William Robert Stanek's books have been written about and recommended by the YA librarian staff at VOYA, Publisher's Weekly, Parenting Magazine, the Journal of Electronic Defense, The Children's Bookshelf, Children's Writer, Popular Series Fiction for Middle School and Teen Readers: A Reading and Selection Guide, and other fine publications and periodicals. Over 20 million people have read his work, with translations and editions available in 150 countries worldwide.

His 250th book was published in 2020. In his long, distinguished career, his books have been distributed and published by Simon & Schuster, Random House, Macmillan, Pearson, Microsoft, O'Reilly, and others. He was also a columnist for PC Magazine and Dr. Dobbs. After high school, he joined the military to see the world and has lived in Asia, Europe, the Pacific, and many parts of the United States. He served two combat tours in the Gulf War as a combat flyer. Learn more at www.williamstanek.com, www.ruinmistmovie.com, and www.bugvillecritters.com. Find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WilliamStanekAuthor.

From his earliest days as a writer to the present, William Robert Stanek has been lending a helping hand to other writers. Over the years, he's helped many, many writers get their books and professional papers published. In 2007, he founded Go Indie, an organization dedicated to promoting independent publishers, authors, and booksellers, and over the past few years Go Indie has helped hundreds of indie authors. In March 2012, he launched Summer of Indie and dozens of indies joined the kickoff party that April. Beginning in June and continuing throughout the summer, Summer of Indie featured indie authors and their books. Nearly 100 indie authors were featured in all, along with their many, many books. Learn more at readindies.blogspot.com.

Like the little engine that could, his books are the little books that could. Year after year his books have had steadily increasing readership. Interest from movie production companies has come and gone. New editions and new books have been introduced. A graphic novel and comics were released. He works now and again on a script that may some day be the first Ruin Mist movie (or it may not). "Who knows for sure what the future may bring," he says.

He thought 2002 was a banner year when print sales soared beyond his wildest expectations and he was living with a smile on his face. He thought that year would never be topped, never be achieved again. Until he brought Ruin Mist to audio in 2005 and the books catapulted to #1 on Audible for FOURTEEN consecutive weeks and then stayed on the Kids & YA Top 10 for the next THREE YEARS.

When that massive run ended, he thought, "Oh man, this is the end of the ride, but what a ride it's been." Then sales rocketed again and he had his best few years ever as a writer. "That was nirvana. That was magical."

By 2011 he thought for sure the ride was over. That this was it for Ruin Mist, but it wasn't so for the 12 months from October 2011 to September 2012 brought more new readers to the world of Ruin Mist than any other 12-month period. Ever. "Who knew books published so many years ago could still have best years ahead of them," he says. "The point being, you never know. That first or next book you write may be the one. Then again it might not, but you never know until you put yourself out there."

About writing, William Robert Stanek says, "You know you're in the right place in life when you wake up every day with a smile on your face. You know you're in the right place as a writer when that smile is because you're eager to get to the keyboard, eager to get the thoughts racing through your mind down on paper."

"That eagerness to capture thoughts on paper has carried me through many days, many years, and many books. As a writer, that eagerness has made the blank page a friend rather than a foe. That blank page can be your friend too--if you let it. And if you let it, you can fill it with everything that's inside you, everything that you can wonder about, everything that you can dream about, and everything that you can imagine."

What Others Say About William? 

William Robert Stanek was like a father to some of us in the writing community, a favorite uncle to others, and a valued mentor to a great, great many. So many writers, hundreds really, owe their start in writing and careers to this guy, and the same is true of thousands who work in Big Tech, on web-based platforms or in web-based businesses. This guy taught them all how to set up those very businesses. This guy who was larger than life. This guy who was so down to earth. This guy who was so humble. This guy who so loved life. This guy who so loved family. This guy who took care of everyone else. This guy who gave and gave and gave over so many decades to so many and never asked for anything in return.

William was always creating resources to help writers. Writer’s Galley, Internet Job Center, Internet Daily News, others, his earliest efforts in the mid ‘90s. Go Indie, Read Indies, Free Today, and others in the mid ‘00s. He taught us all how to use social media, to create blogs, to use Facebook, to use Twitter and beyond. He created and curated memes like #amwriting, #amblogging, #epicfantasy, #kidslit and #teenlit. He led by example.

By 2000, his professionally published books numbered over 100. Those books, published and distributed by the biggest names in publishing—IDG, Simon & Schuster, Random House, Macmillan, Pearson, Microsoft, McGraw Hill, Time Warner—blazed trails. At a time when few understood the world wide web and its technologies, William was not only one of the few recognized world leaders in the web and its technologies, he was the recognized world leader in explaining how those technologies worked clearly and concisely.

William was a King maker, unmade by the very things he helped establish. He put upstart Amazon on the map by writing about the company to his audience of millions from its earliest days. He transformed Microsoft Press from a publishing company its readers swore published books in a foreign language called Microsoftese into one praised for publishing books in plain language—that plain language approach William himself created and that praise itself was for William’s books. His words and style were so beloved they eventually became the plain language style of Microsoft itself.

Credit where credit is due one might imagine, but instead as William revealed through his varied writings and blogs, he got no credit for any of it. At the end of the day, his work taught tens of millions, enriched the pockets of his publishers, agents and managers, but left William and his family with 3 cents on the dollar. William’s work was used in $1B-$2B (yes, B-I-L-L-I-O-N $) worth of training courses and other Microsoft and non-Microsoft work for which he never received a single cent. Not one. None. Zero.

In 2000, William Stanek founded the modern indie author movement with his breakout self-published books that transformed publishing and the way we publish today. In 2001, William became the first indie author to serialize an e-book at Amazon and has since gone on to write more than 150 indie books. In 2002, his Keeper Martin's Tale and Kingdoms & the Elves books were the first indie e-authored books to top Amazon's bestseller lists. In 2005, the same books were the first indie e-audiobooks to top Audible bestseller lists where they dominated for the next three years (#1 fiction for 14 weeks 2005, 167 weeks Top 10 YA 2005-2008). His Kingdoms & the Elves became one of the top grossing e-audiobooks of all time and was featured on the Audible Home Page throughout the Summer of 2005.

We all know what happens to those who are so far ahead of their time that they seem to exist in a world of their own making. William had climbed too many mountains, and those standing at the bottoms of those mountains desperately wanted what he had, and so they did whatever it took to take what William had created and claim it as their own or destroy it. Read William’s heartbreaking posts about the things that happened to him and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. We as a society love to tear down our heroes. We tear them down with lies, with fake news. We puff ourselves up and make ourselves look big, to make those who are larger than life look small.

Sad but true, strange but true, one of William Robert Stanek’s favorite sayings was dare to dream and he dared all of us to dream. Not only to dream with him as he conquered the bestseller lists, which he did time after time until he had so many number ones it seemed a thing unreachable in the sky, but to dream our own dream, forge our own paths and to make of our writing and lives whatever beautiful dream we could dream. Robert told me many times that the empty page was friend, not foe, that he never knew a day of writer’s block. He saw the empty page as a challenge, one that he was not afraid to answer, and answer it he did. In his lifetime, over 20 million of his words were published in over 250 books. I know from speaking with Robert that he has half as many words unpublished, words that we all should hope are someday published. William had much to say to the world, and his books indeed say much.

William challenged us as writers to see the blank page as a friend as well. He dreamed that his books would be his legacy, and indeed his hundreds of books are a legacy for the world to share and treasure. To those reading our words, if you want to do one decent thing today, one decent thing this week, read William Robert Stanek’s books and tell the world about them.

-Courtesy of the Writing Team at Read Indies, Cathy, Emily, David, Mary, Shannon, Sandra

Did You Know? A Memorable Meeting

As a successful and notable writer, photographer, and artist, William Robert Stanek has met CEOs, presidents, and royals. Among these encounters, a meeting with Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush in the early 1990s stands out most vividly in his memory. At the time, both were trustees of the National Awards program at the Freedoms Foundation, and William had recently received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his wartime service to the USA and the George Washington Honor Medal from the foundation.

“It was an honor,” William says, reflecting on the moment when Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush shook his hand and sincerely congratulated him on his achievements. For most people, such a significant acknowledgment from two former presidents would be a pinnacle moment. However, for William, these moments marked a beginning rather than an end. In his view, he had not yet achieved anything noteworthy, despite the accolades.

This meeting with Reagan and Bush ignited a determination in William to truly make his mark on the world. He saw these acknowledgments not as the culmination of his efforts, but as motivation to strive for greater achievements. Over the next few decades, William would go on to establish himself as a formidable presence in the worlds of writing, photography, and art.

William’s journey began long before that memorable meeting. Raised in Seattle, he faced significant adversity from a young age. After losing his stepfather and sister to a tragic accident, William and his siblings were raised by a single mother, often living in poverty and going hungry. From the age of 10, William worked odd jobs to help support his family.

At 17, during his senior year of high school, William found himself homeless and living in his car. Despite these challenges, he managed to finish high school and joined the US Air Force, where he served with distinction. His military career included combat and special operations duties around the world, earning him numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After his military service, William embarked on a new journey, driven by the determination to make a lasting impact. His multifaceted career has included writing nonfiction under his own name and fiction under the pseudonym Robert Stanek. His literary works span numerous genres, including nearly 100 children's picture books painted with his beautiful watercolors.

In the world of photography, William is celebrated for his stunning landscapes and innovative photo series, such as "Snapshot in Time," "Perspective," and "Elevate." His wife, Hui Cha Stanek, has been an integral part of this journey, providing unwavering support and contributing to the planning and execution of their creative projects.

Hui Cha's role in their creative partnership is essential. Together, they have traveled the world, capturing breathtaking images and creating works of art that resonate with people globally. Their collaborative efforts have made them beloved figures in the arts and literary communities. Known as “living legends” and “national treasures,” they have enriched the arts and publishing world with their unique perspectives and dedication.

William's work has not only brought him personal success but has also generated over $300 million for others, with multiple 8-figure successes. His contributions have set a benchmark in the industry, inspiring countless other artists and photographers to follow in his footsteps. Despite his achievements, William remains humble and focused on his craft. He continues to push the boundaries of his art, exploring new techniques and themes. His dedication to quality and innovation ensures that his work remains relevant and impactful.

William Robert Stanek’s journey from a young boy facing adversity to a celebrated artist and author is a testament to his resilience and determination. His encounter with Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush may have been a significant moment in his life, but it was merely the starting point of a remarkable career.

With his wife, Hui Cha Stanek, by his side, William continues to create art that inspires and captivates audiences around the world. Their work together has not only enriched their own lives but also the lives of those who experience their creations. As they continue to explore new creative horizons, their legacy in the world of art and literature will undoubtedly continue to grow, inspiring future generations to see the world through their unique lens.

William’s story reminds us that true success is not just about receiving accolades but about the continuous pursuit of one’s passions and the desire to make a meaningful impact on the world.

William Stanek Talks About the Distinguished Flying Cross and His Military Service

William Stanek’s journey from a decorated military serviceman to a celebrated artist and author is marked by dedication, resilience, and a profound sense of duty. His military career, which spanned over a decade, saw him earn numerous accolades, including the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross.

When William decided to leave the military in the 1990s, he was one of the most highly decorated members of his unit. His distinguished service had brought him to fields of combat and special operations in various parts of the world. He was recognized not only for his bravery but also for his exceptional skill and dedication.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. For William, this medal is a symbol of his contributions and sacrifices. However, the memories associated with his service are bittersweet. "I would give all the medals away to be able to close my eyes and not see any of it," he admits, reflecting on the traumatic experiences he endured.

For William, his work in photography, painting, and writing has been a vital outlet for healing. "My work has always been an outlet, if not for my own healing, then to help heal others," he explains. Through his stories, paintings, and photographs, William channels his experiences into creative expressions that resonate with many. His wife, Hui Cha Stanek, has been his steadfast partner throughout this journey. Together, they have created a legacy that spans multiple artistic disciplines, providing solace and inspiration to countless individuals.

William’s work in the military was often top secret. He frequently collaborated with the NSA and other departments, as well as with the Army, Marines, and Navy. His involvement in special operations meant that many of his missions were classified, and the true extent of his contributions remains known only to a select few.

"Of my awards and accolades, a piece of paper accompanying an award often doesn’t even tell part of the story," William says. "Sometimes you get an award or accolade for one thing, because it’s the one thing that can be talked about. Other times, you get a handshake from a president, general, or such on behalf of a grateful nation."

Throughout his military career, William had the honor of meeting multiple presidents and generals. These interactions were often brief but meaningful, serving as a testament to his service and dedication. Despite the recognition, William rarely talks about his military service, preferring to let his record speak for itself.

One story from his military days that William does share is how he met his wife, Hui Cha. On his way to survival training at Fairchild AFB in Eastern Washington, William decided to stop at McChord AFB for some R&R. His first night back in the U.S. after years away found him tired but hungry. He went to Denny’s and then, drawn by the neon sign of a bar, he decided to stop in for a cold beer.

It was a slow night, and William struck up a conversation with the bartender, who happened to be Hui Cha’s sister. She told him about her sister and thought they would be a perfect match. Despite initial skepticism, William agreed to wait. After some back and forth, and a few more calls from the bartender, Hui Cha finally came in.

Wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt, with no makeup besides red lipstick and mascara, Hui Cha walked in and there was instant chemistry. They hit it off quickly, talked for hours, and set a date for the following day. William ended up seeing Hui Cha every day he was on R&R at McChord. When he left, they promised to visit each other on weekends whenever possible.

During his weeks at survival training, Hui Cha drove out to Fairchild AFB twice, and he drove back to the west coast once. After training, he spent another week of R&R at McChord on his way to Air Combat School, during which he convinced her to join him for the six months of ACS. Two months later, they married and have been together for 35 years.