The History of Tintota
How it all began . . .
with a chance remark!
April 2000.
For years, we struggled to get out our Christmas letters to relations and friends in time to catch the overseas postal deadline. And I don’t mind admitting that by the time we were finally finished, we were thoroughly fed up with the whole thing.
In 1997, I finally gave in to the idea of an all-embracing newsletter.
AUSSIE CURIOSITY
It so happened that our friend, Jess, was visiting with us when my husband, came through from his study to show me the proof copy of the newsletter he had just printed. Jess, with characteristic Aussie curiosity, asked what he had there.
“You can read it,” Warren said, as he handed it over, whilst I hastily explained that it was for folk in the UK, US, and Canada, where we had lived for some years.
She took her time reading it.
I was frantically hoping that I had not been too out-spoken about our present homeland. She looked up. My heart was in my mouth!
“Very interesting,” was her comment, and then came her punch-line, “Next year, you can send it to us Aussies as well!”
At that precise moment the seed for Tintota was sown.
In 1998, the all embracing newsletter, complete with some simple computer graphic work, went forth. Warren and I were left to chew our fingers, wondering how our friends would feel about our new venture instead of individual letters. Our spirits soared as we received encouragement from all quarters. Jess’s seed began to sprout.
A MAGAZINE OF FRIENDSHIP
Could we develop our newsletter to realise that dream? Our friend, Dave Rowan, had already referred to it as such. Semi-retirement afforded us time. Warren was computer competent and was developing deeper interest in desktop publishing and graphics. All pluses as far as this project was concerned.
Now for the minus side. The ball was fully in my court! I could not type. As for the computer … to me, it was a no-no. The terms that my husband and sons bandied about – increasingly, I might add – were to me sheer gobbledygook. I steered well clear of it all. I wanted nothing to do with it!
So there it was. I couldn’t expect Warren to continue to decipher my totally illegible handwriting. If I wanted a magazine, then I would have to prove that I was able to play my part. Warren’s old 286 laptop was brought out of retirement for me to prove to myself that I could turn a dream into reality. I set to and taught myself to touch-type.
Housework and garden maintenance were demoted to the low priority category whilst I wrested with my newly adopted tasks. It took me three weeks to slowly type my first letter. At that point I knew the battle was (partly) won. At least, I could type - if only rather slowly.
PROBLEM!
A magazine requires contributors. Here we were, residing in a tiny town on the edge of the outback. Where to start? I began by talking with, or phoning, everyone I knew. Then plucking up my courage, those I knew slightly. To my delight, I discovered that the Aussie characteristic, “We’ll have a go, mate,” was all in my favour. Please-help-us letters were also sent to distant friends. Little stories and poems started coming in. Those who felt that they could never write, were given help. Photos were dug out of their hiding places, one painting was even rescued from a garden shed! By the end of February, all was ready, and under the name “jumbunna”, aboriginal for talking together, our first issue was mailed.
The response from those who received that issue was heartening to all of us. More contributions came in, and those who had been courageous enough to get us launched excitedly began to seek out fresh ideas for stories, poems and computer artwork. June saw the second issue sent forth.
Our eldest son, Justin, who had long been badgering his reluctant father to get onto the Web, finally settled the matter by giving him a modem for Christmas. “Now, get online,” he muttered.
RELUCTANT HUSBAND
Warren, slightly reluctantly - or screaming and kicking vigorously, depending on your viewpoint - did as he was told.
Justin, who is rather good at putting the cat among the pigeons, now suggested his father create a website.
“Whoow! Impossible,” was Warren’s startled reply. But he should have known after a lifetime experience that Justin deals only in practicalities. Generously Justin offered us a subweb of his business domain, and generously proffered his expertise in helping to set it up. So, the Tintota Website was born.
TalkIN’ TOgeThA’ - Tintota.
In September, 1999, on returning home from our first Tintota BBQ, buoyed by the warmth of Tintota Friendship, some members having travelled very long distances to be with us, we decided to launch a Free Monthly online Newsletter. Tintota was growing well, with members in many countries. We felt that with this sound nucleus of friends we should spread our wings and offer our friendship to a wider circle. There are many folk who appreciate having real friends, and that is what we really strive to be.
NEWSLETTER
Exactly one week later, our first Free Monthly online Newsletter was given to the world. Its success has caused quite an upheaval here. A completely new website had to be created to support this newsletter. I am still typing away on our long out-dated 286 to get this ready for Warren to publish on the new Tintota-Dot-Com website. One day soon I will have to face Windows and learn how to send an e-mail!
However, nothing that is living stays the same for long. The Magazine ceased publication with the December 2000, issue so that we could place our entire emphasis on the Newsletter, which ultimately became the the Tintota “Stories of the Month”.
WHAT NEXT?
Exciting stuff!
What next, I wonder …
September 2001.
The above was revised using Windows 98se on my smart new laptop.
June 2004.
The purchase of my own laptop computer lifted me from the now archaic DOS system, to the opening vistas of the Windows. Life was made easier as Tintota was already behaving like the excited dog, eager to have its leash fastened to its collar for walking outside its normal restrictive boundaries. It was time to embark on another venture.
TID-BITS
Tentatively we introduced the e-mail newsletter: ‘Tid-Bits from Tintotans’. So many of the letters we received from readers contained interesting passages that were worth publishing, with permission, of course. We also needed a kind of notice board for bits of this and that. ‘Tid-Bits’ was, and is, available to anyone on request. It was intended to appear monthly but such was the demand that we publish it every second week.
Tintota readers have sprung up in countless countries, faster than we could keep check. In Tid-Bits’, only recently, we wrote that we could think only of Iceland as lacking a Tintotan! That remark is out of date now! Iceland has made it with two readers in the last few weeks. Be welcome, Icelanders, we are all so happy to have you aboard, sharing in our Tintota Friendship.
With this continuing expansion, Tintota has had to look for many ways of time- and energy-saving for the two of us to keep abreast. Warren is always alert to diversifying with new programs and methods to keep Tintota smooth-running, and ourselves from wilting under impossible odds.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY SPAM!
Owning one’s own web is increasingly difficult these days with the mounting volume of spam we receive daily, and the numerous virus and worm epidemics, all of which require constant protective vigilance.
The introduction of submission by forms only, was forced upon us to counteract formatting problems. These arose constantly under our more laid-back approach and ate into precious editing time as the submissions we receive for our consideration on a daily basis increased to a flood.
Because we hold very firmly to our being a true Friendship Site we welcome communication from all Tintotans and are delighted that folk feel comfortable enough to entrust us with personal confidences, and help with personal matters, advice, even to guidance with children’s homework! This is friendship!
Several of our writers have informed us that through Tintota’s encouragement, they have been able to launch themselves into career writing. Well done!
TURN OF THE CENTURY
2004 has been a very special year for us. Since the turn of the century, we personally have been thinking in the terms of another section for Tintota. With the backing of several other interested Tintotans, we launched AnimalWays at the year’s onset. Three issues have been published to date and, as I write, issue 4 is ready for publication.
Launching a new section such as this is something of a nail-biting venture. Anxiously, we watched the early statistic reports. The readership numbers grew and, amazingly, new supporting writers stepped out and have set us on this road with increasing hope. Friendship, and love for animals is the hearts of so many of us.
ANIMALWAYS
AnimalWays brought with it another big decision for us. Could we afford the expense, could we risk failure? Should we enter the world of Flash with audacious panache, or should we dabble our toes in one of the smaller programmes available? It took some weeks to decide upon a daring committal to the Macromadia Flash program, and some frantic brainstorming, even to get a tiny result from the complications of this awe inspiring confrontation. Slowly, week by week, Warren plods further into the intricacies of what at first appeared as ‘Mission Impossible’.
For my own part, I have had to set aside time to apply to my own scanty illustrating skills. It became obvious with the sketches I made for ‘Letters from Mason’ that an on-the-spot illustrator was required for immediate decision-making and immediate alterations arising. I simply had no choice but to hone my skill.
EMBRACING THE GLOBE
Tintota has come a long way on its Friendship course, which now embraces the globe. There are Tintotans on all the continents and in the vast majority of countries, and on the smallest of islands in the world’s oceans. Are we satisfied with this? Of course not, neither should any of you be, until we see a world happy and content in the peace of Friendship.
Finally, our thanks go forth to each one of you who read Tintota and thereby become Tintotans and Friends. Thank you all, each and everyone of you, who contribute the incredible Stories, Poetry, Artwork and Photography and the letters and jokes in ‘Tid-Bits’.
It is you who make Tintota the success it is. Bless you all!
- Sylvia Roff-Marsh
Editor’s Note: Sadly Warren died on February 1st 2010. Our thoughts are with Sylvia at this time and wish her and sons Benedict, Dominic and Justin well for the future.
My heartfelt condolences to Sylvia and Benedict.
I really grieve the death of Warren. My association with your family dates back to the year 2000. I started writing poems in 2000 and my first poem was published in Tintota. In those days I was in Windsor,ONT- the city where you had some associations. I will never forget my discussions (very often) with Warren on language and literature.
I pray God to rest Warren in peace.
My heartfelt condolences to Sylvia and Benedict. It indeed is saddening and shocking for me to learn of his demise. I have been associated with this you since 2006 due to work related issues. I loved it so much, I became an instant fan of this site. However, I have not had the chance to visit this site for a long time since, and hence really shocked to learn of Warren;s demise. I will not forget Warren’s kind words either. May his soul rest in peace and may peace be with his family.
Sorry for the loss of Warren, Sylvia. I too wrote some stories in Tintota’s early days; dropped by today at random for the first time in a long while, to see this news. Thanks for what you created here and best wishes for you and your sons moving forward.
I truly am impressed by this blog.
Warren’s love and teaching to many inspiring authors will live forever. Sylvia I saw yesterday and is well and enjoying the wonders of nature that surrounds her home.
Warren gave me the breath of life to be an author and now I am working on my third novel. And yes one day one of my novels maybe published.
Thank you again Warren and yes we will meet again one day.
Thank you to all who gave both my father and mother a fabulous time of creating a circle of friends on this world wide web. Many of you continue to communicate with my mother…. she is so appreciative of this…. even visits from Camberra… how lovely a thought…. My father was a wonderful man. Dominic
This is the first site I read on my new Iphone. I’ll be back.
Excellent coffee and a chilly morning on the deck with the k9 reading some fantastic copy, what more can you ask for?
Helpful info you have displayed here thanks.
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great post! i’m bookmarking this!
I like your design. I’d like to know where may I it for my blog?
Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back and read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing
First-class story without doubt. My mother has been searching for this
To tell you the truth. I can’t forget tintota.com. I learn many things through this sites. Reading and writing, though not so active anymore. From Jakarta, I wish you Merry Christmas 2010 and Happy New Year. Wish you all the best in 2011.
Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity, I will just make this bookmarked!
Many thanks about telling me about Warren. I would have been one of the earliest contributors and recieved only encouragement from the two of them. Happy memories. Love to all. Rog.
Perfect work you have done, this site is really cool with great info .
Oh my God! Until this moment i did not know the sad outcome of Warren’s illness. I lost touch with Warren and Sylvia some time back and if any one can forward me an address I would like to say that to Sylvia directly. RIP Warren Roff-Marsh.