Alternative literary magazine holds authors’ reading

Flywheel Reading Series is hosted at Pages bookstore. // Jason Herring

By Rachel Woodward, May 14 2015 —

Created in 1993 by University of Calgary students seeking editorial independence from the university, filling Station is an alternative literary and arts magazine. It is published three times a year by volunteer staff and highlights the work of emerging artists.

The magazine includes poetry, fiction and visual art. Though filling Station typically focuses on local artists, the magazine’s managing editor Paul Zits says they publish work from contributors across the world.

“Part of our mandate is to publish emerging and established artists that are local, but we certainly receive and publish writers from across Canada, North America, and all over the world,” Zits says.

Flywheel Reading Series is a monthly reading series curated by filling Station. Held on the second Thursday of each month at Pages Books on Kensington, the series showcases diverse works from local and international writers.

Speakers at this month’s event include David Joiner, an American historical fiction writer currently living in Vietnam and Kerry-Leigh Fox, a Calgary writer who is finishing her MA degree at the University of Calgary.

Zits says the magazine was originally formed with the intention of distinguishing itself from the Dandelion, a magazine then housed in the English department at the U of C.

“The whole idea was to create a magazine that was going to separate itself from Dandelion, and try to establish itself as a magazine that has a little more freedom,” Zits says.

Flywheel Reading Series will take place this month on May 14 at Pages Books on Kensington at 7:30 pm.