Williams woos with debut novel, ‘The Rake’s Tale’

Shakespearean quotes and courtly intrigue collide in Project Manager Bettie Williams’ debut novel, “The Rake’s Tale.”

Set in Regency-era England, “The Rake’s Tale” depicts the story of Sarah Edwards, a Shakespeare-obsessed debutante who falls in love with a particularly cruel man-about-town. After having her heart broken, Edwards sets out on a mission of revenge only to find herself falling for someone new: a duke with an irritating penchant for making things right.

Set on out-raking the rake who destroyed her and beset by a new and intriguing love interest, Edwards must make the toughest decision of her life: Will she seek revenge or chase happiness ever after?

Published on Oct. 26, “The Rake’s Tale” took first place in the 2014 Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Awards for the South Carolina Writers’ Workshop.

Williams, a former journalist, has been previously published in several literary anthologies. She holds dual baccalaureate degrees from the University of South Carolina Aiken and is a member and former president of the Aiken Chapter of the SCWW.

“The Rake’s Tale” is currently available in paperback and Kindle E-book format via Amazon, Barnes & Noble as well as various other retailers.