Chaotic loss gets baked into the bones of many creative projects. My writing projects are no exception. From the outset of a new manuscript, I begin with a vision for what I want to achieve. Inevitably, as the draft gets longer, my ideas about what I’m doing shift. Sometimes, it’s because: That’s part of the […]
How did I end up with a rare ARC of Elantris, Brandon Sanderson’s first book in the Cosmere universe? Sanderson is a juggernaut in science fiction and fantasy. His work is so popular that when he announced four secret book projects in February 2022, he raised over $41 million from over 185,000 people. I’ve done […]
Conny Lee, host of the How Did I Not Know That? podcast, invited me on her show to talk about being a self-published author, why people choose to self publish and the process of getting a book released. Her episode aired on November 4, 2024. Here’s where you can listen: On the How Did I […]
Once upon a time, I thought fan fiction was terrible. In 2024, I wrote a whole novel based on Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Live long enough, and you may outlive your past self’s Internet bullshit.
And it’s a triple lift if you’re an indie author Writing a book series no one asked for may be one of the most massive creative commitments on Earth. And that’s especially true for indie authors. Collaborative art projects—film, television, theatre, etc.—strike me as equally bonkers in terms of their ambition. You get a lot […]
It’s official. I’ve got a Kirkus profile! Their digital site has published a piece on me and the writing of Chaos Calling: Book I of The Xenthian Cycle. It’s part of a campaign I’m running to celebrate the novel’s wider release. You can read the full article, “E. M. Williams Invests in Herself to Write […]
Creative working in 2023? You may be overdue for serious renewal The first signal from the Velvet Ditch is subtle. As usual, I misread it. Gradually, I notice my morning writing is bogged down in tedium. I’m not progressing at my usual pace. Checklist items remain unchecked. The growing list fills me with dread instead […]
Lindsey Lerner, host of the Learning with Lerner Podcast, invited me on her show to talk about being a self-published author and marketing consultant. Since this show involves both work me and writing me, the interview is attributed to my full name. We will pretend it’s E. M. Williams as usual. My pseudonym is more […]
The bodies at funerals are gone. They were there when my grandparents and a school friend died in the 90s: open casket, Sunday best, a familiar face subtly altered by embalming fluid and makeup. Disturbing and uncomfortable, yes. Particularly in the latter case. Aaron was run over in front of his high school. An older student […]
Welcome to the redesigned emwilliams.ca webiste! As always, it feels surreal and great to share my work with you. The new site layout is cleaner and more airy. I loved the original look and feel, but this one should be more sustainable. It’s got better search features and (I hope) a more engaging home page. […]