Welcome to Biblio Breakdown! First appearing on The Writescast Network, Biblio Breakdown is a podcast where I take a recently released book, examine it along the lines of a particular theme, and then offer writing exercises so you can have the same successes in your own work in progress. You get to make your writing better and hear about great books all at the same time. What’s better than that? 😀
Note: New Biblio Breakdown episodes appear on the fifth Friday of every month that has five Fridays.
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December 31, 2022 — Beautiful writing can come in a variety of ways, including simplicity. Discover how magical realism author Sarah Addison Allen used simplicity in different aspects of her book to deliver a powerful story in Other Birds.
Title: Other Birds
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Release date: August 30, 2022
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July 29, 2022 — The best kinds of stories have layers that enrich them that talented authors build into their work. Like master bakers, they mix all of the right ingredients to make something truly sumptuous. Find out just how Sulari Gentill did just that in The Woman in the Library.
Title: The Woman in the Library
Author: Sulari Gentill
Release date: June 7, 2022
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April 29, 2022 — Writing is all about taking chances. But what if you’re asking your characters and your reader to take a chance all at the same time? Find out how to do just that like Jennie Wexler did in Where It All Lands.
Title: Where It All Lands
Author: Jennie Wexler
Release date: July 6, 2021
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October 29, 2021 — Sometimes we’re a little afraid to be ambitious with our stories, to go big. As in, really big. But going big can help us create something special. Come find out how Anthony Doerr did just that in Cloud Cuckoo Land.
Title: Cloud Cuckoo Land
Author: Anthony Doerr
Release date: September 28, 2021
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July 30, 2021 — Most of us like to play it safe, but what happens when a character is nothing but reckless? Come find out just how charming recklessness can be — especially when you pair the perfect hat with it — in Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche.
Title: Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche
Author: Nancy Springer
Release date: August 31, 2021
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April 30, 2020 — The best characters and plots shock us, because they’re audacious. In The Nature of Fragile Things, author Susan Meissner shows us just how to create a fearless protagonist who must be bold when circumstances and even the earth turn against her.
Title: The Nature of Fragile Things
Author: Susan Meissner
Genre: Historical fiction
Release date: February 2, 2021
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January 29, 2021 — “Info dumps are bad!” says every writing expert ever. But what if they’re not? I look at how it’s okay to use info dumps by showing how Chris Hauty, author of the political thriller Savage Road, makes them the secret weapon of his book.
Title: Savage Road
Author: Chris Hauty
Genre: Political Thriller
Release date: January 5, 2021
Listen to the episode now!
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October 20, 2020 — Surprising your readers is a great way to keep them hooked and flipping or swiping pages. I offer ways to do this within the context of humor author Nick Spalding’s release Logging Off.
Title: Logging Off
Author: Nick Spalding
Genre: Mainstream fiction/humor
Release date: April 23, 2020
The episode is on the site of Ryan Campbell, Writescast Network creator.
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July 31, 2020 — Let’s set the mood — any mood! Find out how Danielle Trussoni’s The Ancestor exhibits the perfect mood for a Gothic novel and how you can do the same, no matter the genre.
Title: The Ancestor
Author: Danielle Trussoni
Genre: Gothic fiction
Release date: April 7, 2020
Listen to the episode on the site of Ryan Campbell, Writescast Network creator.
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May 29, 2020 — Listen to the episode that started it all! I share how patience in storytelling is necessary and achievable with Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens the backdrop.
Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Genre: Literary mystery
Release date: August 14, 2018
Find the episode here on the site of Ryan Campbell, Writescast Network creator.
Ekta R. Garg 