Other Works by Lesley Synge
Anthologies
The poetic short story ‘Sanctuary’ was selected for Newcastle Short Story Award 2024, the latest of Lesley’s short works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry to find a home in an Australian anthology. (See also online ones, like in Class published by Meuse Press.) Some short works have turned into stage or dance performances, or broadcast on ABC Radio National. “I never set out to write in so many genres! I fell in love with the short story form first. To create one was the most perfect thing - like learning how to cut a diamond. Memoir and non-fiction were the next temptations. Then poetry. And who could resist cross-genre works, like prose poems? Or a punchy book review? Let a hundred flowers bloom.” - Lesley Synge
Short Fiction
Lesley’s short stories have appeared in Cleo, English in Australia, Hecate, Idiom 23, Imago, LiNQ, Transnational Literature among others. Free samples are available for download.
Short Non-Fiction
Non-fiction works have appeared in Australian Women’s Book Review, Communion, Dharma Vision, Griffith Review, Hecate, Journal of Oral History, Mangrove, Plumwood Mountain, Queensland History Journal, Q Weekend, Queensland Review, Social Alternatives, The Island Review, Transnational Literature, Writing Queensland among others.
Reviewing
To spread the word about new books and help cultivate a community of readers and writers, Lesley takes time out to review. She’s notched up around 60 now! (See Australian Women’s Book Review, Courier-Mail, Imago, Queensland Journal of Labour History, Transnational Literature). The latest is Daniel Browning’s Close to the Subject in the online magazine Pineapple in 2025.
“To yell out Cooee is the Australian way to attract attention in the bush, learnt from First Nations people. There are advertising people paid to churn out marketing, and there are reviewers who are ideally objective, considered and wise.” (Coo-eee drawing by Donald Greenfield.) - Lesley Synge
Poetry
“Work, my fourth collection of poetry, is hot off the press, and I’m reminded of the valuable role that editors of journals and anthologies play. They validate the worth of a new poem and build a community of writers, readers and ideas.” - Lesley Synge
Buddhist Works
“Greed, hatred and ignorance are all-too human qualities. In Buddhist philosophy I’ve found the nurturing and discipline I’ve needed; it’s been my privilege to help a number of my teachers in return.” - Lesley Synge