Short Fiction and True Stories by Liezl Shnookal

Lavish dinner party guests ignore a burning planet outside the window in this climate crisis short story.

Fiddling While Rome Burns

A sharp, powerful story confronting the human cost of climate change and political denial.

In a local community where politics is theatre and audience participation a sport, a bloodstain produces prime-time entertainment.

Local Reality Show

A murder mystery parody where local politics takes a bloody turn — straight to prime-time TV.

Two people sitting outdoors, backs facing.

Sitting Beside Bushfire Survivors

A moving, first-hand account of grief, survival, and connection after Black Saturday, Australia’s deadliest bushfire.

Waves gently washing onto sandy beach.

The Tide Turns

A darkly funny satire of consumer culture and a future generation consumed by itself.

Elderly woman playfully holding pears by ears.

Betty’s Last Battle

A bold and unflinching story about choice, dignity, and control at the end of life.

Child looking through a wooden fence.

Lost and Found

A foster child, a stray dog, and a woman who discovers family in the most unexpected way.

Person sleeping peacefully under white blankets.

The Elephant in the Room

A poignant tale of denial and silence in the face of death.

Person holding two white flowers forward.

Hope Springs Eternal

The pursuit of love — and the ridiculous persistence of hope.

Smiling couple with dog on the beach.

The Shnookals at Shoreham

An evocative glimpse into the Shnookal family’s rich history in Shoreham, Westernport Bay.

Family walking towards airplane on tarmac.

A Moroccan Travel Nightmare

One woman’s chaotic, true-life tale of travel gone terribly wrong.

Shirtless man on beach under blue sky.

Fireflies in the Darkness

A deeply personal love story, a touch of mystery, and one perfect, unforgettable day.