As a child I read insatiably, everything I could get my hands on. My Grandma had a fabulous shelf of old books from the 40s and 50s, and I remember gorgeous art deco illustrated fairytales and thick annuals from England, like Chatterbox, with strange stories about snow and boarding schools. When I’d worked my way through Enid Blyton, midway through primary school, I moved on to the grand dames of detective fiction – Christie, Marsh and Sayers. And then the horror masters, from Poe through Lovecraft and on to King.
Would you say your childhood and teenage reading has had a distinct influence on how you write fiction now, and why?
Definitely. I dabble in the dark side of the fiction spectrum – if a character doesn’t endure a ghastly death in one of my stories, they come very close. I’ve tried writing romance and inspirational pieces, but I’m wooden and unconvincing. Extremes of life – and death – are more interesting to me, as an author. By all means, live a happy life, married to the same partner for 53 years, raising 2.3 well-adjusted children and propagating miniature roses in retirement – but I’m not moved to write about you.
Pick one of your favourites among your fiction stories or a story which is an interesting example from your fiction. What makes this story one of your favourites or an interesting example of your fiction?
“Bunyip and the White Fella” is one of my earlier pieces, published in the Coolum Wave Writers’ 2009 anthology, ‘Coasters’. I wanted to write about culture clashes between Gubbi Gubbi people (the traditional land owners in our area, the Sunshine Coast) and the white missionaries. To get started, I took a notebook and pen and sat on the shores of Lake Weyba, where the story is set. Looking back, I still think ‘Bunyip’ has a strong sense of place.
Who is another author whose fiction writing you admire and why?
Roald Dahl – I’m talking about his short stories for adults, now, although I eagerly devoured his children’s stories, too. He was the master of the quirky twist at the end, and also had a deft hand with voice and characterization.
How would you summarise one of your short stories in one paragraph?
Bunyip, outcast from his tribe because of a medical condition, is living along on the shores of Lake Weyba when he encounters a missionary, lost in a storm. As Bunyip leads him back to his camp, the missionary recognizes the follies and flaws in his ethos. He returns to England.
How would you describe the appeal of this short story to readers?
The characters are strong, and contrast and complement one another in ways that I hope are interesting. As well, I think the setting – both physical place and in history – is intriguing, and I’m not aware of any other similar work. Hopefully, a reader would also find the ending satisfying.
How would you summarise a scene or sub-section from this short story in one paragraph?
Edwin, the missionary, becomes lost in the scrub, having run blindly from a thunderstorm. He is on his knees in the mud, praying for deliverance, when Bunyip appears. Because of the facial scarring and other deformities associated with Bunyip’s disease, as well as his black skin and lack of a suit, Edwin mistakes him for a demon and faints. When he comes to, Bunyip is rendering traditional first aid.
How would you describe the contribution this scene or sub-section makes to the short story?
It sets up the culture clash and highlights the difference in the two men’s characters. Edwin is very satisfied with his view of the world – and of Heaven and Hell – and his own position of moral and intellectual superiority. Despite his adherence to Scripture, he lacks any real compassion. His good works, indeed his whole mission to the ‘savages’ is motivated by ego rather than love. Bunyip, on the other hand, has had a hard life. Cursed with an illness that caused him pain and made him an outsider in his own tribe, he is then orphaned and shunned. Still, he can pity this strange, incompetent fella who shouts and lacks even the bushcraft of a baby.
Do you aspire to primarily write novels in the future, or are you more interested in writing short stories, and why?
Both. Novels are fabulous because of the detail possible, the depth and breadth of scope available to the writer. In a novel, you can really flesh out a character and then slice them open, display all their workings and secret places. But I have commitment issues and ideas for stories constantly churning through my mind. So short stories are a great quick writing fix. Also, they’re easier to get published! I have several short stories in anthologies, but my novel is still languishing in a slush pile.
Do you read many short story anthologies, and why?
Yes. It’s fascinating to analyse what other writers are doing, and how they do it. I’m loving Tobsha Lerner at the moment, lingering over her ‘Tremble’, and Angela Slatter’s ‘Girl With No Hands’ was also fabulous – always great to read a Brisbane writer made good.
What lengths of short stories do you usually write, and why?
Usually around competition length, 2 to 5,000 words. Although I surprised myself recently by limiting a few pieces to under 1,000 words for the Stringybark Press Flash Fiction Awards, and had two pieces highly commended and published in the anthology ‘Between Heaven and Hell’.
Do you submit for many short story competitions, anthologies and magazines, and what are your main motivations for this?
Probably not as many as I should, because I’m obsessive about polishing them prior to submission. But I’ve got some short pieces out there at the moment – fingers crossed! I’m not at all motivated by the prize money in comps. I enter to try and build up my bio, gather up some credibility points in the hope of one day interesting an agent and/or publisher. Also, I think the deadline pressure and public nature of it all helps foster discipline – fear of failure is a great motivator. There are some great comps that challenge you out of your comfortable rut, taunt you to venture into literary territory as yet unexplored.
Author website: http://www.madammorgana.wordpress.com
No comments:
Post a Comment