Tablo | State Library Victoria

Author Q&A with Carmel Bird – Thurs 14 Dec, 8pm AEDT

We'll be chatting with award-winning Australian author Carmel Bird on from 8pm AEDT on Thursday 14 December to celebrate a new award for digital short stories and the launch of Bird's new digital collection, The dead aviatrix: eight short stories.

Is there anything you'd like to know about writing short stories or publishing online? Don't miss this chance to put your questions to an experienced and talented writer. No need to wait until 14 December either – post them as they come to you.

If you'd like a bit of inspiration, have a read of some of Carmel's work:

Carmel Bird has written novels, short stories, essays and books on the art of writing, in addition to editing anthologies of essays and stories. She was awarded the Patrick White Award in 2016.

Me again: In ‘Surrogate’, I loved the families called the Spines and the Backbones that live next door to each other. The humour is a bright spot in a story that ends in tragedy. It also ends with a quote from the Grimm Brothers, ‘My tale is done and there runs a mouse and whoever catches it can make from it a big fur cap.’ I thought the quote added quite a sinister aura to the end of the story. Tell us more ...

Marorie, thank you for this question. I think the whole story has a sinister ring. Yes, there is humour, but I think the humour only sharpens the horror. The story was inspired by a controversy about a couple who apparently abandoned a surrogate baby they had paid for because the baby was disabled. So this is a story that showcases and examines a current issue. I have cast the narrative as a fairy story – and fairy stories often do exactly what this story does – they take an issue such as infertility and tell the story of Thumbelina. Or the idea of rape and tell the story of Red Riding Hood. Fairy stories are humorous and horrible – and it’s a fine balance.
As for the line about the mouse at the end – yes that’s how the storytellers of Germany in the nineteenth century often finished off a tale. I think it was just a kind of punctuation – instead of saying The End they had that little piece of interactive suggestion. The line is fun, but, as you say, also infused with threat. Catching and killing the mouse.

Marjorie, i had to ask Bronwyn to post my response to your question - something to do with my internet connection. Sorry. But they were my words, truly.