Bill Credits Writer Sydney Sheldon With Jump-Starting his Career as a Novelist

By The Times-Union

Judy Wells, May 17, 1998

Author William Diehl, who spoke at the Library Guild luncheon May 7, provided a ray of sunshine in the darkness. The St. Simon's Island resident credits writer Sydney Sheldon with jump-starting his career as a novelist.

According to Bill, Sheldon liked his first novel, Sharkey's Machine, so much he helped promote the book. Not only did he talk it up to others in the industry, encourage friends to buy it and send the publisher a glowing endorsement, but Sheldon also went around Los Angeles personally buying up dozens of copies, thus catapulting it onto the local Best Sellers list.

The two men have never met, although Bill says he has thanked Sheldon often and profusely in writing. He also feels morally duty bound to return the favor. Although unsolicited manuscripts are chucked, Bill reads the first 50 pages of every new novel publishers sent to him for comment.

''If it hooks me I finish it,'' he said, and despite ever-impending deadlines of his own, takes the time to write a complimentary blurb for the cover.

Look for Bill Diehl's newest novel around Christmas. From the plot line he passed along, it will be a corker.