Media Kit

MEDIA KIT

MEDIA RELEASE: 1. For Writing Wider
MEDIA RELEASE: 2. Money Isn't Everything
MEDIA RELEASE: 3

Review for The Pink Lady Slipper
Ms. Williams' has penned another
winner in The Pink Lady Slipper. This
novel is filled with spine-tingling twist
and turns that keep you spellbound.
Just when you think you know what is
coming next she surprises you. If you
love a novel filled with quirky
characters, the super natural, black
magic and throw in a few very crazy
people you're going to love this book. I
highly recommend this novel for those
to love a chilling mystery with a happy
ending.

~Judy Leigh Peters~
A Father's Hope
Joshua's Faith June 2006

Review for The Pink Lady Slipper
Suspense, with a capital S.
Nora Peterson, author of Past
Imperfect, coming from Wings ePress,
September 2006

With The Pink Lady Slipper, Billie
Williams has crafted a gripping tale
filled with enough twists, turns and
suspects to keep me on the edge of
my seat from start to finish.
Nora Peterson, author of Past
Imperfect coming from Wings ePress,
September 2006

Watch for the Raven Review
Submitted by Marge Anna on Fri, 2006-01-27 12:00. Historical Fiction | Young Adult

Author:
Billie A. Williams
Publisher:
Wings ePress, Inc
Copyright:
July 2005
ISBN:
Electronic 1-59088-408-6
Trade Paperback 1-59088-635-6
Rating: 8
Review:
For centuries, some of the best stories have been handed down from generation to generation as
the family sat beside a cheery fire on a cold day. The tradition has kept personal family history alive,
allowing the young to relive the adventures of their forefathers and relatives that endured the
hardships of life in early America. Watch for the Raven is one such tale, the adventure of personal
growth through the hardship of great-great uncle, Joshua Avery, as shared by a grandmother.

Josh has no idea that when he goes out into the snowy Colorado day that he won’t see home again
for many weeks. In search of acorn nuts for repairs to wooden false teeth and willow bark to ease his
pa's pain, Josh stomps along, blinded by anger that leads him farther away from home than he
realizes. He doesn’t know that he’ll grow to be a responsible young man before he can lay eyes on
his pa again.

After seeing an Indian, he panics, running blindly through the dark. He falls headlong down a cliff
breaking his ankle and cutting his head open on a rock. Dragging himself up the hill, he is
confronted once more by the Indian, sure that he has come face to face with his death.

Eagleman befriends Josh, taking him to his home where his wife and two children help to nurse Josh
back to health. Josh learns the ways of the Southern Ute and, over the following weeks, to deal with
the responsibilities that even six-year-old Little Bear already carries. As Josh heals, he comes to
understand how good he has it at home, how much his pa takes care of what he, Josh, should be
helping with and grows to be the young man he should have been all along.

Watch for the Raven is well researched and well written. It is perhaps a bit too truthful in the losses
that occur throughout the story but it is true to life as it was lived in the Colorado Mountains in 1835.
The relationship between Josh and Eagleman becomes like a father and son, a relationship made
especially poignant with a shocking turn of events. The whole experience brings an older and wiser
son back to his father, making the hardships worthwhile in the end.

Much may be learned from Watch for the Raven about the hardships for both the white man and
Indian living in the Colorado Mountains of early America. Billie A. Williams shares many customs and
beliefs of the Southern Ute Indians through the eyes of Joshua Avery and how the white man
reacted, how ever unkind, to the Native American. A recommended read for young and old.

Reviewed by MargeAnna Conrad

Billie A Williams
Mystery Suspense Author
Accidental Sleuths solve crimes with
wit, wisdom and chutzpah.

Mission Statement:
My Books are about Accidental Sleuths, who have a passion for life and compassion for others, who
are always ready and willing to help friends, family or strangers if the need arises. Following their
quest to help others, 25% of the royalties from the sale of these mystery/suspense books and
non-fiction books on the craft of writing is donated to worthy causes, charities and organizations tied
to each book by the course the accidental sleuth has taken to pursue her/his rescue.

AUTHOR'S BIO:
Best-Selling, Award winning Mystery/Suspense author Billie A Williams is a fiction, non-fiction and poetry author and has
won numerous contests for her short/flash fiction stories, essays, and poetry with over two dozen works published. She
is published in various magazines such as the literary magazine Thema; Guide, a Magazine for Children, Novel Advice.
com, Writing Etc. WritingNow.com, and Women In The Arts newsletter as well as Sister’s in Crime, to list but a few.
Her articles, columns and features have appeared regularly in newspapers. Short stories, Flash fiction, poetry and book
reviews have appeared in Mystery Time, True Love Magazine and various anthologies and on line e-zines and web
sites. She writes a bi-monthly column titled “Whodunit?” for Mystery Fiction’s Voices in the Dark and is a contributing
editor for Writingnow.com a Blueberry Press Newsletter. She also hosts her own writer’s group, Word Mage Writers and
Readers as well as The Amberg Writers Group that meets at her home monthly. She is an active blogger;
http://printedwords.blogspot.com and http://onewomansgarden.blogspot.com a Free Writer’s course Titled Pens In
Motion is a five week series of writing lessons pulled from her four published books on writing how to write and is
available by email.
Williams is currently a member of The Wisconsin Regional Writers Association (WRWA) Upper Peninsula Writers
Association (UPWA)National Association of Women Writers (NAWW) Sister’s in Crime, Women in the Arts Program,
Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC), Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. (SCBWI) and
Children’s Book Insider, and the Children Writers Coaching Club. Visit her at her websites www.billiewilliams.com or http:
//writingwide.com and sign up for her Newsletter Word Mage
She lives with her husband, Tom, and Lady Slipper, (the kitten she acquired the day she got the contract for The Pink
Lady Slipper novel from Wings ePress, Inc,) in Amberg, a small Northern Wisconsin community where the winters are
cold and long, but the people are warm and friendly.

Interview With Billie A Williams

1.        Tell us about yourself, where are you from?
Where am I from…interesting question since I grew up along the upper Michigan and Wisconsin
borderline. We moved a lot jumping from one side to the other. I was born in Park Falls, Wisconsin,
lived on this side until I was in Third grade then we moved to Ironwood Michigan, then Bessemer, then
back to Rhinelander, Wisconsin – I like to say I have grass roots and every time the geese fly – North or
South (Spring or Fall) I get wanderlust and ready to move again or at least travel somewhere. Lived in
Bayfield, Colorado a couple years – loved it out there but missed my Wisconsin/Michigan. I’ve always
lived in small towns and currently I’m back in Wisconsin about 30 miles from the Upper Michigan
borderline  I am a wife, mother, step-mother, grandmother and great grandmother –sister, aunt, friend
and writer – not necessarily in that order. I am retired but work ‘part’-time. Anyone who started a part
time job knows that usually means you work more hours than full time with fewer benefits and less
pay…but I enjoy meeting and interacting with people. Fodder for my grist mill/writing as it happens.
2.        What are 3 things people don’t know about you?
A.        I am an introvert, I am shy, and tend to be reclusive if I’m not forced to go out. Sounds like just
about every author you’ll ever meet. I guess because I spent a good deal of my childhood alone (no I
wasn’t an only child, but was sick with rheumatic fever and other horrid childhood illnesses, Scarlet
Fever, etc…I invented people and stories in my hours in bed) – even being part of three sisters and a
brother, I was alone a lot.
B.        I love helping people if I can. If I can do it behind the scenes even better, to that end, I donate ¼
of my royalties to various organizations and charities that are connected to each of my books in a
certain way. My writing books for instance, I donate those percentages to the local libraries, my young
adult book, I donate to the 4-H, two mystery/suspense deal with domestic and drug abuse I donate to
the local shelter for domestic abuse victims. Every book has a place that receives that one quarter – it
sometimes isn’t a lot, but if I ever get famous---those royalties will mean a great deal.
C.        I taught myself to play the piano, to knit and crochet, to quilt and just about anything else I
decide I want to learn to do. It finally dawned on me, if I want to do something bad enough I just need to
aim, set my goals and wrap myself around the idea until I achieve it. I learned I could write a book when I
was working through Julia Cameron Artist’s Way books –If I could write 3 pages a day in a journal, that’s
equivalent to two or three books a year – so why not do that. And I did many times.
3.        What got you interested in Writing? I always loved to read and I guess it follows naturally that
I’d love to write long letters to friends, book reports, anything that let me have my say without having to
say it aloud. When a new friend showed me a manuscript she was ready to send to a publisher and
asked for my opinion – I read it and thought – wow if she could, if that was good enough, then I could
and I did, eventually.
4.        Have you taken any writing courses, which ones; where? Since I nearly failed English and
Grammar in High School I thought I better do something to learn that skill when I was working at a
community college. I took every single English, Grammar, literature course I could take along with some
really great classes in Philosophy, physics , and history working toward my Associates Degree. I was on
the staff of the college paper with columns and feature articles. I loved the challenge. I learned that I
could write – and I’ve been doing it ever since.
5.        What writer’s groups or organizations do you belong to?
I am a member of Sisters in Crime, National Association of Memoir Writers(NAMW), Romance Writers of
America (RWA) Wisconsin Regional Writers Association (WRWA)Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers
Association (UPWA), National Association of Women Writers(NAWW), Society of Children Book Writers
and Illustrators (SCBWI). I have my own writers group called Wordmage Writers and Readers, and I also
publish Working Writers Newsletter.
6.        Do you write full time? I do at least for a few hours every morning and more if I’m not working
that day. I get up at 5 a.m. and write until I make breakfast for my husband when he gets up at 9 or 10.
I put in as many hours as my day allows after that.
7.        Are you a morning writer or do you write better at night? As I said above – silence in the
wee morning hours is my prime writing time.
8.        What is your genre of choice for writing and reading and why? Actually, I let the story
determine the genre. I have mysteries, suspense, romantic suspense, adventure, historical adventure,
thriller, and just about everything in between. I bill myself as a mystery suspense author because I enjoy
the challenge of a good mystery, but sometimes my muse takes a different turn after I’ve decided on the
characters and the story goal.
9.        What do you think makes a good story? Good, no great characters – no matter what the plot
if the characters aren’t believable and full of life, someone you’d love or love to hate—you have no
story - a plot is essential, but characters pull that plot into a good story I think.
10.        Who or what inspires you to write? If I read anything by Natalie Goldberg, or Tess Gerritsen
I almost have to sit down and write, right away. Otherwise, it can be as simple as a word that I get from
my dictionary (www.mydictionary.com)a daily word, or a quote from one of the many quotes I get in my
inbox daily. Or, I might see a person – like this lady I saw once walking toward the Kmart store, she
seemed to be hiding in plain sight behind her blonde wig and big hat. Her face was clown make-up at
best with garish red lipstick and too much eye makeup. Then there was a woman in line in front of me
in a long black leather coat, high boots and a coachman style hat – she was meticulously dressed,
coiffure of perfect hair-very pretty – but it was 90 degrees in the shade on a summer day…why? You
see the stories almost pop out at you. {smile} It could be someone’s strange behavior – a girl cutting
across a field of weedy grass between an apartment building on one side of the tracks and a shopping
strip on the other. She wore tall Indian style moccasins; her long chestnut colored straight hair
reflected the sun as she went. She looked like an abused, lost waif to my writer’s mind – she became a
character in my Death by Candlelight series. Everything inspires me at one time or another. A
sunflower grew and was blooming in the crotch of my maple tree – aha story. My mother said her
grandfather used to start every tale he told with the phrase, “When tag was a pub and turkeys chewed
tobacco…” That became fodder for Watch for the Raven (my young adult book)
11.        What is your creative process like; what happens when you first sit down to write? I
read from books like Florence Scovel Shinn’s The Game of Life, or Mike Dooley’s Notes from the
Universe or maybe something out of Neville Goddard’s The Neville Reader—inspirational titles. Then I
write in my gratitude journal and write out a few goals. By then I’m ready to tackle my current WIP and
write at least one chapter in that before I move on to something else as time will allow.
12.        What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc? My major
focus, my major goal is to write something every day usually that includes but is not limited to, one
chapter in my current WIP and any other writing I have going, like my column for my Whodunit column
for Mystery Fiction’s Voice in the Dark and do one marketing thing a day.
13.        What is your particular challenge when writing? I need to focus on the punctuation and
sentence structure – my editor pulls out her hair over my misplaced modifiers and comma profusion. My
husband suggested that I should put two envelopes in the back of all my books – one for the
punctuation that I have too much of and one for that which needs to be added. I tend to agree with him.
LOL I get so wrapped up in telling my story I forget grammar.
14.        What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?
Wow, that’s a loaded question. On top of my mind is how much fun the writing part is, how daunting the
rewrites and editing might be—but how wonderful it is to hear from a fan that my characters were
delightful or so evil they wanted to smack them or worse. Perhaps, its that after you’ve writing the best
you can write and send off that baby to an editor or publisher the work has just begun – without
marketing your book sits on the shelf and your publisher is loath to accept your next manuscript. Sales,
sales, sales – and I’m not a very good sales person.
15.        What kind of research is involved in your writing? That, again, really depends on the
story. My latest Diamonds, Death and Deceit – a South African Suspense I researched a ton – I love the
research, but I’m glad every book doesn’t take that kind of research. I’ve researched poisons for my
mystery books, weapons for suspense, techniques for my writing books – it depends though…like the
organic gardening book I’m working on now…I’ve gardened in just about every kind of soil imaginable
for years – organically—I love it and I’ve done all the research those years when I tried to grow my own
and put food by (can, freeze etc).
16.        How long does it take you to write a book? It really depends. I’ve written a novel during the
NaWriMo (National Write a Novel in a Month) challenge for 3 years – it’s invigorating and fun—of course
those usually take more writing and rewriting after the challenge – I would say on the average 3 months
if I concentrate and the writing is flowing…longer if I hit a snag – sometimes my husband (an avid
reader 2-4 books a week sometimes-none of mine however LOL) he provides the twist I need or the
ending I’m lost at, or if I’ve painted myself in a corner, he comes to the rescue.
17.        Does your family take an interest in your writing; do they read and critique your work?
As strange as it may seem most of the time none of my family buy or read my books either while I’m
writing them or when they are published – my husband’s sister and an ex-mother-in-law buy and read
everyone. I wish they all would. {smile}
18.        How many books have you written, how many of them are published; which one is
your favorite? I currently have 34 published books and probably have at least that many more in
various stages of completion – someday maybe I’ll return to them. My favorite, and this is funny, it
always seems to be the one I’m currently working on. There is a soft spot in my heart for my first
published book, Death by Candlelight, I guess as with the first born child – there can only be one first
born. Even though the rest are just as thrilling and loved.
19.        What is your current work in progress? I am working on a suspense now the working title is
July Heat –it is the seventh book in my Zodiac Sleuths Series. The protagonist is Judy July – I’ve worked
through the Zodiac each sleuth’s name reflects the month of her sign, each is an accidental sleuth and
this particular one Judy has lost part of her memory – someone is chasing her but she doesn’t know
why – Cairo Egypt keeps turning up in her life and it scares her but she can’t put her finger on why. She
is a writing teacher – in a community college’s outreach program. She has decided to take her class on
a short class trip to have them try to discover her past, they think the character they are researching is
for a novel the group is writing together…they are kidnapped – the whole class…some are later
released…the others – well, there goes the story. When I finish doing a book for each Zodiac sign I am
going to bring them all together to solve one final crime – one of them will be in deep jeopardy and the
others will try to dig her out.
20.        How do you handle writer’s block; rejection? Writer’s block – I usually have too many
writing projects going to get that. If one story isn’t working I’ll work on another until I find a place to begin
again and I do, sometimes very quickly. Or I will start a handicraft project, knit or crochet the repetitive
motion seems to let my muse work and eventually something works out. Rejection used to bother me –
but by the time I got enough rejection letters to wall paper a large bathroom – I realized it is just one
person’s opinion and they may have been having a bad day – or whatever. I’ll look over the manuscript
and if I still think it’s good I’ll just turn it around and send it out again. With computers that’s a fresh
manuscript printed and addressed cover letter newly written to suit the new publisher and off again.
Meantime I get busy on the next one. One of those marvelous author/agent/publishers said (I forget
who – either Rob Parnell or maybe Evan Marshall) a rejection, you just sent it to the wrong address.
The particular editor you wanted wasn’t at that address – send it out again until you find the right
address he or she is waiting for you.
21.        Have you ever self-published your work/ who was your publisher ?I did self-publish
several things: A book of essays, a book of flash fiction, two poetry books and several cookbooks that
tied into several of my novels with LuLu. They now has great distribution but I previously pulled those
books and haven’t republished them at this time. I did one novel with one Publishing outfit that a friend
(I thought she was a friend)and part of the staff there recommended - and had the worst experience of
my life I don’t think they are in business anymore…(Page Free Publishers)
22.        What has been your experience with publishers? For the most part, the ones I’m
published with I have had good experiences. Most of my books are with Wings ePress, Inc. I love them—
they do a thorough editing job, they have great cover artists and are very, very helpful and cordial to
new writers. The small press generally is more ready to work with their writers – and they aren’t afraid to
take a chance on new or even a combined genre that hasn’t been done before.
23.        Do you have an agent; who and how did you find him/her?
No, I have tried several times to get an agent and finally gave up. It’s almost harder than getting a
publisher I believe and it’s getting more so. You can’t submit to the big publishers like Random House or
Simon and Schuster without one, but –with a small publisher your books is available for as long as you
want to keep your contract with them. With the big publishers – your book has a bookstore shelf life of
two or three weeks if it doesn’t sell its out the door. So which is better? Unless you hit the big time – like
JK Rowlands, Stephen King or one of the other big names - *sigh*.
24.        Have your received any awards for your work? I’ve won poetry contests, I received the
Golden Wings award for my book Ancient Secrets and I received a Best Seller designation for Money
Isn’t Everything (another of the Zodiac Series books). I have two books entered in the EPPIES and have
my fingers crossed for good news on them.
25.        Do you have other interests and hobbies you pursue when not writing? I garden
(organically) I knit, crochet, quilt, and do other handicrafts while my muse is idling in the background
somewhere.
26.        What are you reading at the present time? I’m always reading several things – I try to read
a chapter a day in several books – like new authors Pat McCain, SK Hamilton, J Gayle Kelly they are
delightful writers on their way up. I also keep a current Tess Gerritsen handy she is some kind of writer.
So now I’m reading For The Love of Willow Walk, by SK Hamilton and Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen. But I
also have those motivational books mentioned earlier going that I read before I write.
27.        How have you promoted your book; do you think self-promotion is important?
Absolutely self-promotion is an unconditional must no matter who publishes your books. First of all, no
one else has as much invested in your book as you do – and you know the most about it so it should be
you.
I usually do all the normal stuff; the social networks, the bookmarks, book signings (which are really
tough around here – we are so small and rural) I mail postcards and stick bookmarks or some form of
promo material in every single piece of mail that leaves my house whether it’s a bill being paid or a
donation to some charity, or just a letter – it gets a bookmark and or business card. That is the main
reason I pay all my bills by check instead of electronically .

I’ve held a book signing with the local animal shelter – and donated ½ of my royalties to them for that
day – Fin Fur and Fatal, the second book in the Zodiac series (and they and the animal hospital get ¼
of my royalties on a rotating basis now)—that was the best book signing I’ve ever held.

I hold contests and have serialized a novel in progress, which I and two other authors are doing again
with our news letter Working Writers Newsletter…I have sign up boxes on all the pages of my website. I’
ve done blog tours and radio interviews and podcasts, I’ve spoken to groups as diverse as a The Red
Hat Society and presented at workshops such as Obadiah Christian Women Writers Conference. I host
my own writers group in my home and that gets biweekly coverage in our local paper. If you look at
everything you do as potential advertising , some type of promotion or advertising for your book…you
will find various ways of promoting.
I donate copies of all my books to our local libraries – and I have books on consignment at the small
Party and Grocery store where I work as well as the animal hospital…it works all the time when I’m not
around for people who see my work out there.
28.        Do you hear from your readers; what kinds of things do they say? I do more and more. I
had one woman come into the store and just squeal with delight at meeting a real author face to face –
she had purchased and read several of my books. She wondered if I’d mind a hug – that was beautiful.
I’ve had people ask how I ever came up with thus and such character or the name of the character – or
rave until I get embarrassed in a store full of customers. I usually do get embarrassed when someone
tells me they love my book or books. I still can’t get used to people actually liking what I write. Modesty,
introverted – ya they all fit me. But nothing compares to hearing, “I stayed up until 1 or 2 this morning
reading your book, I couldn’t put it down” That is the best.
29.        What are your views on eBooks and audio books? Are you published or plan to
publish in either media? Ebooks Yes! With all the new e-book readers and kindle and the rest –
more opportunities for more people to buy and enjoy your book wherever they might be. I still love to
hold a “real” book in my hands and so do a lot of the people who buy my books, but the younger
generation – they want it portable, and innovative, and now! All my books are available in electronic
versions accept the one I have with - *sigh* Publish America…The rest all are available in whatever
format a reader wants. I haven’t gone audio yet but I’d like to – I think those books for the blind or those
who want to listen in the vehicles on their daily commute – excellent idea. I’d do it in a minute if I could.
30.        Do you have any advice that you’ve picked up along the way to share with other
writers?
I think I’ve heard for as long as I have been trying to write the advice – read, read, read everything and
anything – and write, write, write – that is such good advice I don’t think I can top it unless it’s with
NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP.
31.        What is it you want the reader to know about you that wasn’t covered in the
interview?
That I welcome questions, comments and ideas for new books they’d like to see. I’d like them to join my
newsletter, visit my websites www.billiewilliams.com and http://writingwide.com and blogs http:
//printedwords.blogspot.com and http://onewomansgarden.blogspot.com
You’ll find a sign up box for the Working Writers Newsletter on my website – free three authors WIP
(works in progress). There are contests there as well. Anyone who comments on this interview will be
eligible for a signed cover flat of my newest book released October 1st Diamonds, Death and Deceit .
Thank you for the wonderful questions and the chance to be on your guest list.
Billie A Williams
www.billiewilliams.com
http://writingwide.com