Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written 5 books mostly on jazz and jazz music. Women In Jazz is one of the major areas I cover and interviewing female musicians and learning about and sharing their journeys. I am International editor for the Jazz Journalist Association and a columnist as well. I review concerts and recordings and curate the Jazz repository – 59,000 old and vintage recordings. I host radio shows and basically do a lot of things involving music.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pause, Play, Repeat was inspired because musicians were not being heard during the pandemic. Many saw their incomes fall off a cliff so I wanted to give them a platform. 18 stellar musicians were interviewed. Before that Women In Jazz was inspired by women’s journeys in jazz and the book won several awards and recommendations. All That’s Jazz was inspired by a love of jazz and the desire to investigate and share the inner workings of the jazz industry so I interviewed musicians, PR people, managers, writers and a host of others and put the book together. It has been popular.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write best when I have an impending deadline.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
An author called Finklestein but also the usual – Enid Blyton as a kid.
What are you working on now?
A book which will blow jazz open – inside the industry – women, bullies, all kinds of things. All good things about jazz too of course.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
None really – mostly publishers have managed that in the past but this last book I self published and used FB and Twitter.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Find your niche, remain passionate and ignore anyone who says ‘ you can’t do it’. You can but you need to work and learn – all the time. Many people out here are willing to help.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Never give up.
What are you reading now?
Finklestein and Goioia.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A few ideas but mostly jazz.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
that is an impossible ask.
Author Websites and Profiles
Sammy Stein Website
Sammy Stein’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
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