The First Time

This week the hosts do not talk about Kate's waiting.  This does not get mentioned.  Instead, they discuss professional development.  Then Katherine talks to Melbourne-based author Rajith Savanadasa about documentary theatre, hot desks and the Hachette/QWC manuscript development program.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter o...

This time with everything! This week Kate and Katherine discuss mentors.  Kate sings the praises of both formal and informal mentors and Katherine laments a work mentorship that never got off the ground. Then Kate speaks to writer of historical fiction for children, teens and adults (and mentor!), Kelly Gardiner. They cover everything from pirates to residencies to 'golden hours'.  BYO notebook. C...

Katherine is confused about what to charge for a library gig. Also book clubs. As an author, do you go? Do you stay for dinner? And do you sign library books??? Then Kate speaks to award winning writer & critic, James Bradley, about how he copes with writing climate change, writing through broken books and depression, and his advice for those dreaming of a creative career.  Check out show note...

Katherine googles the most annoying questions you can ask authors and she and Kate go through each question, rating how irritating they find it.  One of the most contentious is money and sales…  No surprises there.  Then Katherine talks Bram Presser, author of The Book of Dirt about documentary fiction, hommus and Jewish punk rock. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirstt...

Katherine debriefs on how her hosting duties went (verdict: good, maybe not great?) and Kate checks in on her rejection tally so far this year and wonders what to do while waiting to hear back on submissions. Then Kate speaks to award winning children's author, editor and publisher, Davina Bell. They talk about how Kate went in her pitch (eek!), what publishers are looking for and the secret to be...

Katherine’s been invited to do an event with Graeme Simsion, which let’s face it is pretty awesome but what’s she meant to actually do? She gets advice from Kate, who is as luck would have it, a pretty awesome host.  Then the hosts chat to award winning romance author, Sarah Mayberry. They talk about writing romance, euphemisms and independent publishing.  Check out show notes for this episode on...

What do you do when you're happy for your writer friends, but also feel maybe a teeny tiny bit 'weird' about their success? In this episode, Kate and Katherine discuss jealousy, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and the little known, AMO (Actually Missing Out).  Then the hosts chat to award winning writer, speaker and appearance activist, Carly Findlay. They talk about memoir, activism and love triumphin...

Kate and Katherine are thrilled to be back in the studio and catching up over their summer reads (and listens) and their goals for the year as they embark on getting their second books out in the world. The S2 interview guest list kicks off with J.P Pomare, debut author of the hugely anticipated psychological thriller CALL ME EVIE. They talk getting a foot in the door, writing for the marker and h...

And just like that we've reached the end of Season One! Kate and Katherine get a bit emotional and reflect on the season and what they've learned. Then Kate speaks with Melbourne writer, Jamie Marina Lau, about her creative process, what honest writing feels like, and why representation is on her 'Why I Write' list. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com o...

So what happened with our brilliant side business ideas? Kate & Katherine discuss progress on making cash to fund the podcast, and ultimately decide on an entirely different approach. But is it all just another way to avoid writing their next books? Next, Kate speaks with Canberra writer & editor Irma Gold on writing for adults and children, her editing brain and how much of your heart is...

Kate and Katherine are still riding the publication high...  This week they discuss what happens that first week your book is in the world.  They cover everything from doing your first festival to visiting bookshops, going on TV and of course, working out what to wear.    Then, Katherine speaks with writing coach and counsellor Alison Manning about all the different emotions and neurosis writers c...

Finally, Katherine's launch of The Helpline! Kate remembers her own launch night and Katherine talks through her feels, her braids and why she went home early...(stay tuned for next week's episode, it involves A TELEVISION APPEARANCE!) Then, Kate speaks with award winning Melbourne writer, Mark Brandi on his own TV appearance, what it has to do with his literary career, and why sensory deprivation...

This week Kate and Katherine talk about how to make money. Katherine has some inspired ideas. Kate is not an entrepreneur. Together they try and make it work. Then Katherine speaks to Melbourne writer, Emily Brewin, about hard work, writing routines and THAT phone call. Check out the show notes on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod and...

In this episode Katherine and Kate talk feelings. Katherine looks at Goodreads and she's not happy. Will it feel like this forever? How do you ride the wave of post-release adrenaline? What does it feel like when everyone says nice things? And what if they say nothing at all? Then, in a super special double episode, Kate interviews writers Annabel Smith and Jane Rawson on, well, everything, really...

In this episode Katherine and Kate talk how we make money from writing. What is an advance? How do royalties work? Can you make a living? (We don't promise to definitively answer these questions, but we'll point you in the right direction.) Then Kate interviews Senior Editor at Text Publishing, Mandy Brett, on what goes on in the secret world of editing. How do you get a foot in the door? What is...

In this episode we talk about how we write. We cover routines (or lack thereof) and what's changed from first to second book. Then, Katherine speaks to 'triple threat' writer, editor and literary agent Danielle Binks, about Young Adult fiction and how she turned her love of books into a stellar career. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch...

In this episode Katherine and Kate chat about book covers. What they expected versus what they got, and how they dealt with that first box opening. Then, Katherine speaks with Canberra author, Karen Viggers, about combining writing with being a vet, the art of re-writing and how it feels to be a bestseller in France. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com...

In this episode Katherine and Kate talk book launches. How to have them, who to invite, what to say. And Katherine asks a big question...(and Kate maybe squeals a little in response). Then, Katherine speaks to bestselling Canberra author, Jack Heath, about his literary debut at seventeen and everything he's learned since then.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimep...

In this episode Katherine and Kate talk about the the stories behind their books and which bits of them are actually true. Are they really tales of accidental publication and rags (or sewage) to riches? Or did our hosts just start to believe their own spin? Then, in an interview that traverses motherhood, how to write a trilogy and why its important to make writer friends, Kate speaks to Penni Rus...

In this episode Katherine and Kate talk editing, how they did it, who helped and what they learnt. Then Katherine interviews best-selling author, Graeme Simsion about how he wrote his smash hit THE ROSIE PROJECT and what he's learnt along the way. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod and let us kn...

In this episode, Kate and Katherine discuss social media. Why it's scary, how they use it, what they could do better. And then, Kate speaks to the fabulous Toni Jordan about ideas on planes, why choosing a publisher is like dating and how she balances the creative and business sides of her writing career. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in to...

In this episode, Kate and Katherine discuss making promotional YouTube videos. Katherine asks Kate about hers and they check other authors to see who has the most views. It's a little awkward. In the main event, we speak to agent Jacinta di Mase about second chances, pitching to publishers and what agents bring to the table. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodc...

In this episode, Kate and Katherine discuss Author Talks. Katherine has to do one at the Word for Word festival at Geelong, but what is she even going to talk about? Then Kate speaks to author Melanie Cheng about writing her prize-winning debut collection of short stories, Australia Day, and how it came to be published. Mel also talks about how she prepares for speaking events, who helped her alon...

A quick word (and a wry laugh) from Kate and Katherine as they explain the need for an unexpected break in transmission. The First Time podcast will be back in September, bursting at the seams with fabulous guests and everything from behind the scenes as Katherine's book, The Helpline, heads out into the world. Get in touch at www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or follow along with us @thefirsttimepod on...

In our first full length episode, Katherine and Kate chat about how The First Time came to be. Then Kate speaks with writer Claire G. Coleman on writing her acclaimed debut, Terra Nullius, on an iPad while travelling around the country, who and what helped along the way, and how she deals with literary prizes. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get...