An Awful Lot (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780989721417)

William Joseph Lanier was born August 16, 1968. The family moved to Texas in May of 1970, settling in the small North Dallas town of Little Elm. He worked in the food service industry for many years, taking a break to serve in the Army National Guard in 1991. After graduating from basic training, he transferred to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to train as a medic. He was proud to serve his country. In 1994, William began a new thrust at gainful employment, and became a Massage Therapist eventually gaining employment at the Grand Spa in Addison, Texas. For years, William had been a brother, son and remarkable employee, but in March of 1998 he added a new role to his life; uncle. His sister Michele and her husband Clark welcomed their daughter, Elizabeth, into the world on the 29th of March. "Betz" and William fell instantly in love. He took his responsibility as uncle seriously, and was extremely active in her life. William married and divorced, never having any children of his own. In 2010 William decided to move to Austin, Texas. He had been actively writing under the pen name William Sickwitt for some time and decided that Austin was the right atmosphere to cultivate his talent, determined as he was to make a name for himself in the writers' scene. He became a regular on the poetry scene, often taking the stage on open mic nights, instantly making many friends that would form a close group of individuals who shared his same passions. He was living his dream of an authentic "bohemian" lifestyle, and gave every appearance of happiness. He often commented to his family in Dallas about how much people enjoyed his harp playing and poetry. Poetry was not, however, a sustainable practice for William. The buildup of debts coupled with the expense of living in Austin proved too much for him. He battled depression periodically throughout his life, and debt combined with his loneliness pushed him to a state of hopelessness. On August 13, 2012, William took his own life. His body was discovered three days prior to his 44th birthday. Everyone who knew him was shocked and grief-stricken by his choice, but the family vowed to honor his last request, written in a final letter to them. He asked that they publish his writings. The family has done their best to hold true to his vision of An Awful Lot. He chose the cover image and the title. They only wish he had stayed and published this book the exact way he had imagined it.