Season Three: Episode 77 (8 August 2023)

My Dreams 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-dreams

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

Story Insight

I wrote My Dreams for the Australian Writers’ Centre’s Furious Fiction writing challenge in June 2023. The brief for the 500-word short story was:

• It had to begin in the MIDDLE of something
• And include the words LOCKET, POCKET, ROCKET and SOCKET (or longer variations retaining the original spelling).

I set my story in the middle of a dream. And although I’ve never dreamed of a rocket launch, I drew on some of my dreams for the story. For instance, at school in my pyjamas, on a bus in the buff, soaring like an eagle, playing guitar like a legend, forgetting my lines on-stage, and perhaps, once or twice, dreaming of an old girlfriend.

However, as with all my fiction, while I draw on elements of autofiction and a true sentence here and there, most of it is pure imagination. As I mentioned, I’ve never launched a rocket or made a TEDx speech. And my wife is still alive.

But I have dreamed of being visited by departed relatives and even a dear old dog. That doggy dream felt so real I could feel his coarse hair on my fingers when I reached down to pat him. And I found it comforting to touch and see him again.

I hope you enjoyed listening to My Dreams. You can read this and all my short stories and all my short stories, blog posts and other writing at TallAndTrue.com. You can also buy my short story collections from the Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Kobo online bookstores — links are available in the show notes.

The next episode of Tall And True Short Reads will be released shortly. In the meantime, check your feed or the podcast website for earlier episodes from Seasons One, Two and Three.

And follow or subscribe to the podcast and rate and review it via your favourite app — doing so helps me share my storytelling.

You can support this podcast financially by making a small one-off or regular donation via the Acast Supporter Page.

And finally, please tell your family and friends about Tall And True Short Reads and the Tall And True writers’ website.

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:

• Snoring: https://freesound.org/people/170134/sounds/407705/
• Rocket: https://freesound.org/people/LimitSnap_Creations/sounds/318688/
• Kids laughing: https://freesound.org/people/Ben%20Keaton/sounds/430815/
• Bus: https://freesound.org/people/13FPanska_Sychra_Petr/sounds/379373/
• Eagle: https://freesound.org/people/kaydinhamby/sounds/381200/
• Electric Guitar: https://freesound.org/people/alexnekita/sounds/333247/
• Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/
• Waves: https://freesound.org/people/floating%20tree/sounds/253607/
• Underwater: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/209459/
• Medical Beeps: https://freesound.org/people/iluminati_2705/sounds/536706/

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: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Season Three: Episode 75 (25 June 2023)

Past Demons 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/past-demons

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

Story Insight

I wrote Past Demons (originally titled Demons) for the Australian Writers’ Centre’s May 2023 Furious Fiction writing challenge. The brief for May’s 500-word short story was:

• It must include a character who is BEING CHASED or doing the CHASING
• The words BOIL, FRINGE and JUMP (or longer as long as they retain the original spelling)
• And at least THREE CREATIVE SIMILES.

The simile from my opening sentence, “a tongue so furry it felt like it needed waxing”, occurred to me first. And this set me on the path of writing a story about a man hoping for a fresh start, chased by his past alcoholic demons.

I had no problems finding places for the required words — did you hear them?

But the creative similes proved more difficult than I’d expected. And later, after reading the showcased stories and extra similies that stood out for the Furious Fiction judges, I realised I should have been more creative with mine. Although I was proud of “the bottle shop downstairs called to him like a siren song”.

I hope you enjoyed Past Demons.  You can read this and all my short stories, blog posts and other writing at TallAndTrue.com. You can also buy my short story collections from the Amazon Kindle and Kobo online bookstores.

The next episode of Tall And True Short Reads will be released shortly. In the meantime, check your feed or the podcast website for earlier episodes from Seasons One, Two and Three.

And follow or subscribe to the podcast and rate and review it via your favourite app — doing so helps me share my storytelling.

You can support this podcast financially by making a small one-off or regular donation via the Acast Supporter Page.

Finally, please do the podcast and me a big favour by telling your family and friends about Tall And True Short Reads and the Tall And True writers’ website.

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:

• Jackhammer: https://freesound.org/people/fauxpress/sounds/42097/
• Party Voices: https://freesound.org/people/Zac_Gist/sounds/457286/
• Bottles Chinking: https://freesound.org/people/jawbutch/sounds/344401/
• Glasses Chinking: https://freesound.org/people/13GPanska_Gorbusinova_Anna/sounds/377989/
• Kettle Whistling: https://freesound.org/people/keweldog/sounds/181718/
• Bottle Whistle: https://freesound.org/people/Anthousai/sounds/447746/
• Sipping Drink: https://freesound.org/people/Sheyvan/sounds/471078/

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: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Season Three: Episode 74 (7 June 2023)

Writing True Sentences 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/writing-true-sentences

Read the Judgement short story on Talll And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/judgement

Listen to Judgement on Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/judgement/

Read The Al-Rabie Hotel on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/the-al-rabie-hotel

Listen to The Al-Rabie Hotel on Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-al-rabie-hotel/

Read Signs of the Second Coming on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/microfiction/signs-of-the-second-coming

Listen to Signs of the Second Coming on Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/signs-of-the-second-coming/

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

Episode Insight

I shared the Writing True Sentences blog post on Tall and True in October 2021, a week after submitting my entry for that month’s Furious Fiction challenge, titled Judgement.

As often happens, my short story didn’t win or get short or long-listed for Furious Fiction. But I shared it later on Tall And True, and in March 2022, I narrated Judgement as Episode 48 of Tall And True Short Reads.

I also shared the other short stories mentioned in this blog post on Tall And True, The Al-Ra bie Hotel and Signs of the Second Coming. And I narrated them as Episodes 12 and 25, respectively, for Tall And True Short Reads. Links to these stories and podcast episodes are available in the show notes.

I hope you enjoyed this episode. You can read Writing True Sentences and all my short stories, blog posts and other writing at TallAndTrue.com. You can also buy my short story collections from the Amazon Kindle and Kobo online bookstores.

The next episode of Tall And True Short Reads will be released shortly. In the meantime, check your feed or the podcast website for earlier episodes from Seasons One, Two and Three.

And follow or subscribe to the podcast and rate and review it via your favourite app — doing so helps me share my storytelling.

You can support this podcast financially by making a small one-off or regular donation via the Acast Supporter Page.

Finally, please do the podcast a big favour and tell your family and friends about Tall And True Short Reads and the Tall And True writers’ website.

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:

• Judge’s Gavel: https://freesound.org/people/theneedle.tv/sounds/376667/
• Keyboard/Mouse Click: https://freesound.org/people/D4XX/sounds/567266/
• Guitar Strumming: https://freesound.org/people/Upright/sounds/131928/

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: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Season Three: Episode 73 (9 May 2023)

Family Reflections 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/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

Story Insight

I wrote Family Reflections (originally titled Morning Reflections) for the Australian Writers’ Centre’s April 2023 Furious Fiction writing challenge. The brief for April was:

• The 500-word short story had to have something that CHANGES COLOUR
• Include the words ACCEPT, POINT, RIDDLE, INKLING and LABEL (did you hear them?)
• And the story had to have an ENGAGING OPENING SENTENCE that would make readers want to read on.

My first idea was a dark piece on domestic violence, opening with a woman staring at her bruised face in a mirror. However, I decided I couldn’t tell that story, so I abandoned it. But I kept the mirror … and gave it the narrator’s voice.

I enjoyed exploring the possibilities of a bathroom mirror, *reflecting* on the family. As an older dad, I recognised its melancholy, recalling Tilly and Zane’s younger days and worry over the effects of ageing on Mum and Dad. And I’m sure the family and I are not alone in confiding confidences and concerns to our reflections with no inkling that the mirror may be listening to us.

April 2023 marked the third anniversary of my first Furious Fiction, A Song on the Radio  (Episode 4 of Tall And True Short Reads), written on the first weekend of the COVID lockdown in Australia in April 2020. And Family Reflections was my twenty-seventh short story submitted to the challenge.

And [drum roll, please], after three years, it was the first of my short stories showcased on the Writers’ Centre’s website (as Morning Reflections) — the perfect anniversary gift!

It was also one of my most time-squeezed stories, with weekend family and footy commitments meaning I could only fit in short bursts of writing. But three years of Furious Fiction gave me confidence in my process and ability to write and submit the story by the Sunday midnight deadline.

I hope you enjoyed Family Reflections. You can read this and all my short stories, blog posts and other writing at TallAndTrue.com. You can also buy my short story collections from the Amazon Kindle and Kobo online bookstores.

The next episode of Tall And True Short Reads will be released shortly. In the meantime, check your feed or the podcast website for earlier episodes from Seasons One, Two and Three, including a Song on the Radio.

And follow or subscribe to the podcast and rate and review it via your favourite app — doing so helps me share my storytelling.

You can support this podcast financially by making a small one-off or regular donation via the Acast Supporter Page.

Finally, please do this podcast a favour by telling your family and friends about Tall And True Short Reads and the Tall And True writers’ website.

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 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 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: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.