Wisconsin Inspires the Life and Writing of Author Billie A. Williams

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 --I get wanderlust and ready to move again or at least travel somewhere. I 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.

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.

A good story is because of its 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.

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 novel.

Best selling, award winning mystery/suspense author, Billie A. Williams writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry and has won numerous awards for her short/flash fictions stories, essays and poetry.  Over two dozen works by Billie are published in various magazines and novels.  You can find all her work at her website  www.billiewilliams.com