Bill W. Sanford

Author Spotlight - Texas Author's Institute

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Author Spotlight: Bill W. Sanford

Bill W. Sanford was born in Orange, Texas and now calls Grand Prairie home. A Texas author with a
historian’s curiosity and a storyteller’s imagination, Sanford writes the kind of historical fiction that tries
to answer the questions many readers have thought but rarely see explored on the page: What’s
missing from the record—and who decided it should be missing?
Sanford began writing in 2013, sparked by what he describes as a sudden flash of inspiration. As an avid
student of history, he kept running into “gaps” in the narrative—moments where the official account
felt incomplete or unsupported. Instead of just wondering, he decided to do the hard thing: research
deeply, imagine responsibly, and build a story that could bridge the silence between known facts. What
started as an outline became a calling. A year later, he moved from pen to keyboard and discovered
something surprising about himself: the project stuck. No writer’s block. No fading interest. Just forward
momentum.
 

At the center of his work is a sweeping historical fiction series called The Books of Jasher, framed as the
writings of an ancient historian named Jasher—a long-lived recorder of humanity’s rise, collapse, and
cycles of power. In Sanford’s world, Jasher isn’t chasing holiness or legend; he’s on a mission to preserve
truth. But truth has enemies. The series explores the forces—political, cultural, and imperial—that
benefit when people lose access to accurate history, and how that loss can distort human progress.
Latest Book: The Scar of Cain (Historical Fiction)
Sanford’s first novel in the series, The Scar of Cain, reaches back to the era before the Great Flood,
drawing from the ancient world described in biblical tradition. The story imagines historians attempting
to record humanity’s earliest civilization—its ascent, its corruption, and its fall. To protect those writings,
the last historian entrusts them to Noah, who hides them in a high mountain cavern. After the Flood,
Noah passes the archive forward to a descendant—Jasher—who becomes responsible for continuing
the record into later ages.
 

The themes are ambitious and direct: the fragility of truth, the manipulation of history, and the enduring
human struggle for agency—especially when powerful people would rather control the narrative than
face it.
 

Texas Roots in the Work
 

While Sanford’s series spans ancient eras, Texas still shows up as an anchor. He’s written several
historical stories dedicated to his home state, and notes that his fourth and fifth books incorporate
landmark references to Texas history—ranging from the Civil War to the planning of the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Texas isn’t just a place he lives; it’s the lens he knows
best—where real history and personal identity intersect.
 

The Impact He Hopes Readers Feel
 

Sanford’s goal is clear: he wants readers to reconnect with shared historical roots, and to come away
entertained and better informed—especially about events they may have never encountered before. In
an era when attention is fragmented and misinformation travels fast, his series argues (through story)
that history still matters—not as trivia, but as a tool for personal and collective progress.
A Quote from the Author
Here’s a line that captures both Sanford’s philosophy and the heartbeat of his series:

“I, myself, am no historian, but my experiences have taught me that our agency of choice is essential to
personal progress, and our potential for greatness is limitless and eternal.”
Publishing Path and the Reality of the Market
 

Sanford chose self-publishing as a way to learn the writing and publishing business firsthand. Like many
independent authors, his biggest challenge has been getting the books into readers’ hands—especially
in a market where traditional publishers often require proven sales history before considering a
manuscript. He also speaks candidly about the darker side of the industry: scams that target authors,
and the importance of doing real homework before spending money.
 

Quick Takes (Texas Edition)
 Favorite Texas-inspired book: Texas by James Michener (1985)
 Best filming locations if adapted: Mineral Wells and Marathon
 Go-to writing comfort food: Tex-Mex
 Advice to aspiring Texas authors: “Don’t give up, but do your homework.”

Want to connect with Bill W. Sanford? Email: memosanford@gmail.com