Hey folks! I hope you're all doing really well. I've published two pieces of short fiction this year (amid raising a baby and working; I'm quite proud of this achievement!). ‘The Station’ is about a pregnant scientist who arrives in a dusty desert town to take up her position at the mysterious 'Station', only to … Continue reading ‘The Station’ In Meanjin 82.4 Summer 2023
Short story ‘An Uncertain Electricity’ in Science Write Now
Image generated by Midjourney (AI) I have a new, darkly humorous short story about a man who helps power his city through nervous electricity in Edition 7 of Science Write Now. Check it out here. I'm so excited to be published in this edition of the magazine, which is exploring humour (often through the strange … Continue reading Short story ‘An Uncertain Electricity’ in Science Write Now
Sustainability in the Australian book industry
I've just completed a series of snapshots on sustainability in Australian publishing and bookselling, for Books+Publishing (subscription required): Part 1 provided an overall intro and looked at what publishers are doing. Part 2 looked at where most of the emissions come from, greener book production and printing practices, whether there are alternatives to the paper we currently use, and … Continue reading Sustainability in the Australian book industry
‘Parameters of Oblivion’: short story podcast
I've never written a vampire story before, and I'm not sure I ever thought I would... But in the depths of my grief for my dad, as I spent a lot of time in a small, isolated regional town, watching and reading horror and fantasy as 'comfort' (ideas of mortality and loss present, present, present), … Continue reading ‘Parameters of Oblivion’: short story podcast
The Second Life Book Club with me and Laura Jean McKay
Laura Jean McKay (author of the brilliant The Animals in That Country) and I recently appeared on the Second Life Book Club, with Draxtor. The set was an incredible floating cloud. Laura was an orca and I was a Bowie-hawk. We talked animals, minds being invaded, taking years to write a novel, 'method' writing, genre … Continue reading The Second Life Book Club with me and Laura Jean McKay
New essay in Reading Like an Australian Writer
I have a new essay in Reading Like an Australian Writer, an anthology of writers examining the techniques, storytelling ways, and sometimes strange magic of other writers via a range of styles: personal, responsive, academic, analytical. It's aimed at emerging writers, writing students, but also fans of Australian literature and reading in general. It's an … Continue reading New essay in Reading Like an Australian Writer
Books that got me through 2020
I read fewer books than ever this year. I finished thirty-three books and will probably get through three or so more by the year’s end, now that I’ve given myself a little time off. (This, of course, does not include all the books I worked on as an editor!) It wasn’t just the broad-sweeping anxiety … Continue reading Books that got me through 2020
Newsletter for writers
I've started a free monthly newsletter aimed at emerging fiction writers. You can subscribe here, or check out the posts so far: Your writing goals for 2020 Why even write? Research your novel without leaving home Reading to write Open the door to your 'magician's toyshop' How to create memorable characters I'm also creating a … Continue reading Newsletter for writers
Reading (and dreaming) highlights of 2019
Every year I get on here at this time of year and say: 'Holy shit, it's been a big year...' I'm a bit bored of it, but, well, in 2019 my novel A Superior Spectre was published in the UK and was shortlisted for a bunch of awards, and I went over to the Edinburgh International … Continue reading Reading (and dreaming) highlights of 2019
Saltire First Book Award shortlist and freelance editing
It's been a golden, packed few weeks: panels and workshops (and whisky) at the Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival in Cygnet, Tasmania; teaching a gorgeous group of writers in my Faber Academy class on 'how to edit your own writing'; finishing my full time job in publishing (bittersweet!); and being shortlisted in Scotland's prestigious … Continue reading Saltire First Book Award shortlist and freelance editing
LiteraryMinded 