The 2016 Margaret River Short Story Competition anthology presents the finest emerging and established voices in Australian literature. These are stories to be felt, read and remembered. They cover births, deaths, and moments that define our hopes, fears and failures. They are stories that connect with a deeper sense of humanity. They are stories to be enjoyed at home, in bed, or on the train: wherever it’s possible to savour the quiet, loud, and unforgettable moments of life. ‘Over the years, the Margaret River Press short story collection has established a reputation for excellence. To appear in it in 2014 was exciting; to have the winning story in 2015 was an absolute thrill. There’s no prize quite like having appeared in such a beautifully produced book among such talented company.