Hi, I'm Robert Fairhead. I love storytelling, whether it's reading books, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, or sharing my short stories, blog posts and other writing on the Tall And True writers' website, or narrating them for the Tall And True Short Reads podcast.
My book reviews, articles on dogs, and other writing have appeared in print and online media. And I have published several short story collections, a microfiction anthology, and a collection of speculative fiction. I've also written and narrated over 100 episodes for my storytelling podcast.
You can find my writing on Tall And True, and at the Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Kobo online bookstores. And you can listen to my podcast episodes on Tall And True Short Reads or your favourite podcasting app, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
I also post on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Mastodon. Please contact me for further details.
Featured Blog Posts
I've written stories for flash fiction competitions and challenges since 2020. Over the years, I've met and chatted with fellow writers and judges, but only online. So it was a double delight to attend the Not Quite Write Prize's Amanda Scotland's flash fiction workshop at Writing NSW and meet her in person.
The four of us went on a cheap surfing trip to Bali in our twenties. We rented a beach bungalow, hired clapped-out two-stroke bikes, haggled over tie-dyed singlets in the markets, and ate on the streets. It was a long time ago. But I've never forgotten the week I spent in bed, writhing with "Bali Belly".
A trip to springtime Japan clashed with the April 2026 Not Quite Write Prize. I've submitted a story for every flash fiction competition run by the Not Quite Write Podcast since July 2023. But I couldn't dedicate a weekend to writing a 500-word story while holidaying in Japan with my family. So I wrote a haiku.
I set off in my son's old HiAce van on a road trip to Uluṟu with my 14-year-old dog, Jet, in September 2025. We spent six days at Uluṟu's Ayers Rock Campground, Jet resting while I walked and rode a bike at Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa. Neither of us was keen on the long drive home in the van.
I read the news today. Oh boy, it's March 30th! You say it's your birthday. It's my birthday, too. How old? Well, when I was younger, so much younger than today, I sang along to the Beatles' "When I'm Sixty-Four" (trying not to sing out of key). But now I am sixty-four. And I need a little help from my friends.
The Nine Lives of Leo Roberts — Two: A Fast Car — Parts One to Three are interconnected short story vignettes I wrote and narrated specifically for Season Five of Tall And True Short Reads. I released Parts One and Two in November 2025 and Part Three in December.
Published Books
"For Alex and the Adaptive Generation, AI was a logical step in human evolution. It enhanced life, leaving them feeling less stressed and anxious. AI also offered hope for mitigating and adapting to the existential effects of climate change."
By definition, brevity is the key to good microfiction. There is no time for plot and character development, so every word must count. ~ Robert Fairhead
I hope readers enjoy the short story journeys in Twelve More Furious Months and make it home in time for dinner. ~ Robert Fairhead
I look forward to the Writer's Centre's monthly Furious Fiction competitions because I've become addicted to the escapism of writing short stories! ~ Robert Fairhead
This slim book is hard to put down. And the only regret we may feel after reading it is that we reached the end too quickly! ~ Denise O'Hagan
Tall And True showcases the writing — fiction, nonfiction, and reviews — of writer and podcaster Robert Fairhead. Guest Writers are also invited to share and showcase their writing on the website.
