Spontoon Island
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February 2008: We have been doing
webzine/archive publication.

May 2003: Zine #11 on sale!
March 2003: Zine #10 on sale by mail!

        SPONTOON ISLAND zine restarts publication!
SPI #11
SPONTOON ISLAND zine #11 was published 18 May 2003.

This issue is 64 pages in a 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 chapbook format, copier printed. Most of the material has recently appeared on these web pages, though you may find some new material in the zine.

Contents for #11 include:
Covers by Stuart McCarthy and Tom Foster (shown above). Continuing stories: The Wolf Without Wings, by E.O. Costello; Songmark Diary, by Simon Barber; another entry from Capt. Gary's Log by Wm. Van Ness, and many letters and pictures from the archives of Stu Shiffman. In comic strips: Laurie Gerholz brings us more Out of Sight, Out of Time; Marc Shirmeister gives a glimpse of life on zeps; JWKennedy begins the epic yarn of Mr. Chalmers; R.J. Bartrop sets up more Air Pirates; Stuart McCarthy introduces us to Sky Shark; and Donna Barr provides another example of When Germans Go Native. Jerry Collins gives us some views of Spontoon Island 'Round Bay & Harbor. There are also artistic views of athletic young sea bathers and charming views of life on the Spontoon Archipelago.

Buying or trading for a zine provides you with a convenient hard copy, suitable for framing and/or reading on passenger seaplane flights.

There may be some mature content in the zines. (There is some sea island nudity and a mature situation or two).  Sales are restricted to people over 18 years (or subject to your local laws). Please help protect the island, and include an age statement or a copy of an ID with a birth date with mail orders. The Spontoon Island Tourist Board thanks you!

This zine, Spontoon Island #11, costs
$7.00 (postage included).
Checks or money orders payable to:

Ken Fletcher
PO Box 80083
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55408-8083

Email:
(New Nov 2006)  kenfletch@comcast.net  (New Nov 2006)
for more information or for overseas mail orders.

SPI #10

On sale via mail in March 2003. The SPI zine #10 was first published 21 November 2002 and was sold at the Midwest Furfest convention in the Chicago area. Copies have been mailed to contributors starting in early December. If you are a contributor and don't have this issue, let me know!
The zine is 60 pages in a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch chapbook format, copier printed. Some of the contents have appeared on these web pages, and some material has not. The zine #10 being sold starting March 2003 is the second edition that includes additional contributor contact information.

Contents for zine #10 include:
Comic strips: Kitty Malone by John Speidel; Out of Sight, Out of Time by Laurie Gerholz; 'Frenchy' DuBarque by Rich Larson; and strips by other cartooners, including Roy D. Pounds, II, Kjartan Arnorsson, and R.J. Bartrop's "Air Pirates".
Stories: New to Spontoon, EO Costello begins the story of the Wolf Without Wings. The Songmark Diaries continue from Simon Barber, and Stu Shiffman brings us more letters from Bernie and testimony from Broadway Barry and Wm. VanNess has more of Captain Gary's Log.
"Profusely Illustrated" as the saying goes....

This zine, Spontoon Island #10, costs
$7.00 (postage included).
Checks or money orders payable to:

Ken Fletcher
PO Box 80083
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55408-8083

Email:
(new Nov 2006)  kenfletch@comcast.net  (new Nov 2006)
for more information or for overseas mail orders.

Back Issues!
All the zine back issues are on sale for $5.00 (postage included).
This includes Spontoon Island #1 through #9
and Spontoon Island GUIDEBOOK #1 through #3

Special back issue rate: any 10 zines for $40.00. All 14 current zines for $58.00 (U.S. postage included in special rates).
Email for more details

More Spontoon Island news!

Contributors, please send address updates
for the "Contact" pages!

 I have followed some address, website, and email changes, but it would be good to check in and change or confirm any listings that you want published in the zine. Listing contact info for you is one of the few ways I can show my thanks at this time. There are "Contact" pages on the website, and you are welcome to be listed or have links there. Many contributor’s names are due to be added to the website.

        Spontoon Island Website:

Thanks to the support of Timothy Fay & assistance from Giovanna Fregni the Spontoon Island website is up and running. 

Material previously published in the zines is being uploaded to the website (when I know contributors have given permission). There is about 400+ pages of material, so this reposting will go slowly until I am doing weekly updates. There is also much new material on the website. Because of Timothy Fay's hosting support, the website is the best way for me to quickly publish longer and newer contributions. The hard-copy zine will not go away, but the website is more flexible and contributor-friendly. For example, art can be published in color, if the files are a reasonable size!

        "Visitors" archive at the website:

If you aren't inclined to do a large contribution, I would welcome cartooned "postcards" or "snapshots" of your characters vacationing in a Spontoon Island style setting! Other period illos may be acceptable, too.

        Other Spontoon Island projects:

        The Spontoon zine reprint project of a couple of years ago did not happen. A similar republishing project may still be a possibility, but will not happen immediately. Any paperback republication will be renegotiated with all contributors.
        For zine reprints, I may do some reformatting over the coming year and minor additions. That would not mean any major changes in the zine contents.
        I may start a Yahoo! group for Spontoon Island, for feedback and other communication.

        Spontoon Island zine format & basics:

Spontoon Island is currently a co-op zine based on a "public domain" setting, where contributors are expected to keep copyright of their own individual works, except for parts they choose to share with others. No corporate or private copyright and trademark characters are welcome without permission from the rights holders. The setting is "1930s TOON SEA ISLAND ADVENTURES (with funny animals, seaplanes & tikis)!"

There is some stretch built into these themes, and the editor might even publish cartoons of toon humans (& their seaplanes) if they were "Spontoonie" enough.

This is all an excuse to join other creators to publish material that has an adventure or historical setting--a vacation from some of the standard furry or anime locations. 

On the website, I prefer to publish .gif files for art, 256 colors or less (greys are fine!); images under 600 pixels wide, please (although I suppose 600 pixels tall by 800 wide is OK); file size under 300 KB if you can. You keep copyright, and please sign or logo-mark. New text: html files are handy, Microsoft word & plaintext is fine (or ask).

The zine is a 5 ½ by 8 ½ tall pamphlet/chapbook format. Image area is 4 ¾ inches by 7 ½ inches. Text material will be type set from clear copies or text files. Printing is by xerographic copier. Contact me if you would like more info on the formats. 

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Ken Fletcher  
Spontoon Island Tourist Board