Leslie A. Williams

 

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To this day I still wonder as a third grader what could I have written to compel Mrs. Alcaro to visit our home and tell my mom that I was a writer. Every day I thank her for that kindness.

 

I was a voracious reader. And my imagination was on overdrive each and every weekend as I preferred daydreaming about Peter Pan and Robin Hood all night versus sleeping. Bet you didn’t know they were related?

I was exhausted on Monday mornings and my mom had to drag me out of bed. But a writer? No. A daydreamer? Yes. My report cards proved it and always stated, ‘Leslie daydreams in the classroom.’

 

Mrs. Alcaro suggested two things to my mom; a typewriter and a year’s subscription to Atlantic Monthly – which my mom immediately did both. I cranked out stories and tales. My imagination flourished. My mom saved all those short stories.

 

But I had other creative dreams.  I wanted to be an interior designer so with my partner, I built my own architectural/ interior design firm. It was an award winning AIA (American Institute of Architects) firm on prestigious Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. My writing focused on business writing; proposals and marketing materials to win and promote the business. Good at it, we won lots of work. 

 

I attended a writing class at Columbia College in Chicago where stories were read aloud. After several classes the teacher stopped me because he feared someone would steal my ideas. 

I was on to something.

 

9/11 shook our world, my mom was now living with me in Chicago, and I asked a ‘what if’ question. My first book, Roman’s Empire, was born. 

A published writer friend forwarded a few chapters to her agent. She loved it! And asked for the full manuscript.  

What? A full manuscript!! – I don’t have that!

 

So – months later – no manuscript, she moved on.

 

Time to learn about the business of writing.

At a conference at Northwestern University, I met a professor, a published writer. She shared the name of her editor. And that made a world of difference.

I was ready this time.

 

I attended several conferences, read up on the business of writing. In days two noted agents asked me for the fullmanuscript. A third agent requested a copy. All together five. 

 

They all said the story idea was great but they weren’t connecting as much as they hoped.  But too close to stop.

Time to figure out what was not working.

 

Worked with a developmental editor and an editor who coached me on becoming a better writer.  

 

And now Roman’s Empire, my debut novel is a finished manuscript, and I am ready to introduce it to the world.

 

Stay tuned. The best is yet to come.

 

To learn more about me check out my LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/lesliewilliams4 profile.