A Collection That Feels Real and Unexpected
“Read My Shorts: A Collection of Short Fiction” by Pete Mitchell is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It invites you in, story by story, until you’re completely absorbed. Winner of the 2025 Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival Flash Fiction Competition, Pete delivers a collection filled with heart, humor, and a keen sense of observation.
His new book captures what it feels like to be human in all its messy glory. There’s a timid accountant who finds unexpected romance at a heavy metal concert. A group of friends sits around pondering the smallness of their world and the bigness of their dreams. In another tale, a future society tries to live without plastics, and the result is both tragic and hopeful. Each piece is compact but layered, offering an emotional punch in just a few pages.
Pete’s gift lies in how easily he captures the quirks of ordinary life. His stories might make you laugh, cringe, or feel that subtle sting of recognition that comes from seeing your own reflection in a fictional world.
A Sharp Eye for Humanity
What stands out most in “Read My Shorts” is the honesty. Pete writes with the kind of wit and compassion that makes readers feel at home, even when the story settings are far from familiar. His words flow naturally, allowing emotion and meaning to build with quiet strength.
You can tell he’s a writer who listens. He listens to how people talk, how they hesitate before saying what they mean, how they cover pain with a joke or a shrug. That attention to rhythm and nuance gives his work authenticity. The humor often lands because it’s true, and the heartbreak cuts deeper for the same reason.
Every story feels complete on its own but contributes to a larger tapestry of human experience. There’s no attempt to tidy up loose ends or offer easy answers. Pete trusts his readers to fill in the gaps, to imagine what happens after the final sentence. It’s this respect for the reader that makes “Read My Shorts” such an engaging experience.
The Man Behind the Stories
Based in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia, Pete brings his surroundings into his storytelling in a way that feels both personal and universal. The red dirt roads, the coastal winds, and the laid-back Aussie humor all pulse through his writing. His stories often explore moral gray areas, the pull between the land’s raw beauty and the complexity of its people.
Before becoming a full-time writer, Pete spent years in science, managing Western Australia’s largest forensic laboratory. It’s an unusual path to fiction, but it explains a lot about his storytelling style. He notices details others might overlook, analyzing human behavior with the precision of a scientist but the heart of an artist. His earlier experiences—whether knocking on doors in sales, working retail, or even tending to chickens—taught him how people tick. That wide-ranging background adds depth to his fictional worlds.
He’s also an active member of Writing WA and The Writers Collective, and his stories have appeared in The Weekend Australian Magazine and Ultramarine Literary Review. His reputation as a thoughtful, unpretentious writer continues to grow, and it’s easy to see why.
A Book Worth Talking About
At 203 pages, “Read My Shorts” is a perfect blend of accessibility and depth. Each story is short enough to read in one sitting but strong enough to linger in your mind for days. There’s a sense of curiosity that ties the collection together. Pete explores what drives people—their longings, fears, and fragile hopes.
Published in October 2025, the book has already found a place among readers who crave something more than escapism. It’s a reminder that fiction can still hold up a mirror to life in ways that make us think, smile, or question our choices. The stories are funny without being cynical, emotional without being sentimental.
Available on Kindle, paperback, and Goodreads, “Read My Shorts” proves that short fiction is far from small. It’s storytelling in its purest form—quick, sharp, and filled with meaning.
Pete Mitchell’s collection celebrates the absurd beauty of being human. Whether you’re a lifelong fiction lover or someone who just enjoys a good story with a twist, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. Pete has managed to capture something rare: the ability to make readers feel seen, entertained, and quietly changed—all within a few short pages.
We had the privilege of interviewing the author. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Hi, thank you so much for joining us today! Please share your journey of becoming an author.
After a long career in science, including managing Western Australia’s largest forensic science laboratory, I’ve turned my focus to writing fiction. It’s been an exciting shift from analysing evidence to exploring imagination. Previous roles in door-to-door sales, retail and even chicken farming have provided a unique perspective.
What inspired you to write?
I first became interested in writing after helping a friend with his book. That experience lit a spark that eventually led to the successful debut of my first novel, Darwin’s Wake, published in 2022. My new collection, Read My Shorts, brings together some of my best short fiction written since then. I have since had my writing featured in The Weekend Australian Magazine, Ultramarine Literary Review and have taken off the Margaret River Writers Festival Prize for Short Fiction.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Persistence and continuous learning have been essential, as well as surrounding myself with talented writers from all genres. And, of course, being a lifelong reader certainly helps.
What is your take on reading?
Reading takes you to other worlds and offers new perspectives. I always encourage people to read widely, passionately, and with an open heart. One of my favourite quotes sums it up beautifully:
“A man that doesn’t read lives only one life. A man that reads lives many.”
Where can readers learn more about you?
More about my work can be found on my website at petemitchell.com.au
Thank you so much, Pete, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!