shorts

I’ll often pen a short story when in need of a break from the lengthier business of novel writing. Writing short stories has been a great way to hone my craft. I enjoy the tightness of language and economy of words demanded by the form.

When I get an idea for a story – usually in the wee hours – I have to get the bones of it down while the impetus is still strong. If I don’t, the emotion behind the idea dissipates, and I find myself with a few random words jotted down on a scrap piece of paper.

Several of my pieces of short fiction have won awards or been placed in competitions, including the following:

A Breath, A Bunk, A Land, A Sky was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2020 out of over 5 000 entries.

Mad Men won the Sunday Star Times Short Story Award 2018.
(You can learn more about its genesis by clicking on the link below:
Interview.)

The Gift won the Graeme Lay Short Story Award 2012.

Black Toes was shortlisted for the Royal Society of NZ Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing 2012. (It was one of several of my short stories to be broadcast on National Radio Radio.)

Hiding Something was included in Dark Deeds Down Under – an anthology of crime/thriller stories edited by Craig Sisterson and published by Clan Destine Press Australia 2022.

**NEWS FLASH** I am excited to share that Bateman Books will be publishing a collection of my short stories in 2027.