William may be best known as the marketing genius behind the rapid rise and success of Internet giant Earthlink. He’s also a veteran of over 70 film campaigns, a Hollywood Reporter Key Art Award winner for his work for the American Film Institute and over the years he’s built and led a number of marketing and design teams.
While recognized professionally for his marketing prowess, William’s somewhat secret other life is that of a writer.
He’s written more than a half-dozen films that were optioned, often repeatedly, as well as Virtual Seduction, a produced feature film by Warner Bros./Concorde.
In 2010 his novel A Feast at the Beach was released at a star studded party hosted by the Consul General of France. The novel, an evocative Franco-American coming of age tale takes place in Saint Tropez, was very well received and is available through the usual outlets.
When not working at his day job, or playing pétanque, or cooking fine meals, or drinking an assortment of French wines, or wandering the hinterlands of Provence in southern France, you can find him writing.
He is currently working on a new book, a collection of short stories titled The Laughter of Small Gods.
Every year there is a contest in Paris to see who makes the best baguette. The video below is of this year's winner. The video is in French, so apologies for those that don't speak the language. And worse, no subtitles.
But I think you'll get the gist of it, and the passion of this man.
He is of Senegalese decent. Growing up his father worked in a French bakery, and as a kid at night after closing he would go into the bakery with his brothers and play. When he graduated high school he was asked what he wanted to do for a living and he said baker!
He also talks about the art of baking, the components that make a perfect baguette, how it is a constant "creation" and the magic of bread and what you can do with such basic ingredients, the art of finding the exact right ingredients, and how every day you need to adjust to the temperature, humidity and other conditions.
Don't you wish this bakery was around the corner from where you lived?
Oh! My! Goodness!!! Died and gone to Heaven baguettes!
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