why I've been general weird(er). The night went off with minimal hitches, and they were all technical, so - … Continue reading On to the next project that will encompass my entire waking life for the next several weeks.
We Want the Airwaves, Baby
What comes first, the writing or the apathy? Last Sunday I was interviewed on the Storytelling Show on Vancouver Co-Op Radio (CFRO 102.7 FM) by Taryn Hubbard, my partner in crime for the epically infamous artlit zine, Hacksaw. I managed to escape the hour-long interview without sounding like anything you'd buy at Home Hardware (read: "a … Continue reading We Want the Airwaves, Baby
Filmtoberfest – seeking your (preferably non-porn) short films
(Shameless plug alert) We, the lil' indie folks at QLP, are getting ready for Vancouver's inaugural Filmtoberfest and we need your films! Yes, your short films. Or films about shorts. Either is good. However, anything over fifteen minutes is probably too long. So are capris. Anyway, Quarter-Life Productions, in association with 591 Productions, are currently … Continue reading Filmtoberfest – seeking your (preferably non-porn) short films
Hacksaw in all its Issue Two Glory
So, without even pretending to mask this blatant display of self-promotion, the second issue of Hacksaw is available! This issue is, dare I say, better than the first. This is good news, as people generally prefer the quality of something to increase. At least, this is what our rigorous marketing studies have shown. Just kidding. … Continue reading Hacksaw in all its Issue Two Glory
What I Did on Saturday Afternoon: the Zine
So by Saturday I was feeling marginally better. I was able to do something other than watch all of season four of Battlestar Galactica, and since that was all I had done the previous two days, I was also feeling undeniably creative. I don't know. The impulse to create overtook me. I wanted to write, I … Continue reading What I Did on Saturday Afternoon: the Zine
Defining oneself is the most difficult and useless thing ever.
I had to supply my bio on all voices. This is what I got: Ashleigh Rajala is a writer/filmmaker/magazine editor/miscreant who uses backslashes far too often to be healthy. She enjoys non sequitors almost as much as spelling inconsistencies and philosophical questions. What colour would "color" be if it were a tangible object? Suggestions?
Will Blog for Food
this epic week, part four I also got a letter from Langara college, saying they've received my application for the Film Arts program, but that they are still waiting for my university transcripts. I called SFU to ask, "Quoi le fuck?" and was politely told that they had been mailed. With any sort of equus … Continue reading Will Blog for Food
Sure I’m a Marxist, of the Groucho School
this epic week, part two By Wednesday, I had already watched my favourite movie of the week twice. No, it's not 8 1/2, but rather A Night at the Opera, the 1935 Marx brothers classic. Groucho has some of the best one-liners I've ever heard in my life. I'd marry him if it weren't for … Continue reading Sure I’m a Marxist, of the Groucho School
From Magazine Vendors to Muddy Boots
my weekend in an adequately-sized organic vessel After an intriguing afternoon of gallavanting all over Vancouver, including a far too long walk down East Hastings (FYI, Spartacus Books has moved even further east down Hastings), Taryn and I found a vendor for Hacksaw! *cue rejoicing peasants* You can now get Hacksaw Literary Arts Magazine at … Continue reading From Magazine Vendors to Muddy Boots
Quarter-Life Productions Launch Party
Come one, come all! All of us at Quarter-Life Productions are hosting a party to celebrate our venture into pre-production for our short film, tentatively titled, "Things I Hate"! This launch party will provide an opportunity for everyone to come by and see what we're all about! If you're interested in auditioning for an acting … Continue reading Quarter-Life Productions Launch Party
