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!
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.
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Until then, be well and keep reading!
In service with love,
Holly