I may have been remiss in announcing the publication of my short story, “These Pale Shadows”, in Nosferatu Unbound last year. The anthology was edited by Steven Paulsen and Christopher Sequeira and published by IFWG Publishing in October 2024. I did speak about it on socials and we had a lovely launch at Collins Bookshop in the Bridge Mall here in Ballarat – complete with an author/editor Q&A and delicious homemade baked goods!

How could I have forgotten to note it here? Last year was A Year, is all I can say, with many battles fought on multiple fronts from deep in the quagmire of Novel Land.

And now “These Pale Shadows” has been shortlisted for an Aurealis Award in the Best Horror Short Story category which was a delightful surprise. I really love this story. It’s the only piece of short fiction I managed to find the space and time to write in the last couple of years and it’s a legitimate vampire tale to boot. Possibly the only one I’ve ever published. It also features Ghost, one of my rare recurring characters, who has a gift for finding lost things. She’s the protagonist of “Lost and Found” and “Sleeping Dogs” for those playing at home. I might have to find her a novel to call home some day . . .

Steven Paulsen ever so gently twisted my arm even when I told him I couldn’t possibly come up with an idea that would fit the brief, and I definitely wouldn’t have the time to write it even if I did. But then an idea came, insistent and niggling, and my character Ghost was a perfect fit, and I ended up with a couple of free days while away on a short break. Sometimes everything comes together and you have no excuses left not to write that damn vampire story.

I’m so very proud to have “These Pale Shadows” shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards especially in their 30th Anniversary year. It’s a stellar list of finalists as usual, but all my fingers are crossed!