The First Time

This is a special episode brought to you in collaboration with the Apollo Bay Word Fest for their Warm Winter Words event. This interview with Michael Veitch is the final of three linked interviews, after conversations with Lucy Treloar and Michael Veitch. In this conversation, Kate and Michael talk tales of the high seas, interviewing wisdom, life in the Arts during a pandemic and his latest book...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with Lauren Draper and Susan White.   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

Ah, Melbourne, here we are again. We lament the lockdown but get peppy on how we are going to do it better second time around. Then Kate swoons over the opportunity to speak to OzLit royalty and one of her own literary idols, Kate Grenville. They discuss early rejection, the generosity of other writers, THAT discussion of historical fiction and her rules for editing. We know you'll understand that...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with McKinley Valentine and Angus Hervey.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with Gabriel Bergmoser and Damian Robb.   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod. The Conversations with Friends series is supported by the City of Melbourne COVID-19 Arts Grants. 

We can't believe we haven't devoted an entire chat to our experiences of motherhood and writing yet. But a listener emailed with a question about how to get writing done while in the motherhood trenches and so we couldn't hold off any longer. Fittingly, our conversation in this episode is with debut author, Anna Downes, who speaks frankly about her experience post partum and how writing her blockb...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with Alice Robinson and Meg Mundell.  We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram...

It's a podcast, where we talk about other podcasts!  So many great listening recommendations this episode.   Then Katherine talks to author Laura McPhee-Browne on short form fiction, covers and how the right bio can make a big difference.   We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until...

This episode of Conversations with Friends is with RWR McDonald and Katherine Kovacic. We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instag...

This episode we listen in on a real life writers group: Emily Gale, Nina Kenwood and Bronte Coates. We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twit...

We share some of the listening, reading and donating we've been doing to support the #blacklivesmatter movement, focussing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and activists. Then Kate talks to writer and literary critic Chris Flynn about creativity, criticism and why Liz Gilbert endorsed his new book, Mammoth. We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audi...

 This episode of Conversations with Friends is with YA author Poppy Nwosu and author of adult and children's fiction Sonya Bates.   We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodc...

This episode of Conversations with Friends with with authors Sally Piper and Shady Cosgrove.  We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or...

It's that time in the 'publication journey' where Kate has to start pitching some loosely book related articles to help with promo. She's determined to do it better this time around and asks Katherine for help. Then Kate talks to Brisbane writer and bookseller, Krissy Kneen about lust in the time of coronavirus, her different approaches in writing for screen and the page and why the Brisbane Liter...

In this episode of #Conversations with Friends, we listen in on authors Sean O'Beirne and Wayne Marshall.   We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch...

This week's a coming-out-of-lockdown catchup!  The hosts talk covers (THE MOTHER FAULT IS BEAUTIFUL!), Space Stations and what is Tik Tok?    Then Katherine talks to #ownvoices YA author Kay Kerr.  We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check o...

In this episode of #Conversations with Friends, we listen in on multi-award winning and best selling authors Sarah Schmidt and Favel Parrett. We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefir...

What's the best way to engage with your readers, once your book is out in the world? Are there rules? or just expectations? What are the best moments for authors, and for readers? We chat about how we'll approach chatting with readers this time around. Then Kate talks to award winning and best selling author, Dr Anita Heiss. We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of au...

This episode we listen in on award winning and bestselling author Jane Harper and her long time author and journalist friend Karina Kilmore.  Bring your notepad, there’s lots of practical tips in this one!     We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackl...

Batter up!  Let's talk pitching.  Katherine just pitched her novel (as yet unnamed, to be released next year) to TV and film producers as part of the Queensland Writers Centre’s Adaptable program .  How did it go? The hosts have tips for other people attempting this nerve racking exercise. Then Katherine talks to award winning and best selling author, Nick Earls. We know you'll understand that thi...

Old friends are the best kind of friends!  In this episode, we get to listen in on Lauren Chater and Sarah-Jane Burton as they discuss their long time friendship.  It's a story so good it could be made into a movie!   We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the od...

Katherine is flirting with the idea of setting her next book in the past and has a bunch of questions on research for Kate. How do you store your research notes, where do you even begin, how much can you play with the truth in your fiction?    Then Kate speaks with Mirandi Riwoe about her new book STONE SKY GOLD MOUNTAIN, how outrage fuels her, and what her writing routine looks like   We know you...

In this episode of #ConversationswithFriends writers Imbi Neeme and Emilie Collyer play the Pineapple game (not its real name).   We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcas...

The hosts are giving recommendations and there's one rule: nothing book-related.     Then Katherine speaks to Melissa Ferguson, author of The Shining Wall about science fiction and the challenges of writing the future.     We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us t...

In this episode of #ConversationswithFriends writers Shivaun Plozza and Wai Chim discuss writing across genres and age groups, and the role of the author as self marketer.     We know you'll understand that this episode has a different quality of audio than you are used to from us. Eventually we'll get back to studio sound, but until then forgive us the odd crackle!   Check out show notes for this...