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!

Dani is the author of Vessel: The Shape of Absent Bodies, which she wrote as the creative component of her writing PhD. She lives on unceded Taungurung lands in the High Country of Victoria with her husband, two children and a Maine Coon cat called Jane (after Jane Eyre).

She is the president of the Mansfield Readers and Writers Festival and has been published in Island Magazine, Westerly, The Guardian, Meanjin, and many other places.

What's inside this episode?

• Dani’s journey through personal tragedy and academic detours, to finally writing Vessel as part of her creative PhD.
• Dani explores how discovering the lyric essay form unlocked her ability to write about grief and trauma in a fragmented, mosaic style.
• Learn how Dani’s writing practice evolved—from poetry and blogging to experimental essays—supported by academic mentorship and feedback.
• Dani gets real about the unpredictability of publishing: the lack of control over reviews, invitations, and sales, and the importance of savouring small moments of reader connection.
• Discover why nurturing a fulfilling life outside of writing—and separating self-worth from creative output—is essential for long-term creative resilience.

Listen now if you need...

… an introduction into the rarely discussed lyric essay—a fragmented, mosaic-like form that allows for non-linear storytelling and deep experimentation, setting it apart from more conventional memoirs and novels.

My favourite quote:

“A judge in a competition had just given the overall advice to everyone who entered that your audience should not have to be brought down by your writing, so you should put a humorous slant on your memoir, and I was like, sorry there's not really a funny side to seeing my father and brother drown… I thought that was really very bad advice.”

📖 What is the last book that Dani read and loved? The Yellow Notebook by Helen Garner

Vessel by Dani Netherclift 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 Dani Netherclift (she/her) at dani.netherclift.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!

Lauren is a perinatal psychologist, writer and mother who lives on Dharawal and Gundungarra country in the Wollondilly Shire, NSW. She has worked extensively in perinatal and infant mental health and is an editor at Perspectives in Infant Mental Health, a publication of the World Association for Infant Mental Health. She has also written for The Guardian.

Lauren has two young girls and drinks more tea than is sensible.

What's inside this episode?

• Lauren shares her long journey to publication, revealing that "All the Bees in the Hollows" is her tenth manuscript and the first to be published after years of persistence and growth.
• Discover how a chance encounter with a children’s podcast about Lithuanian beekeeping and folklore sparked the unique vision for her debut novel.
• Lauren gets real about balancing writing with motherhood, work, and life’s unpredictability—emphasising the need for flexibility, creativity, and self-compassion.
• The power of mentorship and feedback: Lauren explains how working with a mentor and seeking critique at every stage helped her deepen her craft and stay accountable.
• Signing a publishing deal is just the beginning—Lauren opens up about the emotional rollercoaster, the demands of publicity, and the importance of a supportive debut author community.

Listen now if you need...

… the motivation to persist through rejection. The more feedback you receive, the closer you’re getting to publication!

My favourite quote:

“I had to be creative about time. There was a lot of guilt around taking time away from my family to write. But even if I wasn’t physically away, I was still thinking about it and trying to find that balance of being present but also following up on something that really filled up my cup. And there was a transition time of me just accepting that, actually, this is something I need. I’m a better parent and a better therapist when I do have that space to write.”

📖 What is the last book that Lauren read and loved? Bear Woman by Karolina Ramqvist

All the Bees in the Hollows by Lauren Keegan 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 Lauren Keegan (she/ her) at laurenkeeganwriter.com

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

✨ Buy The Little Black Book of Publishing!

👋🏼 Until next time friend!

Claire is a fantasy author based on unceded Awabakal lands. When she’s not writing, reading or working as a freelance editor, she can be found spending time with her husband, baking, birdwatching, and eating/drinking delicious things.

What's inside this episode?

• Claire’s dual perspective as both a freelance editor and debut author offers rare behind-the-scenes insights into how editing skills shape—and sometimes complicate—the writing process.
• The episode dives into the playful reality of stress-eating and snack rituals as part of Claire’s creative routine, making her writing journey feel oh so relatable.
• Why Claire loves reimagining fairy tales, and how she modernises classic themes to reflect contemporary issues like mental health and inclusivity.
• Claire’s approach to world-building—setting her fantasy in a deliberately “miscellaneous” land—breaks away from genre conventions and highlights the freedom of imaginative storytelling.
• Claire gets candid about overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating structural edits, and the realities of submitting fantasy manuscripts in Australia.

Listen now if you need...

… permission to play with world-building—learn the genre conventions, then discover how breaking the rules can unleash your most original and imaginative stories.

My favourite quote:

“I wish I’d known that even when you achieve the dream of getting that publishing deal, you are still going to experience things like imposter syndrome and tough times… I think knowing that you’re going to still feel like that sometimes, and also knowing that there are people to help you get through that.”

📖 What is the last book that Claire read and loved? One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston and the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn MuirSky Song by C.A. Wright 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 C. A. Wright (she/ her) at cawrightbooks.com

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

✨ Buy The Little Black Book of Publishing!

👋🏼 Until next time friend!

Raidah was born in Singapore, grew up in Sydney, Australia, worked in Amman, Jordan and now lives in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia with her husband, three children and mother-in-law.

Raidah earned her BA in English and BSc in Psychology from the University of New South Wales and her Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.

Her writing has been published in local Malaysian anthologies, SBS Voices, Muslim Matters, SISTERS magazine, The Feminist Wire, Daily Life, Lip Mag, The Elephant Journal, Venture Beat and MuslimVillage.

Raidah loves ginger tea, noodle soup and dreams of uninterrupted sleep.

What's inside this episode?

• Raidah shares how motherhood, migration, and her Malay Muslim identity shaped her journey to writing middle grade fiction.
• Discover the importance of authentic representation and why seeing yourself in stories matters for both readers and writers.
• Raidah gets real about the challenges of querying, rejection, and standing firm against feedback that doesn’t honour her story’s heart.
• Learn how neurodivergence, faith, and family life are woven into both Raidah’s creative process and her protagonist’s adventures.
• Publishing is a long, winding road—Raidah’s story proves that perseverance, community, and staying true to your voice make all the difference.

Listen now if you need...

… inspiration to write boldly from your own culture, identity and neurodivergence.

My favourite quote:

“It wasn’t just about writing [characters who look like me]. It was giving them the opportunity to have adventures, and experience the whole spectrum of emotion. I wrote about a Muslim girl who loves her faith, loves her family, and has an amazing adventure.”

📖 What is the last book that Raidah read and loved? Heir by Sabaa Tahir

How to Free a Jinn by Raidah Shah Idil 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 Raidah Shah Idil (she/ her) at raidahshahidil.com

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

✨ Buy The Little Black Book of Publishing!

👋🏼 Until next time friend!

Riley lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner and two children on unceded Bunurong lands. She was born and raised in north-west Tasmania and trained as a journalist before becoming an academic.

What's inside this episode?

• Riley shares why she chose a pen name to separate her academic and creative careers, and the strategy behind picking a gender-neutral name.
• Discover how Riley’s background in journalism and academia shaped her writing style and approach to storytelling.
• Riley opens up about juggling motherhood, academic life, and writing her debut crime thriller set in Antarctica.
• Get an inside look at the realities of the publishing journey—from finding an agent to navigating edits, cover design, and building a social media presence from scratch.
• Riley’s best advice for writers: stay true to your creative vision, treat praise and criticism equally, and remember that relationships and life outside writing matter most.

Listen now if you need...

… real talk on juggling work, motherhood, and that it’s never too late to start writing creatively.

My favourite quote:

“Write the book you want to write, and ask yourself, did I do the best job I could to write it… because there’s a whole lot of people out there who aren’t going to like your sex scenes, and they’re not going to like your characters, or they’re going to find it boring. That’s just the way it is. You have to remind yourself that you did the best you could to write the book that you wanted to read as well.”

📖 What is the last book that Riley read and loved? The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

The Chilling by Riley James 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 Riley James (she/ her) at rileyjames.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!