Summary: "Drawing on Dead Air was written specifically for The Writing Show's Halloween extravaganza. It is an experiment, put forward by the author, in which we can all take part as listeners. The author/narrator hopes that it will prove to be a fulfilling experience." Welcome to day 7 of the 7 days of Halloween 2006. Today Stephen Studach reads his short story "Drawing on Dead Air." After the reading, Stephen joins us for a talk about writing. Stephen Studach is a short story, novel, and screenplay writer based in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. He focuses on speculative fiction of a dark cast. Stephen has had works published in Australia, the UK, and the U.S., including a number of anthology appearances. His premier collection, Penumbra, was released in 1998; three of its stories have appeared on The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror recommended reading lists. In 2003 Paroxysm Press published his controversial novelette A Thing of Beauty as a chapbook. He was a finalist in the Australian Horror Writers Association's short story contest for 2006 with his tale "Rubber Monsters." Stephen is also a published poet, book and cinema reviewer, and editor. He was co-editor of The Australian Horror and Fantasy Magazine, Australia's first ongoing horror zine. He has qualifications in film production and direction. The idea of a radio show appeals to him because, in his own words, "I have a great head for radio. One day you might let me bring it in and show you it; floating there in its preservation jar. Pretty bubbles, pretty, pretty bubbles."
