Descending Thirds by Nicole Conn
“Playing piano is a dangerous life.”
Not because of the music itself, but because of the passions it awakens, the ambitions it fuels, and the hearts it inevitably breaks.
Set against the electrifying world of elite international piano competition in the 1960s, Descending Thirds is an epic tale of love, obsession, ambition, betrayal, and the devastating cost of greatness.
At its center is Alexandra von Triessen, a gifted young pianist whose life becomes forever entangled with two extraordinary brothers. Sebastian D’Antonio is charismatic, magnetic, and impossible to resist—a “finger-proud” lothario who commands every room he enters. Conrad D’Antonio, his adopted brother, is something altogether different: a quiet musical savant who writes transcendent music not for fame or applause, but because writing music is breathing for him.
Drawn to both men, Alexandra finds herself caught in a passionate and heartbreaking triangle that spans years, continents, and some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world.
As the competitors gather for the renowned Ketterling International Piano Competition, careers are made, dreams are shattered, and long-buried secrets begin to emerge. What follows is a sweeping story of forbidden love, family loyalty, artistic sacrifice, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.
Richly researched and emotionally immersive, Descending Thirds invites readers into a rarely seen world where music becomes a language of desire, rivalry, heartbreak, and redemption. Along the way, readers will encounter unforgettable characters, stunning twists, and a love story that refuses to fit neatly into any category.
Perfect for readers who love emotionally powerful fiction, family sagas, historical drama, prestige television storytelling, and unforgettable romances, Descending Thirds has been praised for its cinematic scope, emotional depth, and page-turning narrative.
Multi award-winning and impossible to forget, Descending Thirds is a novel about the music that shapes us, the choices that define us, and the loves that haunt us forever.
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Author Bio:
Nicole Conn is an award-winning filmmaker, novelist, screenwriter, editor, and producer whose career spans more than three decades of storytelling.
Best known for writing and directing the groundbreaking independent film Claire of the Moon, Nicole has spent her career creating emotionally rich stories that explore love, family, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit. Her films include little man, Elena Undone, A Perfect Ending, More Beautiful for Having Been Broken, and the first ever LGBTQ+ reality dating series Coming Out For Love.
Descending Thirds is perhaps her most personal work. Inspired by her mother, Christa Hoven—a classical pianist and teacher—Nicole spent years researching the world of elite piano competition while drawing upon a lifetime surrounded by music. The result is a sweeping novel that combines her passion for storytelling with her deep connection to the classical music world.
The novel has received multiple literary honors, including awards from the Great Northwest, Southwest, and Midwest Book Festivals, and has been praised by readers for its emotional power, unforgettable characters, and cinematic scope.
When she isn’t writing, Nicole enjoys long daily walks, spending time with her adored family, caring for her beloved chihuahua Lady Bugs, creating new film and television projects, and continuing her mission to tell stories that go straight for the heart.
To learn more, visit
http://www.descendingthirds.com or http://www.nicoleconnfilmsglobal.com