February, 2024
'Ad Nauseam' shortlisted for 2023 Nielma Sidney Short Story Prize
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Written in a fit of inspiration at the Arteles Artist in Residence program, 'Ad Nauseam' is the story of a demon named Muddy who, after successfully haunting an old factory-turned-artist-studio for decades, is transported to a suburban shopping centre where he finds his haunting completely ineffective.
Despite the story still being an early draft when submitted to the prize, I was delighted to find my name on the shortlist for one of Australia's most prestigious short story prizes. Read more: https://overland.org.au/2024/02/announcing-the-2023-neilma-sidney-short-story-prize-shortlist/ |
September, 2023
Artist in Residence: Arteles Creative Center, Finland
Throughout the month of September, I had the privilege of completing a writers' residency at the Arteles Creative Center in rural Finland. Joined by 14 international writers, painters, sculptors, photographers, jewellers and more, this residency marked a defining moment not only in my creative career, but also in my personal development. The creative, enquiring, and joyous spirit of my fellow artists was contagious and the organisers of the program at Arteles have truly achieved something marvellous here, carefully curating a diverse group of artists and providing a space and an experience that prioritises mindfulness, exploration, reflection, and restoration. I found the silence of the nature unnerving at first, but came to flourish in the peace and quiet changing of the forest in autumn. With a traditional wood-burning sauna three times a week, the quiet to rest, and the silent moving creature of the northern lights above me, my time here was deeply nourishing and I return with three fresh short stories that venture into new genres for me, and a wealth of exploratory passages crafted around and inspired by Arteles - except I, of course, have added ghosts and nightmares and elves to the pot. You can read my morning pages from the Timber House here on my blog.
March 2023
Adelaide Writers's Week 2023
Full session available on the Adelaide Festival Podcast via Spotify
October, 2022
'Early Summer' recieves 2022 Boroondara Literary Award
From the judges: "It's early summer and three girls are lounging in a backyard pool. They're old friends, bored, listless. At odds with each other. They're bodies are changing--at different paces--and we spend time with each of their thoughts as they worry and compare the changes. Beneath this surface of suburban banality (and narrative familiarity) though, lies a reality as shocking and violent as what's happening beneath the surface of the water. I won't spoil the surprise but I will say how much I admired this story for its handling of psychological and thematic submergence, and for its control of suspense. I have no doubt we'll all come to read more from this masterful writer." Nam Le.
Friday September 30, 2022
Ordinariness recieves 2022 AAWP/UWA Publishing Chapter One Prize
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I am thrilled to be able to share the news that my unpublished manuscript Ordinariness is the recipient of the 2022 AAWP/UWA Publishing Chapter One prize. Ordinariness is a collection of my short fiction from the past three years, all gothic/dream narratives set in the Australian suburbs. The judges said this of the first two stories in the collection:
"The submitted stories are layered and subtly crafted. They require careful reading and thought. The un-natural nature and behaviour of some characters is intentionally and carefully unsettling. The pieces are great examples of the development of an appropriate and carefully tuned narrative voice for each piece." |
Tuesday May 10, 2022
'Early Summer' Longlisted for Peter Carey Short Story Award 2022
Image from: https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/Events/2022-Peter-Carey-Short-Story-Award-and-2022-Moorabool-Young-Writers-Awards-Ceremony
On Tuesday May 10th my latest short story 'Early Summer' was longlisted for this year's Peter Carey Short Story Award. The longlist comprised just thirteen stories out of over 300 submitted and I am thrilled to have been counted among these. Melissa Manning--who I had the pleasure of inviting to the 2021 Australian Short Story Festival in my capacity as organising committee, and whose incredible debut short story collection I devoured and messy-cried to--was this year's judge and I feel incredibly privileged to have had my work read by her.
'Early Summer' did not make the shortlist, but I am over the moon with joy at how far it progressed. I offer my congratulations to all the longlisted and shortlisted stories and to this year's winner.
'Early Summer' did not make the shortlist, but I am over the moon with joy at how far it progressed. I offer my congratulations to all the longlisted and shortlisted stories and to this year's winner.
Thursday March 10, 2022
'Project Mercury' Shortlisted for inaugural Djillong SHort Story Competition
Photo courtesy of Geelong Writers Centre
On Thursday March 10th I appeared via Zoom at the Geelong library in Victoria for the 2022 Djillong Short Story Competition to chat about my story 'Project Mercury'. 'Project Mercury' was shortlisted for the prize in the company of some very talented writers and I am overjoyed. The Geelong Writer's Centre will be publishing a print anthology in which all the shortlisted and prize winning stories will appear. In the meantime, you can read 'Project Mercury' here.
I would like to offer a massive congratulations to all the prize winners and shortlisted writers! Absolutely well-deserved.
I would like to offer a massive congratulations to all the prize winners and shortlisted writers! Absolutely well-deserved.
