The First Time

Our main interview this episode is with writer and critic Kylie Maslen . We talk about what writing looks like from a disabled perspective, balancing being vulnerable with inflicting further trauma on yourself, and of course memes! Kylie's work has appeared in The Guardian, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Adelaide Review, Crikey and Junkee, among other outlets. In 2018 she was the recipient of the Ki...

In this episode, Katherine speaks to multi-award winning author Kim Scott about history, identity, culture and language, particularly of his ancestors the Noongar people. Kim Scott grew up on the south coast of Western Australia. As a descendant of those who first created human society along that edge of ocean, he is proud to be one among those who call themselves Noongar. His second novel, Benang...

In this episode Katherine has pressed send on her MG novel, Kate is visiting an abattoir, they both wax lyrical about Jane McGonigal and encourage you to get your submissions in for the National Cultural Policy . We are also asking YOU, our listeners, to let us know who you want to hear from in Season SIX next year!! This episode's featured book segment is brought to you by Penguin and we are talk...

This is Part Two of a conversation Kate has with Melbourne literary icon, Christos Tsiolkas. In this second part they discuss dealing with the success of The Slap, paying attention to the 'happy accident' in his writing process, moving from certainty to doubt and the writing of his most recent book. He also shares his best advice for writers, and for being good industry citizens. Christos Tsiolkas...

This is Part One of a two part conversation Kate has with Melbourne literary icon, Christos Tsiolkas. In this first part they discuss Christos's early passion for reading and cinema, the influence of his parents, how he worked his way through the 'unmapable' space towards being a novelist & how he dealt with failure. Christos Tsiolkas is a novelist, essayist, screenwriter and playwright. His f...

This episode Kate and Katherine are IN THE SAME ROOM, hiding out beachside, going to book parties and working on their next books. Amid their bookish activities they take time out to discuss dealing with cancelled book events, how Katherine is progressing with her creative dates and (Katherine's) rules for criticising books that have sold 5 million copies. Heaps of recommendations and a few giggle...

In this episode, Katherine speaks to Chloe Hooper about writing about difficult things, nuance and approaching non-fiction like it's a thriller.  Chloe Hooper is a novelist and non-fiction writer. Her first novel, A Child’s Book of True Crime , became a New York Times Notable Book, and was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. Her non-fiction, including The Tall Man and The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire ,...

This episode Kate and Katherine bask in their respective Fiji/Darwin holiday glows. Katherine is newly obsessed with Julia Cameron's The Artists Wa y and Kate is similarly late to the party with Stranger Things. There's a lot of great books in the world at the moment and it feels like they mention every single one :)  This episode's featured book segment is brought to you by Ultimo Press and we ar...

In this episode Kate speaks with best-selling Australian author, Liane Moriarty , in a wide ranging conversation about her career, writing process and dealing with Hollywood.  Liane Moriarty is the author of nine bestselling novels including Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers which have both been made into smash hit TV series and her most recent novel, Apples Never Fall . Check out show no...

In this episode Katherine talks with Michelle Law. Michelle Law is a writer and actor working across print, theatre, film and television. She wrote the smash-hit play Single Asian Female , which has sold out seasons in Australia and was staged in New Zealand in 2021 (check out the upcoming show in Adelaide Nov 2022 ). Michelle's screenwriting work includes the SBS show Homecoming Queens , which sh...

This episode Kate and Katherine catch up after WEEKS apart and discuss all the things including Katherine's Winter Solstice swim, grief-exhaustion, the Miles Franklin lit scandal, celeb memoirs and more. The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Ultimo Press and we talk to writer Pirooz Jafari about his debut novel Forty Nights . Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefir...

In this episode Katherine talks with Hazel Edwards . Hazel Edwards is an award-winning author of books for children and adults. Her beloved picture book series ' There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake ' has been hugely popular for almost forty years, inspiring a musical stage production and a short movie. Though that might be her best known work, Hazel has published over 220 books, across...

In this episode Kate talks with internationally bestselling Canadian author Michael Christie. They discuss writing his latest novel - the epic historical/spec fic novel Greenwood , living in the forest, and what he learned about writing via pro skateboarding and carpentry. The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Hardie Grant and Katherine talks to writer Jackie Bailey about her debut novel...

In this episode Katherine talks with internationally bestselling author Natasha Lester. They discuss historical fiction, what's involved in publishing a book a year and the role that luck (and Costco!) have played in Natasha's writing career. Natasha Lester is the internationally bestselling author of A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald, Her Mother's Secret, The Paris Seamstress , The French Photographer, T...

In this episode Katherine talks with award winning author and illustrator of more than 20 novels and picture books for children and young adults, Gabrielle Wang. They discuss rejection, how books can help fight racism and magical experiences in life.   Gabrielle Wang was born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. As a result, her books are a blend of both Australian and Chinese culture, with a touch o...

This episode Kate and Katherine talk about THAT review , transcripts ( check out this transcript of The First Time's Fiona Murphy episode ), plus what they’ve reading and watching. In a weird turn of events, Kate is the Kardashians latest fan!  The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Text Publishing and we talk to writer Akuch Kuol Anyieth about her memoir Unknown: A Refugee’s Story .   Che...

In this episode Kate talks with critically acclaimed Australian author Michelle de Kretser about her writing routine, taking risks, nourishing reading and why writing is a confidence trick. Michelle de Kretser was born in Sri Lanka and emigrated to Australia when she was fourteen. She is the author of seven novels and one work of non fiction. She has twice won the Miles Franklin award for her nove...

This episode Kate and Katherine talk covid (ugh, again), retreat/workshop envy and what they're reading / watching / listening to.    The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Harper Collins Australia and we talk to award winning writer and journalist Felicity McLean about her new book Red .   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via...

This episode Katherine talks with internationally best selling award winning author Andy Griffiths about writing for children, his long time collaboration with illustrator Terry Denton and what the perfect % of anarchy is within a story.  Andy Griffiths is one of Australia's best known children's authors. He and illustrator Terry Denton have collaborated on more than 33 bestselling books since the...

This episode Kate and Katherine catch up and talk about all the stuff, including Alice Walker's journals , Jennifer Egan's new novel The Candy House, Sentimental Garbage podcast (again) and The Writers Room podcast , (not the Charlotte Wood one [also excellent] the one that's about the writing of the TV series And Just Like That.)   The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Affirm Press and w...

This is a special live podcast, recorded at the Wheeler Centre in April 2022. Kate and Katherine interview fellow second time authors Yumna Kassab and Robert Lukins about the joys and anxieties inherent in the writing and publishing process. This event was presented as part of Mic Drops , a Wheeler Centre original series celebrating all things audible that brings together podcasting’s best and bri...

Kate speaks with literary critic, academic and research, Bernadette Brennan. Among many publications, Brennan has published an award winning literary biography of Helen Garner - A Writing Life: Helen Garner and Her Work -  and most recently Leaping Into Waterfalls: The Enigmatic Gillian Mears . They discuss research in literary archives, the ives of Garner and Mears, the state of literary criticis...

This episode Katherine sympathises with Kate about her covid cancellations and they talk the history of efficiency, books they are loving and an iso-worthy list of binge watching recommendations. The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Affirm Press and we talk to author Katherine Tamiko Arguile about new book Meshi: A personal history of Japanese food.     Check out show notes for this epis...

This episode we talk to writer of many things, Benjamin Law. Benjamin Law is the author of The Family Law, Gaysia, the Quarterly Essay: Moral Panic 101 and editor of Growing up Queer in Australia. He created and co-wrote three seasons of the award winning SBS TV series The Family Law and wrote the sold-out MTC play Torch the Place. He co-hosts Stop Everything! on the ABC’s Radio National and inter...

This episode Kate and Katherine talk wordle strategies, the paths of lost novels (nod to Jane Rawson) and correspondence between famous authors.    The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Ultimo Press and we talk to author Natasha Sholl about her grief memoir, 'Found, Wanting'.    Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@...