Totally Booked with Zibby: In-Depth Conversation with Kate Broad on "Greenwich: A Novel"
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Introduction to Kate Broad and Her Debut Novel
In this engaging episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, host Zibby Owens welcomes debut author Kate Broad to discuss her first novel, "Greenwich: A Novel." Kate Broad, a Wellesley College alumna with a PhD in English from CUNY, brings a wealth of literary experience, including recognition from the Bronx Council of the Arts for fiction and publications in notable outlets like The Rumpus and The Brooklyn Review.
Plot Overview and Central Themes
"Greenwich" centers around Rachel, a young woman on the cusp of adulthood, who spends a pivotal summer with her affluent aunt and uncle in Greenwich, Connecticut. As Rachel prepares to enter college and face the responsibilities of turning 18, a tragic accident forces her to confront challenging moral decisions that test her family's loyalty and her own sense of right and wrong.
Kate Broad elaborates on the novel's exploration of family dynamics and personal growth:
“It's about what happened in Greenwich, but it's also about the consequences and how all of the dominoes start to fall and how that affects not only Rachel's life and her future but also her family.”
— Kate Broad [03:25]
Character Development and Societal Reflections
The discussion delves into Rachel's relationships and internal struggles. Rachel grapples with her sister Jules's cancer diagnosis, her parents' preoccupation, and the challenges of navigating a new, wealthy environment. Her isolation is compounded by social upheaval, including estrangement from her friend group.
Zibby Owens highlights a poignant scene that underscores Rachel's loneliness:
“You have this scene at CVS where Rachel is in one aisle and knows right away that her three old best friends are getting their hair highlighter in the carts or whatever. And you have her just, like, drop the cart and sneak out of the CVS so that her friends don't see her. And it's, like, so heartbreaking.”
— Zibby Owens [06:53]
Kate Broad responds by reflecting on the universal experience of adolescence and the complexities of girlhood:
“It's such a transition point... we're all 17 at CVS, realizing our friends are hanging out without us.”
— Kate Broad [07:14]
Narrative Structure and Suspense Creation
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the novel's retrospective narrative structure and its role in building suspense. Kate Broad explains her intention to intertwine Rachel's present reflections with past events, allowing readers to engage with both the unfolding story and the character's personal growth.
“I wanted it to have this retrospective component... adult Rachel and teenage Rachel kind of coming to terms with how they have become who she is.”
— Kate Broad [16:19]
Zibby Owens probes into the technical aspects of maintaining suspense through this structure:
“How did you create that sense of suspense? And what was your whole goal in the book to begin with?”
— Zibby Owens [15:42]
Kate Broad articulates her goal to mirror the complexity of real-life decision-making:
“Sometimes things are very difficult and no one comes along and says, oh, this is the moment where you're making a big decision, and you should definitely do the right thing here.”
— Kate Broad [21:01]
Kate Broad’s Journey to Publication and Writer’s Resilience
Transitioning to her personal experiences, Kate Broad candidly discusses the challenges of getting her debut novel published. She emphasizes the importance of persistence amidst numerous setbacks:
“Persistence is the name of the game... I kept coming back to that, and it was like, well, I could stop, but I have an idea for another book and I want to write it, so I'm going to keep doing that.”
— Kate Broad [26:01]
Zibby Owens challenges her on why she didn't give up:
“But why not just give up? Why not say, okay, forget it... And da, da, da. Why?”
— Zibby Owens [25:53]
Kate Broad responds by underscoring her intrinsic motivation and love for writing:
“Writing is the best thing that I get to do... I want to keep doing this.”
— Kate Broad [27:09]
Advice for Aspiring Authors
In sharing strategies that aided her completion of "Greenwich," Kate Broad offers practical advice for writers:
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Set Writing Limits: Instead of pushing for unlimited daily word counts, establish a maximum to prevent burnout.
“If I hit my 2000 words and things are going great and I feel good and I could keep going, I don't. Because then the next day, I'm so excited to get back to it.”
— Kate Broad [28:02] -
End on a Positive Note: Conclude writing sessions with a clear starting point for the next day to maintain momentum.
“Or I will, like write into the next scene so if I finish a chapter, I will write the next sentence of the next chapter... so it's like little tricks to say I have to keep going.”
— Kate Broad [28:02] -
Personalize Your Process: Recognize that what works for one writer may not work for another, and it's crucial to find personalized methods.
“You just figure it out... some of that might be like, oh, no, that would never work for me.”
— Kate Broad [30:14]
Closing Thoughts
Zibby Owens wraps up the conversation by commending Kate Broad on her debut:
“Amazing. Well, Kate, congratulations on Greenwich. So delicious. So fun.”
— Zibby Owens [30:49]
Kate Broad expresses her gratitude and enthusiasm for the opportunity to share her work:
“Thank you so much. This is really fun to be here.”
— Kate Broad [30:53]
Final Takeaways
Kate Broad’s "Greenwich: A Novel" is not only a compelling story of personal and familial challenges but also a testament to the resilience required in the literary world. Her insights into character development, narrative structure, and the perseverance needed to publish a debut novel provide valuable lessons for both readers and aspiring writers.
Listeners are encouraged to explore Kate Broad's debut and connect with her for further literary discussions and writing advice.
For more information on Kate Broad and to purchase "Greenwich: A Novel," visit zibbymedia.com and follow Zibby Owens on Instagram @zibbyowens.