communication communication communication! Pander Zine Distro writes history An interview with Ericka Lyn Bailie by Elke Zobl March 2002
© Pander Zine Distro 2000	Ericka's pander zine distro is somewhat a "heaven on earth" for all grrrl and lady zine fans. She distributes zines from all over the world, hosts a wonderful message board and has an extensive link section, among other hundred wonderul things. I have had only the best experience ordering zines from Ericka, many of whom you see listed on my site. So go and check her site, if you are not familiar with it! You will see you are in heaven... Can you tell me first of all a little bit about yourself? How old are you, where are you originally from and where do you reside now? my name is ericka bailie, i'm 33, originally from los angeles, ca, moved to minneapolis, mn, 4 years ago from kansas city, mo. What do you do besides your zine? i stopped doing my regular zine several years ago. occasionally i put out a one-shot (most recently "fragile" in 2000). i have been running pander zine distro since late winter 1995.
What made you decide to start this project? How did you come up with the idea and the name? i was dissatisfied with some distro's i'd ordered from in the early-mid 90's & decided to start something i'd be happy with as a customer & a zinester. i had the time to devote to it & knew i could do something i'd be proud of. the name came about as a description of what i do, what i am. with pander i am catering to the desires of others, supplying a need & satisfying a desire. i am a zine pimp. What does zine making (and reading) mean to you? What do you love about zine making? What's the most challenging aspect of making zines? communication communication communication! i love the learning process, it excites me. the most challenging aspect for me is being a perfectionist, being satisfied with something i've done. What was your first exposure to zines? How did you find out about them? What have they come to mean to you? kelli callis (that girl, 20 bus, kurt cobain was lactose intolerant conspiracy zine) & i were pen pals before we started doing zines. we got involved with riot grrrl around the same time & she started sending me copies of sarah dyer's action girl newsletter. kelli started doing that girl & i began ordering zines reviewed in action girl, feeling tremendously inspired but not having much confidence. kelli & sarah encouraged me to do a zine & in 1992 i started my zine power candy. the rest is, as they say, history.
Do you consider grrrl zines as an important part of a movement of sorts? Do you think zines can effect meaningful social and political change? absolutely, on both counts. i know they've expanded my knowledge base & encouraged me to seek knowledge beyond what i normally would have. What advice would you give others who want to start a zine? just do it! forgive the nike-esqueness of that statement. What are some of the zines you admire? subject to change, quantify, a renegade's handbook to love & sabotage, that girl, rocket queen, rock star with words, external text, timtum, soldier, i am a camera, red hooded sweatshirt, and about a million more!	Pander Zine Distro Catalog for Fall/Winter 2001/2002 © Pander Zine Distro 2002
Could you please describe a little bit the grrrl zine community in your country? "grrrl" means something specific to me, a political movement that no longer exists, at least not in the state it was when i was involved, so i'd have to answer your question with either "it doesn't" or "i have no idea."	Contact Ericka at: Pander Zine Distro postal box 582142 minneapolis, MN 55458-2142 USA
Do you define yourself as a feminist? yes Which role plays the Internet for you? Does it change your ideas of making zines and doing/reading zines? from the distro perspective the internet has been an extremely positive influence. my orders doubled when i put the catalog online & accepted online payments. Thanks for the interview!!	© Pander Zine Distro 2002 Order the current catalog! spring/summer '02 edition 1.00 ppd U$ http://panderzinedistro.com http://erickapander.livejournal.com
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