The Printed Page

Mr. Walker’s novel A Note From An Old Acquaintance was published in June.

Brian Weller is a haunted man. It’s been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma. A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian’s life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife’s prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman. Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever. Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him. Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston. He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead. One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love.

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Author bio: Bill Walker is a graphic designer specializing in book and dust jacket design, and has worked on projects by Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Between his design work and his writing, he spends his spare time reading voraciously and playing very loud guitar, much to the chagrin of his lovely wife and two sons. Bill makes his home in Los Angeles.

I’ve been writing since I was eight years old and published since 1993, but I became a graphic designer or, more specifically, a book designer quite by accident. My father was always a gadgeteer, he loved buying and tinkering with new things. Towards the end of his life he started getting into computers and software. One of the programs he purchased was Adobe Pagemaker, primarily because he had a desire to typeset the book he was working on (my dad always wanted to be an author, too). When he died, I inherited his software and I also decided to tinker with the program to see what the current book I was writing would look like in typeset form (Titanic 2012). Like my father, I taught myself how to use the program and ended up completely designing that book. I thought that was it and moved on to writing another book.

Now, I’m also a collector of signed first editions, and Cemetery Dance Publications published many of the books I collected. Over the years, I had become friendly with Richard Chizmar, the publisher. I told him about Titanic 2012 and he wanted to see it. As a lark I sent it to him. He was so impressed with it, he not only made me an offer to publish the book, and he also ended up hiring me as one of their designers. To date, I’ve designed dozens of titles for Cemetery Dance, and others, including books by some very famous names. I really enjoy the creativity that graphic design demands. It seems to bolster and complement the type of creativity involved with writing, so neither one takes away from the other.

Best-selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not — he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan’s audacity. Touched by his friend’s interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is awed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his DVD recorder, Harlan interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron’s film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves. And some of them are dying — their last wish to be on the maiden voyage of the new Titanic.

Trevor is touched that his friend has allowed these people to come aboard, and is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves.

In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history…