The 131 Preview Review has a chat with William (Bill) Sawyers

The 131 Preview Review Presents William(Bill) Sawyers

          William (Bill) Sawyers has been a Custodian for the past 25 years and a Children's Author for the last six years. He writes for the ages of five and up. He is the married father of two, a boy and a girl and has been  writing poetry for 25 years and writing for children for about 15 years now. He has three published books.  What Am I?, What Am I? Bugs, and  The Nest That Could Fly!. 

          When not working in the California Schools Bill loves to do book signings and story telling, as well as radio and T.V interviews. His motto: "Daring to make a difference in today's youth one page at a time"

            So I've read The Nest That Could Fly, could you tell me a bit, about why you wrote it?

Bill: I wrote the nest that could fly based on watching birds in my back yard. I figured why not write an imaginary book about them. This book is helping out my school where I work, a dollar a book to the P.T.A.

            That's very generous of you. I understand you are a custodian in a grade school. Do the kids who know you're writing children's books often try to collaborate tales with you?

Bill: No not yet, I do have a book in the school library not too many kids know about yet. The P.T.A said that they couldn't help me out, so I'm doing it my self.

            Doing it yourself, I know that route, but Why Children's Books?

Bill: A long time ago at my old school, I was writing poetry for teachers, secretly for fun. The principle asked me to make a book of them and put it  in our library. So I did.

            This book is still there, not published, self made by hand. and named modern poetry. date about 1999 or 98. Kids loved my poems and I would read them in class rooms, then I branched out to riddles and have two books published; What Am I? and What Am I? Bugs

            I saw those, they have blank pages for coloring in them which I found to be really cool.

Bill: The first Riddle book was on things at school, on a farm, and at the zoo. also a simple coloring book. 2nd book is riddles about bugs. these two books are helping out two other schools in my area. I'm helping out schools due to the state budget cuts of millions. my old school closed about two years ago.

I'm now working on my most important book, 15 years in the making

           

            That is really very kind of you, I know that cutbacks in the education sectors have become a regularity, across the country. The fact that you are writing for a cause must be satisfying if not frustrating at times as well.

            Would you like to tell us a bit about this work in progress?

Bill: It's very fun to read at schools and doing book signings. In my old school I could read in all the rooms kinder up to 5th. But not at the newer school. I’ve been out of work for about 4 months due to a spinal fusion, been back for about three weeks now. I'm now working on a book to keep millions of children from never to try tobacco from 3rd grade on up. need front cover, and editor and my need to change name.

            Ouch. That couldn't have been fun, especially since as the Head custodian I imagine you don't actually get the Summers off.

            Will it be another picture book, or more informational like Rockets Over California? (I do my homework)

Bill: Bill's P.R.I.D.E, public relations in dare education is in the testing stage on another site. And no, no summers off. I write for the ages of five on up as I love to hear the kids laugh and giggle at my stories.

My motto? "Daring to make a difference in today's youth - one page at a time"

            I'm sure that the reactions of the children make it all worth the hard work.

That's a great motto.

            As an Indy what challenges have you had to deal with? What has it been like on the publishing end of things, I write for adults so I do not have to worry about artborads or trying to match up text to images I imagine a lot more goes into what you do than I.

Bill: Not really, It just comes naturally. getting out my name is the hardest part. and I like a good challenge. Right now waiting for America's Got Talent got invited to be on before surgery, back in Que. Anything to get out my name - LOL

            Right, I remember you mentioning that, I'm not much of a TV watcher so I have no idea what that really is. I thought it was like American Idol. What are you doing for them?

Bill: I'll be having fun with a broom, a light show. I call it free style brooming  I taught my self back in 1987 on doing tricks with a broom. Like the Harlem Globe Trotters do with a basket ball. look me up on YouTube I'm listed as william2233

            LOL. That is pretty neat. I'll be sure to embed it in the interview! If you don't mind.

Bill: But add strobe lights, light sticks, black lights fog machine = just plain fun and a way to wind up the kids.

            That's really a great marketing tool, I'm sure you'll do well.

Bill: If I was to late for this year there's always next year.

            That's the spirit. Always trying to find new venues to reach readers is a hard road for us Indy Authors. You've mentioned that you do readings as well outside of the classroom, how did that happen? Did you ask or were you approached?

Bill: But, I'm having fun at it, and I don't let it get me down. For those others trying to get out never give up, I've been writing 25 years or more and published for 7. I go ask Day cares and swimming clubs, some say yes and others no. Once I get in to one, I'm welcome any time-easy.

            That has to be such a rich environment for material. I find everyone I come in contact with gets filed for later use.

Bill: It’ll be awhile now, used up all my sick time and most of my vacation time for the surgery. So on to saving it up again for this type of fun.

            We all do what we must. I was just in awe the first time I held my book in my hands. What was that experience like for you?

Bill: No, I was in awe when my first book made me $3,000 in a month at one of my old schools. Word of mouth really made a difference. plus school helped me as they linked my web site on P.T.A's site... Not at this school.

            WOW, I've got to get your Marketing! LOL. I haven't seen numbers like that in all the time I've been published.

Bill: Only happened once and not since then, way too slow past few years, some day it may pick up.

            Well just the same, that had to be a great feeling. Aside from the P.R.I.D.E. project, are you working on anything else right now?

Bill: Just in getting out my name.

        I hope that we can be of some assistance with that, here at the 131 Preview Review.

       Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, it has been a pleasure.

Bill: Thank you; it’s been fun, this was my first interview by chat. I’ve been on radio interviews many times in different states. Blogtalk radio

        

     I’ll be sure to add all the links. Again thanks.

     Well that’s it my dear readers of the Wee hours.  Please take a few moments and checkout the links to Bill’s work. I'm sure you’ll find something you’ll like. Do Remember a part of the proceeds for his works go to his local P.T.A. to help ease the major budget cuts of the California School System, SO PLEASE Do go and check his work out. 

Happy Reading!

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