LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS April Williams, author of “Picking Up the Pieces.”

LOCK HAVEN — Local author April Williams will be holding a book signing on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shear Talent Salon, 356 E. Bald Eagle St., Lock Haven, to showcase her recently published book, “Picking Up the Pieces” — her first ever published work.

Williams self-published the book in November, after receiving some encouragement from her younger sister to do so.

“I have a sister who, when she was little, I would make up stories for her,” Williams said.

After retiring a few years ago, and with her sister — who served in the military — returning home, Williams decided she wanted to write a story for her.

Both sisters are avid readers, she said.

“I started writing something that was more or less going to be for her. But when I put it in a binder and gave it to her, she said ‘you really need to publish it,'” Williams said.

Williams said the book was roughly two years in the making, which included time for her sister to encourage her to share her work with the world.

In November, “Picking Up the Pieces” was published through Amazon and is now available to order through its website and is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

Since being published, Williams said she’s sold 40 copies.

Williams said she was also excited to utilize the Kindle Unlimited option as well.

“Some people can’t afford to go buy books. Some people have that subscription through Amazon,” she said. “I think everybody should read. I love to read.”

Williams said reading, and now writing, are a way to go on adventures.

“Picking Up the Pieces” centers around a woman named Andi who, after 30 years of being everything for everyone, finds herself crumbling into pieces.

According to the synopsis, “Andi tries to find a way to keep the parts of her life she loves the most, while picking up the pieces of her that she lost along the way.”

Williams said the basis of the story was something that came to her mind.

“It’s more or less a story about, just because life doesn’t work out the way you think it would… doesn’t mean it won’t eventually,” she said. “Sometimes when you grow up you realize the things you thought you wanted were not what you wanted or needed and it can be hard to change.”

Williams explains that when her character discovers this, she “kind of breaks her life apart and finds all the pieces of herself she lost along the way.”

She further teased it has a romantic component as well.

“It definitely is a love story. She gets to find herself, but she finds everything she feels like was meant for her. She finds those people in her life that fit just right,” she said.

A unique aspect of the story is its location.

According to Williams, the entire story takes place in the Clinton/Lycoming region.

“People may recognize certain places. The places are real but the characters are fictional,” she explained.

This won’t be Williams’ last book either. She’s already in the process of writing the second book in the series — which she explains won’t follow just one character.

“They are independent reads. You wouldn’t have to read the first to read the third. But you might know a little more about various characters,” she said.

Williams expects to have this book completed and published by next spring.

During the book signing on Saturday, she’ll have copies of “Picking Up the Pieces” but said those who already purchased a copy can bring them along.

For those interested in keeping up with Williams on her literary journey, you can do so by visiting her Facebook page — April M. Williams Author — or at www.goodreads.com/author/show/54143425.April_M_Williams or www.amazon.com/author/april.marie.williams.