Fiona Robertson lived with migraines for years, writing short stories as a creative pursuit. Now she's free from migraines and the award-winning author of the debut short story collection, If You're Happy. Her work explores the lives of lonely people seeking happiness in a turbulent world. 

She tells us about the common threads that bind her stories, why they're her chosen form, and how living with unpredictable chronic illness impacted her life and creative work. 

Fiona is a writer and doctor. Her short fiction has been published in literary magazines and anthologies in Australia and the UK, and has been shortlisted for international competitions. Her collection of stories, If You’re Happy, won the Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer at the 2020 Queensland Literary Awards. Fiona lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

Learn more about Fiona on her website, and buy a copy of 'If You're Happy' from your local bookshop, Booktopia or wherever else books are sold. 

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

• Louise Allan;
• The Keepers by Al Campbell, plus her Sydney Morning Herald article, 'The disappointing question I most often got after writing a book'; 
• Long Road to Dry River by Jen Severn;
• All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy;
• Child of God by Cormac McCarthy;
• Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy;
• David Vann;
• Denizen by James McKenzie Watson, out 19 July 2022! 

Get in touch!

• Ashley's website: ashleykalagianblunt.com
• Ashley's Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt
• Ashley's Instagram: @akalagianblunt
• James' website: jamesmckenziewatson.com
• James' Twitter: @JamesMcWatson
• James' Instagram: @jamesmcwatson