An Alien in an Alien Land

By Wendy Beach

It is the summer of 1976. Prosper is travelling alone through the remote Nullarbor Plain. As a young, female cadet-reporter for a small newspaper, The Perth Observer, she dreams of bigger things. She is searching for the 'elusive exclusive' that will help her career take off. Her dream is about to come true - an armoured alien creature, hell bent on sticking probes into her eyes, has attacked her in the desert. With her car in a ditch by the side of the road, a stranger lurking on the distance horizon and no way to contact the outside world, Prosper must battle the creature on her own. But will her ambition be enough to take it captive so she can make her 'exclusive' report?

A short Australian Horror story by Australian author Wendy Beach. First published in the Dark Eclipse e-zine, Issue 35.

'Incredible and hair-raisingly frightening... Even if I had not been familiar with the scenery, the illustrative paragraphs were absorbingly excellent... This was a succinct and beautiful description of outback Australia.' Lilian Gilmour, Australian Author.

'This is an entertaining, rollicking yarn. It reminded me of those wonderful 'schlock horror' movies of the 1950s...it is very visual. Descriptive language is rich, but never overwhelming, and the twists are beautifully delivered.' Jo Taylor, Western Australian Author.

'Terrifying...I won't be going to sleep tonight!' Sam Bernard, retired US newspaper editor.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wendy Beach
• Release date: Sep 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311935731

Wendy Beach

Wendy Beach lives in Perth, Western Australia. She studied writing at Edith Cowan Uni and continues her Post Grad Studies at Curtin University. Her poetry has been published in the Westerly, Creatrix, Uneven Floor, and also various Anthologies. Her works have won and placed in the Talus Prize (2014, 2015, 2016) and she was shortlisted in the William Todhunter Literary Award. She has also co-authored the published children's book, 'The Belmonsters' (2016). In her spare time, Wendy works in both education and freelances as a marketing content writer. For fun, she goes camping, attends literary and art functions, and tends her organic vegetable patch. She also enjoys painting impressionist landscapes and attending poetry events.2022:Co-organiser The 1st Annual Poets Picnic (2022), Kaarta Koomba (King’s Park)Co-editor of Fifty Words for Sand – A History of Live Poetry in Western Australia 1829-2021 by Mar BucknellOrganiser of Poetry on the 998 Circle Route Poetry Workshop2021:- In addition to Barnes and Noble, my written work is now available through Apple and Scribd.- Currently working on another novel2020:- Guest Poet, Woman Scream, International Women's Day Event (PPC - Perth) [Stars, See YouTuesday]- Two Sacs, published in Creatrix 3 Anthology- Sunflowers is commended in the Maureen Freer (FAWQ) Literary Competition 2020, and subsequently was published in SCOPE Magazine and on the FAWQ Website.2019:- A Gutted Fish, published in the Ros Spencer Poetry Anthology.- The Belmonsters story book, co-authored/illustrated, won the National Local Government Awards for Arts and Animates.2018:- A short poem exhibited in Skyline's visual poetry presentation (Coral Carter) on the big screen in Perth City.- Feature Poet, A Woman Scream, International Women's Day event.2017:- Sea Widow's Sonnet published in the Creatrix Anthology 2 (paperback)- How to be a poet (poem) published in Creatrix #38 I.M. of Caroline Sambridge.- Three untitled ekphrastic poems published in the Creative Connections Anthology 2017 (paperback)- Two poems, Pedestal and The Peacock, published in Creatrix #37- Designed the poster for WAPI's Poetry on a Plate event- Women of disharmony (poem) published online at The Uneven Floor- Featured poet at the Perth Poetry Club- Featured poet at the Vic Park Arts Centre, Sonnet no Soup event- Organised funding and assisted with WAPI's Vic Park Slam (funding, poster design, photography and blogging)- Organised the Poets in Harmony event, Harmony Day with WAPI and the City of Belmont (photography, blogging, stall running)2016:- Sonnet For A Native Girl, 1974, published in the WA Shakespeare Club Anthology as part of the Shakespeare 400 global event.- Sea Widow's Sonnet published in the Creatrix Poetry & Haiku Journal #35- Sea Widow's Sonnet displayed as a poster in building 5 at Edith Cowan University and reproduced in the Writing section of the Graduate Show catalogue.- The Adventures of the Belmonsters, a Community Children's Book (Co-operative authorship) focusing on Belmont History and Monsters published in November (Softcover)- Became the Submissions Manager for the Creatrix Poetry & Haiku Journal (2016 ongoing), Committee Member for WA Poets Inc. (Sept 2016 to September 2018).- Sea Widow's Sonnet Highly Commended (second place) in the Talus Literary Prize in October- Lessons in Enjambment published The Westerly Literary Magazine (online New Creative Edition)- The Witch Who Ate Autumn, novel completed (in editing process)- Pelican Smile has been picked up by Barnes and Noble online in eBook format.- An Alien in an Alien Land has been picked up by Collins Booksellers (Australia) in eBook format2015:- Completed the novel;The Night Jasmine (unpublished; Commended in the T.A.G. Hungerford Award, 2016)- Sonnet For A Native Girl, 1974, Commended in the ECU Talus Prize for the Poem- Lessons in Enjambment (poem) showcased at the ECU graduation ceremony2014:- An Alien in an Alien Land (short story - horror) published in issue 35 of Dark Eclipse eZine- Pelican Smile (short story) published on Smashwords and is translated into Russian- The Visitor, Winner of the ECU Talus Prize for best short story (literary)- The Visitor (short story) is translated into Russian- Brushstrokes (long, Australian story), Shortlisted in the William Todhunter Literary Award- Suggested to the Ruth Faulkner Library to open a community writing group - established in 2015 (current)

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