Launched in September 2000 by John Bird (The Big Issue founder), along with Gordon Roddick (The Body Shop co-founder and Tony Cook (Chairman of Red Pepper and co-owner of the award winning independent TV production company Praxis Films, ABCtales offers everyone the chance to share their stories and read fresh new writing for free.
ABCtales recognises the 'digital divide'. An outreach team of 'talecatchers' will work in the heart of communities encouraging people - including prisoners, homeless people, refugees and the elderly - to tell their stories and join the ABCtales community of readers and writers.
Since launch, ABCtales had attracted thousands of writers from around the world and won numerous awards including the Yell Award for 'Best Arts and Music Site' 2001 and the New Statesman 'Online Community Award' 2001. Attracting many positive comments from press and users alike, ABCtales has around 100 stories and poems added every day.
The Personnel
John Bird MBE, Chairman
John has been involved in publishing and writing all his working life. Starting off as a printer and writer he turned to publishing with his magazine Art Perspectives in 1975. In 1985 he won an Arts Council Award for new writing for Dreams on a Dancehall Floor and has had numerous plays performed across the UK. Among his published work is Dickens - The Socially Mobile Cat and Bills Wolf Burt, co-authored with his 6 year old son. His greatest publishing achievement so far has been The Big Issue, a social phenomenon that has grown to help thousands of homeless people in Britain and across the world.
Tony Cook, Chief Executive
Tony began his working career by founding his own newspaper back in 1975. Much to his delight the Exeter Flying Post continues to this day - although he left to pursue other avenues in 1979. He went into radio with BBC South West and then on via Radio Trent in Nottingham, Centre Radio and Leicester Sound to IRN in London and then to presenting the hit show Tony Cook's Talking Sport on LBC. He is still a Director of the award winning TV company Praxis Films and on the Board of the red/green political magazine Red Pepper. He's also stood for Parliament, written two (unpublished) novels, set up and run a whole raft of small businesses, been married for 25 years, helped raise three wonderful children and lost all of his hair.
Contact Us
If you have a question about the site you can contact us in the following ways:
E-mail: tcook@abctales.com
Telephone: 07899 901023
Post: Burgeon Creative Ideas,
Barne House, Dry Lane
Christow, EXETER
Devon
EX6 7PE