An Empty Bottle is a collection of short stories that would otherwise have been consigned to the realm of forgotten things. Written over many years, many published around the world and others achieving awards in Australia, they cover aspects of life and living from humour, crime, and retribution, love and hate, children and the elderly-something for just about anyone. There is even a fairy story for adults in there. This is the third collection gleaned from a busy writing life, No Time for Pity and Standfast appearing a few years ago. Barbara believes that readers still enjoy short fiction, but it is not easy to find. For the busy person, the young mum, the city girl, the elderly, and those who just don't have a long attention span, the genre still offers a happy hour or so curled up with a book. Reading is one of life's true enjoyments, whether it is done with an old-fashioned collection of bound paper or one of the new electronic gadgets. Long may it last!