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The Morristown-Hamblen Library will host local author William Clark for a meet and greet and also its Friends of the Library Book sale on Saturday, September 9.

Clark has a total of five published books. Three of which are a trilogy that tell a story about life for southerners.

“There was not a plan for sequels, but my novels turned out to be a trilogy,” Clark said. “Anyone who likes our traditional America will enjoy the stories.

“All three novels contain similes about our culture. The second novel, “Seeing Beyond the Shadows” is action-packed. It contains a southern border war and a romantic honeymoon road trip from Cody, Wyoming to Yellowstone.”

Clark’s most popular book, “A Walk on the Sunny Side,” is a collection of assorted short stories based in various states across the country.

“My most popular book has six of twenty-three stories connected to Tennessee,” he said. “One of the stories is about an old fashioned, country wedding near Crossville. My friend’s cousin was getting married. We were at the ripe old age of twenty. On the way home, we had a near-death experience close to Albany, KY, as we headed to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line.”

Along with his catalog of books, Clark also has entries in Chicken Soup for the Soul.

“I enjoy entertaining stories, so I submitted a few of my stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul,” he said. “The publisher, Amy Newmark, says that they get thousands of submissions to every book, but they pick one hundred stories.

“My cat, Boots, has her true story in their 2020 release, “The Magic of Cats.” My friend and former parishioner, Norman, and I have our true story in their 2022 release, “Miracles and the Unexplainable.” Norman was a World War II veteran, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.”

Clark’s journey began in Indiana where he found his love for music.

“I grew up in Muncie, Indiana. At that time, it was an industrial city. One of my childhood friends was from Crossville. Many residents of Jamestown moved to Muncie,” Clark said. “I started out in school running track and playing basketball, but later, I realized I did a better job with piano. I joined a southern gospel group in Muncie.

“Besides me, everyone in the group was from Tennessee or Kentucky. Bill Gaither lived near Muncie, and my fellow pianist, Larry Petree, became a gospel writer.”

After living in Muncie for many years he moved to North Carolina to continue his music career and raise his family.

“I raised my sons in Charlotte and Mecklenburg neighboring Gaston County,” Clark said. “I spent much of my time playing solo piano in North and South Carolina, moving pianos and working in the ministry.”

He continued his journey with ministry work when he moved to Tennessee; helping animals and the homeless.

“In Jefferson County, I’m a volunteer for our CARE animal shelter. I do about thirty book signings a year,” he said. “My work is non-profit. Monthly, for over eight years, my work has helped support the largest and oldest homeless mission in the nation, Pacific Garden Mission. Billy Sunday preached there.”

Clark began his writing career in 2018 when he saw the need of sharing his love for his country and his love for God.

“I missed the America I grew up in. Our country became less and less familiar to me. It bothered me that the disenchanted didn’t build America, but our ancestors, families and friends helped build it and sustain it,” Clark said. “I saw a need for more patriotic and Christian authors who would write for the general public.”

Clark will be set up in the library from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the book sale will be held from 9 p.m. to 3 p.m.