Zinefest 2025 Recap
Hello zinesters!
Your faithful editor here - and it's two days after Tucson's annual Zinefest, an eclectic gathering of zinesters hosted at the Steinfeld Warehouse, usually around April 20th.
I have never fully tabled an event by myself - seeing as I have a colorful resume and work for a nonprofit now, I've gone to several events and helped others set-up, table, sell, etc. but usually with guidance. This time every decision was mine to make - which was a little bit nerve-wracking. Since I was representing not only myself, but the stories of everyone who sent them in and trusted me to handle them respectfully, I kept things pretty simple. I showed up with several copies and a table cloth, and set up next to Tori Holder, a very sweet zine artist from L.A.
Amazingly, everything went well - in selling thermal stickers and $5 physical copies of the zine, we were able to raise around $120.00, which far exceeded my expectations for the level of interest this project would generate. It's so difficult to gauge - having been a patient myself, having heard dismissive comments from authority figures such as doctors or lawyers all my life, I'm always so pleasantly surprised when someone wants to hear us out.
I was so tickled. Thank you to everyone who attended and who may have found this website by approaching me at my table! Thank you for approaching me with an open mind and for helping financially sustain this project. It's completely self-funded, and with creativity and resourcefulness we've managed to keep the costs fairly low, but every bit really helps.
Most of all, I hope we can connect - if you have a story to share, we will listen to you and present it alongside other important stories. Nothing about us, without us - and our voices our louder in unison.
I bought the second volume of Madness Magazine at Zinefest, and you gave me the first for free. This is brilliant work. I can tell a great deal of care and research is put into these issues. Coming from a journalism background, it’s wonderful to see someone pulling back the curtain, asking questions, and giving voices to our most vulnerable—what the news should be doing these days, but isn’t. So often, we’re discussed as victims, tragedies, problems, suspects, assailants, patients, babied and brutalized all at once, always spoken for and never speaking. We deserve to speak for ourselves both inside and outside of medical settings. This is important work you’re doing. Keep it up!