Kristina is an award-winning author and playwright with work spanning multiple disciplines as a writer and producer. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and recipient of the Queensland Theatre’s Young Playwrights Award, she has had the pleasure of working as an actor for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, the Artisan Collective and the ABC. In 2024 Kristina won the prestigious The Australian/Vogel's Award for her debut novel First Year.

She currently lives on unceded Yugambeh the Gold Coast with her husband and two children.

What's inside this episode?

• Kristina shares the moment she realised she needed to write the story her 17-year-old self had searched for but never found—a story that took the work of female artists seriously.
• She reveals the realities of drama school, the hard work behind the scenes, and her mission to showcase the richness of Australian theatre.
• After completing her manuscript, Kristina methodically reached out to agents and publishers, tailoring her submissions to each one’s requirements. She encountered many rejections—sometimes not hearing back at all, and sometimes receiving encouraging feedback that still ended in a “no.”
• Kristina emphasises that the editorial process is deeply collaborative. Editors provided thoughtful notes and suggestions, but always framed them as subjective—empowering her to make the final decisions.
• Life, family, and the ocean keep Kristina grounded—reminding us that creativity flourishes when we nurture fulfilment beyond writing.

Listen now if you need...

… a reminder that stereotypes oversimplify and diminish real experiences, and that these portrayals - such as those that depict creative schools through a lens of drama and competition, focusing on gossip, rivalry, and personal turmoil - miss the real depth, discipline, and artistry involved in creative work.

My favourite quote:

“Wherever you are at in your life, every moment you have lived has led you to this point… I had been falling in love with storytelling even in small ways for a long time, and all of those little moments led to finally sitting down and writing First Year.”

📖 What is the last book that Kristina read and loved? Day by Michael Cunningham

First Year by Kristina Ross is available to purchase wherever you buy your books. Alternatively, check in with your local library. If they don’t have a copy yet, put in a request!

Extra (important) information!

✨ You can find Kristina Ross (she/ her) at instagram.com/kketty

✨ Download 'The ultimate checklist to prepare, write and pitch your book' for FREE!

✨ Buy The Little Black Book of Publishing!

👋🏼 Until next time friend!