Meet W. Laurence Willis

Biography

W. Laurence Willis is a former engineer. He lives in St. Louis with his wife, Pam and their two daughters, Sam and Alex along with a dog and a frog.

Born in Little Rock and raised in El Dorado, Arkansas, Mr. Willis is the first of four children. His interests have always followed more artistic pursuits, including drawing, photography, cooking and cabinet making. He attended St. Louis University and graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering.

Prior to developing his writing talents, Mr. Willis had a diverse career in engineering. He spent twelve years building fossil fuel powerplants, followed by a stint in a chemical process plant. From there he moved in to the rail industry where he designed new products before lending his expertise to his company's marketing department.

Author's Comments

For me, the author, bringing Freedom's Menace to print was an amazing journey. Following months of writing and rewriting, I completed the novel in early August of 2001. A few weeks later, I boarded a flight to the Maui Writer's Conference, arguably the best conference of it kind in the United States. I was filled with all the hopes and dreams of any fledgling author and returned even more enthused than when I left. Then came September 11th. After a few days, still reeling from the shock we all felt, I began to reflect on this story I had just written. Freedom's Menace deals with a terror attacked on the United States and a Chinese leader bent on squashing the America way of life in favor of his own. For the next few months, the manuscript sat, collecting dust, as I debated the suitability of publishing such a work. As the scenes on television morphed from New York devastation into the desolate landscape of Afghanistan, I understood that Freedom's Menace was about the American spirit not its destruction.

My goal in writing this narrative was to entertain with a tale that was not only plausible, but provided the reader with a solid connection to its characters. Like many, I have always loved the action novel filled with larger than life heroes and their death defining escapes from the clutches of evil. My hope is that you will find Freedom's Menace to be as action packed as any novel you have read before, but properly spiced with an ample measure of the world in which the characters, and ultimately ourselves, live.

Freedom's Menace is the first in a series, each set on the Islands of Hawaii. I chose this location for many reasons, not the least of which, it is the birthplace of my wife. The Hawaiian Islands are extremely diverse, each possessing a unique personality. This uniqueness provides the perfect setting for my stories. It also provides the opportunity for you, the reader, to take a virtual tour of this marvelous land. If, after reading Freedom's Menace, you feel an extreme pride in our country and are ready to hop the next flight to Honolulu, then I've done my job.

Mr. Willis welcomes your feedback!