Jennifer Steil Announces Third Novel, Exile Music

Monday, May 11, 2020

KHN Alum (2017) and writer, Jennifer Steil, has announced the publication of her third book, Exile Music, which was released via Viking USA on May 5, 2020. Jennifer's new novel follows the lives of a family of Austrian Jewish musicians who seek refuge from the Nazis in Bolivia in 1938. Based on an unexplored slice of World War II history, the novel is the captivating story of a young Jewish girl whose family flees refined and urbane Vienna for safe harbor in the mountains of Bolivia. Exile Music is Jennifer's third book, which she worked on while she was here at KHN as a resident.

Jennifer Steil is an award-winning author and journalist who lives in many countries (currently Uzbekistan). A bisexual writer who has lived in Arabia and South America for nearly a decade, she is interested in transcultural issues, freedom of expression, and human rights.

Her most recent novel prior to Exile Music, The Ambassador’s Wife, was published by Doubleday in 2015, won the 2013 William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition Best Novel award and the 2016 Phillip McMath Post Publication Book Award. The novel, which explores white savior complex, freedom of expression, art, terrorism, and parenthood, was shortlisted for both the Bisexual Book Award and the Lascaux Novel Award, and has received considerable critical acclaim, notably in the Seattle Times, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and The New York Times Book Review. It has been published in several other languages, including Italian, Bulgarian, Greek, and Polish. The Mark Gordon Company optioned the film rights to The Ambassador’s Wife, with plans to create a television miniseries starring Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway. Jennifer’s first book, The Woman Who Fell From the Sky (Broadway Books, 2010), a memoir about her tenure as editor of the Yemen Observer newspaper in Sana’a, received praise from The New York Times, Newsweek, and the Sydney Morning Herald. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune chose it as one of their best travel books of the year in 2010, and Elle magazine awarded it their Readers’ Prize. National Geographic Traveler included the book in their 2014 recommended reading list. It has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, and Poland.

Jennifer's new novel, as well as her other books, can be ordered at these locations (see links below), and the author also encourages you to contact your local bookseller/small-business bookseller.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

An Interview with Jennifer Steil (Rathalla Review)

Jennifer Steil's website

Order Exile Music on amazon

Exile Music via Indiebound

Order Exile Music via Barnes and Noble

What the Artists are Saying...

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My favorite aspect of the residency was the undistracted, solitary time to work! My studio (#2) was wonderful with both the natural and track lighting and the garage door.

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Visual Artist, 2018 — Madison, WI

There's so much I like! I like the intimate nature of the residency and how the very excellent alone time is balanced with just a bit of togetherness with the organized lunch and invites to some stuff in town. I love the Third Thursday open house.

Betsy Andrews

Writer, 2018 — Brooklyn, NY

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Hannah Newman

Visual Artist, 2018 — Springfield, MO

The Staff was very supportive, it was easy to reach out and discuss anything. The facilities are also very comfortable, and the environment is great for working.

Jayoung Yoon

Visual Artist, 2018 — Beacon, NY

The open gallery night was especially wonderful. I really enjoyed the chance to share my work with the larger community and to hear their feedback and questions — as well as to see and hear the work of the other residents.

Sonia Scherr

Writer, 2018 — Norwich, VT

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Katy Mixon

Visual Artist, 2018 — Brooklyn, NY

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Kory Reeder

Composer, 2017 — Kearney, NE

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Kari Varner

Visual Artist, 2017 — University City, MO

Facilities, staff, and the ease with which I was able to simply settle in and work all exceeded my expectations!

Lauren W. Westerfield

Writer, 2017 — Moscow, ID

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Gary Peter

Writer, 2017 — St. Paul, MN

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Jonathan Russ

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

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Amanda Breitbach

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Julia Staples

Visual Artist, 2017 — Philadelphia, PA

The space and set up were great! This is one of my favorite residencies thus far. The location of the apartment wasn't too far from civilization but also in a good area for it not to be super noisy nor was there lots of traffic or other sounds. The middle school across the street wasn't at all a distraction. I also really loved the dessert spots and greatly appreciated the staff's flexibility and availability to help, answer questions, drive you to the store when needed. All the details were thought of right down to a bathroom mat and miscellaneous supplies available in its own closet.

Jennifer Baker

Writer, 2017 — Kew Gardens, NY

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Rachel Peters

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

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Dan Fishback

Composer, 2017 — Brooklyn, NY

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Katherine Bickmore

Visual Artist 2017 — Albany, NY

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Megan Kruse

Writer, 2017 — San Marcos, TX

I love the combination of solitude and camaraderie...getting an extended period of time to do nothing but work on my fiction is a rare and much-appreciated gift, but I also love meeting the other residents and learning from them.

Jen Bergmark

Writer, 2012 — Los Angeles, CA

The time and space away from my daily routine, jobs, relationships and responsibilities allowed me solitude and focus. The residency provided an opportunity to work in an environment of serious, like-minded artists and writers, which has pushed my practice and provided a platform to build a new body of work. It was a great experience.

Christina Vogel

Visual Artist, 2013 — Omaha, NE

I was able to produce more in my 3 week residency than I can normally in half a year. The building itself was inspiration for me and I enjoyed the small number of artists present at one time. The staff was incredibly helpful with their time, resources and ideas.

Desiree Moore

Visual Artist, 2016 — Indianapolis, IN

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Todd Robinson

Writer 2016 — Omaha, NE

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Jennifer Steil Announces Third Novel, Exile Music

Jennifer Steil Announces Third Novel, Exile Music

What the Artists are Saying...

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