Featuring both established and emerging Western Australian writers, this short story anthology includes both fiction and creative nonfiction. A quirky and memorable collection, it centers on “who we are and what we want to be”—ideas that will resonate globally despite the regional origin of the contributors. The distinctive voices highlighted here present joy and pain in equal measure with humor and feeling.

These stories are breath-takers, the ones which render nothing more important than discovering what happens next. -Sonya Hartnett The Best Australian Stories 2012 is the country's premier annual collection of short fiction. This year sees Sonya Hartnett select thirty-two remarkable stories that roam widely in subject and style, but share "a delicate complexity and a vibrant cleverness." A travelling scout for a modern-day freak show meets a girl with a strange and wonderful gift. A winning lottery ticket tests the bonds of three mismatched siblings. A beast of burden offers an alternative account of Australian settlement. There is dark humour, stealthy and unsettling, and moments of terror, whimsy, romance and surprise. What unites them is a steadfast commitment to the storyteller's art - the art of making the reader want to turn the page. 'Almost all the stories curated by Hartnett were new to me and reading them was a treat ... As with the poems, this outstanding collection confirms the robust health of the Australian short story.' -the Australian 'You'd be hard to please if you found nothing in this collection to make you want to linger and relish what you'd discovered.' -Sydney Morning Herald Sonya Hartnett is the internationally acclaimed author of several novels. In 2003, her adult novel, Of a Boy, won the Age Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.

Whether embellishing the embarrassing, reeling over reality, or analyzing the awkward, author Matt Hribar has collected life stories and experiences into one collective book of comedic essays. Follow Matt’s journey through ‘professionalism,’ vacations gone wrong, and career highlights. Jump through awkward moments teaching children creative writing, spinning crazy DJ stories, and amuse over some emotional moments with friends. These essays blend observational comedy, real-life experiences, and even a few moments of existentialism. About the author: Matt Hribar is a social and digital storyteller, DJ, live events emcee, and adjunct professor in Communications. He has devoted his life to creating -- whether it’s manuscripts, poems, lyrics, music, podcasts, videos, and films. When he’s not creating, you might find him working out, enjoying food and drink, and enjoying the stories of other humans.

Twenty-eight distinctive narrative voices in this anthology of new writing from Australias west. Combining short pieces of fiction with creative non-fiction, The Kid on the Karaoke Stage & Other Stories is a quirky and memorable collection that will resonate long after you close its covers.

...the most important thing I know about Terry Grimwood - the thing I want everyone else to be aware of - is that he writes one hell of a tale of dark fiction. Gary McMahon, author of the British Fantasy Award nominated novella Rough Cut. Come on, take my hand, don't be frightened, along the way we'll descend deep into the earth, visit worlds where breathing is banned. We'll find out what really happened when the fat lady sang, the Liberator set us free, Cathy's husband came back and why Nathan's hands are as red as blood. We'll revisit Snow White and discover the real and terrible meaning of beauty. Then meet the awful friends of Mike Santini, a young woman who hates the light and is as pale as death and, of course, the Exaggerated Man himself...Terry Grimwood interweaves wry social commentary with lively narrative. Darja Malcom in Strange Horizons Cover illustration and design by Ben Baldwin http: //www.benbaldwin.co.u

A song and story Dying to get in theme They were dying to get in, Dying to sing, There was a killer in the karaoke, They were dying to get in, Dying to sing, The karaoke was killer, Friday night was always a filler, They were dying to get in, Dying to sing, There was a killer in the karaoke, They were dying to get in, Dying to sing, The karaoke was killer, They were dying to get in, They were dying to get in, Dying to sing, There was a killer in the karaoke, All We See Or Seem Is But A Dream Within A Dream When Dr Death the local coroner is invited to perform in the hospital he works in's Tv charity performance little did they know the coroner was hiding a secret he is a famous stage illusionist he goes to the audition and his hospital colleague falls in love with the man who comes in his place and refuses to believe he could ever be the same man and his stage magician partner isn't helping either. She confronts the coroner for not having the courage to audition himself still not recognizing him he realizes he has fallen for a dream of the handsome illusionist, not himself. A tall handsome clean-shaven blue-eyed man walked on stage for the audition he looked nervous. "Who are you? You look familiar," asked a lady auditioner who fell in love with this strange young man. "Dr Blake Alexander, you know me," said the young man. "No, I don't any Dr Alexanders," said the lady. "No, he's kidding us he's Blake Fire! He's famous," said another auditioner, "He owns this theater." "Don't hold it against me," said Blake charmingly. "What are you going to do sing?" asked the lady. "I'm a magician," Blake said. "Oh, are you?" said the lady intrigued. "Where is Jack Tailor?" asked Dr Alexander. "He is sick Sally is here to do his job said the other auditioner. "Did Dr Death ask you to take his place here that grumpy nerd can't perform to save his life," said the lady who knew Dr Death as a bespectacled grouch who was always moaning, Blake tried to push up his glasses which he wasn't wearing frustratedly he looked irritated but that made him look more handsome. "I am Dr Death, I didn't ask myself anything, Sally Jack asked me to audition," snapped Blake.

Short stories set in a fantasy future dealing with unrequited love.