Olgada

So…what’s this all about, then? 

These pages have been constructed to make available to a wider audience selected items drawn from the archives of the olgada press.  These items are mostly short (often very short) pieces of fiction, though the archive also includes a number of non-fiction pieces.  Future posts may include examples taken from the organisation’s small collection of works in a range of other media. 

It is the intention at this time to present a minimum of one new piece every week.  We hope you enjoy them and return again soon to view our next instalment. 

Right….and ‘the olgada press’?  what’s that? 

The olgada press is a small press publisher established in November 2006 to assist in the distribution of work completed by members of the well-known olgada community. 

The ‘well known’ who? 

Well, ok, the ‘shadowy, secretive, staggeringly paranoid, probably delusional’ olgada community. 

Uh-huh…so what can you tell me about that? 

At this point I am instructed to direct readers towards the information presented in our short note on authorship. 

Hmmm.  They sound like charming people.  Now, I notice that  the short note on authorship makes reference to the ‘noble aims of the olgada project’.  What are those exactly? 

Unfortunately my security clearance does not allow me to answer that question at this time. 

So, you don’t know then? 

Did I mention ‘secretive’?  Did I mention ‘paranoid’? 

Right…ok…Listen, I have just one more question for you? 

Fire away, please. 

How long are you going to keep this up for? 

Um…I don’t follow you? 

This…whole olgada thing?  I mean, its obviously all some painfully transparent attempt to construct an elaborate meta-fiction with which to give an otherwise undeserved sense of mystery and grandeur to what are, frankly, pretty mundane bits of autobiography and half-hearted rip offs of other people’s work. Isn’t that true? 

Um…I… 

Not to mention disguising your own identity, you…the author… wrapping yourself up behind this obfuscating cloak of smoke and mirrors… 

Obfuscating? 

Hang on, I’m on a roll here…because, I mean, for all we know there is no ‘olgada community’, is there?  For all we know there’s only you, most probably some unmarried, 40-year old car salesman from Nebraska called ‘Bob’ with bad skin, a slight drink problem and too much time on your hands.  Isn’t that right?  Isn’t this whole ‘olgada’ thing just a big sham? 

Er… 

Well? 

I…uh…at this point I am instructed to point readers towards our short note on authorship. 

Oh, good god!  Is that really all you have to say for yourself? 

My name is not Bob. 

(sigh)  very helpful, thank you. 

Thanks for visiting.  We look forward to seeing you again very soon.