2003 News Archive

Novel's Success Still Keeps Retired Legendary Schoolteacher Busy

Author Naomi Williams and her editor, Lynn Mertin

AUGUSTA, Ga. - When retired schoolteacher Naomi Williams sat down to write her first novel a few years back, she never dreamed it would get published, let alone become
a best-seller or attract the interest of producers and screenwriters in Hollywood.

"I knew it was a wonderful story, but I couldn't possibly imagine it would create such a huge national interest," she said in an interview.

Since its release in October 2002, Two Rivers--a coming-of-age novel set in the Low Country of South Carolina--has garnered rave reviews from the publishing and literary world. Publishers Weekly said: "Williams spins her story in an engaging, accessible style," and called it a "promising first novel by a writer who obviously knows her setting and cares
deeply about her characters."

Two Rivers' success caught its publisher, Harbor House, completely by surprise.

"Here we have this little book, by an unknown first-time author, who just came out of nowhere," commented publisher E. Randall Floyd. "We decided to take a chance on it and bring it out. Before we knew what was happening, the book had sold out nationally. It's blowing us all away."