BackStory: Four Questions with Ali McGrane Author of Tar i leith What inspired you to write ‘Tar i leith’? It was inspired by knowing someone in my extended family who experienced this, was brought up on the west coast of…
Tar i leith
Tar i leith by Ali McGrane She never went back, not really, only once for a holiday when the children were young. But there’s this. She stands in her kitchen, one hand on the door frame, one foot over the…
BackStory: Five Questions with Rachael Dunlop
BackStory: Five Questions with Rachael Dunlop Author of Nonna No Name What inspired you to write this ‘Nonna No Name’? This piece is based on a true story that forms part of the family history of a friend of mine.…
Nonna No Name
Nonna No Name by Rachael Dunlop ‘Tell me the story of Nonna No Name.’ ‘There was a woman with a fierce heart and three sons, all cabinet makers. The work they did, so good. They heard about a big job,…
BackStory: Five Questions with Mary Scott
BackStory: Five Questions with Mary Scott Author of When the Walking’s Done What inspired you to write this “When the Walking’s Done”? This piece was inspired by the true story of Captain Moonlite – real name Andrew George Scott –…
When the Walking’s Done
When the Walking’s Done by Mary Scott The outback never ends. Frank’s seen nothing but orange and brown for hours now. Burned colours. Enough to drive a man mad. Walk, walk. Feet swelled up like melons in their rags. Stomach…
BackStory: Five Questions with Paul Phillips
BackStory: Five Questions with Paul Phillips Author of Kom-bat What inspired you to write ‘Kom-bat’? A pistol, with its own memories. I’d had the idea of writing a collection of stories — some flash, some much longer — linked by a particular…
Kom-bat
Kom-bat by Paul Phillips Let’s begin again with the photograph, the one everybody knows. The senior political officer — Yeremenko? — is rising, pistol raised, rousing the men to advance. Seconds later he was dead. And you had to step into his…