David Williams, author of “When the English Fall,” was in charge of successfully opening the writer’s read series for the 2021-2022 school year. The first writer’s read of the year took place in Common Grounds on Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. David Williams read excerpts from his critically acclaimed novel “When the English Fall”.

The Language and Literature Department sponsored this event that allowed students and staff members to learn more about the author and the immense work that went into his novel.

David Williams, besides being a successful published author, is also a pastor in the Presbyterian Church.  Williams claims that one thing that inspired him to write his novel was a father and daughter that he once observed on the street. Williams also explains how the journals left behind by his ancestors were also a source of inspiration for this novel. Williams  also shared personal experiences that made the event  more personal and enjoyable for the audience. 

“When the English Fall”  is a dystopian novel that tells the story of an Amish farmer named Jacob who tries to protect his farm and family after a catastrophic storm brings the end of modern civilization. The novel tells how the Amish community is affected by the “English,” a term used to describe non-Amish people. Although the Amish seem to be unaffected by the end of modern civilization, the English are quite the opposite, and they become desperate to the point that they begin to invade Amish communities and to unleash violence. The novel is written as a diary from the point of view of Jacob detailing the collapse of the world. 

The event was followed by a Q & A section where the audience had the opportunity to ask questions to Williams regarding the process required to write the book, the research involved, and how the author’s personal point of view is involved in the novel. 

This first writer’s read of the year was successfully executed, and it allowed students to enjoy some good literature while sipping a cup of good coffee.

When asked about the event, Sophomore Hannah Landis said, “I appreciated the personal stories that the author included; I thought it made him more relatable as a person and his content more approachable. I also appreciated that he shared his thought process in writing. It added great context to the excerpts that he shared as well to the book as a whole.”