Part reality show, part writers' master class. A podcast about the first time you…publish a book.
It's the end of Season One. Wow. Katherine's debut The Helpline has gone from manuscript to a book on the shelf (and in readers hands!) and we've spoken to seventeen different guests across sixteen full length episodes with 10 500 listens and counting! So, we get emotional, and then, more seriously, we talk about the … Continue reading An ending & Jamie Marina Lau on creativity, honesty & representation.
This week, Katherine and Kate discuss what happens the week after your book comes out. Kate talks about her first festival gig in Byron Bay, where she spoke in front of a crowd of oh, about four hundred people and Katherine gives the low down on her television appearance (check out her three and a … Continue reading Publicity & Alison Manning on what goes on in writers’ heads.
Finally, Katherine's launch of The Helpline! Kate remembers her own launch felt like a wedding and Katherine talks through her feels, her braids and how she ended up eating Grill'd chips at the end of the night. We promised pics, so here's a few to show you what went down at Readings in Carlton. Then, … Continue reading The Launch & Mark Brandi on fate, crime & Reebok Pumps.
Uh oh. Katherine looked at Goodreads. Now she feels awful. (Although let's remember this episode was recorded BEFORE KATHERINE'S BOOK EVEN CAME OUT.) So we talk about feelings. Katherine asks Kate what feelings are normal before your book comes out and Kate replies, 'everything'. There is some groaning and sighing and also talk of Tibetan … Continue reading Feelings & Annabel Smith & Jane Rawson on firsts, festivals and asking for help.
In this episode we talk money. And let's be frank, we are not experts on how book money works. However, we do our best and we ARE candid about advances, royalties, rights, grants and our mutual adoration of libraries (and PLR payments!). Kate gives a nod to the amazing Honor Eastly and her Starving Artist podcast … Continue reading Money & Mandy Brett on editing, talent & tingly feelings.
In this episode we talk about how we write. Or, to be specific, how we wrote our first books, because as we explain, things have changed. Kate liked writing on trains, NaNoWriMo, writing retreats (Varuna, Bundanon and a regular one with our writing group) and admits to being a 'binge writer' (as per Cheryl Strayed). Katherine … Continue reading How we write & Danielle Binks on fan fic, #LoveOzYA & transferrable skills.
In this episode, the hosts talk covers. Kate did not want a lighthouse on hers! Oh dear. So what did she have in mind? Maybe Lucy Treloar’s Salt Creek or Charlotte Wood’s The Natural Way of Things. Speaking of floral covers! There’s a real thing about them… Katherine talks about The Helpline cover, and how when … Continue reading Book covers & Karen Viggers on French audiences, re-writes and grappling with the human condition.
In this episode, Kate and Katherine discuss planning your book launch. Kate likes book launches a lot. So much so, she had two! Katherine enjoyed Kate’s launch and can still quote lines from Kate’s speech, which is frightening impressive. Katherine also asks Kate a pretty big question. It feels like a wedding! It’s the nicest … Continue reading Book Launch Planning & Jack Heath on writing to impress girls, sequels and the best way to approach promotions.
This week we discuss the narratives we tell about how our books came to be. Kate worries that she made up a story of 'accidentally stumbling' into publication and talks about what she's doing differently this time around. Katherine is coming to a fast realisation how quickly the story gets ahead of you and she's … Continue reading Origin stories & Penni Russon on motherhood, optimism & the writing community.
This week the hosts discuss the editing process. Kate talks about having an editor on board early on, and Katherine says that The Helpline ‘clicked’ pretty late in the piece. The hosts reveal how many words got culled along the way, and which specific words they couldn’t stop using. Kate liked ‘little’ and Katherine had … Continue reading Editing & Graeme Simsion on readers, romance and not picking favourites.
