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.
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.
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.