title: The Secrets of Story: Innovative Tools for Perfecting Your Fiction and Captivating Readers
author:  Matt Bird 
description: Matt Bird has an MFA in screenwriting from Columbia University. He lives and writes in Chicago where he and his wife Betsy are raising two delightful little kids.
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  ![Penguin Brand Logo](../Images/00003.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![Penguin Brand Logo](../Images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Shashi Tharoor
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### THE GREAT INDIAN NOVEL  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![Penguin logo](../Images/00004.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![Penguin logo](../Images/00002.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## Contents  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  [About the Author](../Text/part0003.html#idm1065966780)
  
  
  
  
  
  [By the Same Author](../Text/part0004.html#idm1065966732)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Dedication](../Text/part0005.html#idm1065966548)
  
  
  
  
  
  [About the Title](../Text/part0006.html#idm1065966532)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Family Tree](../Text/part0008.html#idm1065966716)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The First Book: The Twice-Born Tale](../Text/part0010_split_000.html)
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Second Book: The Duel with The
  Crown](../Text/part0011_split_000.html#idm1065966596)
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Third Book: The Rains Came](../Text/part0012_split_000.html#gre0000480)
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Fourth Book: A Raj Quartet](../Text/part0013_split_000.html#gre0000713)
  
  
  
  
  
  [The Fifth Book: