Liam McNally: Managing Editor

How did you get involved in Tulpa?

I created it with Lisandra Linde. I’ve always wanted to be a part of a truly exciting arts environment and I feel that working on this project in Adelaide’s art scene is a truly worthwhile thing. Adelaide is full of exciting and passion-driven projects and they don’t necessarily get enough attention.

I’ve long had a desire to work in a magazine like this. I’m able to help form something that holds to ethics I consider very valuable and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve.

 

What’s your life like outside of Tulpa?

I’m currently studying Creative Writing at university and getting involved with Radio Adelaide. These allow me to involve myself in what I consider most important – the arts community. Other than that, my life is largely just looking for a chance to get paid work in a very competitive and challenging environment.

I spend most of my free time working on a manuscript that I’ve rewritten several thousand times more than any reasonable person ever would.

 

What has been the most rewarding part of working for Tulpa Magazine?

The Fringe. By a mile, the Fringe. Writing pieces about performers’ heartfelt work and getting feedback from them directly is like nothing else. You have to be careful, considerate, and compassionate. You have to be prepared to follow a narrative or character wherever it goes and the reward of seeing that unfold and bringing it to the attention of other people is a remarkably rewarding experience.

 

What do you see yourself doing in the future? Where are you headed after Tulpa?

I have no idea. That worries me but I’ve found so far that exploring and investigating the options available usually offers something. Adelaide is a much more exciting place than people give it credit for and the opportunities available are plenty, if a little hidden. Hopefully at some point, I’ll one day leave Adelaide (much as I love it) to explore opportunities and environments farther afield. Though I don’t expect that to happen for a very long time.

 

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Kayla Gaskell: Managing Editor

 

How did you get involved with Tulpa Magazine?

When I first heard about Tulpa I was intrigued—an arts magazine not only based in SA but also focusing on South Australian artists and writers? Knowing that Liam and Lisandra had created it encouraged me to be involved. Having worked with both editors previously I know that Tulpa Magazine has the potential to grow and flourish. When the opportunity arose for a third managing editor to join the team I put my hand up, and, somehow managed to get in. Watching its development so far has been amazing and having this opportunity to shape its future is a privilege.

I think that it is important for Adelaide to have more arts projects running because we have such a large and vibrant arts community which isn’t always acknowledged. We might not be Melbourne or Sydney but that shouldn’t stop us from being Adelaide and cherishing our community and culture. Tulpa is all about supporting local artists and I am behind this aim entirely.

 

What do you do?

As a writer my main focus has been reviewing and criticism for both prose and theatre. I have been involved in reviewing long before I came to Tulpa and enjoy going to shows and events and providing my own take on the fantastic talent around Adelaide. Moving forward as an editor with Tulpa I will be managing a new section of the magazine where we will be discussing all things books—focusing, of course, on local authors.

 

What’s your life like outside of Tulpa Magazine?

Outside of Tulpa I am both boring and busy. I spend half my life working a generic retail job which a.) pays me, and b.) allows me time to switch my brain off all things writing. The other half is a mixture of writing, reading, and babysitting my nine nieces and nephews. Just last year I completed my BCA honours in Creative Writing at Flinders University where I focused on hope within dystopian stories. I’m now in the beginning stages of writing a historic fiction piece set in 1916 Australia because I am entirely fascinated by the implications of the Great War for those at home. I also love watching slam poetry and have been known to fly interstate just to see Button Poetry poets on their world tours.

 

What has been the most rewarding part of working for Tulpa Magazine?

The most rewarding part of working for Tulpa has been watching it grow from an idea into an active project. I am looking forward to the day we receive funding which means not only will we PAY THE ARTISTS, but the plan for a print magazine will be set in motion. There are of course other aspects which I really enjoy such as the events we organise to review and the wonderful feeling of getting to read someone else’s work pre-publication and providing (hopefully) helpful feedback.

 

What do you see yourself doing in the future? Where are you headed after Tulpa?

In the future I assume I’ll be writing and reviewing, hopefully for places that pay me and, ideally, fly me all over the world. A girl can dream right? Regardless, I’ll still be writing, I’ll still be reviewing. I would love to be working in the arts, potentially even with the Fringe festival so that I can continue to support local artists as well as work with more established ones.

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