This is a special episode brought to you in collaboration with the Apollo Bay Word Fest and their Warm Winter Words event that usually takes place in the Mechanics Hall at Apollo Bay on a Sunday afternoon in July surrounded by the bookish community. We encourage listeners to sit back and enjoy these interviews as … Continue reading Warm Winter Words #1: Tony Birch
Oh, Melbourne, here we are again in Lockdown 2.0. We try and look on the bright side and discuss what we enjoyed about our first lockdown and what, if anything we're going to do differently second time around. Kate is heading into The Word Cave with Sarah Sentilles this coming week in an attempt to … Continue reading Lockdown 2.0 & Kate Grenville on rejection, generosity & rules for editing
We received am email from listener Elizabeth Passmore asking us how to find time to write while in the trenches of early motherhood. Some things we mention you might like to check out: The Motherhood ed Jamila RivziMotherhood and Creativity ed Rachel PowerRufi Thorpe's essay Mother, Writer, Monster, Maid Then we speak to debut author, … Continue reading Motherhood & Anna Downes on anxiety, agent-hunting & international auctions
As the world focusses on the #Blacklivesmatter movement and here in Australia we are reminded, again, of our terrible legacy of Black deaths in custody - we are sharing some books, resources and news sources from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and activists that you can explore if you haven't already. This is a … Continue reading #dothework & Chris Flynn on speaking with mammoths, criticism & famous friends
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. They chat about some excellent recent examples including this one from Mcsweeneys and the excellent Debut in the Age … Continue reading Pitching essays & Kris Kneen on literary mafia, online events & erotica
How do you engage with readers? What's the etiquette when replying to messages and tags on social media? Do famous authors really reply to all their fan mail? And what are the most memorable messages authors have received from readers? We discuss what works and what feels weird and Kate outlines her (very short) plan … Continue reading Reader engagement & Anita Heiss on storytelling, schedules & social media
This week we talk research. Katherine's entertaining the idea of setting her next book in the past and Kate is frothing with excitement at the thought. They talk about research styles, pitfalls, procrastination holes and why the process is different for each book. They mention: Toni Jordan's research process (we interviewed her way back in … Continue reading Research & Mirandi Riwoe on plotting, outrage and writing historical fiction
Who even knows what week of #socialisolation it is, but we check in and see what's working and what's not. We chat about all the incredible ways authors have been taking their work online including but definitely not limited to: online launches and events including Zoom events with Avid Reader and Facebook launches like that … Continue reading Authors online & Sarah Bailey on routines, fast drafts & plotting crimes
We are thrilled to present the very first episode of our Conversations with Friends series. An idea we've had for awhile, brought forward to combat some of the difficulties our entire book + publishing industry is facing during this pandemic crisis. This episode features two Melbourne writers: Thuy On and Nick Gadd talking about their … Continue reading Conversations with Friends #1: Thuy On & Nick Gadd
How to write, right now? Kate and Katherine take two different approaches at this moment, which may of course change! Katherine is taking solace from a delightful listener email and an anecdote about Eleanor Dark, who apparently didn't write for the entire duration of WWII. So give yourself permission NOT to write at this time. … Continue reading How to write, now & Alice Robinson on writing the anthropocene, motherhood & finding joy
The First Time podcast 