Taddle Creek’s summer issue is now available on newsstands everywhere, and it’s a good one, if Taddle Creek does say so itself. Five dollars gets you forty-eight big pages of all-new fiction and poetry by the likes of Gil Adamson, Gary Barwin, Chris Chambers, Evie Christie, Sara Heinonen, Lee Henderson, Heather Hogan, Alexandra Leggat, Chris Michalski, Patrick Rawley, Stuart Ross, and Adrienne Weiss.

Plus, illustrated fiction by Claudia Dávila, a profile of the dashing R. M. Vaughan, a look back at The Varsity Chapbook, People Around Here, and more, all topped off with a cover by the award-winning Michael Cho.

Until you get a copy of your own, why not check out:

“Ultra,” a short story by Sara Heinonen; and

“Reading Ma Jian on the Farm,” a poem by Alexandra Leggat.

The summer issue of Taddle Creek is not just a magazine—it’s a talking magazine, perhaps the first of its kind. Much like a talking book, every single word of the summer issue (except for Stuart Ross’s story) is available in audio format, from contents to comic, via free downloadable MP3s, right here on the Taddle Creek Information Superhighway Location on the Internetwork. (You can stream the tracks too—but not through Firefox …)

When downloaded, the tracks are coded to play in the order their print counterparts appear in the magazine, so you can sit back and follow along without too much page turning. Some tracks are bigger than others, so have patience if you’re downloading.

Along with many of the above-mentioned authors, the audio issue of Taddle Creek features the vocal stylings of Moe Berg, Ryan Bigge, Ryan Blakely, Andy Boorman, Jeanie Calleja, Kevin Connolly, Brian Joseph Davis, John Degen, Terri Favro, Gabriela Hahn, Jenny Hall, Alfred Holden, Dave Lapp, Derek McCormack, Nathaniel G. Moore, Gord Rand, Paul Vermeersch, and Paul Bellini as the voice of Taddle Creek.

With Taddle Creek, talk isn’t only cheap—it’s free! So cast your pod to the wind and get downloading!

Michael Cho brought home a silver medal at June 6th’s National Magazine Awards, beating out such magazines as Canadian Business in the Words and Pictures category with his comic “Stars,” from Taddle Creek’s Christmas, 2007, issue. Mike’s silver is the magazine’s first win in eight years of entries.

Congratulations also to Cary Fagan, whose short story “Shit Box,” from Taddle Creek’s summer, 2007, issue, was awarded honourable mention in the Fiction category, and Katia Grubisic, whose poem “A List Before Departure,” from that very same summer issue, took home honourable mention in the Poetry category.

Taddle Creek is the original magazine that couldn’t wait for Christmas. That's why this year Taddle Creek’s Christmas issue will appearing early—so early in fact, that magazine is giving it a Halloween theme. Yes, Taddle Creek’s first real themed issue will appear on newstands in late September and have its official launch party in mid-October. There will be candy, there will be costumes, there will be blood. More info to come.

As mentioned, Taddle Creek’s next issue will be Halloween themed. The one after that will also have something a little extra-special about it, and is by invitation only. Thus, any submissions sent to Taddle Creek between now and next summer will be considered for the Christmas, 2009, issue. Why not give Taddle Creek a break and hold off on submitting at least until the New Year? Sound good? Thank you.