Meet the Organisers
- Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Seleena, zine maker, textile artist, tap dancer, soap seller and collector of tat. - How did you get into zines?
I got into zines a few ways I think, reading about them in the back of my sister’s Select magazines in the late 90s, being an avid reader of Teletext and having loads of penpals. It’s what teens did for fun before the internet! - Tell us a bit about your favourite zine/s by people of colour.
One of my favourite zines is Shotgun Seamstress by Osa Atoe (member of short-lived black punk band New Bloods and now ace ceramicist) and is a zine about black punks by black punks. It features interviews, reviews, and more on black punks of yesteryear and black punks of today. There’s a book anthology of the zine too. - Finally, what is your favourite snack?
Crisps forever, IDST.
- Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Melissa. I love reading and writing, and watching Shonda Rimes TV shows. I work with refugees and I sing pop songs in She Choir Manchester. - How did you get into zines?
I got into zines through my friend who is a long time zinester. We made a zine about procrastination and it was so fun. I tend to submit contributions to zines, rather than putting out my own because I never get round to it! - Tell us a bit about your favourite zine/s by people of colour.
My favourite zines by poc are Brown Girl by Seleena Laverne Daye and Black Women and Self Care by Naomi Moyer. Both really important zines that made me feel my experiences on being a person of colour matter. - Finally, what is your favourite snack?
I love biscuits — especially ones that can be dunked in a cup of tea and not fall to pieces.
- Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Heena. I like cycling, cooking and talking to people. I can sometimes be tempted to write, perform and host quizzes. - How did you get into zines?
It was basically through helping to organise a Ladyfest in Manchester back in 2003. Through that, I met people who made and sold their own zines, but did a bunch of other stuff by themselves as well such as putting on their own gigs, discos / club nights and queer cafes and alternative gatherings. There would be zines available at a lot of these events, and suddenly they were everywhere I went. Before then, I thought the only people who made zines were people who magically had access to bands I liked and could get interviews with them. I was so pleased when I found out how easy it was to make a zine. - Tell us a bit about your favourite zine/s by people of colour.
Race Revolt, not just because I’ve contributed to it :). A good friend of mine started it in response to racism she’d witnessed in activist communities and put out four or five issues. I love how new people are still discovering it, even though the last one came out over ten years ago. - Finally, what is your favourite snack?
Sev mamra, which is a savoury mix of puffed rice mixed with thread-like gram flour noodles. I’m a bit of a purist, so I prefer the one without peanuts in it.