Vignette Press began life in 1995 as Wannabee Publishing, then run by Jean Briggs in Bendigo, Australia (that's in rural central Victoria). Wannabee was a small press that did some self-publishing, some assisted publishing and some trade publishing. Wannabee ran an annual short story writing competition and an annual poetry competition.

In 2006 Lisa Dempster took over the running of Wannabee Publishing and renamed it Vignette Press, a name that fit the new direction of the press. After running the poetry competition in 2006, in conjunction with the journal Wet Ink, Lisa discontinued it because she knows nothing about poetry and doesn't intend to publish in that field. (Left to her, she'd probably award first prize to a limerick.)

Armed with a new name that she loved to say and a new logo that she just plain loved, Lisa got ready to make printed and mixed media publications that were innovative, great to read and looked fabulous.

First, Vignette Press released Mini Shots. Then it ran a blockbuster Short Story Competition. Currently, Vignette is working on a first book release. Plus, Lisa coordinates a manuscript appraisal, editing and ghost-writing service.

Mini Shots is a new concept magazine series that fits in with Vignette's plan to be innovating, interesting, and attractive.

Each mini magazine contains one short story only - the perfect size to read on the tram to work, over your morning coffee or while you're waiting for a friend. Plus each issue features cover art by Bronwen Hyde.

One magazine. One story. The perfect size to slip into your pocket for when you need a quick injection of fiction or have five minutes to kill.

Mini Shots. Collect them all.

Mini Shots launched at a public reading in Federation Square in May 2007.

Mini Shots are currently in their seventh month, have a strong subscriber base and are available in the best bookstores in Australia.

So far, published Mini Shots authors include: Simon Groth, Emmett Stinson, Sarah Jansen, Melissa Cranenburgh, Ed Moreno, Chris Womersley, Lucy Lawson, Patrick O'Duffy, Christopher Clarke and Jennifer Mills.

What is Our Sex?

The first title from Vignette Press is a mook, a magazine/book hybrid. It reads like a mag, with articles, pictures, stories and poetry, but has the cover and bindings of a book.

Bringing together the voices of over 60 young people, The Sex Mook presents an unusual take on the topic of sex. As the blurb says...

It would be duplicitous to claim this book was any kind of authoritative guide. But what it does have are hugely diverse - and much more entertaining - views on sex than is usually found in mainstream media. There's no airbrushing, no censorship and no one telling you what's right or wrong.

IT'S REAL SEX: IN ALL ITS LEAKY, FUNNY, NOISY, CONFUSING GLORY.

This collection is rough and more than a little bit messy. But then, so is sex. Enjoy.

The title was released in October 2007.

Special preview available at the Vignette site.

The Vignette Press Short Story Competition in 2007 was judged by the excellent Sean Condon and attracted a record-amount of entries.

The winner was Melbourne's Patrick O'Duffy, with his unique story, Seven Down.

As Sean Condon noted:

"Seven Down is a highly original piece of writing that takes chances with tone, construction, rhythm and its conclusion. It takes these chances and comes out a winner because the writing is assured, witty, brash and original."

Second place went to Jennifer Mills of Alice Springs with An Innocent Man.

The competition closes on 30 May annually.