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!

Alexandra writes mostly cosy fantasy, although she also dabbles in contemporary romance. She lives and works on unceded Bunurong land in Melbourne with her tennis-ball obsessed Labrador, Captain.

Before turning her hand to writing, previous roles included stablehand, clown, HR assistant, flower buyer, procurement manager, cleaner and human-centred designer, which is her current day job. She might have included footballer on that list if the AFLW had arrived three decades earlier; and if she had any ability.

She likes trains, books, dogs and cups of tea. Her favourite colour is green.

What's inside this episode?

• Alexandra didn’t set out to write cosy fantasy but discovered the genre fit the “fun, nice, beautiful stuff” with small, magical touches she was writing.
• She is a self-described pantser, finding joy in not knowing where the story will go and letting the narrative unfold itself.
• Alexandra reveals how her love for the Australian bush adds a distinctive layer of magic and authenticity to her novel, setting it apart from traditional fantasy worlds and resonating with readers who rarely see Australian settings in the genre.
• Alexandra credits her writers group as a major influence, describing how a conversation with them sparked the initial idea for her debut novel, and how organised writing sprints and critique sessions were instrumental in her drafting process.
• She believes writing should be enjoyable—if she’s not having fun, she questions the point of doing it—and she’s learned to embrace her own process, rejecting advice that doesn’t fit her creative style.

Listen now if you need...

… permission to fully embrace what makes your writing journey distinctly yours, and trust what works for you.

My favourite quote:

“I think every single one of [the five manuscripts] needed to be written in order for me to get to where I am now. There's no one way to write… and if it doesn't work for you, that's actually okay.”

📖 What is the last book that Alexandra read and loved? The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S. A. Chakraborty

Thoroughly Disenchanted by Alexandra Almond 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 Alexandra Almond (she/ her) at alexandraalmond.com.au

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

✨ Buy The Little Black Book of Publishing!

👋🏼 Until next time friend!

Leesa is a mum of three kids who writes as therapy whenever she gets the chance. Prior to getting absorbed into corporate/mum life, Leesa's writing won awards through the Poetry Institute of Australia, the Banjo Paterson Poetry Festival and ABC's Heywire writing competition. Her work has been published in Style, Mamamia, HealthSmart, Women's Health and all international editions of Reader's Digest.

What's inside this episode?

• Leesa’s author journey began with a quirky premise, inspired by her experiences with motherhood and wordplay, not a lifelong dream to write a book.
• Leesa shares how her background in magazine and corporate writing helped her overcome perfectionism and embrace the messy, joyful process of writing fiction.
• Discover the importance of marinating ideas, drawing inspiration from everyday life, music, and rural nostalgia to create a story filled with heart and humour.
• Leesa gets real about the hard work, deadlines, and logistical surprises that come after you sign a publishing deal—especially while juggling family life.
• Becoming a published author is just the beginning: Leesa opens up about promotion pressures, mum guilt, and the ongoing challenge of balancing writing with real life.

Listen now if you need...

… proof that a single, playful idea—not a lifelong dream—can spark a joyful, successful author journey.

My favourite quote:

“I was writing it for myself. I wasn't even thinking about publication - it was just a personal challenge to myself. I was literally just inserting everything I loved into that book.”

📖 What is the last book that Leesa read and loved? Better Than The Real Thing by Brooke Crawford, An Academic Affair by Jodie McAllister, Here One Moment by Leanne Moriarty

Special Delivery by Leesa Ronald 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 Leesa Ronald (she/ her) at leesaronald.com.au

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

✨ Buy The Little Black Book of Publishing!

👋🏼 Until next time friend!