John D Williams

"Timberland Voyage" uses the single aspect of trees as the core of the art photograph book. Each image within the book falls into three distinct and separate categories as to how it manipulates the woodland tree subject. "Pure Tree Symmetry" uses reflection and symmetrical compositions to create striking visual reinterpretations of the forest tree. Bright vibrant colors and post-processing develops each image into a unique vision of visual art as defined by the work of the author and photographer, John D Williams. "Visions of One" focuses on the single tree rather than on duality and repetition as seen in the previous section. Each gnarled and wooden tree reveals a beautiful pattern of branches and old weathered wood trunks and bark." The Endless Forest Dream" utilizes sweeping forest landscapes to create a dreamlike fantasy vision of the tree in a woodland setting. The vision behind the photograph art book is to move away from conventional perceptions of the tree as a single point of beaut, and instead represent a modern contemporary vision of nature for art fans and art lovers alike. The book "Timberland Voyage" contains over 34 images in both color and black and white. Each work of art includes the original title devised by the photographer, as well as a short description on the thoughts and feelings as well as the subject matter of each individual image. As a creative artist John D Williams strives to create striking and highly original visions when he is out in nature and the world at large, capturing images that encapsulate a sense of modernity. His appreciation for the "visual arts" stems from his education in media and film study." For me visual images are like the stories we hear all around us. The power of visual stimuli is one of the keys to our survival, an instinct if you like. Our ability to read visual photographs stems in part from our cultural currency, however true art is able to communicate in all languages, across all boundaries, and borders, to touch the true essence of the human spirit." The common subject of the "tree" in this book explodes from its previous conceptions, and invites a fresh invigorating study of these breathing living organisms so often alive, and yet well hidden, in the dark forests and woodlands of England.

Beginning his career on a lark as a freelance contributor to SCRABBLE News, John D. Williams fell down a rabbit hole inhabited by gamers, geeks, and the grammar police. For twenty-five years, as the executive director of the National SCRABBLE Association, Williams served as the official spokesperson for the game, and as the middleman between legions of fanatical word-game fans and the official brand. Now Word Nerd takes readers inside the byzantine, dog-eat-dog world of top tournament players, creating a piquant (seven-letter word, 68 points ) work that is part pop-cultural history, part anthropological study. Indeed, what Christopher Guest did for the world of dog shows in his film Best in Show, Williams does for the world of competitive word games in this funny and perfectly observed memoir. As readers will discover, Word Nerd explores anagrams, palindromes, the highest-scoring SCRABBLE plays of all time, the birth of the World SCRABBLE Championship, as well as many of the more colorful figures that inhabit this subculture. Die-hard word fans will find invaluable tips on how top players see their boards and racks to come up with the best play, how they prepare, and the psychology of tournament competition. Those uninitiated in the mysteries of SCRABBLE mania will find a delightful, madcap memoir about all the fun people have with language and how words shape our lives and culture in unexpected ways. Whether reminiscing about past national champions, detailing the controversy over efforts to purge the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary of all offensive words, opining on the number of vowelless words that are allowable (cmw for a Welsh deep-walled basin or nth for the ultimate degree), noting how long it takes a word to get into a dictionary, or explaining why there remain more male than female champions, Williams crafts a loving tribute to words and the games people play with them. Word Nerd will fascinate both amateurs and seasoned experts alike.