194. Johnson City's Nancy Williams: Faith, Writing, and Community Love

Johnson City Living

About the Guest:

Nancy Williams is an author, teacher, and freelance public relations professional based in Johnson City. With degrees in French and History, Nancy transitioned into advertising, working for renowned agencies and companies like FedEx. She later taught public relations at Milligan College and pursued her passion for writing, authoring books that include a devotional for women facing infertility and the historical fiction novel "To Love a Falcon." Nancy’s work is deeply influenced by her background in history, her experiences with Russian culture, and her strong Christian faith.

Episode Summary:

Join Colin Johnson as he welcomes Nancy Williams, a prolific author, teacher, and beloved neighbor from Johnson City, to the podcast. Nancy shares her journey from working in advertising and corporate communications to becoming an author. Her extensive background in history and writing shines through as she discusses her various projects, including her novel "To Love a Falcon," which beautifully intertwines historical fiction with elements of romance, mystery, and Christian faith.

In this episode, Nancy delves deep into her writing process, the inspiration behind her stories, and the historical context that enriches her novels. She highlights remarkable stories, such as Project Hula—a top-secret World War II mission, and discusses how her travel and family experiences, including adopting her son from Siberia, have influenced her writing. Nancy also offers invaluable advice for aspiring writers and previews her next project, a time-slip novel based in Johnson City. Don’t miss this captivating conversation full of local history, literary insights, and personal anecdotes.

Key Takeaways:

• Nancy Williams’ novel "To Love a Falcon" is rooted in the true story of Project Hula, a secret World War II mission.
• Historical fiction can provide a unique platform to explore themes like faith, persecution, and forgiveness.
• Nancy draws inspiration from personal experiences, such as adopting her son from Siberia.
• Aspiring writers should begin by simply getting their ideas down on paper and consider joining writers' groups for support.
• Nancy is working on a new novel based in Johnson City, blending historical and contemporary narratives through a time-slip format.

Notable Quotes:

1. “It is a hot but beautiful August day here in Johnson City, and kids are going back to school.” - Colin Johnson
2. “I've kind of watched the growth over that span of time. But my husband is from here originally.” - Nancy Williams
3. “I think Memphis is special… the people were fantastic.” - Colin Johnson
4. “I wanted to have a mission for the book… I wanted them to know that there was a real persecution.” - Nancy Williams
5. “Start writing. Just sit down and start. Just put it all down, and it'll… you will look back at it when you finished it and go, oh, that. That's gotta be changed.” - Nancy Williams

Resources:

• Nancy Williams’ Website: nancycwilliams.com
• Books by Nancy Williams:
• To Love a Falcon
• Devotional for Women Facing Infertility (title not specifically mentioned)
• References in the Episode:
• Project Hula on Wikipedia
• Finnist the Falcon (Russian fairy tale) on Wikipedia
• Westminster Presbyterian Church (YouTube available services)
• Various local dining and hiking spots in Johnson City

Stay tuned for more enlightening conversations on the podcast and dive into the full episode to discover more about Nancy Williams’ literary journey and her deep connections with history and faith.