CCA News
MFA Writing Instructor Holly Payne's Novel a Bay Area Best Seller
Posted on Monday, July 27, 2009, by Jim Norrena
CCA’s MFA Program in Writing adjunct professor Holly Payne has been in the spotlight before, having authored The Virgin’s Knot and The Sound of Blue, but this summer seems to be shining the brightest. The spirited novelist, screenwriter, and writing coach released her third novel, Kingdom of Simplicity, in July—and it's already on the Bay Area best-seller list in the quality paperbacks category!
The release party for the novel took place July 9 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. The event doubled as a silent auction benefit for Bay Area–based Litquake, a literary-focused nonprofit responsible for the popular annual Litquake Festival, and included an evening of lively musical performances by Blame Sally. Proceeds from the auction, including 20 percent of book sales, amounted to $2,266.
(Payne was overheard the following day: “Very, very happy to have sent [Litquake] the email to tell them the checks are on their way.”)
The evening attracted hundreds of eager fans who came to hear Payne read from her book and support the literary arts. CCA students, staff, and faculty were spotted in the packed auditorium, including Writing and Literature associate professor Tom Barbash.
Despite its serious subject matter, a noteworthy guffaw did occur during the reading when the author had to stop and address a seemingly abandoned cell phone that was ringing relentlessly. “Could someone please turn off my phone,” Payne pleaded to the bemused crowed. She returned to her reading without missing a beat.
Further enhancing Payne’s local celebrity was an impressive July 8 special to the San Francisco Chronicle and a July 13 appearance on ABC’s View of the Bay, among others. She explained how Kingdom is about second chances, openly sharing her ongoing struggle with issues of anger and forgiveness related to having been struck down by an intoxicated motorist in 1994 and left unable to walk for a year. Kingdom was written, she admits, to address the driver’s past request for her forgiveness.
Although written about an Amish community (the author grew up in Pennsylvania whose Amish population is the second largest in the country), Payne uses Kingdom to tell a story that vicariously allows her to extend forgiveness. Ironically, what ultimately came to light for this talented writer was her need to forgive herself.
Press
Read the complete SFGate article.
Watch ABC’s View of the Bay segment with Holly Payne.
Inside Bay Area / Oakland Tribune
Related
Kingdom of Simplicity page on Facebook
Read about the auction's participants and generous contributions.
Skywriter Series (Holly Payne's Skywriter Ranch writing retreat is coming up in August 9–16!)
[Slideshow photos by Jim Norrena]
ShareCategories: Featured Writing Writing and Literature
News RSS