EPISODE · Dec 3, 2025 · 43 MIN
EP. 56: ALWAYS NOVEMBER
from Page One Podcast · host Arik Housley, Holly Lynn Payne
The Page One Podcast, 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:Arik Hously has served the Napa Valley community for more than 30 years, operating grocery stores, a winery and an Italian restaurant. An ardent soccer fan and former coach, Housley owns the men’s and women’s Napa Valley 1839 FC soccer teams. He and his family founded Alaina’s Voice Foundation, in honor of their late daughter, to support education, music and mental health initiatives in Napa Valley. As a national speaker, Housley inspires others to “be the positive change” and cultivate compassion and strength in the face of adversity. You can find him at arikhousley.com, IG @arikjih8 and Substack @arikhousley. About the host:Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup that built an AI book discovery platform with a grant from the National Science Foundation. 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. Her latest book, Rose Girl: A Story of Resilience and Rumi, a medieval, mystical thriller was awarded a Kirkus (starred) review and named Editors Choice from the Historical Novel Society. Holly lives on a houseboat near the Golden Gate Bridge with her daughter and Labrador retriever, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please visit her at hollylynnpayne.com and subscribe to her FREE weekly mini-masterclass, Power of Page One, a FREE newsletter on Substack, offering insights on becoming a better storyteller and tips on hooking readers from page one! (And bonus: discover some great new books!)Tune in and reach out:If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visithollylynnpayne.com. You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. 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 on a houseboat in Sausalito, California, 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@hollylynnpayne on IG Thank you for listening to the Page One Podcast! I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I loved hosting, producing, and editing it. If you liked it too, here are three ways to share the love:Please share it on social and tag @hollylynnpayne.Leave a review on your favorite podcast players. Tell your friends. Please keep in touch by signing up to receive my Substack newsletter with the latest episodes each month. Delivered to your inbox with a smile. You can contact me at @hollylynnpayne on IG or send me a message on my website, hollylynnpayne.com.For the love of books and writers,Holly Lynn Payne@hollylynnpaynehost, author, writing coachwww.hollylynnpayne.com
What this episode covers
How do you tell a story about the unimaginable loss of a child in a mass shooting—with hope? You cultivate a heart and an outlook like Arik Housley. In Ep. 56, we dive into a poignant and timely conversation with entrepreneur and public speaker Arik Housley about his debut memoir, Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love, and Resilience. Arik speaks with unflinching honesty about his journey facing the page for the first time to capture his journey of losing his 18-year-old daughter, Alaina, in a mass shooting and his journey through grief with an open heart. We discuss the creative process behind the book, the impact it has already had on readers, and the significance of showing up for each other in times of adversity. This episode is an uplifting exploration of using creativity and the written word to turn unimaginable pain into purpose, cultivate compassion, and grow your life bigger than grief.
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EP. 56: ALWAYS NOVEMBER
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