“There really isn’t a line where one project ends and the next begins. It’s always many things happening at once.”

The First Time is the podcast brainchild of writers Katherine Collette and Kate Mildenhall. Like getting warm and reassuring advice from two friends, The First Time is all about what happens the first time you publish a book, offering a behind the scenes look at all the thoughts and feelings writers experience when their book enters the world.

In this special live podcast recorded at the Wheeler Centre in April 2022, they turn their attention to the often challenging experience of how to follow up a brilliant first book.

Having just released second novels themselves, Collette and Mildenhall were joined by second-time authors Yumna Kassab (Australiana) and Robert Lukins (Loveland) for a candid and generous discussion of all the joys and anxieties inherent in the writing and publishing process.

This event was presented as part of Mic Drops, a Wheeler Centre original series celebrating all things audible that brings together podcasting’s best and brightest to share their thoughts and insights on the art (and business) of listening.

The official bookseller for this event was Hill of Content Bookshop.