In Episode 139, Brendan Slocumb talks about his sophomore novel, Symphony of Secrets, and the inspiration behind it. He shares a fascinating look into musical history of the 1920’s, his unique approach to writing musical thrillers, and how he balances musical detail with readability. He also delves into the exploitation of musicians in the industry and how many are simply lost to history. Plus, stick around to hear Brendan’s book recommendations.

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Highlights

• The story behind Symphony of Secrets and the composer who partially inspired it.
• Brendan’s unique approach to writing and his goal to become the “Stephen King of musical thrillers.”
• The pressure of writing a second book so soon after such a successful debut (The Violin Conspiracy).
• How Brendan blends musical analysis and character development without overwhelming the reader while staying true to the story.
• The exploitation and appropriation of musicians and their work in the music industry.
• Why he chose to make a main character neurodivergent and his experience with teaching neurodivergent music students.
• His inspiration for the badass character Eboni.
• The title changes for both of his books, including the original title for Symphony of Secrets.
• A bit about his upcoming third book and a potential fourth book in the future.

Brendan’s Book Recommendations [28:38]

Two OLD Books He Loves

• A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:51]
• Riker’s Calling by Rico Lamoureux | Amazon  [30:08]

Two NEW Books He Loves

• Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:15]
• Sea Change by Gina Chung | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:54]

One NEW RELEASE He’s Excited About

• Closer by Sea by Perry Chafe (May 23, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:54]

Last 5-Star Book Brendan Read

• Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:32]

Other Books Mentioned

• Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb [0:56]
• The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb [1:03]
• Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor [31:47]

Other Links

• Currently Reading Podcast | Minisode: An Interview with “The Violin Conspiracy” Author Brendan Slocumb

About Brendan Slocumb

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Brendan Slocumb was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and holds a degree in music education (with concentrations in violin and viola) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. For more than twenty years he has been a public and private school music educator and has performed with orchestras throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.