Good historical fiction draws the reader into a world from the past, bringing to life events, characters and lessons that often ring true in the modern world. The connections you can make between the fictional and real world is what I love about reading great original historical stories.

In this issue of Backstory, we uncovered some absolute gems that have been a pleasure to work on and develop for your reading pleasure.

From Denise Ogilvie’s Bridge Shadows, the telling of an ordinary day until the West Gate Bridge collapsed into the Yarra River, to the memoir of Elisabeth Handscombe’s first day as a counsellor in On Consummation, this issue’s topics are wide and varied.

Proving the relationship between siblings is never easy comes Nik Shone’s Estranged, where two sisters may not be able to reform the bond they once had. While Marley Stuart’s post apocalyptic tale Indian Fevergives us a story of siblings who dearly love each other, but will life get in the way? While family proves to be most important in Goldie Alexander’s Ninety Seconds with a man going to great lengths to provide for his loved ones.

We are pleased to include an excerpt from Carol Major’s novel Pelagia’s Healing Therapies about two women’s struggle with losing their babies and the possibilities that may arise when one of them may get the chance to get her child back.

Savannah White’s point of view story I’m Hiding takes the reader into the mind of a child, reminding us that fear is felt by us all no matter our age. While in contrast the story of the night Mr Brown Goes Out beautifully told by Vashti Ferrar will crack even the coldest of hearts. Samantha Pena Roshier’s Born to the Wrong City takes a love story and turns it on its head, suggesting that love means something different to each of us.

Reece Pye has recreated the American cowboy in The Dead Have No Voice although while reading you wonder whether you’re infact in the middle of a seriously twisted thriller. Pye’s second contribution couldn’t be more different, as Neon Lure tells the story of a man navigating the seedy nightlife of Melbourne while also discovering something about his own life along the way.

An enormous thanks goes to all our hard working contributors and editors. What an issue we have created!

Marnie Reid, Senior Editor of Backstory.