We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Steven Williams. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Steven below.

Steven, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned how to write, mostly by reading (but also by writing). Growing up, I read a lot – always some sort of series. And when I was a kid, I would write short stories and create comics with a friend of mine named Tom. My dad would get the comics printed at Kinkos. Looking back on it, those comics and short stories were just rip-offs of other stories that I was into at the time, but that was how I started to learn. Later, I wrote my first novel after graduating college while working at a parking garage in Pittsburgh. I would bring my laptop with me and write while folks parked their cars. My first novel was a poorly written horror novel, but it was a 90k-word story that I wrote from start to finish (a first for me at the time). Since that first novel, I think I’ve written at least ten full novels over ten+ years and I have never stopped learning about the craft. I’m not sure there is anything I could have done to speed up my learning process other than maybe take a few classes on creative writing. I’m not formally trained in the craft, so I had to learn by doing. That said, I would read books on the basics of storytelling, watch video essays on what made a good or bad story, and I continue to solicit feedback from readers of my stories so that I can continue to improve. I think the most important skill to have is persistence. Nothing worthwhile comes quickly so you have to be willing to stick with something for the long-haul. Going forward, I will continue to write, especially now that a publisher is willing to publish my stories. But I am also now a father, so I guess the biggest obstacle I now face, is time utilization. But my wife is a great partner and eventually I will figure out the right way to manage my time so I can keep writing.

Steven, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an avid traveler first and foremost. Seeing the world is a passion of mine and this informs my writing. My three novels that have been published thus far are all steeped in Norse Mythology and that is because my wife and I got married in Iceland. My idol is Anthony Bourdain (RIP). So, if you want to know me, the best way to get me to open up is to talk about travel. Recently I’ve become a father and one of the things I’m most keen on doing with my son is taking him on road trips and creating opportunities for him to see our country and beyond. I want to take him places and watch as he learns more about himself and the world around him. Beyond becoming a father though and my love of travel, the thing I’m most proud of are my three published novels. Like I said, they’re steeped in Norse Mythology and focus mostly on a Viking warrior named Skadi, who must fight to defend her friends and family as Ragnarök draws near. The first story in my series was based partly on my campaign for school board a few years back, but the series has evolved beyond that. A school board campaign and Vikings might not seem like they go together, but the core message throughout my stories is to fight to better your world around you and that is what I want people to take away from my stories. I want them to be inspired to have a positive impact in their communities and beyond, while also learning a little something about a region of the world that has meant so much to me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Honestly, I think the most rewarding aspect of being a creative, is the freedom to craft something that is totally my own while also having the opportunity to collaborate with other creatives. I love my stories. They’re fun. I get to do my own thing in this world I’m building, but I also love that my stories open up doors for collaborating with other artists. For each of my novels, I’ve worked with different artists to create their own artistic expression of the characters I’ve created. I also got to read advanced copies of other authors’ novels and provide constructive feedback so that they can put their best foot forward. These are experiences that have stemmed from my own creative endeavors. So, I think, if I were to answer as truthfully as possible, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to engage in the creative world with others and see what we can come up with together.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I did a lot of in-person engagement. If I’m being honest, I think social media is great, but I also think people tend to rely on it a little too heavily and forget that the real world is where true connections are made. I remember, when my publisher first reached out with a contract and I knew I’d finally have a book in the world, I had to get back on social media. But I remember seeing other authors ONLY engaging online. So, to set myself apart, I set up in-person book signings and then would just throw pictures up online after those signings. I used social media to support my real-world engagement instead of letting it be a substitute. That said, if I were to offer any advice for growing your online presence, I would say lean into authenticity and mix things up. I know that the accounts I IGNORE are the ones that only plug one thing. If you are an author, mix in your real life with your social media and don’t just plug your book.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stevengrierwilliams.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevengrierwilliams/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Williams/pfbid02GJ3nVo2cvAtZ1UAmJaQkB8gY9tcMQWS1qMeQxsmyGywzDeLcTZZFhGV9hBZGNJHol/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=EdnyR0aFA6VTljsA&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2FhWG36gc6kXhN2iLa%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-williams-3b01023b
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stevenwilliams3818

Image Credits

The headshot is by Ryan Razon. The cover art is by Derek Thornton. the MS event pictures are by Cory Smith.