Linda Dahl began writing in earnest when she moved to the Yucatan Peninsula after college in 1973, where she produced her first novel, After Leaving America. Moving to New York City with a suitcase and several hundred dollars, she re-connected with jazz. Supporting herself with a variety of jobs including driving an ice-cream truck, working as a translator and teaching, she continued to write novels, liner notes for CD’s, essays and books about women in jazz.

Linda Dahl has authored several books:

Stormy Weather: a History of Women in Jazz, was called “a brilliant work” by Publishers Weekly, and “inspiring” by the New York Times. “For anyone who loves jazz, this is their book,” said the Los Angeles Times.

Morning Glory: a Biography of Mary Lou Williams, wrote Gene Santoro in the New York Times Book Review, is “A stunning character in search of a soul mate. Williams has found her writing soul mate in Linda Dahl, and the engrossing result is Morning Glory.” “Every great artist deserves a biography of this caliber,” wrote Scott Yanow in Jazz Improv. Morning Glory was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year in 2000.

      About Come Back, Carmen Miranda: Stories about Latin America,

a reviewer in the Danbury News-Times praised, “Dahl writes deft and deep portraits of not only American middle-class young people disaffectedly roaming ‘the other America,’ but also of the people who live there. A wonderful group of stories.”

Besides continuing to write fiction as well (as of 2006 she is polishing a new novel called What’s God Got to Do With It), Linda Dahl works on projects via the Episcopal Church to aid education and health care in Malawi. She is always glad to participate in interviews, book-signings and workshops about her books. She can be reached via her website.