About Steven Greenebaum:
I’ve written five books, four centered on Interfaith and the need for us to embrace rather than fear our differences (and one on keeping our balance during the pandemic). Before becoming an Interfaith writer, I taught English and Mythology, wrote briefly (and unhappily) for Hollywood, and was (very happily) a choir director for Jewish, Methodist, and Unitarian choirs. I wrote an extensive spiritual memoir in a previous book “One Family: Indivisible”. But in short; I have always sought out knowledge. That’s manifested in my having three Masters Degrees: one in Mythology, one in Music, and my final degree in Pastoral Studies – which led to my becoming a minister. Born Jewish (and remaining Jewish) I was propelled into embracing Interfaith at a crisis moment some 25 years ago (I was 50 then, am now 75). I believed in a God of justice, but saw so much injustice in the world I quite literally cried out for answers. I received those answers (and so much more) when they were dictated to me one afternoon by a still, small voice. That dictation propelled me into my Interfaith career – bracing the truths in all of our spiritual traditions – eventually becoming a Jewish, Interfaith minister. My decades of pondering became my book “An Afternoon’s Dictation.”
What inspires you to write?
I was an Interfaith minister in Lynnwood, WA for over ten years before retiring at age 70. This is my final Interfaith book (I’m 75). My motivation has always been to help folks see that we are all one family and not to fear our differences. The constant creation of “other” has led us again and again to fear one another and much too often to violence. It still does. This sad fact is what motivated me to keep me writing. I hope to nudge us towards a respect of our differences. I suffer no delusion that my message is new. It has, indeed, been a crucial message continuously repeated over for several thousand years. Perhaps it’s time to live that message. That is my hope.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Homer
Hemingway
Dostoevsky
John Shelby Spong
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tell us about your writing process.
First off is pondering both why write the book and if the "why" has meaning, what do I want to say? Once I have the "why" I write page after page of notes. This takes weeks (and for my first book years). At some point, I feel I understand what I want to write about. In all honesty, after that point I rarely consult the notes. My mind understands. I sit, and write. Not that I planned it, but it would seem that every book I write has a "rough draft", followed by six rewrites. When I reach the moment where I read what's written and think, "I wrote that? Wow." that I send the book off to the publisher.
What advice would you give other writers?
If you are writing to make money, I have no advice. If you motivation is beyond that, be committed to saying something worth saying. There is so much noise in the world. Don't just add to it. And don't be afraid of rewriting, and then rewriting again. If what you want to share is worth sharing, it will come together. It may well take time, but it will come together.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I couldn't find an agents who wanted to handle my work. But I also didn't want to self-publish. So I sought out publishers who were trying to make the world better and weren't worried about grinding out best sellers. They are out there!!
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I don't know what the future will be. I am hopeful that people will renew their interest in the printed word. There is so much more than can be learned/understood from reading than from videos and social media.
What genres do you write?: Spiritual/Religious/Interfaith/Ecumenical
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Steven Greenebaum Home Page Link
Link To Steven Greenebaum Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
