AustLit logo

AustLit

person or book cover
Courtesy of Paddy O'Reilly.
Paddy O'Reilly Paddy O'Reilly i(A3183 works by) (a.k.a. Patricia O'Reilly; P. A. O'Reilly)
Born: Established: 1959 Melbourne, Victoria, ;
Gender: Female
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Works By

Preview all
1 y separately published work icon The Delivery Paddy O'Reilly , Canberra : ABC Radio National , 2020 19801367 2020 single work short story crime

'A desperate man borrows money from a bikie gang, with terrifying consequences. The bikies force him to make 'one' delivery for them — but will he every really be free?

'The Delivery by Paddy O'Reilly with Mark Coles Smith'.

Source: Radio National Fictions.

1 Unspeakable Paddy O'Reilly , 2018 single work short story
— Appears in: Best Summer Stories 2018; (p. 1-16)
1 Baggage Claim Paddy O'Reilly , 2018 single work short story
— Appears in: Overland , Winter no. 231 2018; (p. 58)
1 y separately published work icon It Happened Off the Leash Paddy O'Reilly , Melbourne : Affirm Press , 2016 9769676 2016 selected work short story

'It Happened off the Leash is a collection of embarrassing, heart-warming, life-changing and most of all funny stories of dog owners from all walks of life who are bound by their love of dogs and misbehaving mutts. From runaways to food thieves, and dangerous stunts to hilarious escapades, the stories in this book will make you laugh and appreciate your dog even more.' (Publication summary)

1 Rendering: the Autobiography of a Novel Paddy O'Reilly , 2016 single work prose
— Appears in: TEXT : Journal of Writing and Writing Courses , April vol. 20 no. 1 2016;
1 Monster Diary Paddy O'Reilly , 2016 single work short story
— Appears in: The Best Australian Stories 2016 2016; (p. 1-5)
'A monster is something too big or too small, too dark or too light, too much of one thing or not enough of another. It is ugly and its ugliness makes people turn away. A monster is unable to speak like us. A monster cannot fit comfortably into a chair. It thinks about flesh and eating and pain and misery and ecstasy. It cannot articulate these needs but must enact them. Sometimes the monster does not know it is a monster. It lurches towards you expecting you to open your arms and embrace its desires, its needs, its drive. ' (Introduction)
1 y separately published work icon It Happened in a Holden Paddy O'Reilly (editor), Melbourne : Affirm Press , 2015 9318241 2015 anthology short story biography autobiography

'The Holden rolled into our lives in 1948 and has been firmly rooted in the Australian psyche ever since. The FJ, the EH, the Torana, the Kingswood, the panel van, the Monaro, the ute – each car is like a tuning fork for eras of Australian family, city and bush life. Almost every Australian has a Holden story, and this book is packed with tales from all walks of Australian life. They are funny, brave, warm, sad and sometimes ridiculous.

Bruce Beresford • Jamie Whincup • Cate Kennedy • Father Bob Maguire • Kerry Greenwood • Shane Jacobson • Bev Brock • John Romeril • Anna Krien • Anson Cameron • Christine Nixon • Frankie J Holden • Tara June Winch • Peter Corris • Yassmin Abdel-Magied • Gary Poole • And many more.' (Publication summary)

1 y separately published work icon It Happened on a Fishing Trip Paddy O'Reilly (editor), Melbourne : Affirm Press , 2015 9318206 2015 anthology short story biography autobiography

'Fishing – we do it in ponds, creeks, great rivers, the deep sea. Some fall under the spell of the chase, some spend a lifetime trying to tie the perfect fly, some just like sitting on the pier for hours. These are tales of the fishing adventures and misadventures of amateurs and pros, one-time anglers, families and friends, in the stunning landscape of Australia.

'Stories, pictures and hilarious anecdotes from folk across the country, including fishing royalty Vicki Lear, Philip Weigall, Steve Starling and Greg French, writers Hilary McPhee, Krissy Kneen, Vicki Hastrich and Angela Pippos, and many more amateur enthusiasts.' (Publication summary)

1 Recreation Paddy O'Reilly , 2015 single work short story
— Appears in: Meanjin , vol. 74 no. 2 2015; (p. 194-197) Meanjin A-Z : Fiction 1980 to Now 2018; (p. 181-186)

'So the text message came at lunchtime and I went to the hole in the wall and got out cash. You don't know it's happening until the day. A text message arrives on your phone, giving you the location and the hour. They don't take credit cards yet but they're so organised I wouldn't be surprised to see one of them whip out a machine sometime soon. Thirty bucks to get in, minimum bet is twenty. There are blokes who lose a thousand a night. I take along a hundred bucks or so. I win, I lose, it's no big deal...'  (Introduction)

1 5 y separately published work icon Peripheral Vision Paddy O'Reilly , St Lucia : University of Queensland Press , 2015 8534537 2015 selected work short story

'A teenager on the tram meets an old man claiming to be Jesus Christ. Six young women band together on a night prowl. A Filipino immigrant clashes with his eldest sister, who has brought him to Australia for a better life. And in a future where dogs have risen up against their owners, a mother is alarmed by her adolescent daughter's behaviour.

'Through such diverse characters, Paddy O'Reilly takes us into the fringes of human nature – our hidden thoughts, our darker impulses and our unspoken tragedies. By turns elegiac and acerbic, but always acutely observed, Peripheral Vision confirms O'Reilly as one of our most inventive and insightful writers.' (Publication summary)

1 Story Wine Prize Paddy O'Reilly , 2014 single work essay
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 217 2014; (p. 60)

'The article offers information on the winners for the Story Wine Prize of the journal "Overland." Among the short story that won the prize include "That inward eye," by Leah Swann, as the first place, runner-ups "I thought maybe I could be a lounge singer," by Lauren Aimee Curtis, and "6 p.m. Saturday night," by Sally Breen.' (Publication summary)

1 Selected Shorts Debra Adelaide , Tony Birch , Carmel Bird , Georgia Blain , Maxine Beneba Clarke , Susan Midalia , Ryan O'Neill , Paddy O'Reilly , Chris Somerville , Maria Takolander , 2014 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , September no. 364 2014; (p. 52-50)

— Review of Heat and Light Ellen van Neerven , 2014 selected work short story ; Captives Angela Meyer , 2014 selected work short story ; Arms Race : And Other Stories Nicolas Low , 2014 selected work short story ; Las Vegas for Vegans A. S. Patrić , 2012 selected work short story ; An Elegant Young Man Luke Carman , 2013 selected work short story ; Tarcutta Wake Josephine Rowe , 2012 selected work short story
1 12 y separately published work icon The Wonders Paddy O'Reilly , Mulgrave : Affirm Press , 2014 7617609 2014 single work novel

'What sets them apart is the radical, experimental and sometimes faulty medical treatments they've all undergone. Leon has a hole punched through his chest and a small mechanical heart visible to all; Kathryn has been cured of a rare genetic disorder but the treatment left her covered in curly black wool; and performance artist Christos has metal wings implanted into his back.

'When 'The Wonders' are brought together by a canny entrepreneur, their glamorous, genre-defying, twenty first-century freak show becomes a global sensation. But what makes them objects of fascination also places them in danger. A wonderfully inventive novel that challenges our ideas about celebrity, disability and the value of life from one of Australia's finest authors at the peak of her powers.' (Publication summary)

1 The City Circle Paddy O'Reilly , 2014 single work short story
— Appears in: Griffith Review , no. 45 2014; (p. 69-75)
1 Stingers Paddy O'Reilly , 2014 single work
— Appears in: Review of Australian Fiction , vol. 10 no. 6 2014;
1 Friday Nights Paddy O'Reilly , 2012 single work short story
— Appears in: Review of Australian Fiction , vol. 4 no. 2 2012;
1 10 y separately published work icon The Fine Colour of Rust Paddy O'Reilly , London : Blue Door , 2012 Z1844909 2012 single work novel 'Single mother Loretta Boskovic may have fantasies about dumping her two kids in the orphanage and riding off on a Harley with her dream lover, but her reality is life in a dusty country town called Gunapan. A self-dubbed 'old scrag', Loretta's got a big heart and a strong sense of injustice. So, when Gunapan's primary school is threatened with closure, and there's a whiff of corruption wafting through the corridors of the local council, she stirs into action. She's short of money, influence and a fully functioning car, but she does have loyal friends who'll do whatever it takes to hold on to the scrap of world that is home' (Publisher blurb).
1 Procession Paddy O'Reilly , 2010 single work short story
— Appears in: Going Down Swinging , no. 30 2010; (p. 13-19)
1 The Salesman Paddy O'Reilly , 2010 single work short story
— Appears in: Griffith Review , Spring no. 29 2010; (p. 246-259) The Best Australian Stories 2010 2010; (p. 35-47)
1 The Ninth Life Paddy O'Reilly , 2009 single work autobiography
— Appears in: Grandma Magic : True Stories by and about Grandmothers 2009; (p. 165-180)
X