Taddle Creek’s latest issue is now on newsstands. This number is dedicated to one of the magazine’s favourite sections: illustrated fiction. Yes, the summer, 2009, issue of Taddle Creek is thirty-six pages of all-new, full-colour comics by J. Bone, Michael Cho, Dave Lapp, Steven Charles Manale, Fiona Smyth, and Zach Worton, with a wraparound cover by Steve Wilson.

Best of all, the issue is the size of a regular comic, allowing it to fit in a comic bag so you can rush right home and file the issue in your longbox, unread, to ensure its future value.

Until you get you own copy, enjoy a somewhat scaled-down version of J. Bone’s “Afterlife,” from the above-mentioned summer issue.

Taddle Creek brought home an honourable mention at the 2009 National Magazine Awards, in the category of Words and Pictures, for “Night of the Sewist,” a photo spread of Halloween costumes designed by Grant Heaps and Ian Phillips, from the very scary Halloween, 2008, issue. Congratulations to Conan Tobias (words), Thomas Blanchard (pictures), Kevin Connolly (editing), and, of course, Grant Heaps and Ian Phillips (costume designing, modelling, and backdrop artisting [Ian]). And special thanks to special guy Derek McCormack, the issue’s guest editor, who had the idea for the feature in the first place.

The wait is over. After a grueling series of interviews and tests of strength, Taddle Creek has picked its Volume 13 protégé. Actually, make that protégés. Yes, choosing just one lucky applicant from the pile of clever cover letters the magazine received proved impossible, so Taddle Creek decided to pick two: Kasey Coholan and Jennifer Marston.

Kasey recently finished an internship at the Walrus and is working on her first novel about a place that has no addresses. Jennifer is a recovering lawyer and the past editor-in-chief of two legal periodicals. She now works as a freelance writer and dabbles in the book arts. Kasey and Jen are also both decent bowlers, despite a lack of experience.

Over the coming months, the Taddle Creek protégés will be absorbing, sponge-like, all the knowledge they can on the world of magazines from the two dozen industry professionals who have volunteered their time as mentors to the deserving duo. From writing, editing, and fact checking to publishing, circulation, and ad sales, they'll get the full treatment. Taddle Creek is a bit worried for its job, actually.

Both Kasey and Jen have agreed to blog about their experience (yes, Taddle Creek knows it said no blogs...), both of which will be launching in the coming weeks.

Thanks to all those who applied to the Taddle Creek Protégé Internmentship. The magazine was overjoyed to see how many applicants said they could bowl better while drinking.

Taddle Creek has all the content it needs for its upcoming Christmas number, and the submission deadline for the summer, 2010, Out-of-Towner issue has now passed, so the magazine respectfully requests would-be future contributors hold off on sending any submissions until January. With that kind of lead, you should have plenty of time to brush up on The Taddle Creek Guidelines for Submission. (Some of you are still having trouble.) Much thanks, and watch this space for news on Taddle Creek's upcoming tour of the dominion and beyond.