Spineless Wonders Asks Michael Sala

July 18, 2011By Bronwyn Mehaninterviews No Comments

1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Some of my favourite short fiction writers are; Banana Yoshimoto, Haruki Murakami, Alice Munro, Ernest Hemingway, Tobias Wolff, Richard Ford, Ilse Aichinger, Gene Wolfe, David Vann, Patrick Cullen, Ryan O’Neill and A.S. Patric. 2. What is the most memorable short … Read More

Spineless Wonders Asks Demet Divaroren

July 11, 2011By Bronwyn Mehaninterviews No Comments

1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? There are so many! Paddy O’Reilly, Cate Kennedy, Margo Lanagan, Dan Chaon just to name a few. 2. What is the most memorable short story you have read? And why does it stand out for you? Margo Lanagan’s “Singing My … Read More

Angus Benson with guest interviewer Vanessa McKinley

June 27, 2011By Bronwyn Mehaninterviews No Comments

The Column welcomes guest blogger, Vanessa McKinley who has interviewed surfer turned writer, Angus Benson whose story, ‘Down South’ appears in this year’s UTS Anthology. The UTS Writers’ Anthology showcases the considerable talent emerging every year from one of Australia’s most respected writing programs. The Life You Chose and That Chose You is the twenty-fifth … Read More

Spineless Wonders Asks Emilie Collyer

June 20, 2011By Bronwyn Mehaninterviews No Comments

1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Wow. I admire so many. Three stand out as changing what I knew was possible to do with the form: Haruki Murakami, Margo Lanagan and Ali Smith. Oh and Tom Cho. So that’s four. The way they use language and … Read More

The Column – calling for contributions

June 8, 2011By Bronwyn Mehanfeature article No Comments

‘Australian websites such as Literary Minded, Spineless Wonders, and Verity La do great things for this country’s literary culture.’ Laurie Steed in conversation with Verity La’s Alec Patric. Want to be part of this exciting literary conversation? Spineless Wonders is currently looking for contributors to its blog, The Column. We are looking for news, reviews, … Read More

Spineless Wonders Asks Melissa Beit

June 6, 2011By Bronwyn Mehaninterviews No Comments

1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Margo Lanagan.  Ursula LeGuin.  Alice Munro.  Annie Proulx.  David Mitchell.  Cate Kennedy.  Grace Paley.  Daphne du Maurier.  J.D. Salinger.  As a teenager I loved Roald Dahl, master of the gruesome twist… There are huge raggedy holes in my education, which … Read More

First sentences

May 30, 2011By Bronwyn Mehanreviews No Comments

Listening to Stanley Fish talk about the sentence on The Book Show got us thinking here at The Column about exemplary first sentences from Australian short stories. Here’s what Fish had to say about the opening sentence. ‘It is a promissory note. It telegraphs everything that’s going to follow … It has an angle of … Read More