Author Grant Williams
After retiring as Vice President of a Midwestern Company, Grant filled the void with his passion for writing and over the years he has produced twelve books of poetry, which include, "A Little Piece of my Mind," "From My Hand to Your Heart," and "Pebbles in the Stream." Grant has also published many short stories and articles in various magazines, including "Voice of the Diabetic," "Kansas Senior Times," "Cappers," and the "Mennonite Press" in Pennsylvania. Grant Williams lives in Arkansas City, Kansas with his wife, Bernice and their cat, Molly. Enjoy Grant's prolific writing career with his full-length novels:
poems by a Connecticut yankee in kansas - Summer of '59 - Pigs and Packinghouses
Hog Heaven and Home - Big Willie - The Boys from Hog Heaven
Grant Williams was born in Westerly, Rhode Island only to grow up in Southern Connecticut before relocated to Kansas after serving in the US Navy including the Cuban Blockade. Grant Attended Cowley College in Arkansas City for two years. He then worked in the meat packing industry and retired several years ago as Vice President of a Kansas company. His current status, Club Advisory Committee member for Cowley College in Humanities, a board member of Literacy Council of Arkansas City, and the Chairman, Advisory Board for the Senior Center in Arkansas City. Grant is also a historian for the American Legion Post #18 and works with the Ark City Library to help facilitate poetry evenings, and is an active member of the Cowley County Writers Guild. But the most enjoyable part of his life, besides living with his wife Bernice and cat "Mollie," is reading each month for care facilities around southern Kansas. Grant reads for the Presbyterian Manor, Medicalodge, and The Sterling House residents in and around Arkansas City. He also reads to the Veterans of the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield, Kansas. Grant always leaves signed complimentary copies of his books and poems.
Summer of ‘59 begins with Buffalo Buffaloes breaking spring training in Florida and heading north. The team led by skipper, Cap Anderson goes through a season of highs and lows with the young team. Doc McCain and Donny (Deac) Rush learn a lot about baseball and a lot about life during the late 1950’s as do the other members of this team. In the end do they realize baseball is still a child’s game played by men?
"Baseball is a religion without the mischief." …Thomas Boswell "The game isn’t over until it’s over!" - Yogi Berra
"A baseball club is part of the chemistry of the city. A game isn’t just an athletic contest. It’s a picnic, a kind of Town Meeting." - Michael Burke
"You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you" - Roy Campanella
"A baseball fan has the digestive apparatus of a billy goat. He can, and does, devour any set of diamond statistics with insatiable appetite and then nuzzles hungrily for more." - Arthur Daley
"A hot dog at a ball park is better than a steak at the Ritz." - Humphrey Bogart
"This Game is to be savored, not gulped. There’s a time to discuss everything between pitches or between innings." - Bill Veeck
Grant Williams
A collection of Short Stories and Poems
The story of Tar McGregor continues as he now is an adult. The trials of the people in the southwest Georgia community continue with strange things happening in the woods by the big farm. Characters find they can overcome many obstacles in their lives and live in happiness and harmony in rural Georgia. What lies in store for Charlotte and Tar? What will happen to grandpa McGregor?
"What happened to the Children from the first book?" - Kenton Kendrick.
"I want to hear more about the McGregors? - B. Grodzicki, Editor, Salisbury, Maryland
When Big Willie is stricken ill, the relationship with his son, William, now has a new meaning, but has there been too many bridges burned to prevent reconciliation between father and son. A powerful novel with fact and fiction weaving together in a colorful quilt in New England Americana, as William’s mother Viola, Doctor Harold, the family physician, and William’s high school sweetheart, Geraldine provide excitement and intrigue. How does the Boston Red Sox, NASCAR, and WWII play out in this novel? Big Willie, although a work of fiction, is based on actual events.
"NASCAR greatly appreciates your efforts!"
- Rosalie Nestore, Paralegal, NASCAR"It is our privilege for you to include the Boston Red Sox!"
- Chuck Lidle, Boston Red Sox
Tarleton McGregor quickly discovered that growing up in Southern Georgia had
distinct advantages and disadvantages. His pre-teen years in the 1950’s were
challenging not only to himself, but to his family and friends. Who knows what
lies ahead in the forest next to that dusty road?
"In Grant Williams’ first novel, ’The Boys from Hog Heaven, he brings together not only descriptive experiences of his youth, but an imagination relating to memories of living life in small town America, creating a story all of us could have lived!" – Patrick McDonald, Mayor Arkansas City, Kansas
"Everyone dreams of things they would like to accomplish – for Grant Williams, that dream has become a reality!" - Rochelle Gibson, Ark City Traveler Reporter.
"Curious assortment of homespun ditties!" – Nancy Fusaro-Burns, Westerly Sun, Westerly Rhode Island