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.
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.
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!