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
interviews
Angus Benson with guest interviewer Vanessa McKinley
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
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
Spineless Wonders Asks Melissa Beit
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
Spineless Wonders Asks Josephine Rowe
1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Australian: Dorothy Hewett Otherwise: Janet Frame Living: Sam Shepard Dead: Richard Brautigan 2. What is the most memorable short story you have read? And why does it stand out for you? Difficult question, but perhaps ‘Cathedral’ by Raymond Carver. Though … Read More
Spineless Wonders asks Michael Giacometti
1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Jorge Luis Borges – Fictions Nam Le – The boat Steven Amsterdam – Things we didn’t see coming Jennifer Mills – her own zines (www.jenjen.com.au); look out for a collection later this year or next Samuel Beckett – First Love … Read More
Interview with Carmel Bird
Most literary awards (Hal Porter, Josephine Ulrick, Elizabeth Jolley) are named after writers who are now dead. How do you feel about the Spineless Wonders short story competition being named after you? Dead or alive, it is flattering to have my work in short fiction recognised in this way. I never actually think that Elizabeth … Read More
Spineless Wonders Asks Julie Chevalier
1.Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Tillie Olsen, Ernest Hemingway,Alice Munro, Pam Houston, Lorrie Moore, Jhumpa Lahiri, Tina Lupton, Katie Chase, Elizabeth Strout. From Australia, Ryan O’Neill and Sue Taylor. 2. What is the most memorable short story you have read? And why does it stand out … Read More
Spineless Wonders Ask Will Elliott
1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? George Saunders is at the top of the pack, not far behind him are David Foster Wallace and Kelly Link. Karen Hitchcock would be my pick of Australian short story writers. 2. What is the most memorable short story you … Read More
Spineless Wonders Asks Favel Parrett
1. Who are the short fiction authors you admire (Australian or otherwise, alive or dead)? Short fiction authors I admire (not in any order): Ernest Hemmingway, Robert Drewe, Michael Sala, Petina Gappah, Tim Winton, J.D. Salinger, Oscar Wilde, Junot Diaz, Kerstin Ekman… There are SO many! 2. What is the most memorable short story you … Read More