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.
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.
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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~