Tall And True Short Reads

In October 2024, I released Episode 100 of Tall And True Short Reads, Twin Souls in the Universe, marking the end of Season Four of my storytelling podcast, which I launched in September 2020. Since then, I've taken a break from podcasting to focus on writing projects, including publishing my latest short story collection. The stories written and narrated by Robert Fairhead for The Kris Kringle - Xmas 2024 first appeared on the Tall And True writers' website. Read the stories on Tall And True: • Five Meet on Zoom: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/five-meet-on-zoom • The Last Book That Made You Cry: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/the-last-book-that-made-you-cry • Once Upon A Time: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/once-upon-a-time • Some Things Change – Perth, Western Australia, 1979: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/some-things-change Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Episode 100, Twin Souls in the Universe: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/twin-souls-in-the-universe/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Santa’s Sleigh Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/ Five Meet on Zoom: • None The Last Book That Made You Cry: • Page turning: https://freesound.org/people/Kodack/sounds/256475/ Once Upon A Time: • Slow Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/Julien%20Matthey/sounds/457651/ • Conference Noise: https://freesound.org/people/shazam118/sounds/83788/ • Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/ Some Things Change – Perth, Western Australia, 1979: • Kids playing: https://freesound.org/people/cognito%20perceptu/sounds/61503/ • Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/ • Car Interior: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/ • Sipping Wine: https://freesound.org/people/bbrocer/sounds/382656/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. The podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you thought about it, the process for selecting the first matter transference test pilot was archaic, although Mae considered it a lucky omen when she drew the Blue 15 raffle ticket. Blue, not pink, was her favourite colour as a girl, and at 15, Mae had decided she wanted to become an astronaut. Twin Souls in the Universe is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/twin-souls-in-the-universe Read the "What's in a Name?" blog post: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/whats-in-a-name Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Listen to Episode 8 of Tall And True Short Reads, Splendid Views: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/splendid-views/ Episode 92 of Tall And True Short Reads, The Lost and Found Story: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-lost-and-found-story/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Ambient Universe Hum: https://freesound.org/people/FALL-E/sounds/713436/ • Hooray!: https://freesound.org/people/Vesperia94/sounds/403057/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm getting too old for this. My speechwriter's pulse quickens as the PM mounts the flag-decked stage, flanked by senior ministers and mining industry executives, to announce her government's green coal plan. Panned by environmentalists and scientists, polling suggests it could be a vote winner … if the PM nails my speech. My Speech is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/my-speech Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Listen to Episode 90 of Tall And True Short Reads, A Good Story: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-good-story/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Camera shutter burst: https://freesound.org/people/Lumamorph/sounds/505476/ • Tapping microphone: https://freesound.org/people/susychristiansen/sounds/149034/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/sagetyrtle/sounds/32260/ • Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The local dog club, where I volunteered as a trainer for twenty years, ran season-ending Fun Days with events like Fancy Dress, Agility Slalom, Waggliest Tail, and other novelty races that changed from year to year. One of my favourites was the Sack Race, where my dear old dog and I always placed third. For the Sake of a Story is a blog post from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the post on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/sake-of-a-story Read How to "Kill Your Darlings" and Survive the Process by Ruthanne Reid: https://thewritepractice.com/kill-your-darlings/ Read My Good Dog and Muse on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/good-dog-muse Listen to Episode 72 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/my-good-dog-and-muse/ Post with Jet sleeping in the home office podcast study: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/introducing-tall-and-true-short-reads Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Dogs Barking: https://freesound.org/people/Mafon2/sounds/676407/ • Plane: https://freesound.org/people/bigpickle51/sounds/262753/ • Clapping: https://freesound.org/people/sagetyrtle/sounds/32260/ • Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Excuse me, humanity, please pay attention. I have an urgent message. "What? Not in the middle of my reality TV show!" I'm sorry. I'll be brief. But first, a little background. My message concerns the fate of a pale blue dot in the inky expanse of the universe. Beyond its fragile borders is vast nothingness. You Have Been Warned is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/you-have-been-warned Listen to Episode 59, Once Upon A Time: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/once-upon-a-time/ Not Quite Write Podcast and Prize website: https://notquitewritepodcast.com/ Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • TV Static: https://freesound.org/people/Kleber_KGF/sounds/354019/ • Gunfire: https://freesound.org/people/C-V/sounds/523404/ • Screaming Voices: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/486179/ • Angry Voices: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/486193/ • Car Horn: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/684521/ • Bicycle Bell: https://freesound.org/people/altazor80/sounds/367744/ • Storm Wind: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/481139/ • Story Rain: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/ • Flood Waters: https://freesound.org/people/martialway47/sounds/258187/ • Desert Crickets: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/641589/ • Fire: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/483309/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I open my eyes, blink and try to focus on the bright lights set into the white ceiling flying past overhead. I hear beeps and muffled voices. It feels like I'm strapped to a camp stretcher, but it's moving. I'm on a hospital gurney. What happened? I want to ask. But there's a tube down my throat, and I can't talk. The Light Above is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/the-light-above Read my 2020 blog post about Furious Fiction: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/furiousfiction-writers-centre-competition About Judd Exley: https://www.juddexley.com/about/ Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Hospital Gurney: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/481111/ • Beeping/Flatline: https://freesound.org/people/Tommy6969/sounds/730279/ • Bike Freewheeling: https://freesound.org/people/13gkopeckak/sounds/378905/ • Car Passing: https://freesound.org/people/NachtmahrTV/sounds/553259/ • Bike Crash: https://freesound.org/people/1sticky8/sounds/78483/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1987, my wife and I shouldered our backpacks and set off from Australia. The plan was to live and work overseas in England for two years, using it as a base for UK and wider world travels. And the widest of these were inspired by reading books like Alan Moorehead's The White Nile and The Blue Nile. The White and Blue Niles is a travel blog post from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the post on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/the-white-and-blue-niles Read a post about the nine-month overland journey inspired by travel writers and Michael Palin's Pole to Pole: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/inspired-by-michael-palins-pole-to-pole Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Plane: https://freesound.org/people/bigpickle51/sounds/262753/ • Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/ • Jungle Sounds: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/438261/ • Steam Whistle: https://freesound.org/people/mike_stranks/sounds/407394/ • Air Raid Siren/Bombing: https://freesound.org/people/hello_flowers/sounds/31887/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever had one of those mornings? You know, where everything goes wrong. It's like a farce, a series of mishaps increasing in frequency and intensity that have you howling with side-splitting laughter or shedding tears of frustration. One of Those Mornings is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/one-of-those-mornings Read the Five April Stories blog post: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/five-april-stories Listen to The Winner's Toast, Episode 45 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-winners-toast/ Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Car Doors: https://freesound.org/people/oscaraudiogeek/sounds/333281/ • Car Driving: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/ • Car Horns: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/479995/ • Storm: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/ • Heart Monitor (beeping): https://freesound.org/people/iluminati_2705/sounds/536706/ • Text Notification: https://freesound.org/people/katjajansen1997/sounds/538006/ • Alarm Clock: https://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/522119/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teresa's first thing in the morning text message was a punch in the guts. "Sorry, Colin. I love you, but we're on different journeys. Let's stay friends." I blinked twice to clear my eyes and was about to respond, "Are you serious?" but threw the phone against the bedroom wall instead. Different Journeys is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/different-journeys Listen to Episode 84 of Tall And True Short Reads, In Her Head: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/in-her-head/ Link to the winning entries for January 2024's Not Quite Write Prize: https://notquitewritepodcast.com/results-of-the-january-2024-not-quite-write-prize-for-flash-fiction/ Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Text message notification: https://freesound.org/people/katjajansen1997/sounds/538006/ • Phone hitting plaster wall: https://freesound.org/people/bruno.auzet/sounds/640198/ • City streets: https://freesound.org/people/TL_Dawnstar/sounds/540957/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've lost a few things over the years but never imagined losing a story! I only realised I'd "lost" A Window Table when I started working on a blog post to mark my fourth anniversary of writing Furious Fictions. However, when I found and read a copy of the story, I didn't recognise its plot or characters. This double-feature episode includes the short story A Window Table and a companion blog post, The Lost and Found Story, from the Tall And True writers' website, both written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read A Window Table on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-window-table Read The Lost and Found Story: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/lost-and-found-story Listen to Some Things Change, Episodes 79 to 80 of Tall And True Short Reads: • Perth, Western Australia, 1979: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-perth-1979/ • London, England, 1992: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-london-1992/ • Perth, Western Australia, 2023: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-perth-2023/ Read Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/some-things-change-some-stay-the-same Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Squeaky Door Open/Close: https://freesound.org/people/bowlingballout/sounds/398919/ • Pots and Pans: https://freesound.org/people/oneOddEgg/sounds/369633/ • Broken Plate: https://freesound.org/people/jc.sg/sounds/565640/ • Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/ • Microwave: https://freesound.org/people/kwahmah_02/sounds/254814/ • Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/522119/ • Coins: https://freesound.org/people/DBS_Sounds/sounds/613164/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less than forty-eight hours after receiving her online order, Third Age Cybertronics delivered Jack to Daisy, a sprightly centenarian who purchased the Advanced Companion Droid to help her with household chores and carry her bags when travelling. A New Jack is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-new-jack Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Episode 87 of Tall And True Short Reads, The Lonely Moon: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-lonely-moon/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Drone: https://freesound.org/people/DCPoke/sounds/387988/ • Jack Russell Barking: https://freesound.org/people/GH0STY_XD/sounds/594343/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My first "published" writing was an Enid Blyton-Famous Five-style adventure story, Sand Island, in 1972. I wrote the story and illustrated it with coloured Texta markers. My aunt, the only one in our family with a typewriter, typed up the manuscript. And my father helped bind and cover the book. I was ten. A Good Story is a blog post from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the post and see my illustrations on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/a-good-story-sand-island Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Episode 88, Finding Inspiration (also mentions Sand Island): https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/finding-inspiration/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/ • Sticky Tape: https://freesound.org/people/megashroom/sounds/390166/ • Bell-Ping: https://freesound.org/people/Antimsounds/sounds/556049/ • Happy Birthday Music Box: https://freesound.org/people/marianna-emma/sounds/516080/ • Rowing: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/438846/ • Waves Breaking: https://freesound.org/people/VMan533/sounds/575894/ • Seagulls: https://freesound.org/people/plantmonkey/sounds/377107/ • Speed Boat: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/438283/ • Computer Keyboard: https://freesound.org/people/D4XX/sounds/567266/ • TV Laugher: https://freesound.org/people/Evil_Ear_Recordings/sounds/524775/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eighteen-year-old Hugo glanced up at the train station clock. It seemed time had stood still, with the minute hand barely moved since he'd last checked. He confirmed the time on his watch and then looked at the departure board, breathing a sigh of relief. His train was running on schedule. Moving On is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/moving-on Read A Dad and Son Road Trip: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/a-dad-and-son-road-trip Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Train Station Ambience/Announcements: https://freesound.org/people/peridactyloptrix/sounds/615660/ • Train Arrives: https://freesound.org/people/Yoyodaman234/sounds/341204/ • Dogs Barking: https://freesound.org/people/Mafon2/sounds/676407/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While sorting through storage boxes at home, I found an old notebook belonging to my son. It wasn't a school exercise book but something he'd jotted and doodled in as a twelve-year-old. Among its random pages was a short story he'd written in 2014 about a father who doesn't have "great ideas". Trigger warning: This episode mentions teenage self-harm and death. Lifeline Australia: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Finding Inspiration is a blog post from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the post on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/finding-inspiration Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Episode 60, Kurd Friends in the Mountains: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/kurd-friends-in-the-mountains/ Episode 69, Two Visits to the Berlin Wall - Part One: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/two-visits-to-the-berlin-wall-part-one/ Episode 70, Two Visits to the Berlin Wall - Part Two: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/two-visits-to-the-berlin-wall-part-two/ Episode 78, Taking a Bow: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/taking-a-bow/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Cardboard Boxes: https://freesound.org/people/RavenWolfProds/sounds/503661/ • Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/522119/ • Ship Horn: https://freesound.org/people/monotraum/sounds/208714/ • Metal File: https://freesound.org/people/14F_Panska_Dittrichova_Diana/sounds/420107/ • Footsteps City: https://freesound.org/people/Rico_Casazza/sounds/538949/ • Police Siren: https://freesound.org/people/conleec/sounds/159744/ • Metal Stairs: https://freesound.org/people/conleec/sounds/148462/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/ • Computer Keyboard: https://freesound.org/people/D4XX/sounds/567266/ • Baby Chuckling: https://freesound.org/people/jodybruchon/sounds/459458/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you ask me, the Moon is the best object in the night sky. And you don't need an expensive telescope to observe it. A pair of binoculars does the trick. I'm looking at the Moon now, leaning against a wall to steady my hands, and it's a beautiful sight. No wonder it inspires poets and lovers. The Lonely Moon is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/the-lonely-moon Listen to Some Things Change: Episode 79 – Perth, Western Australia, 1979: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-perth-1979/ Episode 80 – London, England, 1992: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-london-1992/ Episode 81 – Perth, Western Australia, 2023: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/some-things-change-perth-2023/ Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Owl Hoots: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/465697/ • Wind: https://freesound.org/people/mario1298/sounds/181248/ • Footsteps: https://freesound.org/people/Yuval/sounds/205817/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"In space no one can hear you scream. But what if you're deep in the backwoods, in an isolated cabin on a dead-end trail?" Karen set aside the book. A horror story was not ideal reading for the off-grid log cabin Peter had booked for their thirtieth wedding anniversary weekend, especially as she was alone in bed, listening to wind from a storm whistle through cracks in the doors and windows. A Knock at the Door is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-knock-at-the-door 2020 blog post about my first Furious Fiction, A Song on the Radio: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/furiousfiction-writers-centre-competition Episode 4 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-song-on-the-radio/ Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Door Knock: https://freesound.org/people/anagar/sounds/267931/ • Storm: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/ • Car Interior: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/ • Thunderclap: https://freesound.org/people/Dave%20Welsh/sounds/194364/ • Creaky Door: https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_7146007/sounds/383816/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"In space no one can hear you scream. But what if you're deep in the backwoods, in an isolated cabin on a dead-end trail?" Karen set aside the book. A horror story was not ideal reading for the off-grid log cabin Peter had booked for their thirtieth wedding anniversary weekend, especially as she was alone in bed, listening to wind from a storm whistle through cracks in the doors and windows. A Knock at the Door is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/a-knock-at-the-door 2020 blog post about my first Furious Fiction, A Song on the Radio: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/furiousfiction-writers-centre-competition Episode 4 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-song-on-the-radio/ Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Door Knock: https://freesound.org/people/anagar/sounds/267931/ • Storm: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/ • Car Interior: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/ • Thunderclap: https://freesound.org/people/Dave%20Welsh/sounds/194364/ • Creaky Door: https://freesound.org/people/deleted_user_7146007/sounds/383816/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm taking a short break from podcasting because I'm going on a long road trip with my son from Sydney to Western Australia to spend Xmas and New Year with our WA family. But as I did in 2022, I've put together a Kris Kringle collection featuring three episodes from the Tall And True Short Reads archive: Too Late, Lenny, Stuck in Time and Family Reflections. The Kris Kringle - Xmas 2023 stories first appeared on the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the stories on Tall And True: • Too Late, Lenny: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/too-late-lenny • Stuck in Time: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/stuck-in-time • Family Reflections: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/family-reflections Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Santa’s Sleigh Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/ Too Late, Lenny: • Cafe/Restaurant Ambience: https://freesound.org/people/lunchmoney/sounds/380200/ • Comedy Laughter: https://freesound.org/people/Evil_Ear_Recordings/sounds/524775/ • Hanging Up Phone: https://freesound.org/people/DrNI/sounds/164035/ • Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/FlashTrauma/sounds/398275/ Stuck in Time: • Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/Julien%20Matthey/sounds/457651/ Family Reflections: • Door Closing: https://freesound.org/people/soundmary/sounds/117614/ • Washing Face: https://freesound.org/people/lolux/sounds/181355/ • Hairdryer: https://freesound.org/people/ryanharding95/sounds/272446/ • Footsteps in Hall: https://freesound.org/people/Anthousai/sounds/398782/ • Toilet Flushing: https://freesound.org/people/lorenzgillner/sounds/274448/ • Tap Running: https://freesound.org/people/14G_Panska_Kaminkova_A/sounds/419990/ • Banging on Door: https://freesound.org/people/splatbot/sounds/337528/ • Kids Laughing: https://freesound.org/people/Iamgiorgio/sounds/371342/ • Drum Roll: https://freesound.org/people/bigjoedrummer/sounds/77305/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cassie lay perfectly still in bed, staring at the shadowy shape on the ceiling overhead. A bulky body and eight legs, a spider, but this wasn't Incy Wincy. It was a huntsman with long hairy legs, needle-sharp fangs, and a jump so powerful that if human, it could win gold at the pole vault without a pole. In Her Head is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/in-her-head Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Not Quite Write podcast: https://notquitewritepodcast.com/ Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Owl Hooting: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/465697/ • Morning Bird Song: https://freesound.org/people/ken788/sounds/386732/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cassie lay perfectly still in bed, staring at the shadowy shape on the ceiling overhead. A bulky body and eight legs, a spider, but this wasn't Incy Wincy. It was a huntsman with long hairy legs, needle-sharp fangs, and a jump so powerful that if human, it could win gold at the pole vault without a pole. In Her Head is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/in-her-head Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads Not Quite Write podcast: https://notquitewritepodcast.com/ Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM • Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Owl Hooting: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/465697/ • Morning Bird Song: https://freesound.org/people/ken788/sounds/386732/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.