*Shortlisted in the 2014 Tod Hunter Literary Award.* This is a short story about an Indigenous Australian art teacher, frustrated by bereavement and the loss of her heritage in an ever changing world. This is a modern, contemporary literary piece set in Perth, Western Australia,.A short story about an Indigenous Australian art teacher, frustrated by bereavement and the loss of her heritage in an ever changing world. This is a modern, contemporary literary piece set in Perth, Western Australia. The narrator explores inter-cultural issues and taboos, the financial exploitation of indigenous artists and the 'one style' only of Aboriginal art in the global marketplace. It also touches on indigenous and non-indigenous spiritually, In this story, the narrators feelings of anger and loss are healed through art and friendship. The characters are fictional.This story is written by a non-indigenous writer who does not wish to fall into the 'apartheid of literature' that is often, but not always, prevalent currently. At the same time, all attempts have been made to treat indigenous peoples in this story with respect and understanding of their social and historical issues and they have been acknowledged and and their assistance sought before publication.

It is the summer of 1978. Prosper is travelling alone through the remote Nullarbor Plain. As a young, female cadet-reporter for a small newspaper, The Perth Observer, she dreams of bigger things. She is searching for the 'elusive exclusive' that will help her career take off. Her dream is about to come true - an armoured alien creature, hell bent on sticking probes into her eyes...(AU English)It is the summer of 1976. Prosper is travelling alone through the remote Nullarbor Plain. As a young, female cadet-reporter for a small newspaper, The Perth Observer, she dreams of bigger things. She is searching for the 'elusive exclusive' that will help her career take off. Her dream is about to come true - an armoured alien creature, hell bent on sticking probes into her eyes, has attacked her in the desert. With her car in a ditch by the side of the road, a stranger lurking on the distance horizon and no way to contact the outside world, Prosper must battle the creature on her own. But will her ambition be enough to take it captive so she can make her 'exclusive' report?A short Australian Horror story by Australian author Wendy Beach. First published in the Dark Eclipse e-zine, Issue 35.'Incredible and hair-raisingly frightening... Even if I had not been familiar with the scenery, the illustrative paragraphs were absorbingly excellent… This was a succinct and beautiful description of outback Australia.' Lilian Gilmour, Australian Author.'This is an entertaining, rollicking yarn. It reminded me of those wonderful 'schlock horror' movies of the 1950s…it is very visual. Descriptive language is rich, but never overwhelming, and the twists are beautifully delivered.' Jo Taylor, Western Australian Author.'Terrifying…I won't be going to sleep tonight!' Sam Bernard, retired US newspaper editor.

'Amina' is a ten minute play script. A tragedy. Three characters (2m/1f). One or some of the characters are ghosts. The audience will not know who is alive, and who is not until the end. The piece is set in 1980s Lebanon, during the long civil war, in the basement of an apartment building that has collapsed due to bombing. Khalil says he has come from the future, in a near-death, drug induced sp'Amina' is a ten minute play script. A tragedy. Three characters (2m/1f). One or some of the characters are ghosts. The audience will not know who is alive, and who is not until the end. The piece is set in 1980s Lebanon, during the long civil war, in the basement of an apartment building that has collapsed due to bombing. Khalil says he has come from the future, in a near-death, drug induced spirit walk, to rescue his true love Amina, a ghost, from the loop she has been trapped in since her death. Amina is stuck in the basement of a bombed apartment building with her father Abu Walid. Abu Walid cannot see Khalil, or maybe he just doesn't want to admit that he can see Khalil. Abu Walid insists that Amina is going crazy from their situation and that she needs to be patient. Amina doesn't know who to believe. If she really is dead, then she wants to escape the loop, and to be with Khalil. Her father has always disagreed with Khalil being a suitor for his daughter. There are mummified cats coming to life, men with bazookas and rifles heading their way, and a Pharaoh's master craftsmen to deal with...things are quite surreal when you're dead!