Robert Steven Williams

Since leaving the music-biz executive ranks, Robert Steven Williams has published short stories, released a CD, produced artists, and landed a publishing deal in Nashville. He studied songwriting with Rosanne Cash, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and several top country writers. He has also attended Bread Loaf, Sewanee and the Squaw Valley Writers' Conferences. He's worked worked closely with the esteemed fiction writer, Barry Hannah.

Robert was a finalist in the 2005 Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and was awarded the 2004 Squaw Valley Writers Community Thayer Scholarship.

Robert's short fiction has appeared in Carve Magazine, The Orange Coast Review, and the anthology Tall Tales and Short Stories Volume II. His work has also appeared in Poets & Writers Magazine, Billboard and LetterPress, a news letter for writers. He is co-author of the best-selling business book, The World’s Largest Market.


Robert has shared the stage with such established acts as Sloan Wainwright, Severin Browne, and Kate Campbell. He is on the board of advisors of SummerSongs, a songwriter’s annual retreat in the Catskills. The song, The Jersey Cowboy, was featured on NPR's Car Talk.

His company Against the Grain has a joint venture with 615 Music in Nashville to create a song library targeted at the film and tv industry. Robert also teaches workshops on songwriting, fiction, and on how to market songs to indie film and TV.

Awards and Recognition

April 2007 -- NPR's Car Talk plays Jersey Cowboy

January 2007 -- Towne Crier Open Mic Finalist

June 2006 -- Featured music artist on Canada's leading indie music Web site BenT.com

May 2006 -- Short Story 'The Chaparone' published in the Orange Coast Review

April 2006 -- Two songs made the Top 20 in Garageband.com's Folk/Rock charts

May 2005 -- Raymond Carver Short Story Top-Ten Placement for 'The Jersey Cowboy'

April 2005 - Raymond Carver Short Story Finalist for 'The Jersey Cowboy,' 'Inheritance,' and 'A Winter's Day'

October 2004 -- Emerging Writer Hidden Talent Contest Honorable Mention for 'Coming Home'

August 2004 -- Squaw Valley Writers Community Thayer Scholarship recipient

Summer 2003 -- New Century Writer quarter finalist for the novel 'Sound of Money'

I doubt I would have kept at it, if not for all the support I received from family and friends. Thanks Mom, for everything. Lisa, my sister, for her friendship and belief in me. To Dad.

To Joy Johannessen, the first professional in the business to give me real encouragement. To Jimmie Dale Gilmore for being Jimmie. To Wally Schwartz for believing I wasn't insane and taking my phone calls.

To Rachel Z, the first real musician to extend a hand. To Sloan Wainwright for her insight, support, and friendship. To Penny Nichols, for SummerSongs and her wonderful voice. To Steve Gillette, Steve Seskin and Jason Blume for their songs and guidance. To Rosanne Cash, please do another workshop soon. To Kate Campbell, the first act I ever opened for, and of course the wonderful Sloan Wainwright.

James "Wally Cox" and his family -- thanks for reading countless versions and not losing faith. The same to Paul Schwarzbaum and Tom "Denny Kingman" Phillips. To the late Frank Weiner, and Robert Pollock. To Kristen Lund for kicking my butt in the early days. To Lynn Crieghton for doing the same.

To Paul Winsor for all the hours and commitment to the music. To Gerry McKeveny for busting my chops. To Malcolm Smith and Steve Horn and for all the miles we've traveled. And thanks to Louise and Phil Fletcher and their friend John Hall, Lisa Goren. Tom Grant.

To my Squaw Valley pals, Danette, Michelle, Jim, Brenda, Spring and Barbara.

To Jason Byrd, the great pain in the butt photographer, Dickie Poo Seclow. Bobbie Rea, Paul Chapin, Spencer Nielson, Foti, Dick Marra, the Authors Guild, and Sweetwater Sound.