In EP 60 of The Page One Podcast, Holly Lynn Payne talks with investigative journalist Scott Eden about his latest book, A Killing in Cannabis, the riveting story of Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tushar Atre’s murder and the entwined legal and illicit cannabis economies in Santa Cruz, California. Eden reveals his inspired opening—to lead readers through the science of getting high through the point of view of cannabinoid receptors, a decision inspired after reading David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon. He details expanding from a magazine article to a highly literary, narrative non-fiction book after conducting more than 200 in-person interviews. Eden discusses world-building through history, culture, and vernacular, maintaining objectivity and his meticulous outlining and use of storyboards to map out the story. If you’ve ever been curious how to work with massive chronologies and infiltrate a world unknown to you, Scott Eden will not only inspire you but leave you in awe, eager to read this masterpiece in investigative journalism. Listen, learn and marvel at the haunting spirit of cannabis.
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:
Scott Eden is an award-winning investigative journalist whose work has appeared in publications like Wired, GQ, ESPN The Magazine, The Atavist Inc., and The Believer’s best-of collection Read Hard. He is the author of Touchdown Jesus: Faith and Fandom at Notre Dame. He lives in New Jersey.
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~