Local Sci Fi Author Releases Anthology

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Local Author Lynda Williams (in red) hosts a book release party at the PG Public Library 

Prince George, B.C. -  Devoted local fans of Prince George Science Fiction author, Lynda Williams, braved a cold night to come out to the Prince George Library earlier this week for the launch of a second anthology, based on her ’Okal Rel Universe’ book series.

Williams, a faculty member in the Nursing Program at UNBC, has written three books in a planned 10-book series on the Okal Rel Universe.  She says it’s a universe she’s always played in and she’s thrilled that others want to join her. 

"That’s the big win for me, I have stories that I want to tell and I want to tell them my way," but Williams says she loves to see how others extrapolate.  "I’ve been delighted to discover that everyone -- from very adult PhDs to 14-year-olds -- are interested in it.  So it’s been a real hoot."

She wrote her first book with friend, Allison Sinclair, in 1999, but says it’s actually become book four in her series.  She’s since gone back to write books one and two.  (Williams is pictured at right with a book from the series and the newest anthology)

On the anthologies, Williams acts as ’integrity editor’ to make sure the submissions remain true to the Okal Rel Universe.

14-year-old Krysia Anderson is one of two local writers with stories in The Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2. 

She is friends with one of Williams’ daughters and would hear discussions around the family’s dinner table about the Okal Rel Universe and wanted to know what it was all about. 

"So I got the books and fell in love with them and now I’m a fanatic," the teen admits.

"I really enjoy the complexity of them, they’re the kind of books you can read more than once and pick up new things every time," says Anderson.  She also loves the complexity of the characters.

The other local contributor is Hal Friesen, a student at UNBC. 

He says he initally approached Williams for writing advice because he was a fan of her books and she asked if he’d like to write a piece for this latest anthology. 

"I really enjoyed it (the writing process) because it was interesting -- putting my mind in another universe completely and just really sinking my teeth into," says Friesen. 

The release party in Prince George followed similar launches in both Vancouver and Calgary.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us