StorySALOON

'Octopus' by Nic Low, read by Taofia Pelesasa

This week's short story is 'Octopus' by Nic Low, a writer of Ngāi Tahu Māori and European heritage. Based in Melbourne and New Zealand, Nic is the author of three acclaimed books, Arms Race, Uprising, and Little Doomsdays. 'Octopus' is set on New Zealand's South Island. It is about a rowdy road gang and an octopus, a story in which myth and reality energetically collide.
It is read by Taofia Pelesasa, Western Sydney creative practitioner of Tokelauan and Samoan heritage. Pelesasa has worked as an actor, writer and filmmaker in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Samoa. 
If you enjoy this episode, tune in to StorySALOON's 'In the Saloon with Nic Low and Taofia Pelesasa' for an in-depth conversation between these two fascinating creatives, hosted by Jane Messer. Releasing on April 29, 2025.
'Octopus' was first published in Griffith Review and then in Nic Low's short story collection Arms Race, Text Publishing, 2014.

"Tinder Date" by Monique Choy, read by Zoe Carides

This week's short story is "Tinder Date", written by Sydney fiction and travel writer Monique Choy. It's an inner city - rural love story. Set in a Marrickville bar. City Celia meets farmer Alistair. It’s hilarious and excruciating. How will the date go? 
Performed live by Zoe Carides at The Vanguard, Newtown. Zoe Carides' TV and film career includes Death in Brunswick, the Netflix TV drama Pieces of Her and thriller Interceptor, Top of The Lake, Rake, Pieces of Her, Brilliant Lies, and Mystery Road.
‘Tinder Date’ by Monique Choy was first published in Soak: UTS Writers' Anthology, Brio Books, 2023.

Introducing StorySALOON: Short Stories, Centre Stage

StorySALOON Podcast is your listen-anytime creative fix— contemporary short stories published in our best journals and anthologies, written by award-winning and emerging writers, then narrated on stage by Australia’s most talented actors at The Vanguard, Newtown.
Your host and Chief Saloonist is Jane Messer.