The First Time

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 she co-created, co-wrote and stars in. Michelle contributes to Australian publications and anthologies. She has been awarded a Queensland Premier's Young Publishers and Writers Award, and two Australian Writers Guild awards.

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).

Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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 a wide of subjects and genres including easy reading books for newly independent readers, her memoir Not Just a Piece of Cake, non-fiction including Authorpreneurship (on the business of creativity), Writing a Non-Boring Family History and Non-Boring Travel Writing, plus multiple collaborations.

The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Scribe and Katherine talks to Kate Ryan about her debut novel The Golden Book.

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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 The Eulogy.

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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, The Paris Secret and The Riviera House, and a former marketing executive for L'Oreal. Her novels have been translated into many different languages and are published all around the world.

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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 of fantasy. Her latest book is Zadie Ma and the Dog who Chased the Moon. She also wrote A Ghost in my Suitcase and Ting Ting the Ghost Hunter and (highly recommend!!) and also Poppy and Pearlie from the Our Australian Girl Series. In March 2022 Gabrielle was named the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022 and 2023. 

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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.  
Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).

Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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 novels Questions of Travel and The Life to Come and her other novels, including The Lost Dog have been won and been nominated for many awards. De kretser wrote On Shirely Hazzard for Black Inc’s Writers on Writing series in 2019. Her latest novel is Scary Monsters.

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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 Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).

Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

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 their first title, Just Tricking, was published in 1997. In Australia, Andy and Terry’s books have sold over 10 million copies, won 80 children’s choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015.

Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod).
Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!