Books

Three Can Keep a Secret: Flash Fiction by Western Australian Writers is our eagerly awaited third collection of flash and microfiction by Western Australian writers published in 2022.

A captivating collection of flash fiction, Three Can Keep a Secret showcases work from eighty-one established and emerging Western Australian writers. One hundred stories simmer with shadows, secrets and silences beneath the surface of everyday lives. Playful and reflective, comic and raw, the collection explores human relationships, grief, vulnerability and celebrates the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Featuring work by established authors Donna Mazza (Fauna, Allen & Unwin), Barry Divola (Driving Stevie Fracasso, HarperCollins), Rashida Murphy (The Bonesetter’s Fee and Other Stories, Spineless Wonders), Scott-Patrick Mitchell (Clean, Upswell), Emily Paull (Well-Behaved Women, Margaret River Press), Michael Burrows (Where the Line Breaks, Fremantle Press), Rebecca Higgie (The History of Mischief, Fremantle Press), Laurie Steed (You Belong Here, Margaret River Press) Ros Thomas (How to Shame the Devil, Night Parrot Press), as well as exciting emerging writers Mabel Gibson, Amy Budrikis, Alison Davis, Megan Anderson, Sabian Wilde, Nakita Humes, Jay Chesters, Melanie Hobbs, Gillian O’Shaughnessy, Shannon Meyerkort among many others.

Miniatures: A collection of short short stories, published 2022, presents the best of micro, flash and short fiction by Susan Midalia.

Praise for Miniatures: A collection of short short stories.

‘Reading Miniatures is like sitting at a café with your smartest friend and asking her to comment on the state of the world, as seen through the eyes of its writers and politicians, its idealists and disgruntled housewives, its lost women and superior males. Then, after you’ve laughed out loud or winced at the truth of some of those astute comments, you might order another coffee and urge her to write a book.’ –Rashida Murphy https://www.facebook.com/1563859876/posts/pfbid0A54tGP8XKgXrwQFSo6hkAcbtxkDnUHNHD7LWNAA2eCVHzQEDbg5kckVshXu6WoeHl/?d=n

Miniatures is a compelling collection of short-short stories that are both witty and full of suburban-life quirkiness. Pulled together like this, Midalia’s new works are a statement to her deep understanding of the constructive elements of the quintessential short story. … Midalia will have you in tatters or she will have you in tears. Often your hand will run to your mouth, because Miniatures exerts the power to surprise the reader from beginning to end.’ –Writing WA https://www.writingwa.org/for-readers/book-reviews/miniatures/

‘Midalia has created a book that pulls at the emotions and gets the mind working. These stories are beautiful, thought-provoking, entertaining and funny, and each one deserves to be savoured.’ Westerly Magazine https://westerlymag.com.au/miniatures/

Picture of the cover of the novella How to Shame the Devil by Ros Thomas

How to Shame the Devil is our first novella, written by Ros Thomas and released in November 2021.

Praise for How to Shame the Devil

‘Ros Thomas’s writing is startlingly funny, revealing and profoundly genuine –
she has the full writer’s arsenal.’—Robert Drewe

‘Clever, entertaining, beautifully crafted, disturbing and full of humanity. An original take on the #MeToo phenomenon, with the wonderful Ros Thomas at her most witty and compelling.’ —Will Yeoman, The West Australian

‘Ros Thomas writes with stylistic flair, a deft sense of humour, a vivid sense of time and place, and a generous, compassionate heart.’ Susan Midaliaauthor

Cover of book Twice not Shy: One hundred short short stories

Twice Not Shy: One hundred short short stories is our second collection of flash, micro and hybrid fiction by Western Australia writers. It was released in April 2021.

Praise for Twice Not Shy

‘a zesty feast of micro-tales covering a huge variety of themes and topics, from funny, sad, and enigmatic, to poignant, weird and wonderful.’ Writing WA

‘…it speaks to very human themes: love, longing, and connection.’—Lauren Prat, Underground Writers

Cover of book Once: A selection of short short stories

Once: A selection of short short stories is our first collection of flash, micro and hybrid fiction by Western Australia writers. It was released in January 2020.

Praise for Once

‘Confident and audacious, this cute little blue compilation of flash fiction is a jewel of a book… the stories are clever, compelling and often leave you pondering long after the words have been read.’ —Phil Tucak, The Post

‘Once offers a welcome pause for reflection and is perfect for when you need a shot of inspiration. Grab yourself this little pocketful of wonder and relish each moment.’ Writing WA

‘There were so many delightful moments in this collection, far too many to mention here. The most satisfying part is reading a story and not really thinking much of it until you’re running errands, or working on something else, watching TV, and suddenly the story comes back to you. You see it in a new light. Just as satisfying is the moment you tie two seemingly separate stories together in any number of infinite combinations.’ Underground Writers