My short story Trashtopia was published a few weeks ago in Jacaranda Journal 12.1 Scorched Earth. I was absolutely delighted to be accepted, especially to get something in print! Holding your words in a physical book always feels joyful.
The story Trashtopia was one of those that came to me all in a rush, with a triggering image at its centre. I had just read an article in New Scientist about energy islands (which might save the world) and one about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The question floated up: what would life be like living in a place like that?
In Trashtopia, Matilda is a woman living that life. On a vast trashberg collected around a former energy island, she lives in a floating shanty-town community of refugees, resigned to the circumstances that have brought her here. Then, one ordinary day, she must make a delivery to the far side of the trashberg. It’s a delivery run that will change everything…
Working with Jacaranda Journal’s editors
The process of working with Jacaranda Journal’s editors was a real highlight of being accepted for publication. I’ve never been through an edit process with an editor with a short story before, and I really appreciated the opportunity to fix the small niggly things. For example, the feedback showed that I hadn’t explained the setting well enough the first time around.
With a huge pool of submitted work to choose from, editors rarely have time to work with authors to perfect pieces anymore. It was extremely gratifying to get the feedback and be able to polish my piece after acceptance. I got helpful tips that I’ll be able to apply to other pieces going forward, too.
Launching Trashtopia by Jemma Pollari: readings, food and friends
The book was launched at the stylish Global Change Institute at The University of Queensland. My husband Jake and I made the drive down (thanks to my beautiful Mother-in-Law for babysitting!).
Thank you to my writing crew who came along in support! Shae (Instagram | Website), Josephine (Instagram | Website) and Elizabeth (Instagram) were there to share the launch night vibes.
Jacaranda Journal 12.1 Scorched Earth: from the publisher
Here’s the blurb about the book, to entice you further:
In the latest edition of Jacaranda Journal, discover outstanding works of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction from some of Australia’s brightest emerging writers and artists including Bethany Keats, Julia Twomey, Lara Kenny, Ronald Atilano, Dani Ringrose, A.R. Burrell, Aoife Hilton, Jemma Pollari, and many others.
Scorched Earth is a deliberate burning, a removal, a destruction. It is a lived experience. The aftermath of colonial expansion, the inheritance of extractive capitalism, and the consequence of disregarded cries for justice. It is the mother who cannot afford food. The protester scarred by rubber bullets. The refugee fleeing their war-torn home. The woman forced to exist only as an incubator. The forest blackened, the river poisoned, and the sky thickened by choking smoke. It is a survivor. It is an act. A response. A promise.
Edition 12.1 of Jacaranda Journal includes works of poetry, creative non-fiction, short fiction, and visual art from emerging and established writers from across Australia who responded to theme of Scorched Earth in their own unique ways. These exciting new works explore subjects as far ranging as bodily autonomy, climate grief, mysterious crime, human resilience, and unrelenting rage.
Featuring works from Bethany Keats, Julia Twomey, Lara Kenny, Jemma Pollari, Dave Clark, Burrell, A., Dani Ringrose, Saesha Ayyar, Aofie Hilton, Bodie Van Den Berg, and many more.
Jacaranda Journal 12.1 Scorched Earth: where to buy Trashtopia by Jemma Pollari
You can buy a copy of Jacaranda Journal 12.1 Scorched Earth, to read my delightful story Trashtopia, from a number of bookshops, including Avid Reader, and direct from Jacaranda Journal. I would love to hear your thoughts on the story!