From poetry to fiction to history to the stage, is there a written genre John M. Williams hasn’t dipped his toe into?
In this edition of the Broadleaf Writers Member Spotlight, board member Jessica Bowers sat down to talk with John about his career, genre hopping, and community.
Like so many writers, John enjoyed writing, but did not think of himself as a writer to begin with. He wrote for friends and laughs, nothing he took too seriously for a long time.
Initially going to school for pre-med, he realized that wasn’t going to be the path for him and he switched gears to English. John’s post graduation wandering years weren’t filled with much writing, but he did travel and teach abroad.
John became inspired to write a novel about rock and roll. That became Lake Moon, a book of self-realization and self-destruction centered on a band and its young members in their quest for recognition and fulfillment set amongst the moral and social turmoil of the 1960s and ’70s in Georgia. This was when he figured out HOW to write a novel. He must have done something right because Lake Moon earned him Georgia Author of the Year in 2003.
From there, a variety of inspirations led him to write a wide range of things. John didn’t plan it that way. He followed the opportunities, including doing a favor for a friend that turned into a successful book called Monroeville and the Stage Production of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’
Music and stage haven’t been the only sources pulled into his books. John wrote his most recent novel, End Times, after seeing two young people in a grocery store and he wondered who they were. He envisioned them being siblings. End Times thrusts that brother and sister into the human comedy of a small southern town where they must survive a variety of predators, especially a sociopathic barber.
John encourages writers to not worry about sticking to one genre or approach to writing. Follow your heart. Don’t force it. Write what you love because that’s how your stories will live and breathe. Find the point where your characters start talking on their own. That’s where the magic happens.
Dive deeper into John M. Williams with the recording of the Spotlight discussion.
You can find out more about John M. Williams on his website: https://johnmwilliams.net/ or on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/334629.John_M_Williams
Connect with him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/manwalkingbackward
Member spotlights are a perk of being a member of Broadleaf Writers Association. They’re a great way to boost your reach and highlight your accomplishments. You don’t have to be a published author to enjoy this benefit. To become a member, visit https://broadleafwriters.com/become-a-member/. If you’re interested in being featured in a future Member Spotlight, email Zachary Steele at zach@broadleafwriters.com.