"A brave and inventive spirit, Tamara Saviano has created a thrilling and affectionate chronicle of the Americana phenomenon that she is uniquely qualified to deliver. Hers is a view from the inside--rich, authoritative and always honest."--Michael Streissguth, author of Johnny Cash: The Biography and Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville, among others--Michael Streissguth "Americana is more than the music, it's the stories and the soulfulness of the people who bring it to life. One of them is Tamara Saviano, a journalist turned industry insider who in this memoir skillfully peels back the layers to show how the genre became the powerhouse it is today. But far from a forensics report, this book is told through her own story of facilitating projects and careers that together helped drive the new century's revival of American roots music. A thrilling behind the scenes look that shows both the rewards and the toll of making the music a vocation for life."--Mark Guarino, author of Country & Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival--Mark Guarino "Tamara Saviano wasn't just there for the infancy of the Americana music scene--she helped birth it. Her deep friendships and professional relationships with Guy Clark and Kris Kristofferson anchor this evocative memoir of a genre's fight for industry recognition.

But in recounting her own scrappy and remarkable life--populated by the likes of Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and John Prine--she also shows just why she is such a respected leader in a male-dominated field. Winning a Grammy as a rookie producer is one thing, but when Elvis Costello fetes you in public, you know you've really rung the bell. "--Alanna Nash, author of Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him, The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley, and Golden Girl: The Story of Jessica Savitch--Alanna Nash "With her superb biography of Guy Clark, Without Getting Killed or Caught, Tamara Saviano established her credentials as an outstanding chronicler of Americana music. Poets & Dreamers tells us how she came to be a multi-media popularizer of those roots-based styles and performers that populate Americana. Saviano's own journey into the heart of Americana rivals that of the protagonist in Hank Snow's 'I've Been Everywhere, ' a backstory she's skillfully intertwined with that of the songwriters, musicians, promoters, and publicists who continue to invest this music with beauty, variety, and vitality."--Bobbie and Bill C. Malone, authors of Traveler: The Musical Odyssey of Tim O'Brien and Nashville's Songwriting Sweethearts: The Boudleaux and Felice Bryant Story--Bobbie and Bill C. Malone.