https://simplecast.com Page One Podcast Master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles that go into writing the first page of their books. Why? Because the first page is often the most re-written page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—HOOK YOU. Learn how the most talented writers work their magic with host, novelist and writing coach, Holly Lynn Payne. 2025 Page One Podcast en Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:18:19 +0000 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:18:30 +0000 https://page-one.simplecast.com Page One Podcast https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/8583da00-42e9-4897-ab16-2a2d61be8a44/1c57f678-5617-4a9c-90fd-8319474f40f3/3000x3000/holly-new-podcast-cover-2.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://page-one.simplecast.com episodic Master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles that go into writing the first page of their books. Why? Because the first page is often the most re-written page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—HOOK YOU. Learn how the most talented writers work their magic with host, novelist and writing coach, Holly Lynn Payne. Holly Lynn Payne false https://feeds.simplecast.com/HCClfzZU holly payne, fiction, holly lynn payne, master storytellers, first page, great stories, non-fiction, best sellers, novels, publishers, media, publishing, content creators, writers, readers, storytellers, books, storytelling, stories, writing, authors, craft Holly Lynn Payne hpwrites@gmail.com b3e6a3b5-41ba-49b3-ae24-266e454a28c9 EP 59: Shamergence_Rob Somers Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Rob Somers is a shaman in the Peruvian tradition and the shaman-in-residence at The Post Ranch Inn, California. Rob finds renewal and continual inspiration in exploring the backcountry of the Ventana Wilderness. He lives with his wife Amy in the mystical redwoods of Big Sur, where the mountains meet the sea, and where he wrote his debut book, Shamergence.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:18:19 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Rob Somers) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-59-shamergence-rob-somers-a4ARyB9a Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Rob Somers is a shaman in the Peruvian tradition and the shaman-in-residence at The Post Ranch Inn, California. Rob finds renewal and continual inspiration in exploring the backcountry of the Ventana Wilderness. He lives with his wife Amy in the mystical redwoods of Big Sur, where the mountains meet the sea, and where he wrote his debut book, Shamergence.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> EP 59: Shamergence_Rob Somers Holly Lynn Payne, Rob Somers 00:50:04 In EP 59 of the Page One Podcast, Host Holly Lynn Payne welcomes debut author and Peruvian-trained Shaman, Rob Somers, to discuss his book SHAMERGENCE, framed by his stage-four cancer diagnosis, miraculous survival, and a call to service centered on rebalancing divine feminine and masculine energies for personal and planetary healing. Somers explains these energies as elemental forces—masculine as logos, logic and doing; feminine as eros, love, wisdom and the collective compass—and warns of cultural imbalance, linking it to dis-ease within ourselves and the planet. He intimately recounts his earliest encounters with death as a child and decades later, undergoing the dark night of the soul during an egoic dissolution after the breakup of his popular band, The Samples, where he played rhythm guitar for more than a decade. Somer’s death as a rockstar birthed his miraculous new life as a steward of the land and a healer of those seeking to restore their own internal balance. Somers never considered himself a writer, but surrendered to the painstaking journey that he describes as his “daily appointment with Spirit.” Part Hunter Thompson + Don Quixote, Rob Somer’s voice offers a refreshing new perspective on faith and devotion. In EP 59 of the Page One Podcast, Host Holly Lynn Payne welcomes debut author and Peruvian-trained Shaman, Rob Somers, to discuss his book SHAMERGENCE, framed by his stage-four cancer diagnosis, miraculous survival, and a call to service centered on rebalancing divine feminine and masculine energies for personal and planetary healing. Somers explains these energies as elemental forces—masculine as logos, logic and doing; feminine as eros, love, wisdom and the collective compass—and warns of cultural imbalance, linking it to dis-ease within ourselves and the planet. He intimately recounts his earliest encounters with death as a child and decades later, undergoing the dark night of the soul during an egoic dissolution after the breakup of his popular band, The Samples, where he played rhythm guitar for more than a decade. Somer’s death as a rockstar birthed his miraculous new life as a steward of the land and a healer of those seeking to restore their own internal balance. Somers never considered himself a writer, but surrendered to the painstaking journey that he describes as his “daily appointment with Spirit.” Part Hunter Thompson + Don Quixote, Rob Somer’s voice offers a refreshing new perspective on faith and devotion. debut, debut author, celebrity shaman, rockstar, writing coach, storytelling, miracle, balance, surrender, incan, california, planet, big sur, shamanic journey, shamergence, book doula, west coast, rockstar shaman, death, celebrity healers, shaman, rose girl, the samples, cancer survivor, divine masculine, incan cosmology, book, writers, great books, author, cancer, healing, rob somers, intuition, steward, book coach, divine feminine, love, inspiration, holly lynn payne, post ranch inn, writing false full 59 ce6baeec-73d1-42bc-af2a-19f520848055 EP 58: Happiness Collector_Crystal_King Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Crystal King’s latest book The Happiness Collector was published by Mira. King is also the author of In the Garden of Monsters, The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was a Must Read for the MassBook Awards. Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she served as the former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. In addition to her literary gifts, fueled by a passion for the food, language and culture of Italy, King is a culinary enthusiast and marketing expert. With an MA in critical thinking, she has taught writing, creativity and social media at multiple universities including Boston University, UMass, Mass College of Art, Grub Street and Harvard Extension. A native of the Pacific Northwest, King has made Boston her home. You can find her and lots of wonderful offerings at crystalking.com and IG @crystallyn14.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:49:15 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Crystal King) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-58-happiness-collector-crystal-king-a2XmGb_U Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Crystal King’s latest book The Happiness Collector was published by Mira. King is also the author of In the Garden of Monsters, The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was a Must Read for the MassBook Awards. Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she served as the former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. In addition to her literary gifts, fueled by a passion for the food, language and culture of Italy, King is a culinary enthusiast and marketing expert. With an MA in critical thinking, she has taught writing, creativity and social media at multiple universities including Boston University, UMass, Mass College of Art, Grub Street and Harvard Extension. A native of the Pacific Northwest, King has made Boston her home. You can find her and lots of wonderful offerings at crystalking.com and IG @crystallyn14.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> EP 58: Happiness Collector_Crystal_King Holly Lynn Payne, Crystal King 00:47:36 Ep. 58 of the Page One Podcast. Crystal King on The Happiness Collector: Flow, Daily Practice, and Authors Helping Authors. Host Holly Payne welcomes novelist Crystal King back to the Page One podcast to discuss craft, momentum, and community while exploring King’s latest fantasy novel, The Happiness Collector. They talk about staying in creative “flow,” why long pauses can be damaging, and how a steady, repeatable writing practice—often a dedicated hour a day—keeps ideas and productivity moving, especially while balancing a full-time job. They also address modern publishing realities: trend-driven discovery, limited publisher marketing, and the need for authors to build direct relationships with readers through consistent newsletters or social channels. King emphasizes networking, cross-support, and community among writers to expand audiences and sustain visibility. Ep. 58 of the Page One Podcast. Crystal King on The Happiness Collector: Flow, Daily Practice, and Authors Helping Authors. Host Holly Payne welcomes novelist Crystal King back to the Page One podcast to discuss craft, momentum, and community while exploring King’s latest fantasy novel, The Happiness Collector. They talk about staying in creative “flow,” why long pauses can be damaging, and how a steady, repeatable writing practice—often a dedicated hour a day—keeps ideas and productivity moving, especially while balancing a full-time job. They also address modern publishing realities: trend-driven discovery, limited publisher marketing, and the need for authors to build direct relationships with readers through consistent newsletters or social channels. King emphasizes networking, cross-support, and community among writers to expand audiences and sustain visibility. the happiness collector, book marketing, daily practice, fiction, consistency, great storytellers, great writers, writing podcast, crystal king, writing community, dedication, writers, substack for authors, novels, creativity, authors helping authors, holly lynn payne, writing false full 58 ba307f02-f858-45c0-92b4-b028d1266c36 EP. 57: Canticle_Janet_Rich_Edwards Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Janet Rich Edwards is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University and works in the Division of Women’s Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. A graduate of Grub Street’s Novel Incubator program, she lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. Her bestselling debut novel of historical fiction, Canticle, follows a spirited young woman’s explorations of faith, agency, and love in thirteenth-century Bruges and was named Editor’s Choice for best fiction on Amazon, a REAL SIMPLE BEST BOOKS OF 2025, a SPOTIFY BEST DEBUTS OF 2025, a GOODREADS READERS’ MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS and People magazine called it “Atmospheric and unforgettable.”  

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:35:58 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Janet Rich Edwards, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-57-canticle-janet-rich-edwards-3lj7flmg-jYbVqNH6 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Janet Rich Edwards is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University and works in the Division of Women’s Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. A graduate of Grub Street’s Novel Incubator program, she lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. Her bestselling debut novel of historical fiction, Canticle, follows a spirited young woman’s explorations of faith, agency, and love in thirteenth-century Bruges and was named Editor’s Choice for best fiction on Amazon, a REAL SIMPLE BEST BOOKS OF 2025, a SPOTIFY BEST DEBUTS OF 2025, a GOODREADS READERS’ MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS and People magazine called it “Atmospheric and unforgettable.”  

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> EP. 57: Canticle_Janet_Rich_Edwards Janet Rich Edwards, Holly Lynn Payne 00:45:19 ​​In episode 57 of the Page One Podcast, Janet Rich Edwards, a Harvard professor of epidemiology, discusses her debut novel, CANTICLE, a work of historical fiction that explores the 13th-century world of the Beguines and one young woman’s journey of faith. Janet shares her unique transition from being a scientist to a novelist, driven by a profound curiosity inspired by the stories of medieval mystics. She delves into the importance of revision, the invaluable insights from her editors and how a pivotal change in her manuscript strengthened her entire narrative. Edwards discusses the rich research into the often-overlooked Beguines community and how it led her on an investigation into the meaning of faith. I love how honestly she speaks about the power of perseverance as a late-bloomer writer. If you’re intrigued by the intersection of science and spirituality, this episode offers deep insights into the art of storytelling. I hope you enjoy the first conversation of 2026 about my favorite craft. Listen and learn! ​​In episode 57 of the Page One Podcast, Janet Rich Edwards, a Harvard professor of epidemiology, discusses her debut novel, CANTICLE, a work of historical fiction that explores the 13th-century world of the Beguines and one young woman’s journey of faith. Janet shares her unique transition from being a scientist to a novelist, driven by a profound curiosity inspired by the stories of medieval mystics. She delves into the importance of revision, the invaluable insights from her editors and how a pivotal change in her manuscript strengthened her entire narrative. Edwards discusses the rich research into the often-overlooked Beguines community and how it led her on an investigation into the meaning of faith. I love how honestly she speaks about the power of perseverance as a late-bloomer writer. If you’re intrigued by the intersection of science and spirituality, this episode offers deep insights into the art of storytelling. I hope you enjoy the first conversation of 2026 about my favorite craft. Listen and learn! epidemiology, late bloomers, boston writers, page one podcast, scientist, historical fiction, grub street, janet rich edwards, science, 13th century, bruges, women authors, come of age, harvard, writers, boston, perseverance, spirituality, investigation, novelists, inspiration, faith, holly lynn payne, beguines, professor, writing, novel false full 57 58e28951-c702-4336-ad71-18b500e5355f EP. 56: ALWAYS NOVEMBER The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Arik Hously has served the Napa Valley community for more than 30 years, operating grocery stores, a winery and an Italian restaurant. An ardent soccer fan and former coach, Housley owns the men’s and women’s Napa Valley 1839 FC soccer teams. He and his family founded Alaina’s Voice Foundation, in honor of their late daughter, to support education, music and mental health initiatives in Napa Valley. As a national speaker, Housley inspires others to “be the positive change” and cultivate compassion and strength in the face of adversity. You can find him at arikhousley.com, IG @arikjih8 and Substack @arikhousley.       

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Resilience and Rumi, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a FREE newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 3 Dec 2025 20:24:58 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Arik Housley, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-56-always-november-RokwMsRm The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Arik Hously has served the Napa Valley community for more than 30 years, operating grocery stores, a winery and an Italian restaurant. An ardent soccer fan and former coach, Housley owns the men’s and women’s Napa Valley 1839 FC soccer teams. He and his family founded Alaina’s Voice Foundation, in honor of their late daughter, to support education, music and mental health initiatives in Napa Valley. As a national speaker, Housley inspires others to “be the positive change” and cultivate compassion and strength in the face of adversity. You can find him at arikhousley.com, IG @arikjih8 and Substack @arikhousley.       

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Resilience and Rumi, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a FREE newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> EP. 56: ALWAYS NOVEMBER Arik Housley, Holly Lynn Payne 00:43:36 How do you tell a story about the unimaginable loss of a child in a mass shooting—with hope? You cultivate a heart and an outlook like Arik Housley. In Ep. 56, we dive into a poignant and timely conversation with entrepreneur and public speaker Arik Housley about his debut memoir, Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love, and Resilience. Arik speaks with unflinching honesty about his journey facing the page for the first time to capture his journey of losing his 18-year-old daughter, Alaina, in a mass shooting and his journey through grief with an open heart. We discuss the creative process behind the book, the impact it has already had on readers, and the significance of showing up for each other in times of adversity. This episode is an uplifting exploration of using creativity and the written word to turn unimaginable pain into purpose, cultivate compassion, and grow your life bigger than grief. How do you tell a story about the unimaginable loss of a child in a mass shooting—with hope? You cultivate a heart and an outlook like Arik Housley. In Ep. 56, we dive into a poignant and timely conversation with entrepreneur and public speaker Arik Housley about his debut memoir, Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love, and Resilience. Arik speaks with unflinching honesty about his journey facing the page for the first time to capture his journey of losing his 18-year-old daughter, Alaina, in a mass shooting and his journey through grief with an open heart. We discuss the creative process behind the book, the impact it has already had on readers, and the significance of showing up for each other in times of adversity. This episode is an uplifting exploration of using creativity and the written word to turn unimaginable pain into purpose, cultivate compassion, and grow your life bigger than grief. resilience, debut, anniversary, meaning, pain, family, loss, community, connection, death, purpose, father and daughter, non-fiction, grief, mass shooting, writers, memorial, love, inspiration, writing false full 56 68cadf1f-4f88-49a7-a5bc-ba79fb65c3a5 EP. 55: TAKE BACK THE MAGIC The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

In addition to being the author of The Way of The Rose,  which she spoke about with her co-author and husband Clark Strand on Ep. 49 of the Page One Podcast, Perdita Finn is the author of several children’s books and middle grade novels, including the Time Flyers series for Scholastic Books, My Little Pony Books, among many others and has worked as ghostwriter, book doctor, copy editor and writing teacher. 

Perdita Finna also has done extensive study with Zen masters, priests, and healers, and apprenticed with the psychic Susan Saxman, with whom she wrote The Reluctant Psychic. She currently leads popular workshops on Collaborating with the Other Side, in which participants are empowered to activate the magic in their own lives with the help of their ancestors. She lives with her husband in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Resilience and Rumi, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a FREE newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:12:07 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Perdita Finn, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-55-take-back-the-magic-crPCxhFG The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

In addition to being the author of The Way of The Rose,  which she spoke about with her co-author and husband Clark Strand on Ep. 49 of the Page One Podcast, Perdita Finn is the author of several children’s books and middle grade novels, including the Time Flyers series for Scholastic Books, My Little Pony Books, among many others and has worked as ghostwriter, book doctor, copy editor and writing teacher. 

Perdita Finna also has done extensive study with Zen masters, priests, and healers, and apprenticed with the psychic Susan Saxman, with whom she wrote The Reluctant Psychic. She currently leads popular workshops on Collaborating with the Other Side, in which participants are empowered to activate the magic in their own lives with the help of their ancestors. She lives with her husband in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Resilience and Rumi, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a FREE newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> EP. 55: TAKE BACK THE MAGIC Perdita Finn, Holly Lynn Payne 00:47:25 Happy Halloween, everyone! In Ep. 55, we unlock the mysteries of the spirit world with bestselling author, Perdita Finn, a spiritual teacher, and co-founder of the Way of the Rose, based on the book she co-authored with her husband Clarke Strand and discussed on Ep. 49. Perdita is back for another riveting conversation to discuss her latest book, Take Back The Magic: Conversations with The Unseen World, which delves into the often unseen spiritual connections with ancestors. Finn shares personal narratives about her evolving relationship with her deceased father, the significance of storytelling, and the profound impact of collaborating with the dead. The episode is a rich tapestry of personal anecdotes, spiritual wisdom, and practical advice for writers and readers alike, raising the most important question any writer can ask themselves: why are you writing your book? What value are you bringing to readers? In this case, Perdita is inviting us to reclaim our connection with those who are no longer with us, but stand by, waiting for us to invite them into our heart’s desires—and trust the miracles and magic that follow. I loved this interview and feel I’ve made a friend with Perdita Finn. Maybe you will too! I hope you enjoy this and the book, which I devoured in one sitting on a cross-country flight. She captivated me and nailed her first page, of course, and then some. Happy Halloween, everyone! In Ep. 55, we unlock the mysteries of the spirit world with bestselling author, Perdita Finn, a spiritual teacher, and co-founder of the Way of the Rose, based on the book she co-authored with her husband Clarke Strand and discussed on Ep. 49. Perdita is back for another riveting conversation to discuss her latest book, Take Back The Magic: Conversations with The Unseen World, which delves into the often unseen spiritual connections with ancestors. Finn shares personal narratives about her evolving relationship with her deceased father, the significance of storytelling, and the profound impact of collaborating with the dead. The episode is a rich tapestry of personal anecdotes, spiritual wisdom, and practical advice for writers and readers alike, raising the most important question any writer can ask themselves: why are you writing your book? What value are you bringing to readers? In this case, Perdita is inviting us to reclaim our connection with those who are no longer with us, but stand by, waiting for us to invite them into our heart’s desires—and trust the miracles and magic that follow. I loved this interview and feel I’ve made a friend with Perdita Finn. Maybe you will too! I hope you enjoy this and the book, which I devoured in one sitting on a cross-country flight. She captivated me and nailed her first page, of course, and then some. dia de las muertes, communicating with the dead, magic, take back the magic, memoirists, inspiring, unseen world, storytelling, family, forgiveness, joy, joyful, connecting with the ancestors, death, women writers, storytellers, miracles, non-fiction, writers, fathers and daughters, memoir, healing, uplifting, halloween, memoir writing, perdita finn, haunting, ancestors, holly lynn payne, dead, writing false full 55 06eeab8b-f8be-4154-9430-02c236e59e41 Ep. 54: POP1_Plainsong Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the hosts:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In This Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature and was published in July 2024. Her novel, Afterword, won the 2024 PenCraft Book of the Year in Fiction, the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Science Fiction and Literary, and the PenCraft Spring Seasonal Book Award for Literary and Science Fiction. Her novel, The Translator, was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction. Her novel, The Painting, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award. Her short stories have been published by Zyzzyva, Chicago Quarterly Review, Fugue, Nashville Review, and elsewhere, and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. The first edition of How to Write Stunning Sentences was a Small Press Distribution bestseller. She teaches creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and she runs the popular Stunning Sentences Substack.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 8 Aug 2025 22:53:44 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Nina Schuyler) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-54-pop1-plainsong-TGiPtusf Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the hosts:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In This Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature and was published in July 2024. Her novel, Afterword, won the 2024 PenCraft Book of the Year in Fiction, the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Science Fiction and Literary, and the PenCraft Spring Seasonal Book Award for Literary and Science Fiction. Her novel, The Translator, was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction. Her novel, The Painting, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award. Her short stories have been published by Zyzzyva, Chicago Quarterly Review, Fugue, Nashville Review, and elsewhere, and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. The first edition of How to Write Stunning Sentences was a Small Press Distribution bestseller. She teaches creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and she runs the popular Stunning Sentences Substack.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 54: POP1_Plainsong Holly Lynn Payne, Nina Schuyler 00:29:50 In Ep: 54 of the Page One Podcast co-hosts and award-winning authors Holly Lynn Payne and Nina Schuyler analyze the first page of the national bestseller, Plainsong, by Kent Haruf, which was a National Book Award Finalist. This episode is part of a special monthly series called Pop One Pick-of-The-Month, where Holly and Nina dive deep into Haruf’s mastery of rhythm, grammar, and poignant imagery to set the stage for the novel's narrative. The episode offers listeners insights into Haruf's stylistic choices, from long, flowing sentences with intermittent grammatical imprecision to his contrasting thematic setups of tenderness and roughness. As they unpack the first page, Holly and Nina explore how these choices draw readers in and reveal complex emotional landscapes to keep readers hooked from page one. Plainsong offers yet another intriguing demonstration of a compelling opening. Listen up to learn how you might make your first page pop, too. In Ep: 54 of the Page One Podcast co-hosts and award-winning authors Holly Lynn Payne and Nina Schuyler analyze the first page of the national bestseller, Plainsong, by Kent Haruf, which was a National Book Award Finalist. This episode is part of a special monthly series called Pop One Pick-of-The-Month, where Holly and Nina dive deep into Haruf’s mastery of rhythm, grammar, and poignant imagery to set the stage for the novel's narrative. The episode offers listeners insights into Haruf's stylistic choices, from long, flowing sentences with intermittent grammatical imprecision to his contrasting thematic setups of tenderness and roughness. As they unpack the first page, Holly and Nina explore how these choices draw readers in and reveal complex emotional landscapes to keep readers hooked from page one. Plainsong offers yet another intriguing demonstration of a compelling opening. Listen up to learn how you might make your first page pop, too. novelist, breaking rules, national bestseller, writring, page one, plainsong, fiction, national book award finalist, ken haruf, authors, powerful beginnings, master storytellers, writers, novels, inspiration false full 54 5a3ba4bc-3bd1-407c-8975-d8685d274319 Ep. 53 Break the Frame: Kevin Smokler Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kevin Smokler is a writer, documentary filmmaker and purveyor of pop culture.  He’s the author of the four books Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers, Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies (2016), the essay collection Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven’t Touched Since High School (2013) and worked as the editor of “Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times,” A San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His essays and criticism have appeared in the LA Times, Salon, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Vulture, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Decider and on NPR. He is also the co-director and co-producer of the documentary film Vinyl Nation about the contemporary renaissance of vinyl records in America. Kevin has lectured and taught at Comic Con, MIT, South by Southwest, The LA Times Festival of Books and The Commonwealth Club of California. He serves as a Creator-in-Residence for The Battery in San Francisco and sits on the board of Zyzzvya Magazine. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, he lives in San Francisco with his wife.You can find and follow Kevin on Twitter @weegee and his website kevinsmokler.com

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 03:11:30 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Kevin Smokler) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-53-break-the-frame-kevin-smokler-4aulsTLn Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kevin Smokler is a writer, documentary filmmaker and purveyor of pop culture.  He’s the author of the four books Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers, Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies (2016), the essay collection Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven’t Touched Since High School (2013) and worked as the editor of “Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times,” A San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His essays and criticism have appeared in the LA Times, Salon, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Vulture, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Decider and on NPR. He is also the co-director and co-producer of the documentary film Vinyl Nation about the contemporary renaissance of vinyl records in America. Kevin has lectured and taught at Comic Con, MIT, South by Southwest, The LA Times Festival of Books and The Commonwealth Club of California. He serves as a Creator-in-Residence for The Battery in San Francisco and sits on the board of Zyzzvya Magazine. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, he lives in San Francisco with his wife.You can find and follow Kevin on Twitter @weegee and his website kevinsmokler.com

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 53 Break the Frame: Kevin Smokler Holly Lynn Payne, Kevin Smokler 00:53:12 In episode 53 of The Page One Podcast, host Holly Lynn Payne sits down with longtime friend, fellow author, and creative force Kevin Smokler to explore the heart and soul behind his latest book, Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers, an historic archive of intimate, unfiltered, and often revolutionary conversations with the most successful American women behind the camera—24 filmmakers whose names you may or may not know yet, but whose work has shaped our culture. So why is a man telling the story of these legendary women? Kevin reads from his compelling first page and shares the moment that sparked this book: a realization while moderating a panel of two legendary filmmakers at Comic Com that the voices of successful women directors—many of whom remain unsung—deserve a much bigger stage. With characteristic insight and heart, Kevin opens a window into the ingenious ways these innovative female filmmakers transcended barriers to create some of the most successful films of our times— from pioneering new ways of capturing story on film to masterfully turning obstacles into opportunities again and again. This episode honors the resilience and brilliance of women leaders behind the camera and their powerful collaborations in storytelling. You might be blown away by what you thought you knew about your most favorite films—who made them and why. Listen up and be inspired. In episode 53 of The Page One Podcast, host Holly Lynn Payne sits down with longtime friend, fellow author, and creative force Kevin Smokler to explore the heart and soul behind his latest book, Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers, an historic archive of intimate, unfiltered, and often revolutionary conversations with the most successful American women behind the camera—24 filmmakers whose names you may or may not know yet, but whose work has shaped our culture. So why is a man telling the story of these legendary women? Kevin reads from his compelling first page and shares the moment that sparked this book: a realization while moderating a panel of two legendary filmmakers at Comic Com that the voices of successful women directors—many of whom remain unsung—deserve a much bigger stage. With characteristic insight and heart, Kevin opens a window into the ingenious ways these innovative female filmmakers transcended barriers to create some of the most successful films of our times— from pioneering new ways of capturing story on film to masterfully turning obstacles into opportunities again and again. This episode honors the resilience and brilliance of women leaders behind the camera and their powerful collaborations in storytelling. You might be blown away by what you thought you knew about your most favorite films—who made them and why. Listen up and be inspired. artists, women filmmakers, historic archives, filmmaking, collaboration, leadership, women in leadership, women directors, storytelling, women in film, talent, female film directors, los angeles, vision, oscar winner, innovation, storytellers, break the frame, hollywood, authors, new york, award-winning filmmakers, perseverance, success, inspiration, ground breaking false full 53 0a2a65d5-d9c2-47d9-8338-0f6d267f2d5d Ep. 52 Chouette: Claire Oshetsky Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the hosts:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In This Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature and was published in July 2024. Her novel, Afterword, won the 2024 PenCraft Book of the Year in Fiction, the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Science Fiction and Literary, and the PenCraft Spring Seasonal Book Award for Literary and Science Fiction. Her novel, The Translator, was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction. Her novel, The Painting, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award. Her short stories have been published by Zyzzyva, Chicago Quarterly Review, Fugue, Nashville Review, and elsewhere, and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. The first edition of How to Write Stunning Sentences was a Small Press Distribution bestseller. She teaches creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and she runs the popular Stunning Sentences Substack.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 6 Jun 2025 21:19:50 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Nina Schuyler) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-52-chouette-claire-oshetsky-X_ijdVXk Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the hosts:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In This Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature and was published in July 2024. Her novel, Afterword, won the 2024 PenCraft Book of the Year in Fiction, the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award for Science Fiction and Literary, and the PenCraft Spring Seasonal Book Award for Literary and Science Fiction. Her novel, The Translator, was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction. Her novel, The Painting, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award. Her short stories have been published by Zyzzyva, Chicago Quarterly Review, Fugue, Nashville Review, and elsewhere, and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. The first edition of How to Write Stunning Sentences was a Small Press Distribution bestseller. She teaches creative writing for Stanford Continuing Studies, the independent bookstore, Book Passage, and she runs the popular Stunning Sentences Substack.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 52 Chouette: Claire Oshetsky Holly Lynn Payne, Nina Schuyler 00:39:30 In Ep: 52 of the Page One Podcast, host Holly Lynn Payne teams up with award-winning author Nina Schuyler to analyze the first page of Chouette by Claire Oshetsky for the monthly 'Pop One Pick of the Month' segment. Holly and Nina break down the opening page of the novel, focusing on the sentence structure, rhythm, and thematic elements of the text. The discussion delves into the techniques Oshetsky uses to hook the reader, such as magical realism, suspension of disbelief, sentence variety, and the creation of a unique narrative voice. Holly and Nina explore the emotional depth and stylistic choices that define the book's powerful start, aiming to offer inspiration and insights to aspiring writers and book lovers alike. When you read a first sentence that begins with “I dream I’m making tender love with an owl,” you can’t help but want to read more, know more, and before you know it you’re completely hooked. No wonder this book debuted winning the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Oshetsky is a true master storyteller. I hope you enjoy this special episode. In Ep: 52 of the Page One Podcast, host Holly Lynn Payne teams up with award-winning author Nina Schuyler to analyze the first page of Chouette by Claire Oshetsky for the monthly 'Pop One Pick of the Month' segment. Holly and Nina break down the opening page of the novel, focusing on the sentence structure, rhythm, and thematic elements of the text. The discussion delves into the techniques Oshetsky uses to hook the reader, such as magical realism, suspension of disbelief, sentence variety, and the creation of a unique narrative voice. Holly and Nina explore the emotional depth and stylistic choices that define the book's powerful start, aiming to offer inspiration and insights to aspiring writers and book lovers alike. When you read a first sentence that begins with “I dream I’m making tender love with an owl,” you can’t help but want to read more, know more, and before you know it you’re completely hooked. No wonder this book debuted winning the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Oshetsky is a true master storyteller. I hope you enjoy this special episode. magical realism, hook, intriguing, engaging, queer, chouette, page one, willian saroyan winner, debut novel, master storytellers, creative writing, award winning authors, otherness, claire oshetsky false full 52 b03ff260-0176-4059-a9fe-a8355bedc049 Ep. 51 Shadow Summit: Jon Chandonnet
The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest authors:

Jon Chandonnet is a life coach, author of Shadow Summit: A Journey from.M.S. to The Other Side of Impossible and found of VibrantU Academy. At thirty-three, Jon thought living a vibrant life meant setting goals and working long hours and hard days to make things happen. Living by that credo he accomplished a lot. He earned his master’s from MIT, led teams to develop software to launch startups, ran a couple marathons, and scaled several 14,000-foot California peaks. Jon was well on his way—or so he thought—but he was a ticking time bomb.

He’d been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis six years earlier. He ignored it completely and instead pushed himself to extremes. He lived in denial—ignoring his diagnosis in hopes of literally outrunning the disease. The running ended and the disease caught up. 

Jon’s health declined and led him on an eight-year odyssey to understand life’s essential elements. He wanted to find a way to minimize the impact of the disease. He wanted his health back and to create a full life despite the MS.  During the journey, Jon found seven essential elements allowing him to track daily actions and habits in pursuit of the healthiest, most fulfilled, and joyful life possible. He realized others could benefit from the insights. Jon found a way to simplify life, strip away the chaos and unimportant to focus on what matters. The result was the 7 VIBRANTs ™ well-being system.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Roses and Resilience, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
 Power of Page One, Substack
a free weekly mini-masterclass
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Sat, 17 May 2025 15:33:42 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Jon Chandonnet) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-51-shadow-summit-jon-chandonnet-s_Njvinp
The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest authors:

Jon Chandonnet is a life coach, author of Shadow Summit: A Journey from.M.S. to The Other Side of Impossible and found of VibrantU Academy. At thirty-three, Jon thought living a vibrant life meant setting goals and working long hours and hard days to make things happen. Living by that credo he accomplished a lot. He earned his master’s from MIT, led teams to develop software to launch startups, ran a couple marathons, and scaled several 14,000-foot California peaks. Jon was well on his way—or so he thought—but he was a ticking time bomb.

He’d been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis six years earlier. He ignored it completely and instead pushed himself to extremes. He lived in denial—ignoring his diagnosis in hopes of literally outrunning the disease. The running ended and the disease caught up. 

Jon’s health declined and led him on an eight-year odyssey to understand life’s essential elements. He wanted to find a way to minimize the impact of the disease. He wanted his health back and to create a full life despite the MS.  During the journey, Jon found seven essential elements allowing him to track daily actions and habits in pursuit of the healthiest, most fulfilled, and joyful life possible. He realized others could benefit from the insights. Jon found a way to simplify life, strip away the chaos and unimportant to focus on what matters. The result was the 7 VIBRANTs ™ well-being system.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Roses and Resilience, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
 Power of Page One, Substack
a free weekly mini-masterclass
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 51 Shadow Summit: Jon Chandonnet Holly Lynn Payne, Jon Chandonnet 00:54:53 In episode 51 of The Page One Podcast we get to hear a moving conversation about healing and transformation with beloved life coach Jon Chandonnet, author of Shadow Summit: A Journey from M.S. to The Other Side of Impossible and founder of VibrantU Academy. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 27, Jon initially ignored his condition, pushing himself to extremes. After his health declined, he embarked on an odyssey to understand life's essential elements, leading him to create a wellbeing system called the Seven Vibrants. Jon shares how his diagnosis propelled him to write his book, turning a personal struggle into a source of inspiration and guidance for others. He shares how he struggled for years to understand the concept of ‘showing’ versus telling, but when he did, how that changed everything about the way he writes—and gave rise to the tenth anniversary edition of his memoir and a wholly new page one. Jon is a testament to how writing can literally help us rewrite our lives and play a significant role in our healing. If you’ve ever wondered if you can tell your story some day, listen to Jon and be encouraged. Shadow Summit: A Journey from M.S. to the Other Side of Impossible will remind you of the human capacity to rebuild our lives after loss by choosing a path to restoring our vibrancy. This is one of my favorite conversations of 2025. I hope you enjoy it too. In episode 51 of The Page One Podcast we get to hear a moving conversation about healing and transformation with beloved life coach Jon Chandonnet, author of Shadow Summit: A Journey from M.S. to The Other Side of Impossible and founder of VibrantU Academy. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 27, Jon initially ignored his condition, pushing himself to extremes. After his health declined, he embarked on an odyssey to understand life's essential elements, leading him to create a wellbeing system called the Seven Vibrants. Jon shares how his diagnosis propelled him to write his book, turning a personal struggle into a source of inspiration and guidance for others. He shares how he struggled for years to understand the concept of ‘showing’ versus telling, but when he did, how that changed everything about the way he writes—and gave rise to the tenth anniversary edition of his memoir and a wholly new page one. Jon is a testament to how writing can literally help us rewrite our lives and play a significant role in our healing. If you’ve ever wondered if you can tell your story some day, listen to Jon and be encouraged. Shadow Summit: A Journey from M.S. to the Other Side of Impossible will remind you of the human capacity to rebuild our lives after loss by choosing a path to restoring our vibrancy. This is one of my favorite conversations of 2025. I hope you enjoy it too. resilience, courage, vibrancy, mit, strength, multiple sclerosis, storytelling, tragedy, crisis, california, journey, memoirs, transformation, university of richmond, life coach, richmond, healing, creativity, recovery, success, inspiration, m.s., writing false full 51 225d1e2d-a7eb-4009-b069-15fff205d4e5 Ep. 50 POP1 Pick: The Roundhouse Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Sat, 3 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Nina Schuyler, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-50-pop1-pick-the-roundhouse-lBvP5Cvt Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 50 POP1 Pick: The Roundhouse Nina Schuyler, Holly Lynn Payne 00:35:19 In this special episode 50 of the Page One Podcast—a POP1 (Power of Page One) pick of the month, host Holly Payne and guest Nina Schuyler analyze the first page of Louise Erdrich's novel, The Roundhouse, winner of the National Book Award. The discussion explores the intricate details in the opening passage, such as the symbolic imagery, the interplay of strength and vulnerability, and the subtle yet powerful language used by Erdrich. Payne and Schuyler delve into the foreshadowing elements and the emotional layers of the narrative, highlighting how Erdrich’s choice to open with, at first glance, a mundane activity of removing small trees from a house's foundation sets the stage for a complex story of justice, identity, and resilience. The analysis also touches on point of view, voice, and enchanting the reader by bringing more of the protagonist's inner world to the forefront on page one. If you’d like to learn more, subscribe to Holly’s free Substack, Power of Page One, a mini-masterclass on how to make your first page "hookable" and find Nina Schuyler on Substack at Stunning Sentences. Tune in each month as they dive deeper with a page one analysis of some of their favorite books. If you’re interested in joining a growing community of writers and book lovers, be sure fo find us on Substack at Power of Page One and Stunning Sentences. In this special episode 50 of the Page One Podcast—a POP1 (Power of Page One) pick of the month, host Holly Payne and guest Nina Schuyler analyze the first page of Louise Erdrich's novel, The Roundhouse, winner of the National Book Award. The discussion explores the intricate details in the opening passage, such as the symbolic imagery, the interplay of strength and vulnerability, and the subtle yet powerful language used by Erdrich. Payne and Schuyler delve into the foreshadowing elements and the emotional layers of the narrative, highlighting how Erdrich’s choice to open with, at first glance, a mundane activity of removing small trees from a house's foundation sets the stage for a complex story of justice, identity, and resilience. The analysis also touches on point of view, voice, and enchanting the reader by bringing more of the protagonist's inner world to the forefront on page one. If you’d like to learn more, subscribe to Holly’s free Substack, Power of Page One, a mini-masterclass on how to make your first page "hookable" and find Nina Schuyler on Substack at Stunning Sentences. Tune in each month as they dive deeper with a page one analysis of some of their favorite books. If you’re interested in joining a growing community of writers and book lovers, be sure fo find us on Substack at Power of Page One and Stunning Sentences. resilience, reservation, justice, national book award, fiction, louise erdrich, loss, the round house, master storytellers, redemption, native americans, novels, bestsellers, identity, love false full 50 bba5004b-3550-4a3f-8b5b-6eb434e4b84d Ep. 49: The Way of The Rose_Clark Strand & Perdita Finn The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest authors:

Clark Strand and Perdita Finn are the co-founders of the non-denominational international fellowship The Way of the Rose, which inspired their book The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary. Clark Strand is an American author and lecturer on spirituality and religion. A former Zen Buddhist monk, he was the first Senior Editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and is the author of six other books  including: Meditation without Gurus, How to Believe in God, Waking the Buddha, Now is The Hour of Her Return, Seeds from a Birch Tree and Waking Up to The Dark. He moved to Woodstock, New York, to write and teach full-time. 

Perdita Finn is the author of several children’s books has done extensive study with Zen masters, priests, and healers and she apprenticed with the psychic Susan Saxman, with whom she wrote The Reluctant Psychic. She is the author of the middle grades novels including the Time Flyers series for Scholastic Books, My Little Pony Books, among many others. In addition to being a ghostwriter, book doctor, copy editor and writing teacher, she has a lively Substack called Take Back the Magic inspired by her book Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and teaches popular workshops on Collaborating with the Other Side, in which participants are empowered to activate the magic in their own lives with the help of their ancestors. She and Clark live in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Roses and Resilience, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Sun, 20 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Clark Strand) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-49-the-way-of-the-rose-clark-strand-perdita-finn-9q8XtTqR The Page One Podcast, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest authors:

Clark Strand and Perdita Finn are the co-founders of the non-denominational international fellowship The Way of the Rose, which inspired their book The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary. Clark Strand is an American author and lecturer on spirituality and religion. A former Zen Buddhist monk, he was the first Senior Editor of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review and is the author of six other books  including: Meditation without Gurus, How to Believe in God, Waking the Buddha, Now is The Hour of Her Return, Seeds from a Birch Tree and Waking Up to The Dark. He moved to Woodstock, New York, to write and teach full-time. 

Perdita Finn is the author of several children’s books has done extensive study with Zen masters, priests, and healers and she apprenticed with the psychic Susan Saxman, with whom she wrote The Reluctant Psychic. She is the author of the middle grades novels including the Time Flyers series for Scholastic Books, My Little Pony Books, among many others. In addition to being a ghostwriter, book doctor, copy editor and writing teacher, she has a lively Substack called Take Back the Magic inspired by her book Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and teaches popular workshops on Collaborating with the Other Side, in which participants are empowered to activate the magic in their own lives with the help of their ancestors. She and Clark live in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Roses and Resilience, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com  and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. 

If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com. 

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading,
Holly
@hollylynnpayne on IG

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 49: The Way of The Rose_Clark Strand & Perdita Finn Holly Lynn Payne, Clark Strand 00:55:32 In Episode 49, we interview Clark Strand and Perdita Finn, the husband and wife co-founders of the non-denominational international fellowship The Way of the Rose, inspired by their book The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary. I was blown away when I read this book, which explores their journey from divergent spiritual backgrounds towards discovering the rosary's transformative power—catalyzed by their daughter’s undiagnosed health issue. After exhausting every medical opinion, they turned to praying the rosary—and discovered a new path toward faith. We uncover their spiritual awakenings through the Virgin Mary's apparitions, and their process of collaboratively writing the book. We explore universal themes of love, divine femininity, and transformative prayer. This episode is a compelling blend of literary craft and spiritual exploration. Even more wild, this book helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the themes in my latest work of historical fiction, Rose Girl: A Tale of Roses & Resilience. I hope you enjoy it. In Episode 49, we interview Clark Strand and Perdita Finn, the husband and wife co-founders of the non-denominational international fellowship The Way of the Rose, inspired by their book The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary. I was blown away when I read this book, which explores their journey from divergent spiritual backgrounds towards discovering the rosary's transformative power—catalyzed by their daughter’s undiagnosed health issue. After exhausting every medical opinion, they turned to praying the rosary—and discovered a new path toward faith. We uncover their spiritual awakenings through the Virgin Mary's apparitions, and their process of collaboratively writing the book. We explore universal themes of love, divine femininity, and transformative prayer. This episode is a compelling blend of literary craft and spiritual exploration. Even more wild, this book helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the themes in my latest work of historical fiction, Rose Girl: A Tale of Roses & Resilience. I hope you enjoy it. way of the rose, miracle, our lady, sovereignty, hope, rose garden, award-winning, darkness, catcholocism, god, non-fiction, rose girl, roses, master storytellers, writers, miraculous, spirituality, catholic, reclaim, rosary, inspiration, gardener, rose, faith, holly lynn payne, writing false full 49 7fedbcb0-cc16-4324-9e63-f8caa6fca066 Ep. 48: BEARTOOTH_CALLAN WINK PODCAST NOTES

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Callan Wink’s latest and third book, Beartooth, is another propulsive story about two brothers in dire straits, living on the edge of Yellowstone, who agree to a desperate act of survival. Wink has been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. He received his MFA from University of Wyoming and his stories and essays have been published in the New Yorker, Granta, Playboy, Men's Journal, and The Best American Short Stories. He debut novel, August, was longlisted for the center for Fiction First Novel Prize and a collection of short stories, Dog Run Moon. He lives in Livingston, Montana, where he is a fly-fishing guide on the Yellowstone River.  

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.

JOIN THE POP1 COMMUNITY ON SUBSTACK

 If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please consider subscribing to my free weekly newsletter on Substack: Power of Page One  

POP1 is a community of writers and book lovers passionate about the craft of storytelling—which begins with a compelling page one.

👋 Follow for weekly insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

You can also find me  @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Sat, 22 Mar 2025 22:40:49 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Callan Wink, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-48-beartooth-callan-wink-0nTEfRO9 PODCAST NOTES

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Callan Wink’s latest and third book, Beartooth, is another propulsive story about two brothers in dire straits, living on the edge of Yellowstone, who agree to a desperate act of survival. Wink has been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. He received his MFA from University of Wyoming and his stories and essays have been published in the New Yorker, Granta, Playboy, Men's Journal, and The Best American Short Stories. He debut novel, August, was longlisted for the center for Fiction First Novel Prize and a collection of short stories, Dog Run Moon. He lives in Livingston, Montana, where he is a fly-fishing guide on the Yellowstone River.  

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.

JOIN THE POP1 COMMUNITY ON SUBSTACK

 If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please consider subscribing to my free weekly newsletter on Substack: Power of Page One  

POP1 is a community of writers and book lovers passionate about the craft of storytelling—which begins with a compelling page one.

👋 Follow for weekly insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)

You can also find me  @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 48: BEARTOOTH_CALLAN WINK Callan Wink, Holly Lynn Payne 00:44:40 In Ep. 48, Callan Wink shares his candid experience “cutting out the boring parts” and expanding his short story into the acclaimed, Beartooth, a tightly written heist thriller, compared to Hemmingway and Cormac McCarthy. Wink discusses how his life is divided into two seasons: writing season and fly fishing. As a fly-fishing guide and surfer, Wink shares his unique perspective on the tricks he’s developed to write. Getting into his chair to write is the hardest task of his day and he prefers physical pain to the 'brain pain' of creating stories. This honest admission offers insight into the struggles and coping mechanisms many for writers who find the craft difficult, despite their immense talent. Wink was generous enough to find time to speak with us between surf sets from his writing retreat in Costa Rica. In Ep. 48, Callan Wink shares his candid experience “cutting out the boring parts” and expanding his short story into the acclaimed, Beartooth, a tightly written heist thriller, compared to Hemmingway and Cormac McCarthy. Wink discusses how his life is divided into two seasons: writing season and fly fishing. As a fly-fishing guide and surfer, Wink shares his unique perspective on the tricks he’s developed to write. Getting into his chair to write is the hardest task of his day and he prefers physical pain to the 'brain pain' of creating stories. This honest admission offers insight into the struggles and coping mechanisms many for writers who find the craft difficult, despite their immense talent. Wink was generous enough to find time to speak with us between surf sets from his writing retreat in Costa Rica. brothers, costa rica, courage, male writers, romance, storytelling, hemmingway, beartooth, fiction, callan wink, writing programs, mfa, humor, heist, thriller, crime, tips, storytellers, montana, spiegel and grau, mentors, creative writing, tim o'brien, fly fishing, creativity, surfers, american west, stegner fellow, tricks, friendship, writing false full 48 1542b877-51aa-48d0-a674-61ed3038aabe Ep. 47: POP1__ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  

Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:53:26 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Nina Schuyler) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-47-pop1-all-the-light-we-cannot-see-9ZoXWw1z Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my new Substack newsletter, Power of Page One. You can also learn more about me at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime! 

The Page One Podcast is created on a houseboat in Sausalito, California and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Be well and keep reading, and please join us at POP1, The Power of Page One.  

Thank you for being a part of my creative community on Substack! 

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 47: POP1__ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE Holly Payne, Nina Schuyler 00:37:17 In this special episode 47 of The Page One Podcast, host Holly Payne, accompanied by acclaimed author Nina Schuyler, delves into the meticulous craft behind the first page of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See. They explore how Doerr's writing hooks readers through precise language, rhythmic prose, and active verbs. Schuyler highlights the skillful use of suspense, detailed imagery, and musicality in the prose, illustrating why this is one of the best demonstrations of the power of enough. Sometimes less is more, especially when you begin with a single word: leaflets. Check out this special episode—the first POP1 (Power of Page One) pick of the month following the launch of the Power of Page One Substack. Tune in each month as they not only talk with a master storyteller on the struggles and stories that went into their latest book, but now dive even deeper with a page one analysis of some of their favorite books with Nina Schuyler of Stunning Sentences on Substack. If you’re interested in joining a growing community of writers and book lovers, find us on Substack at Power of Page One. In this special episode 47 of The Page One Podcast, host Holly Payne, accompanied by acclaimed author Nina Schuyler, delves into the meticulous craft behind the first page of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See. They explore how Doerr's writing hooks readers through precise language, rhythmic prose, and active verbs. Schuyler highlights the skillful use of suspense, detailed imagery, and musicality in the prose, illustrating why this is one of the best demonstrations of the power of enough. Sometimes less is more, especially when you begin with a single word: leaflets. Check out this special episode—the first POP1 (Power of Page One) pick of the month following the launch of the Power of Page One Substack. Tune in each month as they not only talk with a master storyteller on the struggles and stories that went into their latest book, but now dive even deeper with a page one analysis of some of their favorite books with Nina Schuyler of Stunning Sentences on Substack. If you’re interested in joining a growing community of writers and book lovers, find us on Substack at Power of Page One. rhythm, rewriting, all the light we cannot see, hook, best seller, anthony doer, education, hookable, storytelling, pulitzer prize, page one podcast, page one, literature, best sellers, beginnings, power of page one, imagery, award winning, creative writing, writers, nina schuyler, writing tips, love, wwii, holly lynn payne, revision, writing false full 47 268c65f3-7acd-49c8-a2fe-e6f6d264a662 Ep. 46: Lissa Soep - OTHER PEOPLE'S WORDS Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

San Francisco author Lissa Soep is a senior editor for audio at Vox Media and special projects producer and senior scholar-in-residence at YR Media. Lissa earned a PhD from Stanford, where she studied education, social theory, and linguistic anthropology with leading Bakhtin scholars—which deeply influenced her memoir, Other People’s Words, published by Spiegel and Grau about how we carry within us the language of loved ones who are gone. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 30 Jan 2025 02:16:13 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Lissa Soep) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-46-lissa-soep-other-peoples-words-RT9oyME4 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

San Francisco author Lissa Soep is a senior editor for audio at Vox Media and special projects producer and senior scholar-in-residence at YR Media. Lissa earned a PhD from Stanford, where she studied education, social theory, and linguistic anthropology with leading Bakhtin scholars—which deeply influenced her memoir, Other People’s Words, published by Spiegel and Grau about how we carry within us the language of loved ones who are gone. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 46: Lissa Soep - OTHER PEOPLE'S WORDS Holly Lynn Payne, Lissa Soep 00:51:35 In Episode 46 of the Page One Podcast, we interview author Lissa Soep about what it took to write OTHER PEOPLE’S WORDS and discuss language, loss, and the voices that shape us long after people are gone. If you’ve ever kept an old voicemail just to hear someone’s voice again, or a series of text messages from someone no longer in your life, this episode is for you! Lissa’s book explores a profound idea: when we lose people, their words don’t disappear. They echo, evolve, and continue shaping our lives in unexpected ways. Grounded in her background in linguistic anthropology at Stanford, she weaves together memory and meaning with rare emotional precision. Inspired by Russian literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, she sees voices as living threads in the fabric of our relationships. Lissa’s journey from academic writing to literary nonfiction was anything but smooth. Stripping away the formal constraints of academia felt like losing a safety net, but it led her to a voice both raw and lyrical. She discovered that finding her voice was not about control—it was about trust. She admitted to the same doubts that haunt many writers: What if I can’t do this? But encouragement from loved ones, including the very friends she writes about, kept her going.This conversation left me reflecting on the voices that live within me—those I’ve lost, those I carry, and those I’m still learning from. Other People’s Words is more than a memoir; it’s a companion, a lyrical prayer, and a testament to the enduring power of language—to keep us connected with each other forever. In Episode 46 of the Page One Podcast, we interview author Lissa Soep about what it took to write OTHER PEOPLE’S WORDS and discuss language, loss, and the voices that shape us long after people are gone. If you’ve ever kept an old voicemail just to hear someone’s voice again, or a series of text messages from someone no longer in your life, this episode is for you! Lissa’s book explores a profound idea: when we lose people, their words don’t disappear. They echo, evolve, and continue shaping our lives in unexpected ways. Grounded in her background in linguistic anthropology at Stanford, she weaves together memory and meaning with rare emotional precision. Inspired by Russian literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, she sees voices as living threads in the fabric of our relationships. Lissa’s journey from academic writing to literary nonfiction was anything but smooth. Stripping away the formal constraints of academia felt like losing a safety net, but it led her to a voice both raw and lyrical. She discovered that finding her voice was not about control—it was about trust. She admitted to the same doubts that haunt many writers: What if I can’t do this? But encouragement from loved ones, including the very friends she writes about, kept her going.This conversation left me reflecting on the voices that live within me—those I’ve lost, those I carry, and those I’m still learning from. Other People’s Words is more than a memoir; it’s a companion, a lyrical prayer, and a testament to the enduring power of language—to keep us connected with each other forever. friends, frienship, page one podcast, words, language, stanford, loss, literature, death, bay area writers, san francisco, grief, writers, holly lynn payne, lissa soep, writing false full 46 941e0619-fe96-43c2-8210-dda4d060ec5a Ep. 45: Rachael O'Meara - PAUSE, the book Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Rachael O’Meara is an author and transformational leadership and executive coach. Her book PAUSE, published by Penguin, was named one of the top business books for your career and featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Rachael worked as a sales executive at Google for more than a decade and hosted Google Author talks with thought leaders who have meaningful messages about mindfulness and emotional intelligence. She is certified in Transformational Coaching from the Wright Graduate University for the Realization of Human Potential (ICF certified), and has an MBA from Fordham University. In her spare time, she is an ardent rower and splits her time between Florida and San Francisco. She is the co-founder of SIC Venture Studio and the host and producer of the PAUSE Cast Podcast.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, an AI powered book discovery platoform. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

Happy holidays everyone!
 
~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 24 Dec 2024 08:05:00 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Rachael O'Meara, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-45-rachael-omeara-pause-the-book-ECe9kGOs Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Rachael O’Meara is an author and transformational leadership and executive coach. Her book PAUSE, published by Penguin, was named one of the top business books for your career and featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Rachael worked as a sales executive at Google for more than a decade and hosted Google Author talks with thought leaders who have meaningful messages about mindfulness and emotional intelligence. She is certified in Transformational Coaching from the Wright Graduate University for the Realization of Human Potential (ICF certified), and has an MBA from Fordham University. In her spare time, she is an ardent rower and splits her time between Florida and San Francisco. She is the co-founder of SIC Venture Studio and the host and producer of the PAUSE Cast Podcast.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, an AI powered book discovery platoform. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

Happy holidays everyone!
 
~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 45: Rachael O'Meara - PAUSE, the book Rachael O'Meara, Holly Lynn Payne 00:51:38 In Episode 45 of The Page One Podcast, we get to hear my dear friend and author Rachel O'Meara discuss her groundbreaking book, PAUSE, which explores the powerful impact of taking intentional breaks to avoid burnout and find fulfillment. Rachel shares her personal decades-long journey of corporate burnout at Google and how a three-month unpaid leave transformed her life, leading her to become a transformational leadership and executive coach. The conversation delves into the importance of self-awareness, courage, and the transformative power of pausing. Rachael discusses her process of writing the book over a five year period and how the process had a positive impact on her life. We take a moment to reminisce about our experiences working together on PAUSE—me as her writing coach and she as a first time author— and the significance of listening to one's inner voice and making space for personal growth. The episode provides valuable insights for anyone feeling overwhelmed and seeking a path to a more satisfying and balanced life. If you’re wondering what’s next for you in your life, take a moment to hear Rachael’s wisdom and wonderful laughter. This is a great one to hear on a walk between holiday gatherings. I hope you enjoy it and discover the delight of what’s PAUSE-able. There’s so much value in taking time to find out what you want! Learn how to do that and so much more in Ep. 45. 02:24 The Power of the Pause 04:46 Rachel's Personal Journey 07:34 The Writing Process and Coaching 09:46 Courage and Commitment 19:05 The Importance of Pausing 24:44 Rachel's Transformational Break 25:51 Creating Time for Self-Reflection 26:38 Returning to Google and Personal Growth 27:14 Birthday Reflections and Rose Girl 29:36 Navigating Career Changes and Coaching 30:32 The Importance of Pausing 33:31 Spirituality and Coaching 37:01 Embracing Change and Personal Development 40:43 The Power of Presence and Self-Awareness 43:20 The Magic of Pausing 45:02 Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendations In Episode 45 of The Page One Podcast, we get to hear my dear friend and author Rachel O'Meara discuss her groundbreaking book, PAUSE, which explores the powerful impact of taking intentional breaks to avoid burnout and find fulfillment. Rachel shares her personal decades-long journey of corporate burnout at Google and how a three-month unpaid leave transformed her life, leading her to become a transformational leadership and executive coach. The conversation delves into the importance of self-awareness, courage, and the transformative power of pausing. Rachael discusses her process of writing the book over a five year period and how the process had a positive impact on her life. We take a moment to reminisce about our experiences working together on PAUSE—me as her writing coach and she as a first time author— and the significance of listening to one's inner voice and making space for personal growth. The episode provides valuable insights for anyone feeling overwhelmed and seeking a path to a more satisfying and balanced life. If you’re wondering what’s next for you in your life, take a moment to hear Rachael’s wisdom and wonderful laughter. This is a great one to hear on a walk between holiday gatherings. I hope you enjoy it and discover the delight of what’s PAUSE-able. There’s so much value in taking time to find out what you want! Learn how to do that and so much more in Ep. 45. 02:24 The Power of the Pause 04:46 Rachel's Personal Journey 07:34 The Writing Process and Coaching 09:46 Courage and Commitment 19:05 The Importance of Pausing 24:44 Rachel's Transformational Break 25:51 Creating Time for Self-Reflection 26:38 Returning to Google and Personal Growth 27:14 Birthday Reflections and Rose Girl 29:36 Navigating Career Changes and Coaching 30:32 The Importance of Pausing 33:31 Spirituality and Coaching 37:01 Embracing Change and Personal Development 40:43 The Power of Presence and Self-Awareness 43:20 The Magic of Pausing 45:02 Closing Thoughts and Book Recommendations corporate life, rowing, courage, x-googler, leadership, craft, strength, writing craft, pause, host, writing coach, meaning, storytelling, corporate burnout, wisdom, thought leader, burnout, golden handcuffs, sabbatical, pause cast, leadership coach, career change, journey, listening, book clubs, purpose, athlete, women leaders, executive coach, google, non-fiction, rachael o'meara, producer, silicon valley, book coach, thrive, inspiration, holly lynn payne, books, women, women helping women false full 45 3169411f-4179-4a71-aa0c-019abd1a7ae1 Ep. 44: Kurt Wagner - Battle for The Bird Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kurt Wagner has been covering social media for more than a decade and has spent years writing about Twitter and its impact on society. He previously worked at the influential tech outlets Recode, Mashable, and Fortune. Kurt grew up near Seattle, went to college at Santa Clara University, and now lives in Denver with his family. You can follow him on Twitter or X @KurtWagner8.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 29 Nov 2024 15:15:00 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Kurt Wagner) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-44-kurt-wagner-battle-for-the-bird-5rivfBdX Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kurt Wagner has been covering social media for more than a decade and has spent years writing about Twitter and its impact on society. He previously worked at the influential tech outlets Recode, Mashable, and Fortune. Kurt grew up near Seattle, went to college at Santa Clara University, and now lives in Denver with his family. You can follow him on Twitter or X @KurtWagner8.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 44: Kurt Wagner - Battle for The Bird Holly Lynn Payne, Kurt Wagner 00:53:51 In Episode 44 , we interview Bloomberg journalist and author Kurt Wagner about his book, Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk and the $44 Billion Fight to Save Twitter’s Soul. The conversation explores the unexpected turns and challenges Wagner faced while writing this book. Intending at first to write a biography about Jack Dorsey, Wagner took an unforeseen detour when Elon Musk entered the scene and changed the trajectory of the narrative—and Dorsey’s vision. The ensuing transformation of the book’s theme illustrates the fluid yet chaotic nature of creating anything. Kurt’s meticulous research and tenacious pursuit of sources —including 150 interviews and interactions with 115 Twitter employees results in a narrative rich in detail, providing an inside look at a company—and a founder’s soul, caught between the fierce demands of activist investors and a compromised vision. The transition from short-form journalism to an expansive book format posed its challenges. Wagner reflects on the demands of outlining, crafting a coherent flow, and the importance of maintaining reader engagement throughout. He describes his disciplined routine during his three month book leave—a regimen of writing that required an unwavering focus akin to endurance sports. And bonus: Kurt shares some of his favorite sentences from other writers that he keeps on his phone. We get to hear him read a few—and share so much more. You'll love Kurt and Battle for the Bird! Hope you enjoy this episode. In Episode 44 , we interview Bloomberg journalist and author Kurt Wagner about his book, Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk and the $44 Billion Fight to Save Twitter’s Soul. The conversation explores the unexpected turns and challenges Wagner faced while writing this book. Intending at first to write a biography about Jack Dorsey, Wagner took an unforeseen detour when Elon Musk entered the scene and changed the trajectory of the narrative—and Dorsey’s vision. The ensuing transformation of the book’s theme illustrates the fluid yet chaotic nature of creating anything. Kurt’s meticulous research and tenacious pursuit of sources —including 150 interviews and interactions with 115 Twitter employees results in a narrative rich in detail, providing an inside look at a company—and a founder’s soul, caught between the fierce demands of activist investors and a compromised vision. The transition from short-form journalism to an expansive book format posed its challenges. Wagner reflects on the demands of outlining, crafting a coherent flow, and the importance of maintaining reader engagement throughout. He describes his disciplined routine during his three month book leave—a regimen of writing that required an unwavering focus akin to endurance sports. And bonus: Kurt shares some of his favorite sentences from other writers that he keeps on his phone. We get to hear him read a few—and share so much more. You'll love Kurt and Battle for the Bird! Hope you enjoy this episode. deadlines, twitter, storytelling, surrender, readers, jack dorsey, fatherhood, fiction, grace, research, takeover, san francisco history, journalist, women writers, technology, the world played chess, activist investor, devotion, x, illumination, writers, great books, perseverance, elliot mangement, elon musk, bloomberg, inspiration, journalism, books, kurt wagner, writing, tenacity false full 44 e9818156-7265-4d04-9725-94e7c1f593c7 Ep. 43: Rachel Lehmann-Haupt - RECONCEPTIONS Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Rachel Lehmann-Haupt, is an award winning science writer and one of the nation’s premier experts on the future of family life. Her first book, In Her Own Sweet Time: Egg Freezing and The New Frontiers of Family is a pioneering work and deeply engaging memoir on how she harnessed advances in reproductive technologies to have more control over when she chose to become a mother—something she coined as becoming a “DIY parent.” She is also the ghostwriter of the New York Times Bestselling book, The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine, which has been translated into more than thirty languages, and sold nearly a million copies.​

Lehmann-Haupt has been profiled by the Chicago Tribune for her practical and brave choice to freeze her eggs when she was thirty-seven and has been quoted on the front page of the New York Times.  She has appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, NPR’s Talk of the Nation,and  the Wall Street Journal’s Lunch Break. In her writing and public speaking, shel offers life strategies for the most relevant social trends that intimately affect women’s lives. Her writing has been featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, O Magazine, Self, Vogue, Outside, Wired, Business Week, and Neo.Life. She is the founder of StoryMade Studio a boutique storytelling and editing studio and lives in the Bay Area with her son.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 30 Oct 2024 23:18:58 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Rachel Lehmann-Haupt) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-43-rachel-lehmann-haupt-reconceptions-wYlNJFS2 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Rachel Lehmann-Haupt, is an award winning science writer and one of the nation’s premier experts on the future of family life. Her first book, In Her Own Sweet Time: Egg Freezing and The New Frontiers of Family is a pioneering work and deeply engaging memoir on how she harnessed advances in reproductive technologies to have more control over when she chose to become a mother—something she coined as becoming a “DIY parent.” She is also the ghostwriter of the New York Times Bestselling book, The Female Brain by Dr. Louann Brizendine, which has been translated into more than thirty languages, and sold nearly a million copies.​

Lehmann-Haupt has been profiled by the Chicago Tribune for her practical and brave choice to freeze her eggs when she was thirty-seven and has been quoted on the front page of the New York Times.  She has appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America, NPR’s Talk of the Nation,and  the Wall Street Journal’s Lunch Break. In her writing and public speaking, shel offers life strategies for the most relevant social trends that intimately affect women’s lives. Her writing has been featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, O Magazine, Self, Vogue, Outside, Wired, Business Week, and Neo.Life. She is the founder of StoryMade Studio a boutique storytelling and editing studio and lives in the Bay Area with her son.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 43: Rachel Lehmann-Haupt - RECONCEPTIONS Holly Payne, Rachel Lehmann-Haupt 00:37:21 In Ep. 43, we take a close look at the creative brain of Rachel Lehmann-Haupt, an award-winning science writer and expert on the future of family life. We explore her latest work, Reconceptions, and the fascinating journey behind her path to becoming a science writer which was deeply influenced by her journalism background and personal life. From ghostwriting the bestseller The Female Brain to exploring topics like egg freezing and modern family structures, Rachel has carved a niche in science storytelling. She opens up about her upcoming project, The Literary Brain, an exploration inspired by her late father, the former literary critic for the New York Times. She intends to weave family history with neuroscience, examining storytelling's genetic links across generations and how writing literally optimizes your health. Rachel also discusses her admiration for Joan Didion and how her poignant prose in The Year of Magical Thinking is inspiring her next work. There’s a whole lot of good stuff packed into this intimate conversation between two friends, writers, and single mothers who are forging new paths into being professional writers in modern times. In Ep. 43, we take a close look at the creative brain of Rachel Lehmann-Haupt, an award-winning science writer and expert on the future of family life. We explore her latest work, Reconceptions, and the fascinating journey behind her path to becoming a science writer which was deeply influenced by her journalism background and personal life. From ghostwriting the bestseller The Female Brain to exploring topics like egg freezing and modern family structures, Rachel has carved a niche in science storytelling. She opens up about her upcoming project, The Literary Brain, an exploration inspired by her late father, the former literary critic for the New York Times. She intends to weave family history with neuroscience, examining storytelling's genetic links across generations and how writing literally optimizes your health. Rachel also discusses her admiration for Joan Didion and how her poignant prose in The Year of Magical Thinking is inspiring her next work. There’s a whole lot of good stuff packed into this intimate conversation between two friends, writers, and single mothers who are forging new paths into being professional writers in modern times. revisions, science writing, reconception, brave, fertility, storytelling, science writers, successful women, literary, women's fiction, literature, houseboats, san francisco history, women writers, mother jones, modern history, reproductive rights, new york city, creative writing, writers, podcast, creativity, mid life crisis, single moms, inspiration, indian american writers, writing false full 43 28f40cbe-dba8-42e5-b0a4-4b0e8ef11b1c Ep. 42: Crystal King - In the Garden of Monsters Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Crystal King’s latest book In The Garden of Monsters was published by Mira. King is also the author of The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was a Must Read for the MassBook Awards. Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she served as the former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. In addition to her literary gifts, fueled by a passion for the food, language and culture of Italy, King is a culinary enthusiast and marketing expert. With an MA in critical thinking, she has taught writing, creativity and social media at multiple universities including Boston University, UMass, Mass College of Art, Grub Street and Harvard Extension. A native of the Pacific Northwest, King has made Boston her home. You can find her and lots of wonderful offerings at crystalking.com and IG @crystallyn14.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2024 18:08:19 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-42-crystal-king-in-the-garden-of-monsters-LCU9Ilt3 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Crystal King’s latest book In The Garden of Monsters was published by Mira. King is also the author of The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, which was long-listed for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and was a Must Read for the MassBook Awards. Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she served as the former co-editor of the online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. In addition to her literary gifts, fueled by a passion for the food, language and culture of Italy, King is a culinary enthusiast and marketing expert. With an MA in critical thinking, she has taught writing, creativity and social media at multiple universities including Boston University, UMass, Mass College of Art, Grub Street and Harvard Extension. A native of the Pacific Northwest, King has made Boston her home. You can find her and lots of wonderful offerings at crystalking.com and IG @crystallyn14.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 42: Crystal King - In the Garden of Monsters Holly Lynn Payne 00:55:03 In Episode 42 of the Page One Episode we get to hear author Crystal King discuss her latest novel, In the Garden of Monsters, a gothic fantasy published by Mira. We discuss the courage it took to take a double dare, not only to write in a new genre, but to write for the market. Of course we delve into the artistry of writing the prologue in this novel and the first chapter, with insights into how setting up parameters, in this case, making the story timeline fit into one week made the novel that much better. King shares insights into working with her editor and her research on the enigmatic Italian garden featured in the story, working with historical figures like Salvador Dali, as well as her strategic use of marketing and AI tools in staying relevant and successful. King's unique approach offers valuable wisdom for both seasoned authors and aspiring writers. I hope you love this episode as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please tell me what you think on IG @hollylynnpayne Thank you and happy listening! 00:38 Meet Crystal King: Author and Culinary Enthusiast 02:11 Summary of 'In the Garden of Monsters' 04:19 The Importance of Prologues 04:49 Crystal King Reads the Prologue 06:35 Exploring the Myth of Hades and Persephone 07:47 Setting the Stage: Bomarzo and Salvador Dali 11:19 Crafting a Gothic Novel 12:11 Diving into Chapter One 16:29 The Role of Editors in Shaping a Novel 21:58 Research and Historical Accuracy 29:00 Navigating Feedback and Authenticity in Writing 29:30 The Challenges of Publishing During the Pandemic 29:53 Balancing Market Demands with Story Integrity 30:25 The Importance of Complex Characters in Fiction 31:06 Rejection and Resilience in the Publishing World 32:05 The Role of Marketing in a Writing Career 33:37 Exploring Genre and Literary Fiction 37:32 Researching Market Trends for Writing Success 39:45 The Impact of AI on Writing and Publishing 50:34 Current Reads and Inspirations In Episode 42 of the Page One Episode we get to hear author Crystal King discuss her latest novel, In the Garden of Monsters, a gothic fantasy published by Mira. We discuss the courage it took to take a double dare, not only to write in a new genre, but to write for the market. Of course we delve into the artistry of writing the prologue in this novel and the first chapter, with insights into how setting up parameters, in this case, making the story timeline fit into one week made the novel that much better. King shares insights into working with her editor and her research on the enigmatic Italian garden featured in the story, working with historical figures like Salvador Dali, as well as her strategic use of marketing and AI tools in staying relevant and successful. King's unique approach offers valuable wisdom for both seasoned authors and aspiring writers. I hope you love this episode as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please tell me what you think on IG @hollylynnpayne Thank you and happy listening! 00:38 Meet Crystal King: Author and Culinary Enthusiast 02:11 Summary of 'In the Garden of Monsters' 04:19 The Importance of Prologues 04:49 Crystal King Reads the Prologue 06:35 Exploring the Myth of Hades and Persephone 07:47 Setting the Stage: Bomarzo and Salvador Dali 11:19 Crafting a Gothic Novel 12:11 Diving into Chapter One 16:29 The Role of Editors in Shaping a Novel 21:58 Research and Historical Accuracy 29:00 Navigating Feedback and Authenticity in Writing 29:30 The Challenges of Publishing During the Pandemic 29:53 Balancing Market Demands with Story Integrity 30:25 The Importance of Complex Characters in Fiction 31:06 Rejection and Resilience in the Publishing World 32:05 The Role of Marketing in a Writing Career 33:37 Exploring Genre and Literary Fiction 37:32 Researching Market Trends for Writing Success 39:45 The Impact of AI on Writing and Publishing 50:34 Current Reads and Inspirations false full 42 1b4a7314-b4d0-4243-9724-4b77684b8016 Ep. 41: Ellen Hopkins - Sync Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Ellen Hopkins is a poet, a former journalist. With more than 5 millions books in print, Hopkins is the  award-winning author of twenty nonfiction books for young readers, fourteen bestselling young-adult novels, two middle grade novels and four novels for adult readers. SYNC is her fifteenth YA novel-in-verse. After six decades in the west, Ellen recently moved with her extended family and two German shepherds to a lovely log home on five acres of Missouri woods.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 29 Aug 2024 17:02:35 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-41-ellen-hopkins-sync-8NCGH_uF Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Ellen Hopkins is a poet, a former journalist. With more than 5 millions books in print, Hopkins is the  award-winning author of twenty nonfiction books for young readers, fourteen bestselling young-adult novels, two middle grade novels and four novels for adult readers. SYNC is her fifteenth YA novel-in-verse. After six decades in the west, Ellen recently moved with her extended family and two German shepherds to a lovely log home on five acres of Missouri woods.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 41: Ellen Hopkins - Sync Holly Lynn Payne 00:53:15 In Episode 41, we have the honor of talking with the most banned author in the world and #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins, about her latest book, SYNC—a riveting story about two teenage twins separated in the foster care system. After co-founding the youth program Sierra Ventana in Reno, Nevada with her daughter to help get kids off the street, Hopkins was driven to share what she learned and observed about the challenges foster kids face once they ‘age out’ of the system. As her fifteenth book written in verse, SYNC represents Ellen’s hallmark style, blending her love of poetry and crisp prose that makes her work accessible to teen readers. “ I wanted to reach readers who weren't readers and verse hits reluctant readers right where they need to be because nothing's overwhelming on the page.” Her debut CRANK put her on the map of literary greatness and cultivated a groundswell of teen fans who often see Ellen Hopkins as the kind of mother they never had. I can’t think of another writer with a more humanitarian and literary mission—serving young people with the truth they need to navigate an ever changing world that too often terrifies them. Ellen’s deep compassion for young people and her commitment to social issues keeps her focused on her writing, despite the decades-long controversies surrounding her books. Perhaps even more inspiring is her commitment to telling the truth. I hope you enjoy this intimate conversation with a very grounded, big hearted and courageous storyteller. With more than five million books in print, there is no stopping this literary force. In Episode 41, we have the honor of talking with the most banned author in the world and #1 New York Times bestselling author, Ellen Hopkins, about her latest book, SYNC—a riveting story about two teenage twins separated in the foster care system. After co-founding the youth program Sierra Ventana in Reno, Nevada with her daughter to help get kids off the street, Hopkins was driven to share what she learned and observed about the challenges foster kids face once they ‘age out’ of the system. As her fifteenth book written in verse, SYNC represents Ellen’s hallmark style, blending her love of poetry and crisp prose that makes her work accessible to teen readers. “ I wanted to reach readers who weren't readers and verse hits reluctant readers right where they need to be because nothing's overwhelming on the page.” Her debut CRANK put her on the map of literary greatness and cultivated a groundswell of teen fans who often see Ellen Hopkins as the kind of mother they never had. I can’t think of another writer with a more humanitarian and literary mission—serving young people with the truth they need to navigate an ever changing world that too often terrifies them. Ellen’s deep compassion for young people and her commitment to social issues keeps her focused on her writing, despite the decades-long controversies surrounding her books. Perhaps even more inspiring is her commitment to telling the truth. I hope you enjoy this intimate conversation with a very grounded, big hearted and courageous storyteller. With more than five million books in print, there is no stopping this literary force. false full 41 4dfa2511-02c8-4489-b052-8571c599f12d Ep. 40: Nina Schuyler - In This Ravishing World Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Nina Schuyler is an award winning author and esteemed professor of writing. Her latest book, a short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature. Her last novel, Afterword, was published by Clash Books and illuminates the power and dangers of AI. She is also the author of The Translator, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. Nina teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and offers classes at the independent  bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California where she is an outdoor enthusiast. You can find her at ninaschuyler.com and follow her on IG @ninaschuler.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes. 

You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community.

If you're interested in a book about female resilience, click here to get a FREE E-BOOK of my latest novel, Rose Girl! 
And if you have read the book, please leave a review! Thank you for your support! Be well and keep reading. 

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:55:36 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Nina Schuyler) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-40-nina-schuyler-in-this-ravishing-world-EGb1MmuX Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Nina Schuyler is an award winning author and esteemed professor of writing. Her latest book, a short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature. Her last novel, Afterword, was published by Clash Books and illuminates the power and dangers of AI. She is also the author of The Translator, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. Nina teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and offers classes at the independent  bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California where she is an outdoor enthusiast. You can find her at ninaschuyler.com and follow her on IG @ninaschuler.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes. 

You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community.

If you're interested in a book about female resilience, click here to get a FREE E-BOOK of my latest novel, Rose Girl! 
And if you have read the book, please leave a review! Thank you for your support! Be well and keep reading. 

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 40: Nina Schuyler - In This Ravishing World Holly Payne, Nina Schuyler 00:57:16 In Episode 40 of the Page One Podcast, host Holly Payne interviews award-winning author Nina Schuyler about her latest short story collection, In This Ravishing World, winner of the WS Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature, which explores themes of climate change and the natural world in nine interrelated stories. Bestselling author Karen Joy Fowler describes it as "powerfully beautiful and beautifully powerful." This is not a dystopian narrative, but a powerful set of connected stories that instills hope. In This Ravishing World is an act of literary activism that reminds us of nature’s restorative power and our role in preserving it. If you seek inspiration and a renewed connection with the natural world, this book is a must-read. Schulyer discusses the inspiration behind the collection, the interconnectedness of nature, and the choice to anthropomorphize nature as the narrator. Schuyler also shares insights into her writing process and the importance of collective effort in addressing the climate crisis. The episode offers a deep dive into Schuyler’s broader body of work, and makes for an intimate, compelling conversation into the craft of writing. If you’ve ever wanted to learn from one of the best writing teachers in the country, this episode is especially for you! Enjoy it and be well! In Episode 40 of the Page One Podcast, host Holly Payne interviews award-winning author Nina Schuyler about her latest short story collection, In This Ravishing World, winner of the WS Porter Prize and the Prism Prize for Climate Literature, which explores themes of climate change and the natural world in nine interrelated stories. Bestselling author Karen Joy Fowler describes it as "powerfully beautiful and beautifully powerful." This is not a dystopian narrative, but a powerful set of connected stories that instills hope. In This Ravishing World is an act of literary activism that reminds us of nature’s restorative power and our role in preserving it. If you seek inspiration and a renewed connection with the natural world, this book is a must-read. Schulyer discusses the inspiration behind the collection, the interconnectedness of nature, and the choice to anthropomorphize nature as the narrator. Schuyler also shares insights into her writing process and the importance of collective effort in addressing the climate crisis. The episode offers a deep dive into Schuyler’s broader body of work, and makes for an intimate, compelling conversation into the craft of writing. If you’ve ever wanted to learn from one of the best writing teachers in the country, this episode is especially for you! Enjoy it and be well! positivity, climate change, anthrolpology, short stories, mother earth, acting, hope, ws porter prize, agency, family life, earth, literature, award-winning writers, global warming, family saga, science, mfa, nature, writing podcast, humanity, authors, writers, nina schuyler, father-son relationships, dystopian, stories, writing false full 40 e065d58e-28c7-45fc-bc28-11d6afb11fa0 Ep. 39: Kevin Smokler - Brat Pack America Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kevin Smokler is a writer, documentary filmmaker and purveyor of pop culture.  He’s the author of the four books Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies (2016), the essay collection Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven’t Touched Since High School (2013) and worked as the editor of “Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times,” A San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His essays and criticism have appeared in the LA Times, Salon, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Vulture, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Decider and on NPR. He is also the co-director and co-producer of the documentary film Vinyl Nation about the contemporary renaissance of vinyl records in America. Kevin has lectured and taught at Comic Con, MIT, South by Southwest, The LA Times Festival of Books and The Commonwealth Club of California. He serves as a Creator-in-Residence for The Battery in San Francisco and sits on the board of Zyzzvya Magazine. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, he lives in San Francisco with his wife. His most recent book, BREAK THE FRAME: CONVERSATIONS with WOMEN FILMMAKERS comes out next year from Oxford University Press. You can find and follow Kevin on Twitter @weegee and his website kevinsmokler.com

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Sat, 29 Jun 2024 15:47:47 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Kevin Smokler, Holly Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-39-kevin-smokler-brat-pack-america-ypTI60a6 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kevin Smokler is a writer, documentary filmmaker and purveyor of pop culture.  He’s the author of the four books Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to 80s Teen Movies (2016), the essay collection Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books you Haven’t Touched Since High School (2013) and worked as the editor of “Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times,” A San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book of 2005. His essays and criticism have appeared in the LA Times, Salon, Fast Company, BuzzFeed, Vulture, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Decider and on NPR. He is also the co-director and co-producer of the documentary film Vinyl Nation about the contemporary renaissance of vinyl records in America. Kevin has lectured and taught at Comic Con, MIT, South by Southwest, The LA Times Festival of Books and The Commonwealth Club of California. He serves as a Creator-in-Residence for The Battery in San Francisco and sits on the board of Zyzzvya Magazine. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, he lives in San Francisco with his wife. His most recent book, BREAK THE FRAME: CONVERSATIONS with WOMEN FILMMAKERS comes out next year from Oxford University Press. You can find and follow Kevin on Twitter @weegee and his website kevinsmokler.com

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Tune in and reach out:

If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 39: Kevin Smokler - Brat Pack America Kevin Smokler, Holly Payne 00:50:54 Ep. 39 of the Page One Podcast engages in a captivating conversation with Kevin Smokler, writer, documentary filmmaker, and purveyor of pop culture, known for his books like Brat Pack America and the upcoming Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers. Smokler’s candid discussion about the pressures of writing and meeting multiple deadlines provides invaluable insights into the behind-the-scenes struggles of prolific authors. One highlight is his reading the opening paragraph from his recent essay on the 40th anniversary of the largest mass murder in California's history. The powerful first sentence emphasizes the importance of evoking emotion and curiosity to create a visceral connection with readers from the very beginning. Ep. 39 of the Page One Podcast engages in a captivating conversation with Kevin Smokler, writer, documentary filmmaker, and purveyor of pop culture, known for his books like Brat Pack America and the upcoming Break the Frame: Conversations with Women Filmmakers. Smokler’s candid discussion about the pressures of writing and meeting multiple deadlines provides invaluable insights into the behind-the-scenes struggles of prolific authors. One highlight is his reading the opening paragraph from his recent essay on the 40th anniversary of the largest mass murder in California's history. The powerful first sentence emphasizes the importance of evoking emotion and curiosity to create a visceral connection with readers from the very beginning. culture, positivity, deadlines, musings, documentary filmmaker, storytelling, eb white, creative flow, vinyl, records, charlotte's web, holly payne, content creators, 80s teen movies, women writers, writing community, writers, creativity, love, kevin smokler, inspiration, friendship, writing false full 39 f3821a29-2e34-477b-b3b3-aac3575b22fb Ep. 38: Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) Poison for Breakfast Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books. Today's episode is a republishing of Ep. 6 because Holly was in the hospital. She'll explain why.

About the guest author:

Daniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and, Bottle Grove and most recently Poison for Breakfast, his first book for readers of all ages published by Liveright/W.W. Norton.

As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award. 

Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Reperatory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).

His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards. He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.

You may also find him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, IMDB, and purchase his books via Upstream(for signed copies), Indiebound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast, where master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles behind the critical first page of their books. If you liked this episode, please share it on social, leave a review on your favorite podcast players and tell your friends! 

I hope you enjoy this labor of love as much as I love hosting, producing, and editing it. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my newsletter at www.hollylynnpayne.com with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. 

 

For the love of books and writers,

Holly Lynn Payne
@hollylynnpayne
www.hollylynnpayne.com

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 30 May 2024 00:15:15 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Daniel Handler, Hillary Blake Hamilton) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-38-daniel-handler-lemony-snicket-poison-for-breakfast-KDcBu5kT Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books. Today's episode is a republishing of Ep. 6 because Holly was in the hospital. She'll explain why.

About the guest author:

Daniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and, Bottle Grove and most recently Poison for Breakfast, his first book for readers of all ages published by Liveright/W.W. Norton.

As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award. 

Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Reperatory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).

His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards. He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.

You may also find him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, IMDB, and purchase his books via Upstream(for signed copies), Indiebound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast, where master storytellers discuss the stories and struggles behind the critical first page of their books. If you liked this episode, please share it on social, leave a review on your favorite podcast players and tell your friends! 

I hope you enjoy this labor of love as much as I love hosting, producing, and editing it. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my newsletter at www.hollylynnpayne.com with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. 

 

For the love of books and writers,

Holly Lynn Payne
@hollylynnpayne
www.hollylynnpayne.com

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 38: Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) Poison for Breakfast Holly Payne, Daniel Handler, Hillary Blake Hamilton 00:57:35 In Episode 38, we interview beloved author, Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, about his book, Poison for Breakfast, a new stand-alone adventure appropriate for all ages. In Lemony Snicket’s long and suspicious career, he has investigated many things, including villainy, treachery, conspiracy, boredom, and various suspicious fires. In this book, he is investigating his own death—and the concept of bewilderment. Poison for Breakfast is quite possibly different from any book you’ve ever read. And this episode is different from any Page One podcast you’ve heard as Daniel engages an unknown author, the courageous Hilary Hamilton, about the first page of her book in progress, Boobs. There is nothing quite like bewilderment—and boobs. WARNING: if you don’t like to laugh, you will not like this episode. If you don’t like books, libraries or pondering uncertainty, please do not listen to Episode 38. And if you don’t like stories about poison—and truth, as related to breast cancer, please, DO NOT listen to this episode. However, if you like an adventure of the heart, listen up. You will be pleasantly bewildered. (This is a rebroadcast of Episode 6 with a new introduction. Holly was in the hospital... she'll tell you why). In Episode 38, we interview beloved author, Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, about his book, Poison for Breakfast, a new stand-alone adventure appropriate for all ages. In Lemony Snicket’s long and suspicious career, he has investigated many things, including villainy, treachery, conspiracy, boredom, and various suspicious fires. In this book, he is investigating his own death—and the concept of bewilderment. Poison for Breakfast is quite possibly different from any book you’ve ever read. And this episode is different from any Page One podcast you’ve heard as Daniel engages an unknown author, the courageous Hilary Hamilton, about the first page of her book in progress, Boobs. There is nothing quite like bewilderment—and boobs. WARNING: if you don’t like to laugh, you will not like this episode. If you don’t like books, libraries or pondering uncertainty, please do not listen to Episode 38. And if you don’t like stories about poison—and truth, as related to breast cancer, please, DO NOT listen to this episode. However, if you like an adventure of the heart, listen up. You will be pleasantly bewildered. (This is a rebroadcast of Episode 6 with a new introduction. Holly was in the hospital... she'll tell you why). first page, breast cancer, survival, surivalists, surrender, trust, lemony snicket, kids, death, libraries, daniel handler, bewilderment, master storytellers, story, adults, cancer, creativity, mystery, love, lies, inspiration, books, writing false full 38 3ba2afb4-594d-4329-9d8a-c826f798a99e Ep. 37: Jason Roberts: Every Living Thing Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Known as “the rescuer of forgotten history,” Jason Roberts’ debut work of non-fiction, A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest Traveler, was a national bestseller and finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Jason writes both fiction and non-fiction and is a contributor to The Village Voice, McSweeney’s, The Believer, and other publications. He is also the inaugural winner of the Van Zorn Prize for emerging writers sponsored by Michael Chabon. He lives in Oakland, California, in partnership with the journalist Julia Scott and is a board member of the Community of Writers, and a frequent member of its teaching faculty. His latest book, Every Living Thing: The Great & Deadly Race to Know All of Life is available everywhere you love to find books.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 26 Apr 2024 19:51:26 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Jason Roberts) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-37-jason-roberts-every-living-thing-Y19khB7U Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Known as “the rescuer of forgotten history,” Jason Roberts’ debut work of non-fiction, A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History’s Greatest Traveler, was a national bestseller and finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Jason writes both fiction and non-fiction and is a contributor to The Village Voice, McSweeney’s, The Believer, and other publications. He is also the inaugural winner of the Van Zorn Prize for emerging writers sponsored by Michael Chabon. He lives in Oakland, California, in partnership with the journalist Julia Scott and is a board member of the Community of Writers, and a frequent member of its teaching faculty. His latest book, Every Living Thing: The Great & Deadly Race to Know All of Life is available everywhere you love to find books.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 37: Jason Roberts: Every Living Thing Holly Lynn Payne, Jason Roberts 00:52:53 In Episode 37, we discuss the art and science of storytelling with bestselling, award-winning author, Jason Roberts, whose latest feat of non-fiction, Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All of Life was just published by Random House. Known as “the rescuer of forgotten history,” Jason has deftly created a dual biography that brings to light the opposing scientific philosophies of the French savants Carl Linneaus and Georges-Louis de Buffon and their life-long mission to know the same thing: all living species on earth. What fascinates me most about Jason’s process with this book is that after three years writing it, he came to a dead end, but the story wasn’t over. In fact, it has only just begun. Much like the early scientists he was studying, Jason realized the story he had discovered was about how failures become stepping stones to greater understanding. I can’t think of a more potent parallel to the writing process and birthing a book. In this special episode with my dear friend, we dive deep into the importance of the pursuit of ‘unknowing’ and how to seduce a reader from page one. If you’re curious how a master storyteller crafts vivid historical narratives, Jason Roberts shares insights and hard-won wisdom about making a daunting task appear easy and even more importantly, something that readers will find deeply meaningful. I hope you enjoy this conversation while you walk, hike, clean, drive or find yourself cozy on the couch! Jason is a gem. In Episode 37, we discuss the art and science of storytelling with bestselling, award-winning author, Jason Roberts, whose latest feat of non-fiction, Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All of Life was just published by Random House. Known as “the rescuer of forgotten history,” Jason has deftly created a dual biography that brings to light the opposing scientific philosophies of the French savants Carl Linneaus and Georges-Louis de Buffon and their life-long mission to know the same thing: all living species on earth. What fascinates me most about Jason’s process with this book is that after three years writing it, he came to a dead end, but the story wasn’t over. In fact, it has only just begun. Much like the early scientists he was studying, Jason realized the story he had discovered was about how failures become stepping stones to greater understanding. I can’t think of a more potent parallel to the writing process and birthing a book. In this special episode with my dear friend, we dive deep into the importance of the pursuit of ‘unknowing’ and how to seduce a reader from page one. If you’re curious how a master storyteller crafts vivid historical narratives, Jason Roberts shares insights and hard-won wisdom about making a daunting task appear easy and even more importantly, something that readers will find deeply meaningful. I hope you enjoy this conversation while you walk, hike, clean, drive or find yourself cozy on the couch! Jason is a gem. climate change, experiments, failure, science research, ecology, trust, historical fiction, fiction, savants, linneas, botany, buffon, writers, discovering, inspiration, mythology, every living thing false full 37 c0102be5-73a3-4bc0-8ce3-35dd567de39a Ep. 36: Ramona Ausubel - THE LAST ANIMAL Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Ramona Ausubel is an award winning author of three novels and two short story collections. Her latest book, THE LAST ANIMAL, published by Riverhead, was named Best Book of The Year by Oprah Daily, NPR and Kirkus Reviews. Her debut novel, NO ONE IS HERE EXCEPT ALL OF US was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and winner of both the PEN USA Fiction Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. It was also named  one of the Best Books of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Huffington Post as well as being a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, the California and Colorado Book Awards, longlisted for the Story  Prize Frank O’Connor International Story Award and and nominated for the International Impac Dublin Literary Award.

A native of New Mexico, Ausubel holds an MFA from the University of California, Irvine where she won the Glenn Schaeffer Award in Fiction. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, The New York Times, NPR’s Selected Shorts, One Story, Electric Literature, Ploughshares, The Oxford American, and collected in The Best American Fantasy and online in The Paris Review. She has also been a finalist for the prestigious Puschart Prize and a Fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. She has taught at Tin House, The Community of Writers, Writing by Writers, the Low-Residency MFA programs at the Institute of American Indian Arts and Bennington. She is currently an assistant professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Thank you for listening! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:35:06 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Ramona Ausubel) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-36-ramona-ausubel-the-last-animal-hQIZ3ktD Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Ramona Ausubel is an award winning author of three novels and two short story collections. Her latest book, THE LAST ANIMAL, published by Riverhead, was named Best Book of The Year by Oprah Daily, NPR and Kirkus Reviews. Her debut novel, NO ONE IS HERE EXCEPT ALL OF US was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and winner of both the PEN USA Fiction Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. It was also named  one of the Best Books of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Huffington Post as well as being a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, the California and Colorado Book Awards, longlisted for the Story  Prize Frank O’Connor International Story Award and and nominated for the International Impac Dublin Literary Award.

A native of New Mexico, Ausubel holds an MFA from the University of California, Irvine where she won the Glenn Schaeffer Award in Fiction. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Tin House, The New York Times, NPR’s Selected Shorts, One Story, Electric Literature, Ploughshares, The Oxford American, and collected in The Best American Fantasy and online in The Paris Review. She has also been a finalist for the prestigious Puschart Prize and a Fellow at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. She has taught at Tin House, The Community of Writers, Writing by Writers, the Low-Residency MFA programs at the Institute of American Indian Arts and Bennington. She is currently an assistant professor at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Thank you for listening! Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 36: Ramona Ausubel - THE LAST ANIMAL Holly Payne, Ramona Ausubel 00:52:20 In Episode 36, we interview the wonderful and engaging, award-winning author Ramona Ausubel about her latest novel, THE LAST ANIMAL, published by Riverhead, and named Best Book of The Year by Oprah Daily, NPR and Kirkus Reviews. Her debut novel, NO ONE IS HERE EXCEPT ALL OF US, was a New York Times Editor’s Choice, winner of both the PEN USA Fiction Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, and her two collections of short stories have also stacked up many well-deserved accolades. THE LAST ANIMAL is my first introduction to Ausubel’s work, and I have to be honest, I am blown away by her talent. What I enjoyed most in this conversation was her refreshing approach to finding the story through a ‘half draft’ technique that she discusses at length. I am going to try it myself! It might just help you start writing your book too. This was such a fun conversation between two working moms, writing teachers, and destined ‘Book Sisters.’ I loved hearing Ausubel’s energy and learning about her passionate writing journey for all her works. She reminds us about the importance of curiosity, persistence and the sheer joy of bringing stories to life (and in the case of THE LAST ANIMAL, an extinct baby woolly mammoth). Maybe it’s the Colorado air of which she breathes, but this one is full of magic. Hope you enjoy it! In Episode 36, we interview the wonderful and engaging, award-winning author Ramona Ausubel about her latest novel, THE LAST ANIMAL, published by Riverhead, and named Best Book of The Year by Oprah Daily, NPR and Kirkus Reviews. Her debut novel, NO ONE IS HERE EXCEPT ALL OF US, was a New York Times Editor’s Choice, winner of both the PEN USA Fiction Award and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, and her two collections of short stories have also stacked up many well-deserved accolades. THE LAST ANIMAL is my first introduction to Ausubel’s work, and I have to be honest, I am blown away by her talent. What I enjoyed most in this conversation was her refreshing approach to finding the story through a ‘half draft’ technique that she discusses at length. I am going to try it myself! It might just help you start writing your book too. This was such a fun conversation between two working moms, writing teachers, and destined ‘Book Sisters.’ I loved hearing Ausubel’s energy and learning about her passionate writing journey for all her works. She reminds us about the importance of curiosity, persistence and the sheer joy of bringing stories to life (and in the case of THE LAST ANIMAL, an extinct baby woolly mammoth). Maybe it’s the Colorado air of which she breathes, but this one is full of magic. Hope you enjoy it! dna, craft, adventure, the vintner's daughter, colorado history, fiction, women's fiction, holly payne, persistence, equity, women writers, writing podcast, the last animal, first drafts, authors, wooly mammoth, teenage girls, inspiration, ramona ausubel, animal lovers, revision, writing false full 36 346d801a-ed8b-4ed3-b77e-bc07bc7dcd28 Ep. 35: Robin Oliveira - A Wild and Heavenly Place Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Robin Oliveira is an award-winning NYT bestselling author of four books. Her latest historical novel, A WILD AND HEAVENLY PLACE is a sweeping tale about the birth of Seattle and two star-crossed lovers that discover it. Her debut novel, MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER won the prestigious Shaara Prize Winner for Civil War Fiction and was an instant NYT bestseller about medicine and nursing in the civil war and inspired by her background as a nurse specializing in Critical Care and Bone Marrow Transplants, which we will get into a bit today. Robin holds a B.A. in Russian and studied at the Pushkin Language Institute in Moscow when Russia was still the USSR. In addition to a degree in nursing, she holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is known for her meticulous research which helps her create compelling and authentic story worlds as she does in her second novel, I Always Loved You, which traces the lives of the Impressionists in Paris, France. Her third novel, Winter Sisters, explores the disappearance of two little girls during an historic blizzard in Albany, N.Y., When she is not writing or reading - her favorite activity, she loves to travel, cycle and hike near her home outside Seattle. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her recent novel, ROSE GIRL is an Amazon bestseller, earned a prestigious Kirkus starred Review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. She earned her MFA from USC, BA in journalism from University of Richmond and has served on the faculty of Stanford, San Francisco State University, California College of the Arts and the Academy of Art University. To contact her or learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne. 

Stay in touch:

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is kept private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the base of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of this loving, creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:56:25 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Robin Oliveira, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-35-robin-oliveira-a-wild-and-heavenly-place-Qz9znXeu Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Robin Oliveira is an award-winning NYT bestselling author of four books. Her latest historical novel, A WILD AND HEAVENLY PLACE is a sweeping tale about the birth of Seattle and two star-crossed lovers that discover it. Her debut novel, MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER won the prestigious Shaara Prize Winner for Civil War Fiction and was an instant NYT bestseller about medicine and nursing in the civil war and inspired by her background as a nurse specializing in Critical Care and Bone Marrow Transplants, which we will get into a bit today. Robin holds a B.A. in Russian and studied at the Pushkin Language Institute in Moscow when Russia was still the USSR. In addition to a degree in nursing, she holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is known for her meticulous research which helps her create compelling and authentic story worlds as she does in her second novel, I Always Loved You, which traces the lives of the Impressionists in Paris, France. Her third novel, Winter Sisters, explores the disappearance of two little girls during an historic blizzard in Albany, N.Y., When she is not writing or reading - her favorite activity, she loves to travel, cycle and hike near her home outside Seattle. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her recent novel, ROSE GIRL is an Amazon bestseller, earned a prestigious Kirkus starred Review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. She earned her MFA from USC, BA in journalism from University of Richmond and has served on the faculty of Stanford, San Francisco State University, California College of the Arts and the Academy of Art University. To contact her or learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne. 

Stay in touch:

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is kept private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the base of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of this loving, creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 35: Robin Oliveira - A Wild and Heavenly Place Robin Oliveira, Holly Lynn Payne 00:55:42 In EPISODE 35, we interview Robin Oliveira the award-winning NYT bestselling author of MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER, which won the prestigious Shaara Prize Winner for Civil War Fiction. Her latest historical novel, A WILD AND HEAVENLY PLACE, is a sweeping tale about the birth of Seattle and two star-crossed lovers that discover it. This is a poignant and lyrical book and love letter to the Pacific Northwest. I had no idea that Seattle was rooted in coal mining before I plunged into Robin’s latest saga. We had the delight of discussing the mystery of showing up to the page without a plot, the pleasure of deep research, navigating the inevitable toil of revision, and how to reconcile the very private act of writing with the public act of publishing. Robin is humble, full of heart and one of my new heroes in writing, who at the age of 70 is engaging with the craft more effortlessly than ever. This is a risk taker at her core, another badass woman writer who you will respect, admire and whose wisdom will benefit you immensely. Please enjoy this beautiful hour in her presence. In EPISODE 35, we interview Robin Oliveira the award-winning NYT bestselling author of MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER, which won the prestigious Shaara Prize Winner for Civil War Fiction. Her latest historical novel, A WILD AND HEAVENLY PLACE, is a sweeping tale about the birth of Seattle and two star-crossed lovers that discover it. This is a poignant and lyrical book and love letter to the Pacific Northwest. I had no idea that Seattle was rooted in coal mining before I plunged into Robin’s latest saga. We had the delight of discussing the mystery of showing up to the page without a plot, the pleasure of deep research, navigating the inevitable toil of revision, and how to reconcile the very private act of writing with the public act of publishing. Robin is humble, full of heart and one of my new heroes in writing, who at the age of 70 is engaging with the craft more effortlessly than ever. This is a risk taker at her core, another badass woman writer who you will respect, admire and whose wisdom will benefit you immensely. Please enjoy this beautiful hour in her presence. immigrant, resilience, robin oliveira, vermont college, penguin, craft, nursing, survival, historical fiction, focus, fiction, west virginia, literature, award-winning writers, research, family saga, mfa, women writers, writing podcast, scotland, washington territory, pacific northwest, new york times bestseller, writers, perseverance, success, book lovers, love, seattle, inspiration, dreams, ancestors, mining town, revision, indian american writers, writing, novel false full 35 33dd8d9a-ef25-49a3-a9df-8fc2895182c7 Ep. 34: Dean Koontz - The Bad Weather Friend Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dean Koontz is a bestselling author and America's master of suspense with 79 New York Times bestsellers. He is also one of twelve writers in the world ever to have fourteen of these books rise to number one on the hardcover bestseller list, and sixteen of his books have risen to the number one position in paperback. His books have also been major bestsellers in Japan and Sweden. And he has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” Dean is also a huge dog lover and is originally from Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna. They are long time supporters of Canine Companions for Independence. You can find his website at www.deankoontz.com.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service with love,
Holly Lynn Payne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 25 Jan 2024 19:17:57 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Dean Koontz) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-34-dean-koontz-the-bad-weather-friend-1xYcLl9A Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dean Koontz is a bestselling author and America's master of suspense with 79 New York Times bestsellers. He is also one of twelve writers in the world ever to have fourteen of these books rise to number one on the hardcover bestseller list, and sixteen of his books have risen to the number one position in paperback. His books have also been major bestsellers in Japan and Sweden. And he has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” Dean is also a huge dog lover and is originally from Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna. They are long time supporters of Canine Companions for Independence. You can find his website at www.deankoontz.com.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service with love,
Holly Lynn Payne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 34: Dean Koontz - The Bad Weather Friend Holly Lynn Payne, Dean Koontz 01:01:00 In episode 34 of the Page One Podcast, we speak with world-renowned bestselling author of suspense, Dean Koontz, about his most recent novel, The Bad Weather Friend, published by Thomas & Mercer Feb. 1. Rarely do I have the honor of talking with the most prolific writer of our lifetime once, let alone twice. Not surprising, Koontz wrote four books since we discussed his book Quicksilver in Episode 11, and he is close to beating Henry James’s historic achievement of writing 120 books in a lifetime. How does this superhuman create so much? Koontz keeps at it. Day after day. Week after week. For more than 50 years, he’s been at his desk from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.,and doesn’t stop for lunch while the words dance through him. I wish there was a Hall of Fame for Writers. Koontz would own it and in the most humble way, too. What’s his secret? Koontz chases the mystery of what might happen without overthinking. Unlike most writers, he embraces risk! He shows up to the page without plotting. Even more so, he might be the funniest suspense novelist of our time and he discusses the importance (and possibly the secret sauce) of vulnerability and humor in suspense novels. I laughed out loud at times reading The Bad Weather Friend which is being touted as a new kind of thriller, not only for its humor, but for breaking the fourth wall. This is Dean Koontz in his prime. Playing on the page. No longer seeking permission but owning his creative process with a kind of humility that just makes you love this masterful storyteller that much more. In this intimate conversation, Koontz touches upon aspects of his personal life, experiences as a teacher, and the role it played in shaping his understanding and portrayal of the human condition. No wonder he begins this book with a quote by James Thurber, “Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.” If ever there was a tagline to describe Dean Koontz’s work, this is it. I hope you enjoy this episode. And just a warning, I got teary once in our conversation, but in the spirit of vulnerability, I decided to keep it in the final edit. As always, this podcast is my love letter to the craft and the courage of the writers who show up to the page with their heart first. Dean Koontz brings the love. In episode 34 of the Page One Podcast, we speak with world-renowned bestselling author of suspense, Dean Koontz, about his most recent novel, The Bad Weather Friend, published by Thomas & Mercer Feb. 1. Rarely do I have the honor of talking with the most prolific writer of our lifetime once, let alone twice. Not surprising, Koontz wrote four books since we discussed his book Quicksilver in Episode 11, and he is close to beating Henry James’s historic achievement of writing 120 books in a lifetime. How does this superhuman create so much? Koontz keeps at it. Day after day. Week after week. For more than 50 years, he’s been at his desk from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.,and doesn’t stop for lunch while the words dance through him. I wish there was a Hall of Fame for Writers. Koontz would own it and in the most humble way, too. What’s his secret? Koontz chases the mystery of what might happen without overthinking. Unlike most writers, he embraces risk! He shows up to the page without plotting. Even more so, he might be the funniest suspense novelist of our time and he discusses the importance (and possibly the secret sauce) of vulnerability and humor in suspense novels. I laughed out loud at times reading The Bad Weather Friend which is being touted as a new kind of thriller, not only for its humor, but for breaking the fourth wall. This is Dean Koontz in his prime. Playing on the page. No longer seeking permission but owning his creative process with a kind of humility that just makes you love this masterful storyteller that much more. In this intimate conversation, Koontz touches upon aspects of his personal life, experiences as a teacher, and the role it played in shaping his understanding and portrayal of the human condition. No wonder he begins this book with a quote by James Thurber, “Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility.” If ever there was a tagline to describe Dean Koontz’s work, this is it. I hope you enjoy this episode. And just a warning, I got teary once in our conversation, but in the spirit of vulnerability, I decided to keep it in the final edit. As always, this podcast is my love letter to the craft and the courage of the writers who show up to the page with their heart first. Dean Koontz brings the love. prolific, the bad weather friend, storytelling, james thurber, fiction, humor, suspense, writers, great books, perseverance, novels, bestsellers, novelists, dean koontz, thrillers, love, inspiration, life, character arc, friendship, benny catspaw, writing false full 34 f36c47c4-8850-440b-b14b-2a02dfd65deb Ep. 33: Matt Sedillo: City on the Second Floor Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

MATT SEDILLO, the first poet on the Page One Podcast, is being hailed by historians and journalists as the "best political poet in America." He has written two collections of poetry, CITY ON THE SECOND FLOOR and MOWING LEAVES OF GRASS, which are currently being taught in several California colleges. Matt Sedillo has also been described as "the poet laureate of the struggle" by academics, poets, and journalists. He has appeared on CSPAN and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and other publications, in addition to traveling the world to speak at major conferences, forums, and universities including Cambridge. His Three Act Poem structure has been taught at UCLA and Occidental College. Sedillo is currently the Literary Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, where he leads weekly writing workshops. He is currently at work on a book-length poem “Elon Musk Must Be Stopped.” He lives in Los Angeles.

He has given us permission to share his poem “PILGRIM”

Pilgrim by Matt Sedillo

See, some were born to summer homes

And palatial groves

Where pain was only to ever unfold

From the pages of Secret Gardens

Where the Red Fern Grows

But not I

See, I come from the stock

Of starry-eyed astronauts

Who greet the night sky

With big dreams and wide eyes

Always Running

Down the Devil’s Highway

Through Occupied America

On the way back to

The House on Mango Street

And all those other books

You didn’t want us to read

Raised on handball

Off the back wall

Of a panaderia

Born

East the river

Post Mendez vs Westminster

One generation removed

From the redlines

And diplomas signed

That those dreams

In that skin

Need not apply

See, I come from struggle

And if my story offends you

That is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflection

In my self-portrait

See, this

Well this may not be about you

Because while some were born

To the common core

Whose reflected faces

Graced the pages

Of doctrines to discover

 And ages to be explored

 Where old world hardships

 Crashed against new shores

 New England

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

For others pushed off

Turtle Island

Aztlan

Do not call this brown skin

Immigrant

Child of the sun

Son of the conquest

Mexicano blood

Running through the veins

Of the eastside of Los Angeles

Do not tell him

In what native tongue

His song would best be sung

Do not tell me

Who I am

‘Cause I was raised just like you

Miseducated in some of those

Very same schools

Off lessons and legends

Of honest injuns and Christian pilgrims

And a nation of immigrants

All united in freedom

That is until they pulled aside

My white friend

Pointed directly at me

And said Scott

I judge you by the company you keep

And you spend your time with this

And that’s the same old story since 1846

The adventures of Uncle Sam

The stick-up man

Hey wetback

Show me your papers

Now give me your labor

The Melting Pot

Was never meant for the hands

That clean it

The American dream

Has always come at the expense

Of those who tucked it in

And you don’t know that

 ‘Cause you don’t teach it

Could write you a book

But you won’t read it

So you know what

This is about you

And 1492

And the Treaty of Guadalupe

California Missions

And Arizona schools

And these racists

That try to erase us

As we raise their kids

In cities that bear our names

But you’re going to learn

Something today

‘Cause from Ferdinand

To minuteman

From Arpaio

To Alamo

From Popol Vuh

To Yo Soy Joaquin

To the Indian that still lives in me

From Mexico 68

To the missing 43

They tried to bury us

They didn’t know we were seeds

From Cananea mine

To Delano strike 

From the Plan De Ayala

Emiliano Zapata

Joaquin Murrieta

Las Adelitas

Brown Berets

And Zapatistas

From Richard Nixon

To the Third Napoleon

From Peckinpah

To Houston

From Lone Star Republic

To Christopher Columbus

All the way down

To Donald f—g Trump

We didn’t cross the borders

The borders crossed us

Who you calling immigrant

Pilgrim?
 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Happy holidays! Be well and keep reading!

In service with love,
~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 22 Dec 2023 19:16:43 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Matt Sedillo, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-33-matt-sedillo-city-on-the-second-floor-fYT_b0CJ Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

MATT SEDILLO, the first poet on the Page One Podcast, is being hailed by historians and journalists as the "best political poet in America." He has written two collections of poetry, CITY ON THE SECOND FLOOR and MOWING LEAVES OF GRASS, which are currently being taught in several California colleges. Matt Sedillo has also been described as "the poet laureate of the struggle" by academics, poets, and journalists. He has appeared on CSPAN and has been featured in the Los Angeles Times and other publications, in addition to traveling the world to speak at major conferences, forums, and universities including Cambridge. His Three Act Poem structure has been taught at UCLA and Occidental College. Sedillo is currently the Literary Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, where he leads weekly writing workshops. He is currently at work on a book-length poem “Elon Musk Must Be Stopped.” He lives in Los Angeles.

He has given us permission to share his poem “PILGRIM”

Pilgrim by Matt Sedillo

See, some were born to summer homes

And palatial groves

Where pain was only to ever unfold

From the pages of Secret Gardens

Where the Red Fern Grows

But not I

See, I come from the stock

Of starry-eyed astronauts

Who greet the night sky

With big dreams and wide eyes

Always Running

Down the Devil’s Highway

Through Occupied America

On the way back to

The House on Mango Street

And all those other books

You didn’t want us to read

Raised on handball

Off the back wall

Of a panaderia

Born

East the river

Post Mendez vs Westminster

One generation removed

From the redlines

And diplomas signed

That those dreams

In that skin

Need not apply

See, I come from struggle

And if my story offends you

That is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflection

In my self-portrait

See, this

Well this may not be about you

Because while some were born

To the common core

Whose reflected faces

Graced the pages

Of doctrines to discover

 And ages to be explored

 Where old world hardships

 Crashed against new shores

 New England

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

For others pushed off

Turtle Island

Aztlan

Do not call this brown skin

Immigrant

Child of the sun

Son of the conquest

Mexicano blood

Running through the veins

Of the eastside of Los Angeles

Do not tell him

In what native tongue

His song would best be sung

Do not tell me

Who I am

‘Cause I was raised just like you

Miseducated in some of those

Very same schools

Off lessons and legends

Of honest injuns and Christian pilgrims

And a nation of immigrants

All united in freedom

That is until they pulled aside

My white friend

Pointed directly at me

And said Scott

I judge you by the company you keep

And you spend your time with this

And that’s the same old story since 1846

The adventures of Uncle Sam

The stick-up man

Hey wetback

Show me your papers

Now give me your labor

The Melting Pot

Was never meant for the hands

That clean it

The American dream

Has always come at the expense

Of those who tucked it in

And you don’t know that

 ‘Cause you don’t teach it

Could write you a book

But you won’t read it

So you know what

This is about you

And 1492

And the Treaty of Guadalupe

California Missions

And Arizona schools

And these racists

That try to erase us

As we raise their kids

In cities that bear our names

But you’re going to learn

Something today

‘Cause from Ferdinand

To minuteman

From Arpaio

To Alamo

From Popol Vuh

To Yo Soy Joaquin

To the Indian that still lives in me

From Mexico 68

To the missing 43

They tried to bury us

They didn’t know we were seeds

From Cananea mine

To Delano strike 

From the Plan De Ayala

Emiliano Zapata

Joaquin Murrieta

Las Adelitas

Brown Berets

And Zapatistas

From Richard Nixon

To the Third Napoleon

From Peckinpah

To Houston

From Lone Star Republic

To Christopher Columbus

All the way down

To Donald f—g Trump

We didn’t cross the borders

The borders crossed us

Who you calling immigrant

Pilgrim?
 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Happy holidays! Be well and keep reading!

In service with love,
~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 33: Matt Sedillo: City on the Second Floor Matt Sedillo, Holly Lynn Payne 00:55:06 In Episode 33, we interview Matt Sedillo, hailed as the best political poet in America. Sedillo shares his unique approach to poetry writing, and gives insights into his personal journey and the rich storytelling traditions that have influenced his work. He also shares a sneak peek into his next project 'Elon Musk Must Be Stopped' and reads from his works 'City on the Second Floor' and 'Mowing Leaves of Grass', demonstrating first hand the three-act structure that is central to his writing style and unique to poets who rarely discuss deliberate design. Hearing Matt perform his poetry is one of the many delights in this episode about a kid who dreamed of becoming President but instead becomes a poet who is unfettered in speaking his truth about the current political landscape. Enjoy this genius at work. His brilliance is breathtaking. He reads from his poem PILGRIM and gave us permission to post it in the episode notes. Pilgrim by Matt Sedillo See, some were born to summer homes And palatial groves Where pain was only to ever unfold From the pages of Secret Gardens Where the Red Fern Grows But not I See, I come from the stock Of starry-eyed astronauts Who greet the night sky With big dreams and wide eyes Always Running Down the Devil’s Highway Through Occupied America On the way back to The House on Mango Street And all those other books You didn’t want us to read Raised on handball Off the back wall Of a panaderia Born East the river Post Mendez vs Westminster One generation removed From the redlines And diplomas signed That those dreams In that skin Need not apply See, I come from struggle And if my story offends you That is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflection In my self-portrait See, this Well this may not be about you Because while some were born To the common core Whose reflected faces Graced the pages Of doctrines to discover And ages to be explored Where old world hardships Crashed against new shores New England New Hampshire New Jersey New York For others pushed off Turtle Island Aztlan Do not call this brown skin Immigrant Child of the sun Son of the conquest Mexicano blood Running through the veins Of the eastside of Los Angeles Do not tell him In what native tongue His song would best be sung Do not tell me Who I am ‘Cause I was raised just like you Miseducated in some of those Very same schools Off lessons and legends Of honest injuns and Christian pilgrims And a nation of immigrants All united in freedom That is until they pulled aside My white friend Pointed directly at me And said Scott I judge you by the company you keep And you spend your time with this And that’s the same old story since 1846 The adventures of Uncle Sam The stick-up man Hey wetback Show me your papers Now give me your labor The Melting Pot Was never meant for the hands That clean it The American dream Has always come at the expense Of those who tucked it in And you don’t know that ‘Cause you don’t teach it Could write you a book But you won’t read it So you know what This is about you And 1492 And the Treaty of Guadalupe California Missions And Arizona schools And these racists That try to erase us As we raise their kids In cities that bear our names But you’re going to learn Something today ‘Cause from Ferdinand To minuteman From Arpaio To Alamo From Popol Vuh To Yo Soy Joaquin To the Indian that still lives in me From Mexico 68 To the missing 43 They tried to bury us They didn’t know we were seeds From Cananea mine To Delano strike From the Plan De Ayala Emiliano Zapata Joaquin Murrieta Las Adelitas Brown Berets And Zapatistas From Richard Nixon To the Third Napoleon From Peckinpah To Houston From Lone Star Republic To Christopher Columbus All the way down To Donald f—g Trump We didn’t cross the borders The borders crossed us Who you calling immigrant Pilgrim? In Episode 33, we interview Matt Sedillo, hailed as the best political poet in America. Sedillo shares his unique approach to poetry writing, and gives insights into his personal journey and the rich storytelling traditions that have influenced his work. He also shares a sneak peek into his next project 'Elon Musk Must Be Stopped' and reads from his works 'City on the Second Floor' and 'Mowing Leaves of Grass', demonstrating first hand the three-act structure that is central to his writing style and unique to poets who rarely discuss deliberate design. Hearing Matt perform his poetry is one of the many delights in this episode about a kid who dreamed of becoming President but instead becomes a poet who is unfettered in speaking his truth about the current political landscape. Enjoy this genius at work. His brilliance is breathtaking. He reads from his poem PILGRIM and gave us permission to post it in the episode notes. Pilgrim by Matt Sedillo See, some were born to summer homes And palatial groves Where pain was only to ever unfold From the pages of Secret Gardens Where the Red Fern Grows But not I See, I come from the stock Of starry-eyed astronauts Who greet the night sky With big dreams and wide eyes Always Running Down the Devil’s Highway Through Occupied America On the way back to The House on Mango Street And all those other books You didn’t want us to read Raised on handball Off the back wall Of a panaderia Born East the river Post Mendez vs Westminster One generation removed From the redlines And diplomas signed That those dreams In that skin Need not apply See, I come from struggle And if my story offends you That is only ‘cause you made the mistake of seeking your reflection In my self-portrait See, this Well this may not be about you Because while some were born To the common core Whose reflected faces Graced the pages Of doctrines to discover And ages to be explored Where old world hardships Crashed against new shores New England New Hampshire New Jersey New York For others pushed off Turtle Island Aztlan Do not call this brown skin Immigrant Child of the sun Son of the conquest Mexicano blood Running through the veins Of the eastside of Los Angeles Do not tell him In what native tongue His song would best be sung Do not tell me Who I am ‘Cause I was raised just like you Miseducated in some of those Very same schools Off lessons and legends Of honest injuns and Christian pilgrims And a nation of immigrants All united in freedom That is until they pulled aside My white friend Pointed directly at me And said Scott I judge you by the company you keep And you spend your time with this And that’s the same old story since 1846 The adventures of Uncle Sam The stick-up man Hey wetback Show me your papers Now give me your labor The Melting Pot Was never meant for the hands That clean it The American dream Has always come at the expense Of those who tucked it in And you don’t know that ‘Cause you don’t teach it Could write you a book But you won’t read it So you know what This is about you And 1492 And the Treaty of Guadalupe California Missions And Arizona schools And these racists That try to erase us As we raise their kids In cities that bear our names But you’re going to learn Something today ‘Cause from Ferdinand To minuteman From Arpaio To Alamo From Popol Vuh To Yo Soy Joaquin To the Indian that still lives in me From Mexico 68 To the missing 43 They tried to bury us They didn’t know we were seeds From Cananea mine To Delano strike From the Plan De Ayala Emiliano Zapata Joaquin Murrieta Las Adelitas Brown Berets And Zapatistas From Richard Nixon To the Third Napoleon From Peckinpah To Houston From Lone Star Republic To Christopher Columbus All the way down To Donald f—g Trump We didn’t cross the borders The borders crossed us Who you calling immigrant Pilgrim? immigrant, best political poet in america, america, poet, three act structure, storytelling, politics, poetry, democracy, poet laureate, voice, mowing leaves of grass, novels, creativity, marxism, elon musk, poems, discimpline, structure, matt sedillo, struggle, writing true full 33 d6a5c1d7-51c3-4ccb-91d0-06fc31d270f0 Ep. 32: Kate Christensen - Welcome Home, Stranger Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kate Christensen is the author of seven novels, including The Last Cruise, The Astral, Trouble, The Epicure’s Lament, Jeremy Thrane, In the Drink and The Great Man, which won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction. Christensen was one of only five women in 30 years at the time who had ever received this prestigious award. She has also published two food-centric memoirs, Blue Plate Special and How to Cook a Moose, which won the 2016 Maine Literary Award for Memoir. She teaches fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has taught numerous workshops in both memoir and fiction at various residencies and MFA programs throughout the United States, in addition to publishing many essays, reviews, and stories. She has recently finished the first book of her debut YA trilogy with her co-writer, Eliza Wolfe, for Disney Books and also finished her first detective book, published under a pseudonym for HarperCollins. When she’s not in Iowa teaching, she lives in Taos, New Mexico with her screenwriter husband and two dogs and is currently at work on a new novel. You can follow her on Instagram @kate.christensen100. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:58:34 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Kate Christensen) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-32-kate-christensen-welcome-home-stranger-_dYlsT_r Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kate Christensen is the author of seven novels, including The Last Cruise, The Astral, Trouble, The Epicure’s Lament, Jeremy Thrane, In the Drink and The Great Man, which won the 2008 PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction. Christensen was one of only five women in 30 years at the time who had ever received this prestigious award. She has also published two food-centric memoirs, Blue Plate Special and How to Cook a Moose, which won the 2016 Maine Literary Award for Memoir. She teaches fiction at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has taught numerous workshops in both memoir and fiction at various residencies and MFA programs throughout the United States, in addition to publishing many essays, reviews, and stories. She has recently finished the first book of her debut YA trilogy with her co-writer, Eliza Wolfe, for Disney Books and also finished her first detective book, published under a pseudonym for HarperCollins. When she’s not in Iowa teaching, she lives in Taos, New Mexico with her screenwriter husband and two dogs and is currently at work on a new novel. You can follow her on Instagram @kate.christensen100. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 32: Kate Christensen - Welcome Home, Stranger Holly Lynn Payne, Kate Christensen 00:54:50 In Episode 32, we interview PEN/Faulkner award-winning author, Kate Christensen, about her tenth book, Welcome Home, Stranger, a razor sharp novel about love and loss published by HarperCollins. It is rare for me to blow off deadlines because I am so immersed in the work of another writer, but the galley copy is tea-stained—and tear-stained. I loved talking with Kate about the intricacies of making the first page work and setting up the entire book. The timing of this conversation was serendipitous, too, because Kate is currently teaching a class on beginnings at the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop, where her wisdom comes to roost. We had the chance to discuss everything from killing your darlings (as a writer), the evolution of a master storyteller, her mother’s influence on her mastery of human psychology, the joy of teaching and my favorite—”the upside of menopause.” I read a lot of Kate’s prior essays to prepare for this interview, and one that struck me as most poignant was how she describes liberating herself from the pressures of having to write like a man—which in her early years was not only encouraged but expected in the publishing industry. She summed up her dream in the 2011 article in Elle magazine, “I feel an urge to relinquish my inner d**k, at least for now, and fully ­inhabit a female narrator who is as free—as frank—and as fully herself as any man.” Kate Christensen has accomplished this and more with her memorable, hilarious, brilliant and broken-open heroine Rachel Calloway in Welcome Home, Stranger. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I loved co-creating it. You might feel you made a friend, too. Kate gets it. In Episode 32, we interview PEN/Faulkner award-winning author, Kate Christensen, about her tenth book, Welcome Home, Stranger, a razor sharp novel about love and loss published by HarperCollins. It is rare for me to blow off deadlines because I am so immersed in the work of another writer, but the galley copy is tea-stained—and tear-stained. I loved talking with Kate about the intricacies of making the first page work and setting up the entire book. The timing of this conversation was serendipitous, too, because Kate is currently teaching a class on beginnings at the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop, where her wisdom comes to roost. We had the chance to discuss everything from killing your darlings (as a writer), the evolution of a master storyteller, her mother’s influence on her mastery of human psychology, the joy of teaching and my favorite—”the upside of menopause.” I read a lot of Kate’s prior essays to prepare for this interview, and one that struck me as most poignant was how she describes liberating herself from the pressures of having to write like a man—which in her early years was not only encouraged but expected in the publishing industry. She summed up her dream in the 2011 article in Elle magazine, “I feel an urge to relinquish my inner d**k, at least for now, and fully ­inhabit a female narrator who is as free—as frank—and as fully herself as any man.” Kate Christensen has accomplished this and more with her memorable, hilarious, brilliant and broken-open heroine Rachel Calloway in Welcome Home, Stranger. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I loved co-creating it. You might feel you made a friend, too. Kate gets it. resilience, interview, conversation, nuance, welcome home, heart-wrenching, lovers, loss, pen/faulkner award, award-winning authors, holly payne, kate christensen, harper collins, women writers, welcome home stranger, mfa writing programs, loved this book, first drafts, funny, grief, loved this conversation, strong women, writing workshops, writers, single moms, love, hilarious, inspiration, iowa writers workshop, revision, dogs true full 32 a409d222-648e-473a-b4e1-d56fa5795ec5 Ep. 31: Lisa Hamilton: The Hungry Season Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Writer and photographer Lisa M. Hamilton has documented agriculture and rural communities around the world. She was a National Fellow with New America, and has received additional fellowships, grants and awards from the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, California Historical Society, Creative Work Fund, James Beard Foundation and others. She is the author of Deeply Rooted: Unconventional Farmers in the Age of Agribusiness, and her feature articles have appeared in Harper's, McSweeney's, Virginia Quarterly Review, and California Sunday. She lives in Northern California.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:21:33 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Lisa M. Hamilton) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-31-lisa-hamilton-the-hungry-season-adxbY3H7 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Writer and photographer Lisa M. Hamilton has documented agriculture and rural communities around the world. She was a National Fellow with New America, and has received additional fellowships, grants and awards from the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, California Historical Society, Creative Work Fund, James Beard Foundation and others. She is the author of Deeply Rooted: Unconventional Farmers in the Age of Agribusiness, and her feature articles have appeared in Harper's, McSweeney's, Virginia Quarterly Review, and California Sunday. She lives in Northern California.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 31: Lisa Hamilton: The Hungry Season Holly Lynn Payne, Lisa M. Hamilton 01:05:38 In Episode 31, we interview critically acclaimed journalist Lisa M. Hamilton on her latest book The Hungry Season, a deeply reported story on resilience, war, and love which follows the remarkable journey of a Hmong girl who escapes her own country and a marriage to a man three times her age. Determined to find her freedom, she embarks on a harrowing journey that brings her to the central valley of California where she becomes a successful rice farmer. Critics and acclaimed authors have praised The Hungry Season for its hypnotic storytelling and lyrical narrative voice. In this episode, you'll get a taste of Lisa Hamilton’s superpower: earning the trust of her subject and how she carefully preserves the complexity of who she is, capturing the light and the darkness of one woman and her unwavering desire for sovereignty over her body, her soul and the soil she tends. Join us as we delve deeper into the journey of creating this remarkable work, the challenges of reporting across languages and cultures, the nuances of capturing the essence of a person's story, and the artistic process of crafting a narrative that resonates with readers on multiple levels. The book is not just a celebration of one woman's incredible journey for survival, it’s a potent reminder of her capacity to thrive. Lisa talks openly about the inevitable boundaries that get blurry and often disappear when you spend seven years bearing witness to and writing about the transformation in another. I hope you enjoy hearing Lisa M. Hamilton as much as I loved interviewing her on Ep. 31. In Episode 31, we interview critically acclaimed journalist Lisa M. Hamilton on her latest book The Hungry Season, a deeply reported story on resilience, war, and love which follows the remarkable journey of a Hmong girl who escapes her own country and a marriage to a man three times her age. Determined to find her freedom, she embarks on a harrowing journey that brings her to the central valley of California where she becomes a successful rice farmer. Critics and acclaimed authors have praised The Hungry Season for its hypnotic storytelling and lyrical narrative voice. In this episode, you'll get a taste of Lisa Hamilton’s superpower: earning the trust of her subject and how she carefully preserves the complexity of who she is, capturing the light and the darkness of one woman and her unwavering desire for sovereignty over her body, her soul and the soil she tends. Join us as we delve deeper into the journey of creating this remarkable work, the challenges of reporting across languages and cultures, the nuances of capturing the essence of a person's story, and the artistic process of crafting a narrative that resonates with readers on multiple levels. The book is not just a celebration of one woman's incredible journey for survival, it’s a potent reminder of her capacity to thrive. Lisa talks openly about the inevitable boundaries that get blurry and often disappear when you spend seven years bearing witness to and writing about the transformation in another. I hope you enjoy hearing Lisa M. Hamilton as much as I loved interviewing her on Ep. 31. resilience, farmer, the hungry season, entrepreneur, freedom, laotian culture, coming of age, courage, storytelling, travel, survival, war, laotian women, mothers, california, journalist, women writers, grandmother rice, asian history, south east asia, master storytellers, writers, lao, women farmers, love, inspiration, daughters, rice, laotian rice, friendship, journalism, revision, refugees false full 31 42c5e54d-0ff1-459c-a9bd-d154f53eb37d Ep. 30: Dominic Lim: All the Right Notes Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dominic Lim holds a master’s from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, is an alumnus of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and has sung with numerous professional choral ensembles. Lim  is also a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and has performed Off-Broadway and in regional productions throughout the US. He lives in Oakland, California and supports the San Francisco Bay Area writing community as a member of the Writers Grotto and as a co-host of San Francisco’s Babylon Salon, the quarterly reading & performance series which has featured award-winning authors, including Booker Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @jdominiclim.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service,

Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:43:45 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Dominic Lim, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-30-dominic-lim-all-the-right-notes-WywchJlY Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dominic Lim holds a master’s from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, is an alumnus of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and has sung with numerous professional choral ensembles. Lim  is also a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and has performed Off-Broadway and in regional productions throughout the US. He lives in Oakland, California and supports the San Francisco Bay Area writing community as a member of the Writers Grotto and as a co-host of San Francisco’s Babylon Salon, the quarterly reading & performance series which has featured award-winning authors, including Booker Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and more. You can follow him on Instagram at @jdominiclim.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service,

Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 30: Dominic Lim: All the Right Notes Dominic Lim, Holly Lynn Payne 01:03:37 In episode 30, we have the delight of talking with author, actor and singer, Dominic Lim about his debut novel, All The Right Notes, published by Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, Hachette. Not only is this the first queer Filipino rom com, it is delighting readers and critics all over the country and has already garnered a list of accolades including being named a: USA Today: 10 swoon-worthy romance books for summer 2023 BookRiot: 40 of the Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2023 Buzzfeed: 25 New and Upcoming LGBTQ Romance Novels You’ve Got To Read Goodreads:The Hottest New Romances for Summer Library Journal: The Best Romance Books of the Year (So Far) Bookbub: 18 Books Our Readers Have Been Loving This Summer SheReads: Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Romances of Summer 2023 LGBTQ Reads: Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Romance of 2023 Entertainment Weekly: The 6 best romance novels of summer 2023 As you might sense from the title, All the Right Notes, Dominic Lim has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with music—which shows in the authentically rendered story world he invites us to explore. In this intimate conversation, Dominic shares how his mom played a significant role in supporting his musical talents and the highs and lows of the precarious publishing journey all writers face these days in an escalating cancel culture. This is a promising new talent for all of us to celebrate. Please enjoy! In episode 30, we have the delight of talking with author, actor and singer, Dominic Lim about his debut novel, All The Right Notes, published by Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, Hachette. Not only is this the first queer Filipino rom com, it is delighting readers and critics all over the country and has already garnered a list of accolades including being named a: USA Today: 10 swoon-worthy romance books for summer 2023 BookRiot: 40 of the Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2023 Buzzfeed: 25 New and Upcoming LGBTQ Romance Novels You’ve Got To Read Goodreads:The Hottest New Romances for Summer Library Journal: The Best Romance Books of the Year (So Far) Bookbub: 18 Books Our Readers Have Been Loving This Summer SheReads: Most Anticipated LGBTQIA+ Romances of Summer 2023 LGBTQ Reads: Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Romance of 2023 Entertainment Weekly: The 6 best romance novels of summer 2023 As you might sense from the title, All the Right Notes, Dominic Lim has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with music—which shows in the authentically rendered story world he invites us to explore. In this intimate conversation, Dominic shares how his mom played a significant role in supporting his musical talents and the highs and lows of the precarious publishing journey all writers face these days in an escalating cancel culture. This is a promising new talent for all of us to celebrate. Please enjoy! debut, filipino, engaging, courage, gay romance, queer, brave, authentic, beautiful, pride, performance, los angeles, forever, debut novel, love songs, bay area writers, writing community, rom-com, san francisco, music, writers, coming out, novels, all the right notes, songs, lgbtq, love, cancel culture, hachette, song writing, grand central false full 30 732e6f71-d26a-47ee-9203-077fc4e1cb95 Ep. 29: Jessica Carew Kraft: Why We Need to Be Wild Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Jessica Carew Kraft is an independent journalist trained in anthropology, with degrees from the University of London, Yale University, and Swarthmore College. Her reporting on health, culture, tech, and education has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, Politico, NBC News, KQED, and many other outlets. In mid-life she became a naturalist and wild food forager. She lives with her two daughters and like-minded neighbors of various species in the forest of the Sierra Foothills. Get her book WHY WE NEED TO BE WILD and learn more at JessicaCarewKraft.com 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

If you'd like to support my work, please leave a review on Apple podcasts, Spotify or any of your favorite podcast players. And please share these episode with your friends and fellow book lovers. Thank you for listening.

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:32:58 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Jessica Carew Kraft, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-29-jessica-carew-kraft-why-we-need-to-be-wild-1ZYoeGzX Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Jessica Carew Kraft is an independent journalist trained in anthropology, with degrees from the University of London, Yale University, and Swarthmore College. Her reporting on health, culture, tech, and education has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, Politico, NBC News, KQED, and many other outlets. In mid-life she became a naturalist and wild food forager. She lives with her two daughters and like-minded neighbors of various species in the forest of the Sierra Foothills. Get her book WHY WE NEED TO BE WILD and learn more at JessicaCarewKraft.com 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

If you'd like to support my work, please leave a review on Apple podcasts, Spotify or any of your favorite podcast players. And please share these episode with your friends and fellow book lovers. Thank you for listening.

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 29: Jessica Carew Kraft: Why We Need to Be Wild Jessica Carew Kraft, Holly Lynn Payne 00:58:43 In Episode 29, we interview Jessica Carew Kraft about her deeply engrossing debut book, WHY WE NEED TO BE WILD, a teaching memoir that chronicles her journey from surviving the tech world to embracing the ancestral skills community that has allowed her to finally thrive. If you’ve ever watched an episode of “Alone,” your curiosity might have been piqued about the people who have the skills not only to survive, but to thrive in the wild. For Jessica, learning these skills was literally a matter of life and death after watching her extraordinary mother struggle with multiple sclerosis and die too early. Haunted by the ‘dis-ease’ she witnessed as a child, Jessica begins to question the gross imbalance in her own life and consider if the modern world is feeding or starving her and her daughters. Determined not to succumb to her mother’s decline, she sets out into the ancestral skills community to learn how to rewild the parts of herself that had been dying and reawakens the innate wisdom of living a life in harmony with nature. This is an extraordinary story and one of the best teaching memoirs I’ve read in a long time. I loved talking with Jessica about her journey and extraordinary mom—whose spirit is guiding her forward. And while I might never stop my car to pick up roadkill with my own daughter, I envy the skills Jessica has learned to do so with her own daughters—and live off the land. This is one wise, humorous and soulful woman who I hope you get to know and love in Ep. 29. In Episode 29, we interview Jessica Carew Kraft about her deeply engrossing debut book, WHY WE NEED TO BE WILD, a teaching memoir that chronicles her journey from surviving the tech world to embracing the ancestral skills community that has allowed her to finally thrive. If you’ve ever watched an episode of “Alone,” your curiosity might have been piqued about the people who have the skills not only to survive, but to thrive in the wild. For Jessica, learning these skills was literally a matter of life and death after watching her extraordinary mother struggle with multiple sclerosis and die too early. Haunted by the ‘dis-ease’ she witnessed as a child, Jessica begins to question the gross imbalance in her own life and consider if the modern world is feeding or starving her and her daughters. Determined not to succumb to her mother’s decline, she sets out into the ancestral skills community to learn how to rewild the parts of herself that had been dying and reawakens the innate wisdom of living a life in harmony with nature. This is an extraordinary story and one of the best teaching memoirs I’ve read in a long time. I loved talking with Jessica about her journey and extraordinary mom—whose spirit is guiding her forward. And while I might never stop my car to pick up roadkill with my own daughter, I envy the skills Jessica has learned to do so with her own daughters—and live off the land. This is one wise, humorous and soulful woman who I hope you get to know and love in Ep. 29. anthrolpology, courageous, jessica carew kraft, tech world, evolutionary biography, inspiring, engrossing, rewilding, survival, surivalists, modern world, women writers, nature, ancestral skills community, why we need to be wild, wild, disease, holly lynn payne, women, natural world, foraging false full 29 f4c3cedc-c51b-481c-a886-7d706f995a05 Ep. 28: Holly Payne: Rose Girl About the Page One Podcast:

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes.

 

About the guest author:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

 

About the host:

Kristen Harnisch is the international bestselling author of the award-winning trilogy: The Vintner's Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner's Legacy. Kristen drew upon her extensive research and experiences living in the San Francisco Bay Area and visiting Parise and the Loire Valley to create the historic world for the masterful trilogy. Kristen has served as a monthly guest blogger for the Writer's Digest Blog, The Writer's Dig and currently speaks on the business and craft of writing at conferences and writing retreats. You can find her at www.kristenharnisch.com, Twitter @KristenHarnisch or Instagram @kharnischauthor.

 

For more information:

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my short, monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and get a copy of my new book Rose Girl for FREE! 

You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

And remember to get your FREE COPY of my new book, Rose Girl! 

Be well and keep reading. 

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 20:00:19 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Kristen Harnisch) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-28-holly-payne-8PY0zVK5 About the Page One Podcast:

Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes.

 

About the guest author:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

 

About the host:

Kristen Harnisch is the international bestselling author of the award-winning trilogy: The Vintner's Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner's Legacy. Kristen drew upon her extensive research and experiences living in the San Francisco Bay Area and visiting Parise and the Loire Valley to create the historic world for the masterful trilogy. Kristen has served as a monthly guest blogger for the Writer's Digest Blog, The Writer's Dig and currently speaks on the business and craft of writing at conferences and writing retreats. You can find her at www.kristenharnisch.com, Twitter @KristenHarnisch or Instagram @kharnischauthor.

 

For more information:

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my short, monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and get a copy of my new book Rose Girl for FREE! 

You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

And remember to get your FREE COPY of my new book, Rose Girl! 

Be well and keep reading. 

~Holly~
@hollylynnpayne

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 28: Holly Payne: Rose Girl Holly Lynn Payne, Kristen Harnisch 00:48:21 In today's episode, I've switched things around. My friend and author Kristen Harnisch (Ep. 22) suggested she interview me about my 'new' book Rose Girl, which has just been released as an ebook and dedicated to one of my closest friends, Hilary Blake Hamilton (Ep. 6) who passed earlier this year after an 8 year battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her three children and husband, and the last words I shared with her in hospice is that the book would be dedicated to her, in honor of her courage, resilience and profound love she shared with so many people who knew her. The story of Rose Girl is also one of resilience, and I guess, so is my own story. Kristen persuaded me to have her do the interview and pluck out the story behind the story of Rose Girl—the tale of an orphaned girl in 13th century Turkey who is mistaken as a saint for performing miracles and undergoes a riveting transformation when she meets the beloved poet Rumi, who unlocks the secret of her birth. The book was formerly titled, Damascena, but for lots of reasons that we discuss, I was stubbornly in my own way around marketing, the cover and the title. Hilary was one of my earliest readers and loved this book, so it felt right to put her name in it forever so that she is also remembered for her resilience. As a way to honor her life and her generosity of spirit, I am making the ebook free for anyone now, which can be downloaded from my website at hollylynnpayne.com Even though I love interviewing authors much more than being interviewed, I will admit I loved this conversation with Kristen Harnisch and and am so grateful she pushed me to do it. Just once. I hope you enjoy it too. In today's episode, I've switched things around. My friend and author Kristen Harnisch (Ep. 22) suggested she interview me about my 'new' book Rose Girl, which has just been released as an ebook and dedicated to one of my closest friends, Hilary Blake Hamilton (Ep. 6) who passed earlier this year after an 8 year battle with breast cancer. She is survived by her three children and husband, and the last words I shared with her in hospice is that the book would be dedicated to her, in honor of her courage, resilience and profound love she shared with so many people who knew her. The story of Rose Girl is also one of resilience, and I guess, so is my own story. Kristen persuaded me to have her do the interview and pluck out the story behind the story of Rose Girl—the tale of an orphaned girl in 13th century Turkey who is mistaken as a saint for performing miracles and undergoes a riveting transformation when she meets the beloved poet Rumi, who unlocks the secret of her birth. The book was formerly titled, Damascena, but for lots of reasons that we discuss, I was stubbornly in my own way around marketing, the cover and the title. Hilary was one of my earliest readers and loved this book, so it felt right to put her name in it forever so that she is also remembered for her resilience. As a way to honor her life and her generosity of spirit, I am making the ebook free for anyone now, which can be downloaded from my website at hollylynnpayne.com Even though I love interviewing authors much more than being interviewed, I will admit I loved this conversation with Kristen Harnisch and and am so grateful she pushed me to do it. Just once. I hope you enjoy it too. resilience, courage, writing process, writers block, independent publishing, historical fiction, rumi, indie author, holly payne, relationships, optimism, inspiring stories, transformation, abundance, devotion, writing community, authors, master storytellers, award winning, awakening, illumination, writers, writing tips, perseverance, spirituality, kristen harnisch, creativity, success, brilliance, divine feminine, love, holly lynn payne, writing false full 28 170f8d3f-3a1b-4cc5-8cdc-1c34d52cd4c5 Ep. 27: Nina Schuyler: AFTERWORD Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Nina Schuyler is an award winning author and esteemed professor of writing. Her new novel, Afterword, was published by Clash Books. She is also the author of The Translator, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, and will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024.

Nina teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and offers classes at the independent  bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California where she is an outdoor enthusiast. You can find her at ninaschuyler.com and follow her on IG @ninaschuler.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and get a copy of my new book Rose Girl for FREE! 

You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

And remember to get your FREE COPY of my new book, Rose Girl! 

Be well and keep reading. 

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 14 Jun 2023 20:48:21 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Nina Schuyler) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-27-nina-schuyler-afterword-wLXsoG1Z Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Nina Schuyler is an award winning author and esteemed professor of writing. Her new novel, Afterword, was published by Clash Books. She is also the author of The Translator, which won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Fiction and was a finalist for the William Saroyan International Writing Prize. Her novel, The Painting, was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. Her book, How to Write Stunning Sentences, was a Small Press Distribution bestseller, and her new craft book, Stunning Sentences: The Creative Writing Journal with 80 New Prompts from Beloved Authors to Improve Your Style, was published by Fiction Advocate in November 2022. Nina Schuyler’s short story collection, In this Ravishing World, won the W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections and The Prism Prize for Climate Literature, and will be published by Regal House Publishing in 2024.

Nina teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco, Stanford Continuing Studies, and offers classes at the independent  bookstore, Book Passage, and The Writing Room. She writes a column about prose style for Fiction Advocate and reviews books for The Millions. She lives with her husband and two sons in Northern California where she is an outdoor enthusiast. You can find her at ninaschuyler.com and follow her on IG @ninaschuler.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players.  Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and get a copy of my new book Rose Girl for FREE! 

You can follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

And remember to get your FREE COPY of my new book, Rose Girl! 

Be well and keep reading. 

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 27: Nina Schuyler: AFTERWORD Holly Payne, Nina Schuyler 01:05:41 In Episode 27, we interview award-winning author Nina Schuyler about her latest book, AFTERWORD published by Clash Books about a computer scientist who uses A.I. to eternalize her relationship with her deceased husband, a famous math tutor. Her brilliant application of natural language processing and neural networks creates a technology that the Chinese government licenses from her to spy on their own citizens, landing some in jail or worse. Nina’s prose is near perfect, the story profound and compelling, raising the timely question: will A.I. actually force us to be more in touch with our humanity? Nina Schuyler’s writing is as brilliant as her protagonist, Virgina. Bestselling author Ellen Sussman described AFTERWORD as offering up “every literary treat imaginale: a wildly inventive plot… characters who steal your heart, big ideas that engage your mind, and gorgeous prose that delights your senses.” I couldn’t be more impressed by what Nina Schuler achieves with her latest novel and how she reverse engineers her own stunning sentences in this episode. In Episode 27, we interview award-winning author Nina Schuyler about her latest book, AFTERWORD published by Clash Books about a computer scientist who uses A.I. to eternalize her relationship with her deceased husband, a famous math tutor. Her brilliant application of natural language processing and neural networks creates a technology that the Chinese government licenses from her to spy on their own citizens, landing some in jail or worse. Nina’s prose is near perfect, the story profound and compelling, raising the timely question: will A.I. actually force us to be more in touch with our humanity? Nina Schuyler’s writing is as brilliant as her protagonist, Virgina. Bestselling author Ellen Sussman described AFTERWORD as offering up “every literary treat imaginale: a wildly inventive plot… characters who steal your heart, big ideas that engage your mind, and gorgeous prose that delights your senses.” I couldn’t be more impressed by what Nina Schuler achieves with her latest novel and how she reverse engineers her own stunning sentences in this episode. computational linguist, hook, first page, courage, ethical, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, sentences, chinese, page one, fiction, ethics, wives, award-winning authors, relationships, mortals, small press, black box, death, technology, stunning sentences, writing community, humanity, computer scientist, grief, existentialism, mathemat, writers, love story, ml, nina schuyler, writing tips, novels, success, morality, a.i., love, life, neural networks, eternity, indie publishers, husbands, books, nlp, math, writing false full 27 a9576c7e-7dc9-4078-9343-20be73c178c3 Ep. 25: Jodi Lipper for Steve Madden's Memoir, The Cobbler Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Bestselling collaborative writer Jodi Lipper was a former fiction editor at Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, where she worked on numerous #1 New York Times best sellers. She has since become a six-time New York Times bestselling author herself who partners with high profile experts and celebrities to translate their experiences and expertise into highly effective and marketable books. In addition to Steve Madden and his memoir The Cobbler, she’s worked with Dave Asprey, the “father of biohacking” and the creator of Bulletproof Coffee, Fran Hauser, whose book The Myth of the Nice Girl was named the Best Business Book of 2018 by Audible and was listed by Amazon as One of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year. Jodi has also worked with Jacqueline Brassy from the McKinsey Health Institute on the book Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World, which was also co-authored by Aaron De Smet, and Michiel Kruyt and published by Harper Business last year, and most recently Jodi worked with Emily Morse, sexologist and host of the top rated podcast Sex with Emily who’s book Smart Sex: How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure will be published by Park Row (HarperCollins) in June.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Shoutouts to our sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by the learning platform, Five things I’ve Learned. As a writing coach and former professor of creative writing, I am an ardent supporter of lifelong learning. So Five Things I’ve Learned is something I really like, and – full disclosure, it’s something created by folks I know. 

Now in the middle of their third year, my friends at Five Things I’ve Learned make it super easy for artists, writers, musicians, and the thinkers they admire to offer live, online classes that share the essential ideas and experiences of a lifetime. This entire thing was conceived during the pandemic and it’s brilliant.

There are almost 100 Five Things I’ve Learned unique sessions already available online –from all sorts of disciplines. The best part: they’re always live and you can check out the archive for classes you’ve missed. And of course, there are so many great classes by writers. And they have an impressive list of master storytellers!

New York Times best-selling writer Meg Wolitzer just did a class about the “Five Things She’s Learned about Writing about Family.” The amazing Steve Almond just did a class on what he’s learned about “Where Stories Come From.” There are many more two-hour classes and workshops, from award winning authors like Isabel Allende and the wonderful travel writer Pico Iyer, and even from my friend, the writer and publisher Brooke Warner – and a whole lot more. You can view these and many other great classes on-demand any time so I hope you check out myfivethings.com right now and get to experience one of these live workshops yourself. I might see you there and teach a class soon—about the first page of a book. 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 18:08:44 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Jodi Lipper, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-25-jodi-lipper-for-steve-maddens-memoir-the-cobbler-UcaHcuGY Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Bestselling collaborative writer Jodi Lipper was a former fiction editor at Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, where she worked on numerous #1 New York Times best sellers. She has since become a six-time New York Times bestselling author herself who partners with high profile experts and celebrities to translate their experiences and expertise into highly effective and marketable books. In addition to Steve Madden and his memoir The Cobbler, she’s worked with Dave Asprey, the “father of biohacking” and the creator of Bulletproof Coffee, Fran Hauser, whose book The Myth of the Nice Girl was named the Best Business Book of 2018 by Audible and was listed by Amazon as One of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year. Jodi has also worked with Jacqueline Brassy from the McKinsey Health Institute on the book Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World, which was also co-authored by Aaron De Smet, and Michiel Kruyt and published by Harper Business last year, and most recently Jodi worked with Emily Morse, sexologist and host of the top rated podcast Sex with Emily who’s book Smart Sex: How to Boost Your Sex IQ and Own Your Pleasure will be published by Park Row (HarperCollins) in June.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Shoutouts to our sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by the learning platform, Five things I’ve Learned. As a writing coach and former professor of creative writing, I am an ardent supporter of lifelong learning. So Five Things I’ve Learned is something I really like, and – full disclosure, it’s something created by folks I know. 

Now in the middle of their third year, my friends at Five Things I’ve Learned make it super easy for artists, writers, musicians, and the thinkers they admire to offer live, online classes that share the essential ideas and experiences of a lifetime. This entire thing was conceived during the pandemic and it’s brilliant.

There are almost 100 Five Things I’ve Learned unique sessions already available online –from all sorts of disciplines. The best part: they’re always live and you can check out the archive for classes you’ve missed. And of course, there are so many great classes by writers. And they have an impressive list of master storytellers!

New York Times best-selling writer Meg Wolitzer just did a class about the “Five Things She’s Learned about Writing about Family.” The amazing Steve Almond just did a class on what he’s learned about “Where Stories Come From.” There are many more two-hour classes and workshops, from award winning authors like Isabel Allende and the wonderful travel writer Pico Iyer, and even from my friend, the writer and publisher Brooke Warner – and a whole lot more. You can view these and many other great classes on-demand any time so I hope you check out myfivethings.com right now and get to experience one of these live workshops yourself. I might see you there and teach a class soon—about the first page of a book. 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 25: Jodi Lipper for Steve Madden's Memoir, The Cobbler Jodi Lipper, Holly Lynn Payne 00:57:23 In Episode 26, we interview Jodi Lipper, the bestselling collaborative writer whose most recent work helped to bring billion dollar shoe mogul Steve Madden’s story to life in the memoir “The Cobbler” which is out in paperback now from Diversion Books. Jodi Lipper is the first ghost writer on the show and she discusses the process of helping develop the voice and earn the trust of high profile people like Steve Madden and help them construct their story. In this moving and inspiring interview, we see a true craftswoman at work—helping Steve Madden articulate how he wrestled his demons and emerged a healthier, happier person who continues to give back to the world. I love a great memoir that, in Wallace Stegner’s words, is constructed around an “anguished question.” In this case, Steve Madden asks himself, “How did I get here?” over and over from the tower of his success to the corner of his jail cell. Jodi Lipper shares generously on what it was like to learn every secret of the shoe mogul and the deep friendship they formed as a result. Their special collaboration is really about how to see and listen deeply to others with compassion and help them reconcile their past to live in the present with grace, conviction and gratitude. I was so impressed by Steve Madden’s brutal honesty in this book, and how Jodi Lipper brilliantly drew it out. I hope you appreciate what’s revealed. In Episode 26, we interview Jodi Lipper, the bestselling collaborative writer whose most recent work helped to bring billion dollar shoe mogul Steve Madden’s story to life in the memoir “The Cobbler” which is out in paperback now from Diversion Books. Jodi Lipper is the first ghost writer on the show and she discusses the process of helping develop the voice and earn the trust of high profile people like Steve Madden and help them construct their story. In this moving and inspiring interview, we see a true craftswoman at work—helping Steve Madden articulate how he wrestled his demons and emerged a healthier, happier person who continues to give back to the world. I love a great memoir that, in Wallace Stegner’s words, is constructed around an “anguished question.” In this case, Steve Madden asks himself, “How did I get here?” over and over from the tower of his success to the corner of his jail cell. Jodi Lipper shares generously on what it was like to learn every secret of the shoe mogul and the deep friendship they formed as a result. Their special collaboration is really about how to see and listen deeply to others with compassion and help them reconcile their past to live in the present with grace, conviction and gratitude. I was so impressed by Steve Madden’s brutal honesty in this book, and how Jodi Lipper brilliantly drew it out. I hope you appreciate what’s revealed. fame, entrepreneurs, leadership, craft, failure, bestselling authors, family life, diversion books, leaders, addiction, grace, overcoming addiction, humility, collaborative writing, secrets, master storytellers, redemption, memoir, jodi lipper, bestsellers, shoe mogul, the cobbler, shoes, steve madden, inspiration, billionaire, holly lynn payne, mogul, demons false full 26 549fefa9-6e79-4277-b3c3-dc2c1d295f11 Ep. 25: Susanna Hoffs: This Bird Has Flown Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Boasting one of pop's most beloved voices, Susanna Hoffs grew up in L.A. with an ever-present soundtrack of '60s music. She loved to sing and play guitar, going on to study the arts in college. Stirred by punk and new wave, Susanna started her first band with David Roback while at UC, Berkeley. Upon returning to L.A., she placed a want ad which led her to Vicki and Debbi Peterson. In December 1980, they met in the garage of Susanna's parents' home and a band was born. Blending ’60s garage rock, lush harmonies, and jangly guitars, the Bangles became a seminal band of the ’80s with a string of hits from three platinum-selling albums. Over the decades since, the Bangles continued to tour and release LPs. 

In 1991, Susanna issued a pop-heavy solo album, When You're a Boy. Five years later, her eponymous LP brought her closer to her musical roots than she'd been in a long time which was met with critical praise. After working together in the Austin Powers films, Susanna and Matthew Sweet formed Sid 'n Susie, releasing three volumes of their acclaimed Under the Covers series. In 2011, she stole away to the studio for Someday, a retro modern solo set that served as a stylish homage to the '60s pop that she grew up on. She followed that up in short order with two EPs. More recently, Susanna has collaborated with the Zombies, Tom Petty, Chris Martin, Mike Campbell, Jack Antonoff, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, Aimee Mann, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Maya Rudolph, and others. Her debut novel, This Bird Has Flown, is published by Little Brown, a division of the Hachette Book Group. She’s a graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in art and lives in Los Angeles with her husband of three decades and has two sons. You can find her at www.susannahoffs.com and follow her on Instagram @susannahoffs.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:47:22 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Susanna Hoffs) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-25-susanna-hoffs-this-bird-has-flown-_LAbYrBb Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Boasting one of pop's most beloved voices, Susanna Hoffs grew up in L.A. with an ever-present soundtrack of '60s music. She loved to sing and play guitar, going on to study the arts in college. Stirred by punk and new wave, Susanna started her first band with David Roback while at UC, Berkeley. Upon returning to L.A., she placed a want ad which led her to Vicki and Debbi Peterson. In December 1980, they met in the garage of Susanna's parents' home and a band was born. Blending ’60s garage rock, lush harmonies, and jangly guitars, the Bangles became a seminal band of the ’80s with a string of hits from three platinum-selling albums. Over the decades since, the Bangles continued to tour and release LPs. 

In 1991, Susanna issued a pop-heavy solo album, When You're a Boy. Five years later, her eponymous LP brought her closer to her musical roots than she'd been in a long time which was met with critical praise. After working together in the Austin Powers films, Susanna and Matthew Sweet formed Sid 'n Susie, releasing three volumes of their acclaimed Under the Covers series. In 2011, she stole away to the studio for Someday, a retro modern solo set that served as a stylish homage to the '60s pop that she grew up on. She followed that up in short order with two EPs. More recently, Susanna has collaborated with the Zombies, Tom Petty, Chris Martin, Mike Campbell, Jack Antonoff, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, Aimee Mann, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Maya Rudolph, and others. Her debut novel, This Bird Has Flown, is published by Little Brown, a division of the Hachette Book Group. She’s a graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in art and lives in Los Angeles with her husband of three decades and has two sons. You can find her at www.susannahoffs.com and follow her on Instagram @susannahoffs.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 25: Susanna Hoffs: This Bird Has Flown Holly Payne, Susanna Hoffs 00:47:21 In Episode 25, we interview ‘80s pop rock icon, Susanna Hoffs, who made a bold and courageous career shift to give us her debut novel, This Bird Has Flown, a sexy, hilarious and heartfelt story about a 33-year-old one-hit-wonder whose luck is about to change. In this intimate and wonderfully open interview, Susanna reveals what it was like to experience the freedom from playing the setlist that made her famous and find her voice as a writer. Not only that, but Susanna is now 64 and literally rocking her third act. It just doesn’t get much better than hearing how a rock star aspires to be a novelist and loves to “get lost in the sentences.” This was one of my favorite conversations with a woman who epitomizes badassery and reinvention, still creating and enjoying the artist's life on whatever stage she commands. I hope you enjoy it. In Episode 25, we interview ‘80s pop rock icon, Susanna Hoffs, who made a bold and courageous career shift to give us her debut novel, This Bird Has Flown, a sexy, hilarious and heartfelt story about a 33-year-old one-hit-wonder whose luck is about to change. In this intimate and wonderfully open interview, Susanna reveals what it was like to experience the freedom from playing the setlist that made her famous and find her voice as a writer. Not only that, but Susanna is now 64 and literally rocking her third act. It just doesn’t get much better than hearing how a rock star aspires to be a novelist and loves to “get lost in the sentences.” This was one of my favorite conversations with a woman who epitomizes badassery and reinvention, still creating and enjoying the artist's life on whatever stage she commands. I hope you enjoy it. women musicians, first time author, courage, musicians, inspiring, bestselling authors, singers, la writers, susanna hoffs, rockstars, this bird has flown, icons, debut novelist, los angels, the bangles, women writers, storyteller, actress, debut novel, sexy, hollywood, honest, pop rock, master storytellers, famous women, famous musicians, singer songwriters, novelists, love, hilarious, fun, hachette, reinvention true full 25 32c5794e-2bfe-44f3-a52a-fc369cfd909d Ep. 24: Alka Joshi: The Perfumist of Paris Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Alka Joshi the bestselling author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur. Her most recent book, The Perfumist of Paris, completes The Jaipur Series which launched her writing career and immediately endeared her to the world. Alka’s debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was acquired by Netflix for a series starring Freida Pinto which is due in 2023.  Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the US since she was nine, having spent her formidable years assimilating into American culture in Iowa before she came west and earned her BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband. You can find her at alkajoshi.com and on Instagram: @thealkajoshi Facebook: alkajoshi2019  Twitter: @alkajoshi and LINKEDIN: thealkajoshi. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service with love,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:05:29 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne, Alka Joshi) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-24-alka-joshi-the-perfumist-of-paris-3BaWYMnK Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Alka Joshi the bestselling author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur. Her most recent book, The Perfumist of Paris, completes The Jaipur Series which launched her writing career and immediately endeared her to the world. Alka’s debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was acquired by Netflix for a series starring Freida Pinto which is due in 2023.  Alka Joshi was born in India and raised in the US since she was nine, having spent her formidable years assimilating into American culture in Iowa before she came west and earned her BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband. You can find her at alkajoshi.com and on Instagram: @thealkajoshi Facebook: alkajoshi2019  Twitter: @alkajoshi and LINKEDIN: thealkajoshi. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

In service with love,
Holly

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 24: Alka Joshi: The Perfumist of Paris Holly Lynn Payne, Alka Joshi 00:54:04 In Episode 24, we have the great delight of talking with Alka Joshi, the bestselling author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, about her third book in The Jaipur Series, The Perfumist of Paris, just published by Mira. Alka was the third guest on the Page One Podcast in 2021 and discussed her first year as a published author when her debut, The Henna Artist, launched her writing career, soaring to the top of almost every reading list and immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was acquired by Netflix for a series starring Freida Pinto which is due some time in 2023. Now two years later, Alka discusses how all three of her beloved protagonists find the courage to live from their highest creative expression—a beautiful arc that mirrors her own life. It was such an honor to return to this conversation and feel Alka’s joy and gratitude for writing stories that resonate so deeply with our deepest desires to find our true path. I hope Alka’s story, humility, and commitment to the craft will inspire you! In Episode 24, we have the great delight of talking with Alka Joshi, the bestselling author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, about her third book in The Jaipur Series, The Perfumist of Paris, just published by Mira. Alka was the third guest on the Page One Podcast in 2021 and discussed her first year as a published author when her debut, The Henna Artist, launched her writing career, soaring to the top of almost every reading list and immediately became a New York Times bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and was acquired by Netflix for a series starring Freida Pinto which is due some time in 2023. Now two years later, Alka discusses how all three of her beloved protagonists find the courage to live from their highest creative expression—a beautiful arc that mirrors her own life. It was such an honor to return to this conversation and feel Alka’s joy and gratitude for writing stories that resonate so deeply with our deepest desires to find our true path. I hope Alka’s story, humility, and commitment to the craft will inspire you! culture, artists, california writers, entrepreneur, world culture, authenticity, love stories, adventures, inspiring, musings, delightful, storytelling, popular podcasts, muse, perfumery, writers block, san francisco writers, successful women, best interviews, indian american, encouragement, bestseller, alka joshi, joyful, the perfumist of paris, holly payne, perfume, perfumists, india, podcasts, women entrepre, loved, women writers, the secret keeper of jaipur, storyteller, bestselling author, scent, historial fiction, trilogy, bay area writers, writing community, west coast writers, the henna artist, bookclub, writers, writing tips, great writing, novelists, indian writers, love, inspiration, dreams, paris, reese witherspoon, popular, brown writers, france, revision, writing false full 24 a4ed89b0-b283-4c2f-a6f1-0668eb89ead3 Ep. 23: Shelley Read: Go As A River Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books. Follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram and Twitter to stay in touch and get updates. 

About the guest author:

Shelley Read is a fifth generation Coloradoan who lives with her family in the Elk Mountains of the Western Slope. She was a Senior Lecturer at Western Colorado University for nearly three decades, where she taught writing, literature, environmental studies, and Honors, and was a founder of the Environment & Sustainability major and a support program for first-generation and at-risk students. Shelley holds degrees in writing and literary studies from the University of Denver and Temple University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing. She is a regular contributor to Crested Butte Magazine and Gunnison Valley Journal, and has written for the Denver Post and a variety of publications. You can find her at shellyread.com and on Instagram @shelleyread.author.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:25:18 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Shelley Read, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-23-shelley-read-go-as-a-river-E_3rY843 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books. Follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram and Twitter to stay in touch and get updates. 

About the guest author:

Shelley Read is a fifth generation Coloradoan who lives with her family in the Elk Mountains of the Western Slope. She was a Senior Lecturer at Western Colorado University for nearly three decades, where she taught writing, literature, environmental studies, and Honors, and was a founder of the Environment & Sustainability major and a support program for first-generation and at-risk students. Shelley holds degrees in writing and literary studies from the University of Denver and Temple University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing. She is a regular contributor to Crested Butte Magazine and Gunnison Valley Journal, and has written for the Denver Post and a variety of publications. You can find her at shellyread.com and on Instagram @shelleyread.author.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 23: Shelley Read: Go As A River Shelley Read, Holly Lynn Payne 00:59:44 In Episode 23, we interview Shelley Read about her breathtaking and captivating debut novel, GO AS A RIVER, published by Spiegel and Grau which has already been sold in 28 countries and is being compared to Delia Owen’s best selling debut novel, Where The Crawdad’s Sing. GO AS A RIVER was chosen as a March Indie Next Pick, an Apple Books Most Anticipated Book of 2023, a Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Books of March, Buzz Books Editors Panel Pick, a Zibby Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2023, and was named The Most Anticipated Historical Fiction of 2023 from Thoughts From a Page and also chosen as a Book Girls Guide Best Book Club Books for 2023. This is an extraordinary start for Shelley Read, a former professor of both writing and environmental studies, who waited three decades to write this gorgeous and captivating story, inspired by her roots as a 5th generation Coloradoan. In this special episode, Shelley Read shares the wonder and wisdom of waiting until her mid-fifties “to clear the space to say to the world, I've always wanted to be a writer, and now I am ready.” This interview is about becoming who we are meant to be. I hope you enjoy it. In Episode 23, we interview Shelley Read about her breathtaking and captivating debut novel, GO AS A RIVER, published by Spiegel and Grau which has already been sold in 28 countries and is being compared to Delia Owen’s best selling debut novel, Where The Crawdad’s Sing. GO AS A RIVER was chosen as a March Indie Next Pick, an Apple Books Most Anticipated Book of 2023, a Barnes & Noble Most Anticipated Books of March, Buzz Books Editors Panel Pick, a Zibby Magazine Most Anticipated Book of 2023, and was named The Most Anticipated Historical Fiction of 2023 from Thoughts From a Page and also chosen as a Book Girls Guide Best Book Club Books for 2023. This is an extraordinary start for Shelley Read, a former professor of both writing and environmental studies, who waited three decades to write this gorgeous and captivating story, inspired by her roots as a 5th generation Coloradoan. In this special episode, Shelley Read shares the wonder and wisdom of waiting until her mid-fifties “to clear the space to say to the world, I've always wanted to be a writer, and now I am ready.” This interview is about becoming who we are meant to be. I hope you enjoy it. gunnison river, writers over 50, triumph, mother's, courage, tragedy, adoption, ecology, historical fiction, lovers, debut fiction, gunnison county, environment, babies, shelley read, women writers, reslience, spiegel and grau, colorado peaches, love story, son's, birth, go as a river, paonia, native american, peach trees, inspiration, colorado false full 23 5cef498a-4ee7-4a97-8db7-8762fd1516f6 Ep. 22: Kristen Harnisch: The Vintner's Legacy Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kristen Harnisch is the international bestselling author of the award-winning trilogy: The Vintner's Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner's Legacy. Kristen drew upon her extensive research and experiences living in the San Francisco Bay Area and visiting Parise and the Loire Valley to create the historic world for the masterful trilogy. Kristen has served as a monthly guest blogger for the Writer's Digest Blog, The Writer's Dig and currently speaks on the business and craft of writing at conferences and writing retreats. You can find her at 

www.kristenharnisch.com, Twitter @KristenHarnisch or Instagram @kharnischauthor.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne for updates and writing tips from your favorite master storytellers.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:48:23 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Kristen Harnisch) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-22-kristen-harnisch-the-vintners-legacy-vRvTdPuW Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kristen Harnisch is the international bestselling author of the award-winning trilogy: The Vintner's Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner's Legacy. Kristen drew upon her extensive research and experiences living in the San Francisco Bay Area and visiting Parise and the Loire Valley to create the historic world for the masterful trilogy. Kristen has served as a monthly guest blogger for the Writer's Digest Blog, The Writer's Dig and currently speaks on the business and craft of writing at conferences and writing retreats. You can find her at 

www.kristenharnisch.com, Twitter @KristenHarnisch or Instagram @kharnischauthor.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne for updates and writing tips from your favorite master storytellers.

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 22: Kristen Harnisch: The Vintner's Legacy Holly Payne, Kristen Harnisch 00:45:53 In Episode 22, we have the joy of speaking with Kristen Harnisch, the international bestselling author of the award-winning series: The Vintner's Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner's Legacy. Kristen is a unique author in that she’s experienced all three publishing paths: traditional, hybrid and independent publishing. Her publishing story is one of perseverance, determination and will give those of us juggling the responsibilities of family life, daily life and being true to your passion to write. If you’re considering this path, Kristen will inspire you to say YES. All it takes is just one page at a time. And before you know it, you’ve got a bestselling series that happens to pair well with a great glass of wine. Enjoy! You can find Kristen Harnisch at www.kristenharnisch.com, Twitter @KristenHarnisch, or Instagram @kharnischauthor. In Episode 22, we have the joy of speaking with Kristen Harnisch, the international bestselling author of the award-winning series: The Vintner's Daughter, The California Wife and The Vintner's Legacy. Kristen is a unique author in that she’s experienced all three publishing paths: traditional, hybrid and independent publishing. Her publishing story is one of perseverance, determination and will give those of us juggling the responsibilities of family life, daily life and being true to your passion to write. If you’re considering this path, Kristen will inspire you to say YES. All it takes is just one page at a time. And before you know it, you’ve got a bestselling series that happens to pair well with a great glass of wine. Enjoy! You can find Kristen Harnisch at www.kristenharnisch.com, Twitter @KristenHarnisch, or Instagram @kharnischauthor. vintners, courage, harper collins canada, the vintner's daughter, independent publishing, historical fiction, international bestseller, wine, perseverance, kristen harnisch, inspiration, master storyteller, wine making, amazon crossings, the california wife false full 22 321bb1f4-3145-4778-bebf-8f6cbe686463 Ep. 21: Catherine Raven: Fox & I Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dr. Catherine Raven is a former national park ranger at Glacier, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Voyageurs, and Yellowstone national parks. She earned a PhD in biology from Montana State University, holds degrees in zoology and botany from the University of Montana, and is a member of American Mensa and Sigma Xi (which I had to look up and discovered translates to Companions in Zealous Research.) Her natural history essays have appeared in American Scientist, Journal of American Mensa, and Montana Magazine. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates, inspiration, and writing tips from the world's master storytellers, follow me @hollylynnpayne on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2022 22:07:53 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Catherine Raven, Holly Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-21-catherine-raven-fox-i-YHZBWvbh Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dr. Catherine Raven is a former national park ranger at Glacier, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Voyageurs, and Yellowstone national parks. She earned a PhD in biology from Montana State University, holds degrees in zoology and botany from the University of Montana, and is a member of American Mensa and Sigma Xi (which I had to look up and discovered translates to Companions in Zealous Research.) Her natural history essays have appeared in American Scientist, Journal of American Mensa, and Montana Magazine. 

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates, inspiration, and writing tips from the world's master storytellers, follow me @hollylynnpayne on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 21: Catherine Raven: Fox & I Catherine Raven, Holly Payne 00:48:34 In Episode 21, we interview biologist Catherine Raven about her debut book, FOX & I, published by Spiegel & Grau, which became an instant bestseller when it debuted. It won a PEN Literary Award and was named the E.O. Wilson Science Award winner. It was also named A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Year, a 2022 Summer Reading Pick by BUZZFEED, the New York Times Book Review, Kirkus, Time Magazine, Good Morning America, People Magazine and The Washington Post. In this special conversation, we not only learn more about what it means to befriend a fox but we discuss the nature of being part of the natural world, emotional honesty, and the three pillars of the creative writing process: intuition, emotion and wisdom. This is perhaps one of the most powerful conversations I've had on Page One about how we interact and come to love ourselves and the world through our relationship with another animal. Spoiler alert. This book will bring tears and make you want to take a walk in the woods and realize you are never alone in nature. I loved meeting Cathy and I sense you will too. Please enjoy this very special episode and share it with a friend. In Episode 21, we interview biologist Catherine Raven about her debut book, FOX & I, published by Spiegel & Grau, which became an instant bestseller when it debuted. It won a PEN Literary Award and was named the E.O. Wilson Science Award winner. It was also named A Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Year, a 2022 Summer Reading Pick by BUZZFEED, the New York Times Book Review, Kirkus, Time Magazine, Good Morning America, People Magazine and The Washington Post. In this special conversation, we not only learn more about what it means to befriend a fox but we discuss the nature of being part of the natural world, emotional honesty, and the three pillars of the creative writing process: intuition, emotion and wisdom. This is perhaps one of the most powerful conversations I've had on Page One about how we interact and come to love ourselves and the world through our relationship with another animal. Spoiler alert. This book will bring tears and make you want to take a walk in the woods and realize you are never alone in nature. I loved meeting Cathy and I sense you will too. Please enjoy this very special episode and share it with a friend. lonelieness, fox & i, fox lovers, outdoors, emotional honest, pen award, awardwinning, bestselling authors, debut authors, happiness, science writers, science research, wisdom, ecology, the little prince, foxes, biologists, books that make you cry, nature, nature lovers, montana, natural history, creative writing, rebel, memoir, great writing, intuition, bestsellers, animal lovers, natural world false full 21 fc66af4c-c93b-4d3b-b350-0779283113a7 Ep. 20: Kate Manning: Gilded Mountain Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kate Manning's most recent novel, GILDED MOUNTAIN, was named an Indie Book Pick for November 2022. Manning is also the author of the critically acclaimed novels My Notorious Life and Whitegirl. A former documentary television producer and winner of two Emmy Awards, she has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times Book Review, Time, Glamour, and The Guardian, among other publications. She has taught creative writing at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan, and lives with her family in New York City.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2022 22:03:11 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Kate Manning, Holly Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-20-kate-manning-gilded-mountain-V29r1GE_ Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Kate Manning's most recent novel, GILDED MOUNTAIN, was named an Indie Book Pick for November 2022. Manning is also the author of the critically acclaimed novels My Notorious Life and Whitegirl. A former documentary television producer and winner of two Emmy Awards, she has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times Book Review, Time, Glamour, and The Guardian, among other publications. She has taught creative writing at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan, and lives with her family in New York City.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on
Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 20: Kate Manning: Gilded Mountain Kate Manning, Holly Payne 00:47:41 In Episode 20, we interview Emmy award winning filmmaker, Kate Manning, about her most recent novel, GILDED MOUNTAIN, published by Scribner and named an Indie Book Pick for November 2022. If you’re a fan of meticulous research rendered in page-turning prose, you can bet on curling up to this captivating story, inspired by Manning’s family ties to a Colorado mining town in the 1910s. This is a story to savor this winter in your favorite reading chair by the fireplace or wherever you find yourself nesting with a book. Kate Manning is one of those rare talents, both remarkable in her craft and in the characters she renders. She’s a writer’s writer and a reader’s dream. She’ll transport and awaken you. And you can’t help but root for the women in this story, who no doubt, shaped Colorado’s tenacity of spirit. In this episode, Kate shares how she crafted this story over the course of ten years, and how she relies on her trusted early readers to identify what’s working or not. Humble, funny and insightful, Kate will inspire anyone who has the courage to tackle history with grace and grit. In Episode 20, we interview Emmy award winning filmmaker, Kate Manning, about her most recent novel, GILDED MOUNTAIN, published by Scribner and named an Indie Book Pick for November 2022. If you’re a fan of meticulous research rendered in page-turning prose, you can bet on curling up to this captivating story, inspired by Manning’s family ties to a Colorado mining town in the 1910s. This is a story to savor this winter in your favorite reading chair by the fireplace or wherever you find yourself nesting with a book. Kate Manning is one of those rare talents, both remarkable in her craft and in the characters she renders. She’s a writer’s writer and a reader’s dream. She’ll transport and awaken you. And you can’t help but root for the women in this story, who no doubt, shaped Colorado’s tenacity of spirit. In this episode, Kate shares how she crafted this story over the course of ten years, and how she relies on her trusted early readers to identify what’s working or not. Humble, funny and insightful, Kate will inspire anyone who has the courage to tackle history with grace and grit. immigrant, misbehaving women, french canadian, craft, indie book pick, mining practices, documentary filmmaker, storytelling, simon & schuster, colorado history, great book, characters, readers, historical fiction, fiction, kate manning, story worlds, family saga, women writers, ], captivating story, mother jones, award winning author, emmy award winner, writers, love story, writing teachers, prose, scribner, book lovers, master storyteller, mining town, revision false full 20 8a7bdf23-1e73-4ad7-b72a-c5167943ab66 Ep. 19: Deanna Raybourn: KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation Texan with a degree in English and history from UTSA. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including the Edgar, RT Reviewers’ Choice, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, and the Last Laugh. She launched a Victorian mystery series featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter Veronica Speedwell in 2015. This Edgar-nominated series is ongoing. Her first contemporary thriller, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, chronicles the adventures of four female assassins who must band together against the organization that would rather see them dead than let them retire.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:50:14 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Deanna Raybourn) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-19-deanna-raybourn-killers-of-a-certain-age-FXPW8V5C Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation Texan with a degree in English and history from UTSA. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including the Edgar, RT Reviewers’ Choice, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, and the Last Laugh. She launched a Victorian mystery series featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter Veronica Speedwell in 2015. This Edgar-nominated series is ongoing. Her first contemporary thriller, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, chronicles the adventures of four female assassins who must band together against the organization that would rather see them dead than let them retire.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 19: Deanna Raybourn: KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE Holly Payne, Deanna Raybourn 00:48:50 In Episode 19, we interview bestselling and two-time Edgar award winning author Deana Raybourn about taking the huge risk to write her first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE—which became an instant New York Times Bestseller after being published by Penguin Random House this fall. Having written 23 works of historical fiction, Deanna’s courageous foray into contemporary fiction is no less perilous than the journey her four female assassins take in her latest book. In this high energy and deeply honest conversation, Raybourn recounts her struggle with finding the voice of the narrator until it dawns on her, thanks to her husband’s suggestion, to use her ‘Twitter voice.’ From that moment, Raybourn’s contemporary voice was identified and immediately grabbed the page as it will grab you, too. It’s rare to find a writer who shares as much joy for overcoming obstacles during the process as she does for the characters she creates. Deanna Raybourn has lived the hero’s journey in writing this book and the risk she took generously rewarded her in the most beautiful, intangible ways, “Writing about these four dynamic women has been an absolute joy. I’ve never had the chance to explore a set of friendships the way I have in this book, and I found myself thinking of all the incredible women I have known throughout my life—long-lost relatives, colleagues, friends, and even the occasional frenemy! The one thread that connects them all is strength.” If you love badassery, you will love Raybourn and her highly entertaining contemporary novel. In Episode 19, we interview bestselling and two-time Edgar award winning author Deana Raybourn about taking the huge risk to write her first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE—which became an instant New York Times Bestseller after being published by Penguin Random House this fall. Having written 23 works of historical fiction, Deanna’s courageous foray into contemporary fiction is no less perilous than the journey her four female assassins take in her latest book. In this high energy and deeply honest conversation, Raybourn recounts her struggle with finding the voice of the narrator until it dawns on her, thanks to her husband’s suggestion, to use her ‘Twitter voice.’ From that moment, Raybourn’s contemporary voice was identified and immediately grabbed the page as it will grab you, too. It’s rare to find a writer who shares as much joy for overcoming obstacles during the process as she does for the characters she creates. Deanna Raybourn has lived the hero’s journey in writing this book and the risk she took generously rewarded her in the most beautiful, intangible ways, “Writing about these four dynamic women has been an absolute joy. I’ve never had the chance to explore a set of friendships the way I have in this book, and I found myself thinking of all the incredible women I have known throughout my life—long-lost relatives, colleagues, friends, and even the occasional frenemy! The one thread that connects them all is strength.” If you love badassery, you will love Raybourn and her highly entertaining contemporary novel. resilience, assassin stories, bestselling authors, storytelling, fiction, deanna raybourn, compelling characters, success stories, females, writing life, new york times bestseller, master storytellers, strong women, podcast, writing tips, bestsellers, usa today bestseller, thrillers, inspiration, penguin random house, writing false full 19 bb821b61-b934-4475-a7cf-436a41148242 Ep. 18: Ayana Gray: Beasts of Ruin Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on 

Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 20 Sep 2022 17:20:43 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Ayana Gray) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-18-ayana-gray-beasts-of-ruin-vY8BGeWF Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

To get updates and writing tips from master storytellers, follow me on 

Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Until then, be well and keep reading!

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 18: Ayana Gray: Beasts of Ruin Holly Payne, Ayana Gray 00:50:43 In Episode 18, we interview NYT bestselling young adult fantasy author, Ayana Gray, about the first pages of her second book, BEASTS OF RUIN, published by G.P. Putnam. If you’re interested in knowing how to build a story world that thrills and captivates both young adult and adult readers, tune into this episode to hear how one college course on “Good & Evil” catalyzed her career as a literary force and catapulted her to master storyteller status after her debut, BEAST OF PREY, became an instant best seller. Ayana talks openly about navigating the discomfort of accessing deep emotion, which to her is “scary but satisfying.” While we only had time to discuss book two in her trilogy, I hope it’s enough to have you catch up on the first book and enter a world unlike any you’ve ever encountered. What a gift to explore Pan African myths with one of the most compelling female protagonists you’ll ever meet and hear from the creator herself on what it took to birth this wildly imaginative story world. In Episode 18, we interview NYT bestselling young adult fantasy author, Ayana Gray, about the first pages of her second book, BEASTS OF RUIN, published by G.P. Putnam. If you’re interested in knowing how to build a story world that thrills and captivates both young adult and adult readers, tune into this episode to hear how one college course on “Good & Evil” catalyzed her career as a literary force and catapulted her to master storyteller status after her debut, BEAST OF PREY, became an instant best seller. Ayana talks openly about navigating the discomfort of accessing deep emotion, which to her is “scary but satisfying.” While we only had time to discuss book two in her trilogy, I hope it’s enough to have you catch up on the first book and enter a world unlike any you’ve ever encountered. What a gift to explore Pan African myths with one of the most compelling female protagonists you’ll ever meet and hear from the creator herself on what it took to birth this wildly imaginative story world. magical realism, beasts of ruin, successful black writers, writing journey, penguin, bestselling authors, storytelling, booktok, successful black women, successful women, successful women writers, black writers, story worlds, beasts of prey, bookstagram, new york times bestseller, master storytellers, hero's journey, african mythology, writers, writing tips, fantasy, book lovers, motivation, publishing, inspiration, ayana gray, mythology, books, writing podcasts, writing false full 18 e15e642a-7f6e-4f4d-9422-dfd04bfea0e9 Ep. 17: Barbara Graham: What Jonah Knew Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Barbara Graham is a bestselling author, essayist, and playwright, who has written for Time; O, The Oprah Magazine; Glamour; More; National Geographic Traveler; and Vogue. She is a columnist for Grandparents.com and has two granddaughters. She is the author/editor of the New York Times bestselling Eye of My Heart: 27 Women Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother, her non-Hallmark take on the complexities of being a grandparent in the 21st century. She’s also the author of Women Who Run with the Poodles: Myths and Tips for Honoring Your Mood Swings, a national bestseller that offers a satirical look at the dark side of the self-help movement. Barbara’s plays have been produced Off-Broadway and at theaters around the country. What Jonah Knew is her first novel.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 19 Aug 2022 16:40:53 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Barbara Graham, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-17-barbara-graham-what-jonah-knew-En6evwOF Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Barbara Graham is a bestselling author, essayist, and playwright, who has written for Time; O, The Oprah Magazine; Glamour; More; National Geographic Traveler; and Vogue. She is a columnist for Grandparents.com and has two granddaughters. She is the author/editor of the New York Times bestselling Eye of My Heart: 27 Women Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother, her non-Hallmark take on the complexities of being a grandparent in the 21st century. She’s also the author of Women Who Run with the Poodles: Myths and Tips for Honoring Your Mood Swings, a national bestseller that offers a satirical look at the dark side of the self-help movement. Barbara’s plays have been produced Off-Broadway and at theaters around the country. What Jonah Knew is her first novel.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 17: Barbara Graham: What Jonah Knew Barbara Graham, Holly Lynn Payne 00:44:51 In Episode 17, we interview bestselling author Barbara Graham about the stories and struggles behind writing her debut novel, What Jonah Knew, published by Harper this summer. In this very honest conversation, Graham shares her profound joy in writing fiction for the first time—her lifelong dream and the cost of finding her way to this side of writing. “For me, writing fiction, writing this novel, is the most fun I've ever had, the hardest thing I've ever done and the absolute most fun.” In this special episode, we discuss how spirituality can influence and support the writing process and how seeming deadends can lead to fortuitous opportunities. Graham is a Buddhist practitioner and speaks with grace, grit and humor. What a gift to hear her wisdom and learn more secrets about the craft and how writing fiction “opens you to more possibilities for getting to truths that otherwise you would be confined and not be able to write.” I hope you enjoy it! In Episode 17, we interview bestselling author Barbara Graham about the stories and struggles behind writing her debut novel, What Jonah Knew, published by Harper this summer. In this very honest conversation, Graham shares her profound joy in writing fiction for the first time—her lifelong dream and the cost of finding her way to this side of writing. “For me, writing fiction, writing this novel, is the most fun I've ever had, the hardest thing I've ever done and the absolute most fun.” In this special episode, we discuss how spirituality can influence and support the writing process and how seeming deadends can lead to fortuitous opportunities. Graham is a Buddhist practitioner and speaks with grace, grit and humor. What a gift to hear her wisdom and learn more secrets about the craft and how writing fiction “opens you to more possibilities for getting to truths that otherwise you would be confined and not be able to write.” I hope you enjoy it! courage, writing craft, stortelling, bestselling authors, reincarnation, readers, fiction, what jonah knew, podcasts, harper collins, storytellers, writing life, writing community, authors, master storytellers, writers, perseverance, bestsellers, barbara graham, publishing, great podcasts, buddhism, revision false full 17 d4239b01-dd56-4596-aa6d-8f65c7758095 Ep. 16: Dallas Woodburn: How to Make Paper When The World Is Ending Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview the world's master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dallas Woodburn is the author of five books, both traditionally published and self-published, and editor of two national anthologies. She has also written for dozens of magazines, newspapers, websites, and 30+ books in the popular "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series. Her latest novel The Best Week That Never Happened was a #1 New Release on Amazon & an Apple Books best-seller. She received her BA in Creative Writing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California and her Master’s degree in Fiction Writing from Purdue University. She was also a John Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing at San Jose State University. As a successful author, coach and writing professional, Dallas has led groups and seminars at a number of national conferences, festivals, and book fairs. She is also a frequent guest speaker on TV shows, podcasts, and writing conferences. She hosts the Thriving Authors Podcast and the Thriving Authors Virtual Summit. Her latest book, a collection of short stories, How to Make Paper When the World is Thriving, was published by Koehler Books in June.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 12 Jul 2022 19:37:10 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Dallas Woodburn) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-16-dallas-woodburn-how-to-make-paper-when-the-world-is-ending-Yelhct1r Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview the world's master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dallas Woodburn is the author of five books, both traditionally published and self-published, and editor of two national anthologies. She has also written for dozens of magazines, newspapers, websites, and 30+ books in the popular "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series. Her latest novel The Best Week That Never Happened was a #1 New Release on Amazon & an Apple Books best-seller. She received her BA in Creative Writing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California and her Master’s degree in Fiction Writing from Purdue University. She was also a John Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing at San Jose State University. As a successful author, coach and writing professional, Dallas has led groups and seminars at a number of national conferences, festivals, and book fairs. She is also a frequent guest speaker on TV shows, podcasts, and writing conferences. She hosts the Thriving Authors Podcast and the Thriving Authors Virtual Summit. Her latest book, a collection of short stories, How to Make Paper When the World is Thriving, was published by Koehler Books in June.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot,was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 16: Dallas Woodburn: How to Make Paper When The World Is Ending Holly Payne, Dallas Woodburn 00:43:41 In Episode 16, we interview award-winning author, Dallas Woodburn, about the first pages of her short story collection, How to Make Paper When the World is Ending, published by Koehler Books in June. If you’re interested in knowing how to hook a reader in a single paragraph, tune into this episode to hear how Dallas crafts deft lines that pull you into her pages. As the author of five books, Dallas is no stranger to the rules of good fiction and what’s more, she surrendered to the process in such a way her words feel almost magical; and the stories beg you to read more. While we only had time to discuss four of the 16 stories in her new book, I hope it’s enough to wet your whistle and read the rest—while you camp, hit the beach or lounge. I can’t think of a more enjoyable afternoon than spending time with Dallas Woodburn’s latest book. In Episode 16, we interview award-winning author, Dallas Woodburn, about the first pages of her short story collection, How to Make Paper When the World is Ending, published by Koehler Books in June. If you’re interested in knowing how to hook a reader in a single paragraph, tune into this episode to hear how Dallas crafts deft lines that pull you into her pages. As the author of five books, Dallas is no stranger to the rules of good fiction and what’s more, she surrendered to the process in such a way her words feel almost magical; and the stories beg you to read more. While we only had time to discuss four of the 16 stories in her new book, I hope it’s enough to wet your whistle and read the rest—while you camp, hit the beach or lounge. I can’t think of a more enjoyable afternoon than spending time with Dallas Woodburn’s latest book. short stories, koehler books, summer readers, how to make paper when the world is ending, storytelling, beach reads, writing process, short story collections, characters, story worlds, loss, writing coaches, award-winning writers, award-winning authors, fun books, authors, grief, master storytellers, writers, fast read books, great summer reads, inspiration, dallas woodburn, ghosts, good writing, writing false full 16 36475ce2-8930-4b9b-8039-766e2411812c Ep. 15: Karen Winn: Our Little World Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Karen Winn received her MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She also holds a doctoral degree in nursing. Born and raised in New Jersey, Karen now lives in Boston with her husband and two children. Our Little World is her first novel.  You can find her at: www.karenlwinn.com

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:03:30 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Karen Winn, Lloyd Minthrone) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-15-karen-winn-our-little-world-ZmsrxZKo Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Karen Winn received her MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She also holds a doctoral degree in nursing. Born and raised in New Jersey, Karen now lives in Boston with her husband and two children. Our Little World is her first novel.  You can find her at: www.karenlwinn.com

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is the author of four historical fiction novels, and her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome and her love of Shel Silverstein's poetry. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 15: Karen Winn: Our Little World Holly Payne, Karen Winn, Lloyd Minthrone 00:51:03 In Episode 15, we interview Karen Winn about her debut novel, Our Little World, published by Dutton. Without any spoilers, we discuss the tricks of building a suspenseful world, digging deep and probing the dark side of human nature, long-held secrets, the effects of tragedy on a small town community and its individuals—and why readers are drawn to that complexity. For anyone considering writing their first suspense novel, Karen Winn is a testament to perseverance and the power of a writing community to support the journey. In Episode 15, we interview Karen Winn about her debut novel, Our Little World, published by Dutton. Without any spoilers, we discuss the tricks of building a suspenseful world, digging deep and probing the dark side of human nature, long-held secrets, the effects of tragedy on a small town community and its individuals—and why readers are drawn to that complexity. For anyone considering writing their first suspense novel, Karen Winn is a testament to perseverance and the power of a writing community to support the journey. debut author, penguin, east coast stories, boston writers, storytelling, beach reads, complexity, tragegy, karen winn, our little world, debut novel, suspense, summer reading, master storytellers, writers, dutton, novels, writing groups, vacation reads, writing, summer reads false full 15 a6398cdd-d335-4ba3-ac1e-24c36886401b Ep. 14: Erica Ferencik: Girl in Ice Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Erica Ferencik is the award-winning author of the acclaimed thrillers The River at Night and Into the Jungle. The New York Times Book Review declared her latest novel Girl in Ice, “hauntingly beautiful.” Ferencik is known for taking readers on journeys to remote places in her first two novels and creating hallmark badass women protagonists. Her latest book, Girl In Ice, takes readers to a remote field station in the Arctic Circle where a university linguist uncovers the mysterious death of her brother. In addition to writing novels, Ferencik’s writing career spans 35 years and includes short stories, essays, ghostwriting, screenplays, a brief stint in filmmaking and a decade of standup and sketch comedy. Her work has appeared in Salon magazine, The Boston Globe and on NPR. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Boston University. You can find her online at EricaFerencik.com and follow her on Twitter @EricaFerencik.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, was optioned for a film series. She's recently completed her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes. 
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 17 May 2022 00:45:36 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Erica Ferencik, Lloyd Minthrone, thrillers, Simon & Schuster, Scout Press, Girl in Ice, Arctic Circle, Greenland, fiction, award-winning authors, master storytellers, writers, readers, writing, storytelling, linguists, murder, mystery, stand up comedy, Boston writers, courage, suspense) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-14-erica-ferencik-girl-in-ice-AiR9ZYNO Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Erica Ferencik is the award-winning author of the acclaimed thrillers The River at Night and Into the Jungle. The New York Times Book Review declared her latest novel Girl in Ice, “hauntingly beautiful.” Ferencik is known for taking readers on journeys to remote places in her first two novels and creating hallmark badass women protagonists. Her latest book, Girl In Ice, takes readers to a remote field station in the Arctic Circle where a university linguist uncovers the mysterious death of her brother. In addition to writing novels, Ferencik’s writing career spans 35 years and includes short stories, essays, ghostwriting, screenplays, a brief stint in filmmaking and a decade of standup and sketch comedy. Her work has appeared in Salon magazine, The Boston Globe and on NPR. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Boston University. You can find her online at EricaFerencik.com and follow her on Twitter @EricaFerencik.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, was optioned for a film series. She's recently completed her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes. 
Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 14: Erica Ferencik: Girl in Ice Holly Payne, Erica Ferencik, Lloyd Minthrone, thrillers, Simon & Schuster, Scout Press, Girl in Ice, Arctic Circle, Greenland, fiction, award-winning authors, master storytellers, writers, readers, writing, storytelling, linguists, murder, mystery, stand up comedy, Boston writers, courage, suspense 00:48:44 In Episode 14, we interview award-winning author Erica Ferencik about the struggles and stories behind the first page of her latest thriller, Girl in Ice, published this spring by Scout Press and declared by the New York Times Book Review as “hauntingly beautiful.” Ferencik is known for taking readers on journeys to remote places and challenging herself with firsthand research in them—which she discusses in detail, admitting terror and a forced growth mindset. Those adventures inspired her other two novels, The River at Night and Into the Jungle which feature Erica’s hallmark badass women protagonists. Erica also discusses how doing standup comedy for ten years built her ‘courage muscles’ to write novels and how to identify good story ideas. In Episode 14, we interview award-winning author Erica Ferencik about the struggles and stories behind the first page of her latest thriller, Girl in Ice, published this spring by Scout Press and declared by the New York Times Book Review as “hauntingly beautiful.” Ferencik is known for taking readers on journeys to remote places and challenging herself with firsthand research in them—which she discusses in detail, admitting terror and a forced growth mindset. Those adventures inspired her other two novels, The River at Night and Into the Jungle which feature Erica’s hallmark badass women protagonists. Erica also discusses how doing standup comedy for ten years built her ‘courage muscles’ to write novels and how to identify good story ideas. false full 14 70a86eb7-8458-44be-89a7-5a0b2da906d3 Ep. 13: Lee Kravetz - The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Lee Kravetz is a science journalist and the author of two acclaimed works of non-fiction: Strange Contagion and SuperSurvivors, both published by HarperWave—which dovetail perfectly with The Last Confession of Slyvia P, his first work of fiction that explores manic depression in the lives of some of the greatest writers of the early 20th century. Kravetz has worked in publicity for some of the biggest publishers in the world and has written for print and television, including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Psychology Today, The Daily Beast, The San Francisco Chronicle, and PBS. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family and is a member of the Writers Grotto and serves on the panel faculty for LitCamp. You can visit him at www.leekravetz.com and follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/leekravetz and Instagram @leekravetz


About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She's currently at work on her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Shoutouts: This episode supports National Poetry Month, where you can sign up to receive a poem-a-day curated in April by Naomi Shihab Nye and the 22in'22 a Zibby Books Initiative which encourages all of us to visit 22 bookstores in 2022. How awesome is that? Great idea Zibby Books! As an author, I love independent bookstores and believe they play a huge role in our communities, nurturing our love of literature and enriching our lives with programming and other events that promote literacy, bringing readers and writers together. Living here in the San Francisco Bay Area with more independent bookstores per capita than anywhere else in the country, I will be visiting many of my favorite bookstores in the coming months with my daughter in tow. Wherever this finds you, I hope you do the same. And while you get a great new book or two, please tell them about the Page One Podcast. Thank you for supporting your nearest bookstore and the authors whose work they carry. Happy browsing to all! 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 15 Apr 2022 01:18:00 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Lee Kravetz, Lloyd Minthrone) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-13-lee-kravetz-the-last-confessions-of-sylvia-p-QPJjLPJQ Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Lee Kravetz is a science journalist and the author of two acclaimed works of non-fiction: Strange Contagion and SuperSurvivors, both published by HarperWave—which dovetail perfectly with The Last Confession of Slyvia P, his first work of fiction that explores manic depression in the lives of some of the greatest writers of the early 20th century. Kravetz has worked in publicity for some of the biggest publishers in the world and has written for print and television, including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Psychology Today, The Daily Beast, The San Francisco Chronicle, and PBS. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his family and is a member of the Writers Grotto and serves on the panel faculty for LitCamp. You can visit him at www.leekravetz.com and follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/leekravetz and Instagram @leekravetz


About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She's currently at work on her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Shoutouts: This episode supports National Poetry Month, where you can sign up to receive a poem-a-day curated in April by Naomi Shihab Nye and the 22in'22 a Zibby Books Initiative which encourages all of us to visit 22 bookstores in 2022. How awesome is that? Great idea Zibby Books! As an author, I love independent bookstores and believe they play a huge role in our communities, nurturing our love of literature and enriching our lives with programming and other events that promote literacy, bringing readers and writers together. Living here in the San Francisco Bay Area with more independent bookstores per capita than anywhere else in the country, I will be visiting many of my favorite bookstores in the coming months with my daughter in tow. Wherever this finds you, I hope you do the same. And while you get a great new book or two, please tell them about the Page One Podcast. Thank you for supporting your nearest bookstore and the authors whose work they carry. Happy browsing to all! 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 13: Lee Kravetz - The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. Holly Payne, Lee Kravetz, Lloyd Minthrone 00:59:42 In Episode 13, we interview Lee Kravetz about his debut novel and foray into historical fiction, The Last Confession of Sylvia P published by Harper in March 2022. In 2013, Kravetz stumbled across a worn copy of Sylvia Plath’s only published novel, The Bell Jar, during a visit to the psychiatric ward at the Menlo Park Veteran Affairs Hospital where he was doing post graduate work in psychology. That fateful moment planted the seed for a dramatic career switch years later when he would leave writing non-fiction forever—to become a novelist. It is no wonder that Kravetz, a former psychiatrist turned writer, dove into the world and mind of Slyvia Plath—whose life and work provide a map to mental illness and the confessional power of poetry. Kravetz is a soulful yet relatable writer, the kind of guy you can share a beer with and talk craft and perseverance. Kravetz reveals his grit, grace and gratitude for the art of fiction he had the courage to embrace. This episode is a celebration of National Poetry Month. In Episode 13, we interview Lee Kravetz about his debut novel and foray into historical fiction, The Last Confession of Sylvia P published by Harper in March 2022. In 2013, Kravetz stumbled across a worn copy of Sylvia Plath’s only published novel, The Bell Jar, during a visit to the psychiatric ward at the Menlo Park Veteran Affairs Hospital where he was doing post graduate work in psychology. That fateful moment planted the seed for a dramatic career switch years later when he would leave writing non-fiction forever—to become a novelist. It is no wonder that Kravetz, a former psychiatrist turned writer, dove into the world and mind of Slyvia Plath—whose life and work provide a map to mental illness and the confessional power of poetry. Kravetz is a soulful yet relatable writer, the kind of guy you can share a beer with and talk craft and perseverance. Kravetz reveals his grit, grace and gratitude for the art of fiction he had the courage to embrace. This episode is a celebration of National Poetry Month. lee kravetz, sylvia plath, craft, the writers grotto, san francisco writers, historical fiction, mental illness, fiction, debut novelist, curation, the last confessions of sylvia p, storytellers, confesional poetry, first time novelist, manic depression, writers, london, boston, perseverance, great interviews, ted hughes, writing groups, publishing, the bell jar, inspiration, robert lowell, art, harper, psychiatry, writing false full 13 b63cd2a9-9e6b-4322-bca4-c83e1108a2ef Ep. 12: Mimi Winsberg - Speaking in Thumbs Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview the world's master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Mimi Winsberg, M.D., co-founded the behavioral health startup, Brightside, while serving as resident psychiatrist at Facebook’s Wellness Center. She appears regularly on Good Morning America, and her work has been featured in GQ, Glamour, Fast Company, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Business Insider. Speaking in Thumbs is her first book.

Visit her website:https://www.drwinsberg.com

Twitter:   @mwinsberg      

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her third novel, Kingdom of Simplicity, won a First Prize Benjamin Franklin Award and Grand Prize for Writer's Digest. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She's currently at work on her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.          

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:13:22 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Mimi Winsberg, Lloyd Minthrone editing) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-12-mimi-winsberg-speaking-in-thumbs-3rudQ6s9 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview the world's master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Mimi Winsberg, M.D., co-founded the behavioral health startup, Brightside, while serving as resident psychiatrist at Facebook’s Wellness Center. She appears regularly on Good Morning America, and her work has been featured in GQ, Glamour, Fast Company, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Business Insider. Speaking in Thumbs is her first book.

Visit her website:https://www.drwinsberg.com

Twitter:   @mwinsberg      

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her third novel, Kingdom of Simplicity, won a First Prize Benjamin Franklin Award and Grand Prize for Writer's Digest. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She's currently at work on her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.          

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 12: Mimi Winsberg - Speaking in Thumbs Holly Payne, Mimi Winsberg, Lloyd Minthrone editing 00:44:26 In Episode 12, we learn from the "Text Whisperer,” Dr. Mimi Winsberg, M.D. who decodes our relationship texts in her insightful debut, Speaking In Thumbs, published by Doubleday. Winsberg is a Harvard and Stanford-trained psychiatrist with twenty-five years of clinical experience. Her work frequently finds her at the intersection of Big Data and Big Dating. Like all of us, Winsberg has been handed a smartphone accompanied by the urgent plea: "What does this mean?" Unlike all of us, she knows the answer. She is a text whisperer, and this interview will satiate our curiosity about how big data meets big dating. Winsberg feels like the friend we all need, or could ever hope to have, as we navigate the subtext beneath our texts. If only this book had been born years ago, we might have saved ourselves from heartache (I can attest to that). Sigh. It’s finally here. And there is no better time to read it. Winsberg is a first-time author and shares an insider’s guide to the sheer delight she discovered working on this book, comparing it to the joy and satisfaction she has felt competing in Ironmans. She also reads to us from her favorite book, Lolita. Sit back, listen up and share this one with your friends who might need some help knowing if they’ve found ‘the one’ by carefully deciphering what they say and how they say it—inside a text bubble. In Episode 12, we learn from the "Text Whisperer,” Dr. Mimi Winsberg, M.D. who decodes our relationship texts in her insightful debut, Speaking In Thumbs, published by Doubleday. Winsberg is a Harvard and Stanford-trained psychiatrist with twenty-five years of clinical experience. Her work frequently finds her at the intersection of Big Data and Big Dating. Like all of us, Winsberg has been handed a smartphone accompanied by the urgent plea: "What does this mean?" Unlike all of us, she knows the answer. She is a text whisperer, and this interview will satiate our curiosity about how big data meets big dating. Winsberg feels like the friend we all need, or could ever hope to have, as we navigate the subtext beneath our texts. If only this book had been born years ago, we might have saved ourselves from heartache (I can attest to that). Sigh. It’s finally here. And there is no better time to read it. Winsberg is a first-time author and shares an insider’s guide to the sheer delight she discovered working on this book, comparing it to the joy and satisfaction she has felt competing in Ironmans. She also reads to us from her favorite book, Lolita. Sit back, listen up and share this one with your friends who might need some help knowing if they’ve found ‘the one’ by carefully deciphering what they say and how they say it—inside a text bubble. speaking in thumbs, entrpreneurs, dating, emotional well being, love languages, badass women, happiness, doubleday, san francisco writers, debut book, mental health, page one, stanford, online dating, joy, nabokov, lolita, heartache, pyschologist, holly payne, guide to the language of love, non-fiction, authors, harvard, writers, love story, first book, the text whisperer, triathletes, love, publishing, behavior science, attachment styles, harvard alumni, mimi winsberg, facebook, psychology false full 12 007d70fe-3302-4245-822c-6e8921c7d951 Ep. 11: Dean Koontz - Quicksilver Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dean Koontz is the author of more than 100 books, 79 of which are New York Times bestsellers. He is one of twelve writers ever to have fourteen of these books rise to number one on the hardcover bestseller list and his books have also been major bestsellers in Japan and Sweden. He has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” Dean is also a huge dog lover and is originally from Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna. 

Dean's early years

After graduating from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University), Koontz's first job after graduation was with the Appalachian Poverty Program, where he was expected to counsel and tutor underprivileged children on a one-to-one basis. His first day on the job, he discovered that the previous occupier of his position had been beaten up by the very kids he had been trying to help and had landed in the hospital for several weeks. The following year was filled with challenge but also tension, and Koontz was more highly motivated than ever to build a career as a writer. 

He wrote nights and weekends, which he continued to do after leaving the poverty program and going to work as an English teacher in a suburban school district outside Harrisburg. After a year and a half in that position, his wife, Gerda, made him an offer he couldn’t refuse: “I’ll support you for five years,” she said, “and if you can’t make it as a writer in that time, you’ll never make it.” By the end of those five years, Gerda had quit her job to run the business end of her husband’s writing career.

Visit his website: https://deankoontz.com/

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She's currently at work on her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her Labrador Retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Submissions to Page One:

If you have a first page of fiction that you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a novel they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to educate, inspire, and celebrate the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 18 Feb 2022 03:37:45 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Dean Koontz) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-11-dean-koontz-quicksilver-iH1RcOo3 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Dean Koontz is the author of more than 100 books, 79 of which are New York Times bestsellers. He is one of twelve writers ever to have fourteen of these books rise to number one on the hardcover bestseller list and his books have also been major bestsellers in Japan and Sweden. He has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “America’s most popular suspense novelist.” Dean is also a huge dog lover and is originally from Pennsylvania. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa, and the enduring spirit of their goldens, Trixie and Anna. 

Dean's early years

After graduating from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University), Koontz's first job after graduation was with the Appalachian Poverty Program, where he was expected to counsel and tutor underprivileged children on a one-to-one basis. His first day on the job, he discovered that the previous occupier of his position had been beaten up by the very kids he had been trying to help and had landed in the hospital for several weeks. The following year was filled with challenge but also tension, and Koontz was more highly motivated than ever to build a career as a writer. 

He wrote nights and weekends, which he continued to do after leaving the poverty program and going to work as an English teacher in a suburban school district outside Harrisburg. After a year and a half in that position, his wife, Gerda, made him an offer he couldn’t refuse: “I’ll support you for five years,” she said, “and if you can’t make it as a writer in that time, you’ll never make it.” By the end of those five years, Gerda had quit her job to run the business end of her husband’s writing career.

Visit his website: https://deankoontz.com/

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup built to help authors succeed. Her debut novel, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. Her books have been published in eleven countries and translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She's currently at work on her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her Labrador Retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Submissions to Page One:

If you have a first page of fiction that you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a novel they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to educate, inspire, and celebrate the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 11: Dean Koontz - Quicksilver Holly Payne, Dean Koontz 01:09:04 In Episode 11, we interview Dean Koontz, one of the world’s bestselling masters of suspense, about his latest novel, Quicksilver, published by Thomas & Mercer. Dean Koontz has been a household name for as long as we can remember. With 79 NYT bestsellers, he’s one of the world’s most prolific writers, having written more than one hundred books and, at age 76, aiming to beat Henry James’ track record of 120. His books are published in 38 languages and have sold more than 500 million copies to date. In this very special episode, we discuss the pursuit of being a reckless optimist, fighting nihilism, quantum physics, and the mystery of being in the creative flow—where creativity is not coming from you but through you. Koontz’s creative output is almost superhuman, yet he’s one of the most lovable, down to earth and experienced authors you’ll ever get the pleasure of meeting. Please enjoy his bountiful wisdom on what it takes to become a master storyteller.  In Episode 11, we interview Dean Koontz, one of the world’s bestselling masters of suspense, about his latest novel, Quicksilver, published by Thomas & Mercer. Dean Koontz has been a household name for as long as we can remember. With 79 NYT bestsellers, he’s one of the world’s most prolific writers, having written more than one hundred books and, at age 76, aiming to beat Henry James’ track record of 120. His books are published in 38 languages and have sold more than 500 million copies to date. In this very special episode, we discuss the pursuit of being a reckless optimist, fighting nihilism, quantum physics, and the mystery of being in the creative flow—where creativity is not coming from you but through you. Koontz’s creative output is almost superhuman, yet he’s one of the most lovable, down to earth and experienced authors you’ll ever get the pleasure of meeting. Please enjoy his bountiful wisdom on what it takes to become a master storyteller.  optimist, new books, storytelling, hall of fame, creative flow, quantum physics, optimism, masters of suspense, storytellers, humanity, authors, writers, spirituality, great interviews, creativity, bestsellers, dean koontz, thrillers, dog lovers, dogs, writing false full 11 caa1fec6-7af6-4013-9eb6-4971efc735ed Ep. 10: Jacquelyn Mitchard - The Good Son Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Jacquelyn Mitchard is the New York Times bestselling author of 22 novels for adults and teenagers, and the recipient of Great Britain’s Talkabout prize, The Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson awards, and named to the short list for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was the inaugural selection of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club, with more than 3 million copies in print in 34 languages. Her essay collection, The Rest of Us: Dispatches from the Mother Ship, was drawn from her newspaper column syndicated by Tribune Media, and her other essays have been widely anthologized and published in magazines worldwide, and incorporated into school curricula. She served on the Fiction jury for the 2003 National Book Awards, and served as editor-in-chief of Merit Press, a Young Adult imprint under the aegis of Simon and Schuster. She is a Distinguished Fellow at the Ragdale Foundation and a DeWitt Clinton Readers Digest Fellow at the Macdowell Colony. Mitchard has also taught in the MFA programs for Creative Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts, Miami University of Ohio and Western New England University. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband and their nine children. 

Author Website: https://jacquelynmitchard.com/
Twitter 
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is a writing coach and internationally published author in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. The former CEO and founder of Booxby, she lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 18 Jan 2022 01:22:26 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Jacquelyn Mitchard, Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/paynes-page-one-jacquelyn-mitchard-the-good-son-qi1EJA43 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Jacquelyn Mitchard is the New York Times bestselling author of 22 novels for adults and teenagers, and the recipient of Great Britain’s Talkabout prize, The Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson awards, and named to the short list for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was the inaugural selection of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club, with more than 3 million copies in print in 34 languages. Her essay collection, The Rest of Us: Dispatches from the Mother Ship, was drawn from her newspaper column syndicated by Tribune Media, and her other essays have been widely anthologized and published in magazines worldwide, and incorporated into school curricula. She served on the Fiction jury for the 2003 National Book Awards, and served as editor-in-chief of Merit Press, a Young Adult imprint under the aegis of Simon and Schuster. She is a Distinguished Fellow at the Ragdale Foundation and a DeWitt Clinton Readers Digest Fellow at the Macdowell Colony. Mitchard has also taught in the MFA programs for Creative Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts, Miami University of Ohio and Western New England University. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband and their nine children. 

Author Website: https://jacquelynmitchard.com/
Twitter 
Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is a writing coach and internationally published author in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. The former CEO and founder of Booxby, she lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 10: Jacquelyn Mitchard - The Good Son Jacquelyn Mitchard, Holly Lynn Payne 00:54:49 In Episode 10, we interview bestselling author Jaquelyn Mitchard about the stories and struggles that went into the first page of her latest novel, The Good Son, published by Mira on January 18. If you’re looking for a gripping new story this winter, The Good Son will captivate you and remind you of the extraordinary compassion that Mitchard brings to her characters, two women, one whose son was convicted of murdering the other’s daughter. It’s a courageous story to take on for any writer and one with a fascinating real life backstory. Mitchard says she is most proud of this book and shares loads of wisdom about the craft, reminding all writers to never lose heart in the journey. In Episode 10, we interview bestselling author Jaquelyn Mitchard about the stories and struggles that went into the first page of her latest novel, The Good Son, published by Mira on January 18. If you’re looking for a gripping new story this winter, The Good Son will captivate you and remind you of the extraordinary compassion that Mitchard brings to her characters, two women, one whose son was convicted of murdering the other’s daughter. It’s a courageous story to take on for any writer and one with a fascinating real life backstory. Mitchard says she is most proud of this book and shares loads of wisdom about the craft, reminding all writers to never lose heart in the journey. rewriting, first page, mira, novelist, storytelling, first sentence, page one, fiction, women's fiction, jacquelyn mitchard, award-winning authors, holly payne, the good son, harper collins, oprah, best selling author, storytellers, authors, master storytellers, writers, podcast, great writing, novels, ray bradbury, holly lynn payne, first paragraph, writing false full 10 d048e85c-21f5-41af-abca-3c0bcf70df8a Ep. 9: Adam Nemett - We Can Save Us All Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

ADAM NEMETT is the author of We Can Save Us All, one of ALA Booklist's "Top Ten Debut Novels of 2018." His work has been published, reviewed and featured in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Book Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon, Lit Hub, Fatherly, Variety, LA Weekly, The New Yorker, and C-Ville Weekly. An excerpt of his novel was anthologized in The Apocalypse Reader. His latest article, “Journal of A Progressive Prepper” was published by Rolling Stone in 2021.

Adam graduated from Princeton University and received his MFA in Fiction/Screenwriting from California College of the Arts. He serves as creative director and author for History Factory, where he's written award-winning nonfiction books for Lockheed Martin, Brooks Brothers, City of Hope, and Huntington Bank, and directed campaigns for 21st Century Fox, Adobe Systems, HarperCollins, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, New Balance, Pfizer and Vitamix. 

He is the writer/director of the feature film, The Instrument (2005), which LA Weekly described as, "damn near unclassifiable." At Princeton Nemett co-founded MIMA Music Inc., a student organization that grew into an educational 501(c)3 nonprofit that has operated in 40 countries worldwide. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and two kids. You can find him at adamnemett.com and on Instagram @thunderbirddisco.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in ten countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 15 Dec 2021 17:56:16 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Adam Nemett) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/booxbys-page-one-adam-nemett-we-can-save-us-all-Q0LoHsFu Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

ADAM NEMETT is the author of We Can Save Us All, one of ALA Booklist's "Top Ten Debut Novels of 2018." His work has been published, reviewed and featured in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Book Review, Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon, Lit Hub, Fatherly, Variety, LA Weekly, The New Yorker, and C-Ville Weekly. An excerpt of his novel was anthologized in The Apocalypse Reader. His latest article, “Journal of A Progressive Prepper” was published by Rolling Stone in 2021.

Adam graduated from Princeton University and received his MFA in Fiction/Screenwriting from California College of the Arts. He serves as creative director and author for History Factory, where he's written award-winning nonfiction books for Lockheed Martin, Brooks Brothers, City of Hope, and Huntington Bank, and directed campaigns for 21st Century Fox, Adobe Systems, HarperCollins, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, New Balance, Pfizer and Vitamix. 

He is the writer/director of the feature film, The Instrument (2005), which LA Weekly described as, "damn near unclassifiable." At Princeton Nemett co-founded MIMA Music Inc., a student organization that grew into an educational 501(c)3 nonprofit that has operated in 40 countries worldwide. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and two kids. You can find him at adamnemett.com and on Instagram @thunderbirddisco.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in ten countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 9: Adam Nemett - We Can Save Us All Holly Payne, Adam Nemett 00:52:34 In Episode 9, we interview novelist Adam Nemett about the brilliant first page of his debut novel, We Can Save Us All, published by Unnamed Press and named one of Booklist's "Top Ten Debut Novels of 2018." We discuss alter egos, psychedelics, heroes, anti-heroes, “preppers,” and the serendipitous timing of publishing a post-apocalyptic book two years before a global pandemic and some of the worst climate change disasters of our time. Adam Nemett is real, funny, smart, fun and holds an uncanny vision for preparing for the future. Listen now and check out his latest article, “Journal of a Progressive Prepper,” published in Rolling Stone. In Episode 9, we interview novelist Adam Nemett about the brilliant first page of his debut novel, We Can Save Us All, published by Unnamed Press and named one of Booklist's "Top Ten Debut Novels of 2018." We discuss alter egos, psychedelics, heroes, anti-heroes, “preppers,” and the serendipitous timing of publishing a post-apocalyptic book two years before a global pandemic and some of the worst climate change disasters of our time. Adam Nemett is real, funny, smart, fun and holds an uncanny vision for preparing for the future. Listen now and check out his latest article, “Journal of a Progressive Prepper,” published in Rolling Stone. novelist, writing coach, rolling stone, fiction, debut novels, holly payne, smart, unnamed press, podcasts, booxby, storytellers, preppers, funny, writers, writing tips, novels, we can save us all, adam nemett, meth, real, post apocalyptic false full 9 bbd00dea-de85-411c-8830-9fa2c939b46c Ep. 8: Yasmin Angoe - Her Name is Knight Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Yasmin Angoe is the 2020 recipient of the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from Sisters in Crime. She is a first-generation Ghanaian American who grew up in two cultural worlds and currently lives in South Carolina with her blended family. Her debut novel, Her Name is Knight, was published by Thomas & Mercer, November 1, 2021.

You can find Yasmin Angoe on Twitter, Goodreads  and Instagram.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in ten countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or follow her on Instagram.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 12 Nov 2021 18:25:26 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Lynn Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/booxbys-page-one-yasmin-angoe-her-name-is-knight-loWPSJGt Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Yasmin Angoe is the 2020 recipient of the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from Sisters in Crime. She is a first-generation Ghanaian American who grew up in two cultural worlds and currently lives in South Carolina with her blended family. Her debut novel, Her Name is Knight, was published by Thomas & Mercer, November 1, 2021.

You can find Yasmin Angoe on Twitter, Goodreads  and Instagram.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in ten countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or follow her on Instagram.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 

the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 8: Yasmin Angoe - Her Name is Knight Holly Lynn Payne 00:51:44 In Episode 8, we interview award-winning author Yasmin Angoe about the riveting first page of her debut spy thriller, Her Name is Knight, published by Thomas & Mercer November 1. If you’re looking for a fresh new character, a fierce, female Ghanaian assassin, the story of Nena Knight (otherwise known as Echo) will leave you breathless and eager for Angoe’s sequel. Stolen from her Ghanaian village as a child, Nena Knight has plenty of motives to kill. Now an elite assassin for a powerful business syndicate called the Tribe, she gets plenty of chances. But while on assignment in Miami, Nena ends up saving a life, not taking one. She emerges from the experience a changed woman, finally hopeful for a life beyond rage and revenge. Tasked with killing a man she’s come to respect, Nena struggles to reconcile her loyalty to the Tribe with her new purpose. Yasmin Angoe is a bold and beautiful new voice in popular fiction and will inspire you to never give up on the writing process. In Episode 8, we interview award-winning author Yasmin Angoe about the riveting first page of her debut spy thriller, Her Name is Knight, published by Thomas & Mercer November 1. If you’re looking for a fresh new character, a fierce, female Ghanaian assassin, the story of Nena Knight (otherwise known as Echo) will leave you breathless and eager for Angoe’s sequel. Stolen from her Ghanaian village as a child, Nena Knight has plenty of motives to kill. Now an elite assassin for a powerful business syndicate called the Tribe, she gets plenty of chances. But while on assignment in Miami, Nena ends up saving a life, not taking one. She emerges from the experience a changed woman, finally hopeful for a life beyond rage and revenge. Tasked with killing a man she’s come to respect, Nena struggles to reconcile her loyalty to the Tribe with her new purpose. Yasmin Angoe is a bold and beautiful new voice in popular fiction and will inspire you to never give up on the writing process. false full 8 23cdd272-653c-4ecb-8a06-fe3b531a1846 Ep. 7: Robert Dugoni - The World Played Chess Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series, which is set in Seattle and has sold more than seven million books worldwide. His latest book, The World Played Chess was published by Lake Union Publishing in October.

He is also the author of the Charles Jenkins espionage series and the David Sloane series of legal thrillers. He has written several stand-alone books, including the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, which was a Washington Post best book of the year and he’s written three other stand alone novels The 7th Canon and Damage Control; The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, for which he won an AudioFile Earphones Award for narration. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series, most recently The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He is a two-time finalist for the Thriller Awards and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, and a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for mystery and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Awards.

Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

You can visit his website at www.robertdugonibooks.com, and follow him on Twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorrobertdugoni.

 

And many thanks to Tom Joyce, for submitting your first page to us! It was great to have you on the show and hear you read from your debut novel, The Missing Peace. Joyce is a creative director and designer at Creativewerks and partner at Company History Productions, with offices in Tiburon, California and Washington DC. Previously creative director at Cohn & Wells Advertising and Retail Concepts; associate creative director at Visa USA, and art director at Cunningham & Walsh, Doyle Dane Bernbach and Allen & Dorward, Tom was a founding partner of Johnson Joyce Brennan, Inc. in San Francisco and a design consultant to other marketing communications agencies in the Bay Area. He has created corporate identities, print, broadcast and on-line advertising, product branding, B2B marketing, event graphics, posters, magazines, books, websites and social media campaigns.

About the host and producer:

Holly Lynn Payne is a writing coach and the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching and editing services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

 

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 
the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 
Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 16:59:02 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Robert Dugoni, Tom Joyce, Holly Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/booxbys-page-one-robert-dugoni-the-world-played-chess-0muS2xA6 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series, which is set in Seattle and has sold more than seven million books worldwide. His latest book, The World Played Chess was published by Lake Union Publishing in October.

He is also the author of the Charles Jenkins espionage series and the David Sloane series of legal thrillers. He has written several stand-alone books, including the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, which was a Washington Post best book of the year and he’s written three other stand alone novels The 7th Canon and Damage Control; The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, for which he won an AudioFile Earphones Award for narration. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series, most recently The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He is a two-time finalist for the Thriller Awards and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, and a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award for mystery and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Awards.

Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

You can visit his website at www.robertdugonibooks.com, and follow him on Twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorrobertdugoni.

 

And many thanks to Tom Joyce, for submitting your first page to us! It was great to have you on the show and hear you read from your debut novel, The Missing Peace. Joyce is a creative director and designer at Creativewerks and partner at Company History Productions, with offices in Tiburon, California and Washington DC. Previously creative director at Cohn & Wells Advertising and Retail Concepts; associate creative director at Visa USA, and art director at Cunningham & Walsh, Doyle Dane Bernbach and Allen & Dorward, Tom was a founding partner of Johnson Joyce Brennan, Inc. in San Francisco and a design consultant to other marketing communications agencies in the Bay Area. He has created corporate identities, print, broadcast and on-line advertising, product branding, B2B marketing, event graphics, posters, magazines, books, websites and social media campaigns.

About the host and producer:

Holly Lynn Payne is a writing coach and the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching and editing services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

 

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to 
the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 
Hear past episodes.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 7: Robert Dugoni - The World Played Chess Robert Dugoni, Tom Joyce, Holly Payne 00:58:02 In Episode 7, we interview bestselling author Robert Dugoni about his latest book, The World Played Chess (Lake Union Publishing)—arguably Dugoni’s most personal book and inspired by the summer of 1979. In this episode, we cover what it means to become a man in modern times, the privilege of growing old, father-son relationships and the best way to handle tough feedback and get out of your own way as an author to make your work better. ‘Bob’ Dugoni is real, authentic, funny and wise. If you’re looking to know how a writer rises from the ashes of despair, Dugoni shares the insights we need to keep going and trust the writing process. At the end of the episode, we also have the honor of hearing author, Tom Joyce, read the first page of his debut novel, The Missing Peace, and Robert Dugoni's encouraging feedback about it. In Episode 7, we interview bestselling author Robert Dugoni about his latest book, The World Played Chess (Lake Union Publishing)—arguably Dugoni’s most personal book and inspired by the summer of 1979. In this episode, we cover what it means to become a man in modern times, the privilege of growing old, father-son relationships and the best way to handle tough feedback and get out of your own way as an author to make your work better. ‘Bob’ Dugoni is real, authentic, funny and wise. If you’re looking to know how a writer rises from the ashes of despair, Dugoni shares the insights we need to keep going and trust the writing process. At the end of the episode, we also have the honor of hearing author, Tom Joyce, read the first page of his debut novel, The Missing Peace, and Robert Dugoni's encouraging feedback about it. positivity, best selling authors, rewriting, growing old, revisions, storytelling, manhood, wisdom, war, trust, writing coaches, best sellers, writing classes, holly payne, podcasts, death, the world played chess, authors, the missing peace, robert dugoni, father-son relationships, perseverance, great stories, vietnam, damascena, lake union publishing, publishing, inspiration, tom joyce, editors, 1979, writing false full 7 3a26bffd-4374-4484-8eab-68c25e3125c1 Ep. 6: Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket - Poison for Breakfast Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Daniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and, Bottle Grove and most recently Poison for Breakfast, his first book for readers of all ages published by Liveright/W.W. Norton.

As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award. 

Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Reperatory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).

His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards. He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.

You may also find him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, IMDB, and purchase his books via Upstream(for signed copies), Indiebound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Wed, 8 Sep 2021 18:32:59 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Daniel Handler, Hilary Hamilton) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/booxbys-page-one-daniel-handler-lemon-snicket-poison-for-breakfast-epX_G_H5 Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the guest author:

Daniel Handler is the author of seven novels, including Why We Broke Up, We Are Pirates, All The Dirty Parts and, Bottle Grove and most recently Poison for Breakfast, his first book for readers of all ages published by Liveright/W.W. Norton.

As Lemony Snicket, he is responsible for numerous books for children, including the thirteen-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events, the four-volume All the Wrong Questions, and The Dark, which won the Charlotte Zolotow Award. 

Handler has received commissions from the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley Reperatory Theater and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has collaborated with artist Maira Kalman on a series of books for the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and with musicians Stephin Merritt (of the Magnetic Fields), Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie), Colin Meloy (of the Decemberists) and Torquil Campbell (of Stars).

His books have sold more than 70 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages, and have been adapted for film, stage and television, including the recent adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events for which he was awarded both the Peabody and the Writers Guild of America awards. He lives in San Francisco with the illustrator Lisa Brown, to whom he is married and with whom he has collaborated on several books and one son.

You may also find him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, IMDB, and purchase his books via Upstream(for signed copies), Indiebound, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

About the host:

Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. Her most recent novel, Damascena:The Tale of Roses and Rumi, has been optioned for a film series. She is the founder of Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her labrador retriever, Lady Gaia. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 6: Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket - Poison for Breakfast Holly Payne, Daniel Handler, Hilary Hamilton 01:01:45 In Episode 6, we interview beloved author, Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, about his latest book, Poison for Breakfast, a new stand-alone adventure appropriate for all ages. In Lemony Snicket’s long and suspicious career, he has investigated many things, including villainy, treachery, conspiracy, boredom, and various suspicious fires. In this book, he is investigating his own death—and the concept of bewilderment. Poison for Breakfast is quite possibly different from any book you’ve ever read. And this episode is different from any Page One podcast you’ve heard as Daniel engages an unknown author, the courageous Hilary Hamilton, about the first page of her book in progress, Boobs. There is nothing quite like bewilderment—and boobs. WARNING: if you don’t like to laugh, you will not like this episode. If you don’t like books, libraries or pondering uncertainty, please do not listen to Episode 6. And if you don’t like stories about poison—and truth, as related to breast cancer, please, DO NOT listen to this episode. However, if you like an adventure of the heart, listen up. You will be pleasantly bewildered. In Episode 6, we interview beloved author, Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, about his latest book, Poison for Breakfast, a new stand-alone adventure appropriate for all ages. In Lemony Snicket’s long and suspicious career, he has investigated many things, including villainy, treachery, conspiracy, boredom, and various suspicious fires. In this book, he is investigating his own death—and the concept of bewilderment. Poison for Breakfast is quite possibly different from any book you’ve ever read. And this episode is different from any Page One podcast you’ve heard as Daniel engages an unknown author, the courageous Hilary Hamilton, about the first page of her book in progress, Boobs. There is nothing quite like bewilderment—and boobs. WARNING: if you don’t like to laugh, you will not like this episode. If you don’t like books, libraries or pondering uncertainty, please do not listen to Episode 6. And if you don’t like stories about poison—and truth, as related to breast cancer, please, DO NOT listen to this episode. However, if you like an adventure of the heart, listen up. You will be pleasantly bewildered. best seller, first page, courage, poison for breakfast, craft, breast cancer, adventure, liveright/w.w. norton, storytelling, lemony snicket, page one, poison, pandemic, holly payne, podcasts, death, best selling author, libraries, daniel handler, bewilderment, authors, san francisco, master storytellers, truth, writers, famous authors, investigation, hilary hamilton, boobs, love, uncertainty, life, chemo, books, writing false full 6 730f317f-6afc-4b5a-986b-63f9e327f17b Ep. 5: Tom Barbash - The Dakota Winters Page One, produced by Booxby, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

In Episode 5, we interview bestselling author Tom Barbash about all the decisions that went into the first page of his novel, The Dakota Winters, about a family living in New York City’s famed Dakota apartment building in the year leading up to John Lennon’s assassination. It’s the fall of 1979 in New York City when twenty-three-year-old Anton Winter, back from the Peace Corps and on the mend from a nasty bout of malaria, returns to his childhood home in the Dakota. Anton’s father, the famous late-night host Buddy Winter, is there to greet him, himself recovering from a breakdown. Before long, Anton is swept up in an effort to reignite Buddy’s stalled career, and ends up on a perilous journey that takes him out to sea with John Lennon. Barbash shares some secrets of the craft and approaching the first page as a promise to the reader. If you're aspiring to write a modern historic novel, Tom discusses wise approaches to the painstaking research he did for The Dakota Winters and staying in a '1979' frame of mind.  

About the author:
Tom Barbash is an American writer of fiction and nonfiction, as well as an educator and critic. He is the author of the novel The Last Good Chance, a collection of short stories Stay Up With Me, and the bestselling nonfiction work On Top of the World: Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick & 9/11: A Story of Loss & Renewal. His fiction has been published in Tin House, Story magazine, The Virginia Quarterly Review and The Indiana Review. His criticism has appeared in the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

A well-regarded speaker, panelist, and interviewer, Barbash has served as host for onstage events for The Commonwealth Club, Litquake, BookPassage, and the Lannan Foundation, and his interview subjects have included Kazuo Ishiguro, Brett Easton Ellis, Jonathan Franzen, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, James Ellroy, Ann Packer, Mary Gaitskill, and Chuck Palahniuk.[1]

He taught at Stanford University, where he was a Stegner Fellow, and now teaches novel writing, short fiction, and nonfiction, at the California College of the Arts. Barbash has held fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, The James Michener Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.[2] He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

 

 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 13 Aug 2021 00:38:54 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Tom Barbash, Holly Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/booxbys-page-one-tom-barbash-the-dakota-winters-VSxcYZto Page One, produced by Booxby, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

In Episode 5, we interview bestselling author Tom Barbash about all the decisions that went into the first page of his novel, The Dakota Winters, about a family living in New York City’s famed Dakota apartment building in the year leading up to John Lennon’s assassination. It’s the fall of 1979 in New York City when twenty-three-year-old Anton Winter, back from the Peace Corps and on the mend from a nasty bout of malaria, returns to his childhood home in the Dakota. Anton’s father, the famous late-night host Buddy Winter, is there to greet him, himself recovering from a breakdown. Before long, Anton is swept up in an effort to reignite Buddy’s stalled career, and ends up on a perilous journey that takes him out to sea with John Lennon. Barbash shares some secrets of the craft and approaching the first page as a promise to the reader. If you're aspiring to write a modern historic novel, Tom discusses wise approaches to the painstaking research he did for The Dakota Winters and staying in a '1979' frame of mind.  

About the author:
Tom Barbash is an American writer of fiction and nonfiction, as well as an educator and critic. He is the author of the novel The Last Good Chance, a collection of short stories Stay Up With Me, and the bestselling nonfiction work On Top of the World: Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick & 9/11: A Story of Loss & Renewal. His fiction has been published in Tin House, Story magazine, The Virginia Quarterly Review and The Indiana Review. His criticism has appeared in the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

A well-regarded speaker, panelist, and interviewer, Barbash has served as host for onstage events for The Commonwealth Club, Litquake, BookPassage, and the Lannan Foundation, and his interview subjects have included Kazuo Ishiguro, Brett Easton Ellis, Jonathan Franzen, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, James Ellroy, Ann Packer, Mary Gaitskill, and Chuck Palahniuk.[1]

He taught at Stanford University, where he was a Stegner Fellow, and now teaches novel writing, short fiction, and nonfiction, at the California College of the Arts. Barbash has held fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, The James Michener Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.[2] He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

 

 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 5: Tom Barbash - The Dakota Winters Tom Barbash, Holly Payne 00:56:36 In Episode 5, Tom Barbash discusses the struggles and decisions that went into the first page of his novel, The Dakota Winters, about a family living in New York City’s famed Dakota apartment building in the year leading up to John Lennon’s assassination. It’s the fall of 1979 in New York City when twenty-three-year-old Anton Winter, back from the Peace Corps and on the mend from a nasty bout of malaria, returns to his childhood home in the Dakota. Anton’s father, the famous late-night host Buddy Winter, is there to greet him, himself recovering from a breakdown. Before long, Anton is swept up in an effort to reignite Buddy’s stalled career, a mission that takes him from the gritty streets of New York, to the slopes of the Lake Placid Olympics, to the Hollywood Hills, to the blue waters of the Bermuda Triangle, and brings him into close quarters with the likes of Johnny Carson, Ted and Joan Kennedy, and a seagoing John Lennon. In Episode 5, Tom Barbash discusses the struggles and decisions that went into the first page of his novel, The Dakota Winters, about a family living in New York City’s famed Dakota apartment building in the year leading up to John Lennon’s assassination. It’s the fall of 1979 in New York City when twenty-three-year-old Anton Winter, back from the Peace Corps and on the mend from a nasty bout of malaria, returns to his childhood home in the Dakota. Anton’s father, the famous late-night host Buddy Winter, is there to greet him, himself recovering from a breakdown. Before long, Anton is swept up in an effort to reignite Buddy’s stalled career, a mission that takes him from the gritty streets of New York, to the slopes of the Lake Placid Olympics, to the Hollywood Hills, to the blue waters of the Bermuda Triangle, and brings him into close quarters with the likes of Johnny Carson, Ted and Joan Kennedy, and a seagoing John Lennon. first page, the dakota winters, craft, historical fiction, california college of the arts, fiction, lake night talk show hosts, depression, writing programs, tom barbash, mfa, cca, modern history, new york city, story telling, writers, mid life crisis, the dakota, john lennon, stories, writing, novel false full 5 6b131fdd-2d1a-4559-a7d3-76e2df8bcf12 Ep. 4: Tess Gerritsen - Choose Me Page One, produced by Booxby, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

In Episode 4, we interview bestselling author Tess Gerritsen about all the decisions that went into the first page of her latest suspense thriller, Choose Me, co-authored by Gary Braver, which was published July 1. Tess and Gary courageously take on one of the most controversial subjects of our time—the Me Too movement and deftly craft the male and female points of view in a one-of-a-kind thriller that makes for perfect summer reading. Tess shares some secrets of the craft and approaching this kind of subject matter with honesty and compassion. If you're aspiring to write a suspense or detective series, or just interested as a reader, Tess Gerritsen has a lot to share about the demands of the genre and the painstaking research that she does for all of her books. 

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 13 Jul 2021 21:44:38 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Tess Gerritsen) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/page-one-tess-gerritsen-eMpQrivu Page One, produced by Booxby, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

In Episode 4, we interview bestselling author Tess Gerritsen about all the decisions that went into the first page of her latest suspense thriller, Choose Me, co-authored by Gary Braver, which was published July 1. Tess and Gary courageously take on one of the most controversial subjects of our time—the Me Too movement and deftly craft the male and female points of view in a one-of-a-kind thriller that makes for perfect summer reading. Tess shares some secrets of the craft and approaching this kind of subject matter with honesty and compassion. If you're aspiring to write a suspense or detective series, or just interested as a reader, Tess Gerritsen has a lot to share about the demands of the genre and the painstaking research that she does for all of her books. 

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 4: Tess Gerritsen - Choose Me Holly Payne, Tess Gerritsen 00:48:30 In Episode 4, we interview bestselling author Tess Gerritsen about all the decisions that went into the first page of her latest suspense thriller, Choose Me, co-authored by Gary Braver, which was published July 1. Tess and Gary courageously take on one of the most controversial subjects of our time—the Me Too movement and deftly craft the male and female points of view in a one-of-a-kind thriller that makes for perfect summer reading. Tess shares some secrets of the craft and approaching this kind of subject matter with honesty and compassion. If you're aspiring to write a suspense or detective series, or just interested as a reader, Tess Gerritsen has a lot to share about the demands of the genre and the painstaking research that she does for all of her books. In Episode 4, we interview bestselling author Tess Gerritsen about all the decisions that went into the first page of her latest suspense thriller, Choose Me, co-authored by Gary Braver, which was published July 1. Tess and Gary courageously take on one of the most controversial subjects of our time—the Me Too movement and deftly craft the male and female points of view in a one-of-a-kind thriller that makes for perfect summer reading. Tess shares some secrets of the craft and approaching this kind of subject matter with honesty and compassion. If you're aspiring to write a suspense or detective series, or just interested as a reader, Tess Gerritsen has a lot to share about the demands of the genre and the painstaking research that she does for all of her books. co-authors, detective series, college writing programs, book marketing, collaboration, compassion, publishing books, bestselling authors, me too, point of view, characters, readers, research, podcasts, storytellers, summer reading, amazon publishing, master storytellers, writers, bookclubs, bestsellers, success, thrillers, gary braver, tess gerritsen, character arc, controversial, professors false full 4 0fac45d2-02db-4238-9603-c25d235f12d3 Ep. 3: Alka Joshi - The Henna Artist Page One, hosted and produced by Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

In Ep. 3, we hear bestselling author Alka Joshi discuss all that went into the first page of her bestselling debut novel, The Henna Artist. Alka was born in the desert state of Rajasthan in India. In 1967, her family immigrated to America. She earned a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts in San Francisco. Prior to writing The Henna Artist, Alka ran an advertising and marketing agency for 30 years. She has spent time in France and Italy and currently lives with her husband on the Northern California Coast. See her on YouTube and Instagram or visit her at alkajoshi.com.

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2021 15:23:07 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Holly Payne, Alka Joshi) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/booxbys-page-one-alka-joshi-the-henna-artist-dp89nEVT Page One, hosted and produced by Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

In Ep. 3, we hear bestselling author Alka Joshi discuss all that went into the first page of her bestselling debut novel, The Henna Artist. Alka was born in the desert state of Rajasthan in India. In 1967, her family immigrated to America. She earned a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts in San Francisco. Prior to writing The Henna Artist, Alka ran an advertising and marketing agency for 30 years. She has spent time in France and Italy and currently lives with her husband on the Northern California Coast. See her on YouTube and Instagram or visit her at alkajoshi.com.

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby , a startup helping authors succeed. Holly is also an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 3: Alka Joshi - The Henna Artist Holly Payne, Alka Joshi 00:47:36 In Ep.3, Alka Joshi discusses all the sweat and love that went into the first page of her debut novel, The Henna Artist—which took her ten years and 30 revisions. After 25 years in the advertising world, Alka's debut novel was published at the age of 62, in the midst of the pandemic. That did not hold her back. She met with more than 350 book clubs in 2020 alone. Reese Witherspoon fell in love with the book and it shot to the NYT bestseller list and is being made into a Miramax TV series. Alka shares what it takes to persevere through years of revisions and anyone aspiring to write their own novel needs to hear this episode for a dose of inspiration. Alka's energy alone will lift your spirits and give you the hope to keep going! In Ep.3, Alka Joshi discusses all the sweat and love that went into the first page of her debut novel, The Henna Artist—which took her ten years and 30 revisions. After 25 years in the advertising world, Alka's debut novel was published at the age of 62, in the midst of the pandemic. That did not hold her back. She met with more than 350 book clubs in 2020 alone. Reese Witherspoon fell in love with the book and it shot to the NYT bestseller list and is being made into a Miramax TV series. Alka shares what it takes to persevere through years of revisions and anyone aspiring to write their own novel needs to hear this episode for a dose of inspiration. Alka's energy alone will lift your spirits and give you the hope to keep going! marketing, mira, artificial intelligence, storytelling, indian stories, page one, women's fiction, alka joshi, book club, best sellers, india, podcasts, booxby, women writers, storytellers, summer reading, authors, master storytellers, the henna artist, writers, great books, reese witherspoon, indian american writers, writing false full 3 d176f8f3-c9e9-429c-9287-52e756358c91 Ep. 2: Jasmin Darznik - The Bohemians Page One, produced by Booxby, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the author
Jasmin Darznik’s debut novel, Song of a Captive Bird, was a New York Times Book Review “Editors’ Choice,” a Los Angeles Times bestseller, longlisted for the Center for Fiction Prize, and awarded the Writers’ Center’s First Novel Prize. Darznik is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life. Her books have been published in seventeen countries. She was born in Tehran, Iran, and came to America when she was five years old. She holds an MFA in fiction from Bennington College, a JD from the University of California, and a PhD in English from Princeton University. Now a professor of English and creative writing at California College of the Arts, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. You can find her at www.jasmindarznik.com.

About the host
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby a startup building AI to help authors succeed. Holly is an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.
 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Thu, 20 May 2021 16:11:14 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (Jasmin Darznik, Holly Payne) https://page-one.simplecast.com/episodes/page-one-jasmin-darznik-zpm_aplX Page One, produced by Booxby, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the author
Jasmin Darznik’s debut novel, Song of a Captive Bird, was a New York Times Book Review “Editors’ Choice,” a Los Angeles Times bestseller, longlisted for the Center for Fiction Prize, and awarded the Writers’ Center’s First Novel Prize. Darznik is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life. Her books have been published in seventeen countries. She was born in Tehran, Iran, and came to America when she was five years old. She holds an MFA in fiction from Bennington College, a JD from the University of California, and a PhD in English from Princeton University. Now a professor of English and creative writing at California College of the Arts, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. You can find her at www.jasmindarznik.com.

About the host
Holly Lynn Payne is the CEO and founder of Booxby a startup building AI to help authors succeed. Holly is an internationally published novelist in eleven countries whose work has been translated into nine languages. In 2008, she founded Skywriter Books, an award-winning small press, publishing consultancy and writing coaching service. To learn more about her writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com.
 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 2: Jasmin Darznik - The Bohemians Jasmin Darznik, Holly Payne 00:43:03 In Episode Two, we hear best selling author, Jasmin Darznik, discuss all that went into the first page of her latest novel, The Bohemians—set in San Francisco in 1918 about the famous photographer Dorothea Lange and chosen by Oprah as a Best Historical Fiction book for 2021. Hear how Darznik took on the voice of Lange with the gusto of a seasoned actress and how she deftly sets it all up in the first sentence and first page of The Bohemians. This episode will inspire anyone who's ever wondered just how authors take on a voice from the past and live inside that character for years. Remarkable and breathtaking and deeply engaging. You'll love Jasmin and her book. In Episode Two, we hear best selling author, Jasmin Darznik, discuss all that went into the first page of her latest novel, The Bohemians—set in San Francisco in 1918 about the famous photographer Dorothea Lange and chosen by Oprah as a Best Historical Fiction book for 2021. Hear how Darznik took on the voice of Lange with the gusto of a seasoned actress and how she deftly sets it all up in the first sentence and first page of The Bohemians. This episode will inspire anyone who's ever wondered just how authors take on a voice from the past and live inside that character for years. Remarkable and breathtaking and deeply engaging. You'll love Jasmin and her book. the bohemians, famous photographers, first page, craft, author interview, acting, readers, historical fiction, literature, research, marketing book, pandemic, mfa, san francisco art scene, san francisco history, jasmin darznik, bestselling author, writing podcast, 1918, san francisco, story, writers, bookclubs, podcast, perseverance, method acting, bestsellers, dorothea lange, success, revision, writing, novel false full 2 d507b7e8-45de-4d3b-916b-1ef52c9e7bd1 Ep. 1: J.T. Ellison - Her Dark Lies Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the author:
In Episode #1, we hear best selling author J.T. Ellison discuss all that went into the first page of her latest novel, Her Dark Lies. J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 28 countries. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens. Visit JT at Facebook, Twitter @thrillerchick, and Instagram @thrillerchick for more insight into her wicked imagination. Read her latest book, Her Dark Lies.

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2021 16:29:25 +0000 hpwrites@gmail.com (J.T. Ellison, Holly Payne) https://booxby.com/page-one-podcast Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.

About the author:
In Episode #1, we hear best selling author J.T. Ellison discuss all that went into the first page of her latest novel, Her Dark Lies. J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 28 countries. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens. Visit JT at Facebook, Twitter @thrillerchick, and Instagram @thrillerchick for more insight into her wicked imagination. Read her latest book, Her Dark Lies.

About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. She recently finished her first YA crossover novel inspired by her nephew with Down syndrome. She lives in Marin County with her daughter and enjoys mountain biking, surfing and hiking with her dog. To learn more about her books and private writing coaching services, please visit hollylynnpayne.com or find her at Instagram and Twitter @hollylynnpayne.

If you have a first page you’d like to submit to the Page One Podcast, please do so here.

As an author and writing coach, I know that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So I thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook YOU. 

After the first few episodes, it occurred to me that maybe someone listening might be curious how their first page sits with an audience, so I’m opening up Page One to any writer who wants to submit the first page of a book they’re currently writing. 

If your page is chosen, you’ll be invited onto the show to read it and get live feedback from one of Page One’s master storytellers. Page One exists to inspire, celebrate and promote the work of both well-known and unknown creative talent.  

You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. 

Hear past episodes.

If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime. 

The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! 

Be well and keep reading.

~Holly~

 

Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast!  I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:

  1. Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.
  2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. 
  3. Tell your friends. 
  4. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter   with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.

For the love of books and writers,
Holly Lynn Payne

@hollylynnpayne
host, author, writing coach
www.hollylynnpayne.com

]]> Ep. 1: J.T. Ellison - Her Dark Lies J.T. Ellison, Holly Payne 00:53:27 In Episode One, we hear best selling author J.T. Ellison discuss all that went into the first page of her latest novel, Her Dark Lies. "I wrote 40,000 words in a month and did that last revision pass where I went, 'Oh, wait a second. I don’t have the right opening line.' And then it all fell into place." To find out how, listen to the full podcast—which might just inspire you. In Episode One, we hear best selling author J.T. Ellison discuss all that went into the first page of her latest novel, Her Dark Lies. "I wrote 40,000 words in a month and did that last revision pass where I went, 'Oh, wait a second. I don’t have the right opening line.' And then it all fell into place." To find out how, listen to the full podcast—which might just inspire you. marketing, book marketing, first page, writing craft, author interview, j.t. ellison, readers, fiction, literature, bestselling author, writing podcast, storytellers, authors, writers, bookclubs, podcast, perseverance, novels, bestsellers, success, thrillers, publishing, books, revision false full 1