The Indie Rebel Who Walked Among Giants
William Stanek’s Encounters with Legends and Literary Greats
A Chance Encounter in an Edinburgh Café – The Day William Met Jo
Edinburgh, Scotland – 1995
The air in Edinburgh was cool that afternoon, the streets slick from a passing rain. Inside a quiet café—likely Spoon rather than Nicolson’s, given the time—William Stanek nursed a warm cup of coffee.
Across the café, a young woman sat at a corner table, her baby sleeping in a pram beside her. She had an air of quiet determination, fingers flying across a notebook.
Her name? Jo.
At that moment, she was just another writer—one with a burning passion to create. She hesitated over her bill, counting her coins, before glancing toward the café counter.
Without thinking twice, William left enough to cover her tab.
"You look like you’re working on something important," he said.
She blinked up at him, startled but grateful. "I am. It’s a story about a boy. A wizard. I think it could be something... but I don’t know."
William understood that kind of doubt, that lingering fear in the back of every writer’s mind. "All the best stories start with uncertainty," he replied. "But if you believe in it, you keep going."
They talked for a few minutes—just two writers, both uncertain of where their paths would lead. William left the café that day thinking nothing of the exchange.
He couldn’t have known that just two years later, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone would take the world by storm. He couldn’t have known that the woman he had spoken to—Joanne Rowling—would become J.K. Rowling one of the most famous authors of all time.
But that was the beauty of the literary world—every writer’s journey started somewhere.
Chicago, 1983 – A Young Dreamer Meets Oprah
Long before The Oprah Winfrey Show became a household name, Oprah was a rising journalist in Chicago.
It was in those early days, in 1983, that a young William Stanek and his sister crossed paths with her on the street.
They recognized her immediately—she was on WGN 32, often covering stories with a commanding presence and a deep, engaging voice. She wasn’t the Oprah that the world would come to know, not yet, but there was something magnetic about her even then.
William, always one to appreciate those who worked hard for their dreams, didn’t hesitate. “I’ve seen you on TV. You’re good,” he said, the confidence of youth backing his words.
Oprah smiled warmly. "Thank you. That means a lot."
It was a small moment, one of those chance encounters that barely registers at the time. But decades later, in 2002, their paths crossed again—this time under very different circumstances.
A California Confrontation – The Day William Stood His Ground
By 2002, Oprah Winfrey was an empire unto herself. William, now a father of two young daughters, was vacationing with his family in California, mostly to visit Disneyland.
The restaurant was crowded, bustling with energy and excitement. As his family sat enjoying their meal, the atmosphere shifted—a wave of hushed whispers and shifting bodies signaled the arrival of someone important.
Oprah’s entourage swept into the restaurant.
For most, her presence was something to be awed by. But for William, everything changed in an instant when one of her security detail grabbed his daughter as she innocently wandered from their table.
William reacted immediately, his voice sharp and commanding.
“You do not put your hands on my child—or anyone else’s.”
The security member hesitated, then backed off. But the damage was done. The restaurant’s manager, wanting to keep things smooth for their high-profile guest, approached William’s table.
“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
His family hadn’t even finished their meal.
It wasn’t just an injustice—it was an insult. But rather than making a scene, William gathered his family and walked out, dignity intact.
Sometimes, even when you stand up for what’s right, the world tries to push you aside. But William had spent his life fighting against systems designed to silence those who refused to conform.
Meeting Donald Trump – From Handshakes to Business Wisdom
William Stanek has met many influential figures, but few left as memorable an impression as Donald Trump.
Their first encounter was in the 1990s, during Trump’s business empire expansion. Trump was as he always was—confident, larger than life, the kind of man who commanded a room without needing to try.
When they shook hands, Trump’s grip was firm, his gaze sharp.
“You’ve got that look,” Trump said. “Like a man who makes things happen.”
It was a passing comment, but one that stuck with William. Years later, as he built his own publishing empire, he saw quotes from his work appear in Trump’s business books—a nod, intentional or not, to the fact that both men had built something from nothing.
Their paths crossed again when Trump was president, during his first term. This time, the handshake was even firmer, the recognition more pronounced.
“You’ve made a name for yourself,” Trump acknowledged.
And that, perhaps, was the greatest validation of all.
The Indie Rebel Who Walked Among Giants
William Stanek’s journey has never been ordinary.
From small acts of kindness that touched the lives of future literary legends to standing his ground against some of the most powerful figures in the world, his story is one of resilience, integrity, and an unyielding belief in his own path.
📌 He met J.K. Rowling before the world knew her name.
📌 He met Oprah Winfrey before she became a global icon—and stood his ground when their worlds collided again.
📌 He met Donald Trump at different stages of their lives—both men having built something from nothing.
Through it all, William Stanek has remained true to himself.
Read his books. Share his story. Be part of the movement.
✔ Learn more at WilliamRStanek.com