The Songwriter

If you like the TV-Series "Nashville" or the blockbuster "A star is born", the music novel "The Songwriter" is for you! Girlfriend gone. Job gone. Everything gone. Joe Baker has reached the lowest point of his life. But he has a dream. He leaves San Diego, his hometown, to try his luck as a songwriter in Nashville. Joe arrives in Music City, USA on a warm, autumn day with just a guitar, a notebook, and the address of a female singer. Will Joe Baker break out of his negative spiral and make his dreams come true?

If you like the TV-Series "Nashville" or the blockbuster "A star is born", the music novel "The Songwriter" is for you! The Swiss musician and book author Chris Regez released the English version of his success music novel, «The Songwriter». It was first published in German in Europe. But why would a Swiss come up with the idea of writing a music novel that takes place in Nashville? The simple reason for this is: Chris Regez knows the music scene in Nashville very well, because he himself recorded three CDs with his original songs in Nashville's studios. Why is the story a «music novel» Unfortunately, the genre «music novel» does not yet exist in this explicit definition. Not yet! This is unfortunate given there have long been movies that depict the music scene (e.g. Lady Gaga: A Star Is Born; Elton John: Rocketman or the successful TV series Nashville). «The Songwriter» depicts the music business in Nashville in great detail and immerses the reader in a fast-paced story comprising love, integrity, friendship, resilience, hope and disappointment. In the carefully researched and authentic love and music story, readers learn how record companies, producers and publishers pull the strings in the background, how recording sessions in the studio are performed and what problems the music industry has to deal with on a daily basis. It also serves as a kind of travel guide with «top» insider tips from the author for anyone seeking music clubs, bars and restaurants in Nashville. Can the loser make his dreams come true? In this fictional «music novel», the author shows how Joe Baker, the main character of the book, gets back on his feet following many negative experiences, leaves everything behind and heads straight to Nashville to try his luck as a professional songwriter. The book takes readers into the world of a songwriter who refuses to give up and overcomes hardships to make his dreams become reality. But for Joe, success does not come without a price. The author places many obstacles in the way of his protagonist: Joe's endeavor for professional recognition in Music City is repeatedly marked by continuous rejections on behalf of music publishers and record companies…until one day, he is informed that one of his songs has been selected to be recorded on the debut CD of an aspiring singer. And suddenly, things change dramatically… Of course, what would a novel be without the presence of women: Joe Baker's ex-girlfriend and his new crush – a beautiful, awe inspiring female country singer – provide all the suspense needed to rock Joe's emotional life.

Chris Regez was born in Aarau, Switzerland in 1968. He has been managing his own PR Company since 1998. Chris was fascinated by country music during his teenager years. At the age of 21, he traveled to Nashville, where he met musicians, songwriters, and producers. He recorded his first two songs at the Fireside Recording Studio. He returned to Nashville in 1990 to record more songs for his first CD titled «Headin' West». Since then he has produced seven more CDs in Music City and Switzerland. Regular visits to Nashville inspired him to write this fictional novel. He draws his inspiration from Nashville's vibrant rhythm, people and diversity.