Re-Creative Spotlight: Diane Walton

In this episode of Re-Creative, Mark and I talk to Diane Walton, a founding member and long-time managing editor of On Spec: The Canadian magazine of the Fantastic. On Spec is well known in Canadian speculative fiction circles (and beyond!) for publishing quality fiction and art from (largely but not exclusively) Canadian writers and artists.

Prompted by one of Mark’s famous opening questions, we begin with a lighthearted discussion about our favorite writing implements before diving into Diane’s amazing 35-year legacy with On Spec.

Diane tells us how the highly regarded Canadian spec fic magazine began in Edmonton around 1989 after a creative writing group at the University of Alberta grew frustrated with American magazines rejecting their work for being “too Canadian”. She recounts the early days of assembling an editorial team, securing startup funds, and commissioning stories from notable authors like Dave Duncan and Eileen Kernaghan for their first saddle-stitched issue.

Despite the magazine recently coming to an end in its original form, Diane reflects on its success in providing a credible, well-edited platform for Canadian speculative fiction. I submitted to it twice, always intending to submit more. Although I was never published in On Spec personally, I am proud to have received two rejection letters. Both from Diane personally!

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Re-Creative is a co-production of Donovan Street Press Inc. in association with MonkeyJoy Press.

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