Writer

John Williams

About Me

We're all born into a world that tries to fit us into a box. Reading and writing allows us to step outside of that box and create our own stories.

As a gay man who was raised in a religious environment, writing has allowed me to explore myself free of cultural influence and expectations. I write about moral complexity, philosophy, and ambiguity as a way of leaning into discomfort and becoming more comfortable with all of life's unanswered questions.

Thank you for stopping by. My characters would love to meet you.

Works in Progress (WIPs)

Head Under Water

Adult Literary Fiction (80,000 Words)

A novel exploring the damage of self-denial, the emotional cost of secrecy, and the harsh truth that not all prayers get answered.

Set in a small lake town in the Ozarks, closeted twenty-two year old Ian Walker spends one transformative summer caught between desire, shame, and the faith that shaped him. While his secret older boyfriend pulls him deeper into hiding, he meets a kind stranger who opens a door he never believed existed: a life where he can simply be himself instead of fighting to stay afloat.

Aesthetics:

Party culture
Found family
Religious trauma
Lakeside summer
Performative masculinity

Content Warning:

Head Under Water contains explicit sexual content, including depictions of same-sex relationships, drug and alcohol use, religiously-motivated conversion therapy and suicidal ideation. This novel is intended for adult readers (18+) and explores themes of religious trauma, internalized homophobia, and addiction.

The Forgotten (Book 1)

High Fantasy (in first draft)

An upcoming series exploring the weight of responsibility, the gray area between right and wrong, and how differences between people can be weaponized.

Set on the continent of Ikeya, a powerful mage wakes up in the desert of Atabar with no memory, no name, and no sense of the power he wields. As he rebuilds his identity, he uncovers an unexpected truth: he is responsible for his memories being severed. Now, the mage searches for the reasons he wanted to forget himself, even if he won't like the answers.