Tall And True Short Reads

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.