Ep. 139: Brendan Slocumb (Author of Symphony of Secrets) + Book Recommendations

<p><strong>In Episode 139, Brendan Slocumb talks about his sophomore novel, <a href="https://amzn.to/40vawCk">Symphony of Secrets,</a> 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.</strong></p> <p><span id="more-6002127"></span></p> <p><em>This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).</em></p> <h2><strong>Highlights</strong></h2> <ul> <li>The story behind <a href= "https://amzn.to/40vawCk">Symphony of Secrets</a> and the composer who partially inspired it.</li> <li>Brendan’s unique approach to writing and his goal to become the “Stephen King of musical thrillers.”</li> <li>The pressure of writing a second book so soon after such a successful debut (<a href="https://amzn.to/40KS5sZ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">The Violin Conspiracy</a>).</li> <li>How Brendan blends musical analysis and character development without overwhelming the reader while staying true to the story.</li> <li>The exploitation and appropriation of musicians and their work in the music industry.</li> <li>Why he chose to make a main character neurodivergent and his experience with teaching neurodivergent music students.</li> <li>His inspiration for the badass character Eboni.</li> <li>The title changes for both of his books, including the original title for <a href="https://amzn.to/40vawCk">Symphony of Secrets</a>.</li> <li>A bit about his upcoming third book and a potential fourth book in the future.</li> </ul> <h2><strong>Brendan’s Book Recommendations</strong> <a class= "spp-timestamp">[28:38]</a></h2> <p><strong>Two OLD Books He Loves</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3Mz4ug0">A Little Devil in America</a> by Hanif Abdurra