Skyglow

  To Stephen, who has been on that road with me forever.

  To Denni and Matthew, children who grew to be fine friends of mine and great company.

  My dad, Ian Thiele, who never was without a book or two on the go and a wonderful writer himself.

  My mum, Jan Thiele, who taught me that it’s all right to be strong.

  My sister, Dr Deborah Thiele, fearless always, and brother, Tony Thiele, man of the wilderness, who suffers my poor kayaking stroke all over Lake Pedder with minimal complaint.

  Long-standing friend Robyn Cosgrove, who grounds me still, and ‘second sister’ Trish Gray, who holds my hand and cheers me on.

  To the ladies of the Society of Women Writers WA Writing Circle who endured my late mail-outs and slow responses when I lived remotely. Yours were the first voices who led me here.

  The Wednesday Girls—past and present—for letting me sing along and share all the ups and downs, especially Dye, Barbara, Marie and Barbara.

  The Arts community at Edith Cowan University South West Campus, for discussion and discovery and a place to belong when I was adrift in a strange landscape.

  Jo O’Donnell for ‘A Room of One’s Own’ during my first Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival.

  My university writing group—tough as nails and tender with it—Rachelle, Leanne, Jane and Renee.

  Vahri McKenzie, a fierce intellect, who opened my eyes to the fact that flights of fancy need to also be grounded in great structure and grammar.

  Robyn Mundy, gifted writer and a teacher full of grace, with a rightful horror of exclamation marks.

  Donna Mazza, who has mentored and taught a diverse group of people through her work at ECU and found time in her crushing workload, and the pre-publication chaos of her own novel, to run this collection through its first round of edits.

  Camha Pham, an amazing editor, who predicted I would hate her at some stage but proved herself wrong. If these stories appear seamless, it is no thanks to me.

  Caroline Wood and all at Margaret River Press, for opportunity, patience and faith.

  And the community of Capel in the south west of Western Australia—you know who you are—who have done nothing but be supportive throughout.

  About the Author

  Leslie Thiele is a writer based in the south west of Western Australia. She has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature at Edith Cowan University’s regional campus in Bunbury and has gained recognition in various writing competitions, events and spoken performances, including the Margaret River Short Story Competition. Her short fiction centres around social change and her characters’ reactions to the world they live in. A keen student of human nature in all its manifestations, Leslie drops people into imagined situations and environments and waits to see what they will do.