Megan McGrath’s collection of short stories All Hands (Spineless Wonders 2019) was a runner-up in the 2019 Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award, a platform which is a great way of accessing current electronic stories that feature writers that are pushing their writing and achieving success in a digital platform.

McGrath’s stories cluster around central themes or motifs: the sea; surfing; houses – particularly renovations and rejuvenations; family; and a sense of belonging. My favourites from this collection are Tell Tale, All Hands (after the title), and The Beachcombers. For more information, go to www.shortaustralianstories.com.au