Published Works
The Books
Two published works and a third on the way.
2010 — AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL
A Feast at the Beach
3L Publishing • 144 pages
In this luminous, semi-autobiographical memoir, William Widmaier revisits the sun-drenched Provence of the late 1960s and the long childhood summers spent at his French grandparents’ stone house near Saint-Tropez. Through tender, sensory-rich vignettes filled with family warmth, market mornings, and the fragrant pleasures of Provençal cooking—each often closing with an authentic recipe—he invites readers into a vanished world of slow living and quiet joie de vivre.
“When I awoke, it was late afternoon, the crickets were singing outside, the sun shined golden, and the hushed murmurs of voices could be heard downstairs. I dressed feeling strangely at Home, and descended to meet our hostess. Home with a capital H is not a place or a thing, but rather an aesthetic. We each have our own version of Home that lives close to the soul. Many little details, nuances, and wisps of dreams go into defining it. You can make a Home for yourself by creating a place that has enough bits of art and magic to approximate your ideal, or sometimes, on those rare occasions, you step into a place that parallels enough of your own sense of beauty and divine livingness that it’s felt down deep.”
Excerpt
“I adore his book. He shares the most significantly notable times of his life with a sentimental passion that releases the joy of living in each one of us.”
“Best in new fiction and non-fiction books”
Available from
2022 — A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES
The Laughter of Small Gods
Independent • 129 pages
A collection of short stories, poetry, mumblings, and whispers that open brief, vivid windows onto ordinary lives brushed by fate, chance, and maybe even the playful or piercing touch of small gods. Ranging from witty philosophical exchanges (especially the recurring Madame Chou Chou series) and quiet reflections on love, nature, friendship, and food, to moments of unexpected emotional weight, these pieces have been praised for their impact, leaving readers smiling, thoughtfully stirred, or quietly moved long after the final page.
“You're early.” I stated it as a question, but a question with a very small question mark as it was really just an observation of the unusual, said in such a way as to give him the option to let it pass. Instead he chose to run with it. “It is important my dear William, in life, not to be too predictable.” I leaned back in my chair and gave him my best furrowed eyebrow look, not because I disagreed but because I felt there was more too it, as if I'd stumbled on a few flakes of gold that signaled the possibility of more. Nico's very special brand of philosophic gold to be sure. “Yes” he continued “But it must be a calculated unpredictability. Too much unpredictability and it is unpleasant. And of course too much predictability becomes boring. The art is finding just the right balance.”
Excerpt
“The small pleasures are numerous and eventually fill a plate… and then a platter. I read these slowly, carefully. Some are very brief, and often what's left unsaid is far more important than the words on the page, and the stories can reverberate with the impact of a small thunderclap.”
“I have never met William Widmaier personally, but I owe him greatly for a good read. As if the gods saw my need for something to chew on, The Laughter of Small Gods arrived and revived my interest in the well-crafted, short story. “Yep, Mr. Widmaier's ‘short stories, poetry, mumblings, and whispers’ awakened me.”
Coming Soon — Winter 2026
Tales of the Kraken
A Novel • 200 pages • Under The Olive Trees, Independent Publishers
"Widmaier's best work ever." James Martin, journalist and author of Wandering Italy “Tales of the Kraken will keep you up at night - in a good way.” Georgeanne Brennan, award-winning author of A Pig in Provence A love letter to rural France with teeth: equal parts cozy expat reinvention story and slow-burn thriller, anchored by Kraken, one of the most endearing characters you’ll ever meet.