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Singing to A Bulldog

Life Lessons a Fellow Janitor Taught Me: My Journey from Happy Days to Hollywood and Beyond

Published by Trusted Media Brands
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
LIST PRICE $10.99

About The Book

Singing to a Bulldog presents the practical and motivational lessons Anson Williams, an accomplished actor, director, singer and producer gleaned from his life experience and words of wisdom from the head janitor at one of his first jobs.

Growing up in 1950s California, young Anson William Heimlich showed very little promise. Clumsy, unsure of himself, and made to feel like a failure by his disappointed artist of a dad, Anson started working odd jobs as a teenager to help support his family. His boss at one of these jobs, an aging African-American janitor named Willie, unexpectedly became a mentor—and the lessons he taught young Anson proved to be invaluable throughout his subsequent career as an actor, director, and entrepreneur.

In Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams (as he came to be known) relates both these lessons and the never-before-revealed stories of the many seminal TV series he has worked on and the famous (and not-so-famous) folks he’s encountered during his 40 years in Hollywood, including: • being directed by Steven Spielberg in his first dramatic role • getting kidnapped by Gerald Ford’s daughter at the White House • subbing for Sammy Davis, Jr., as a headliner with Bill Cosby • being humbled by Sunny, a young volunteer for the Cerebral Palsy National Organization • mentoring Shailene Woodley on the set of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and many more.

This compelling read has a cross-generational and broad appeal, combining all the fun of a celebrity memoir with the emotional impact of an inspirational bestseller. With Singing to a Bulldog, Anson Williams brings his gift of storytelling to a new medium in a book that is sure to touch readers’ hearts and lives as profoundly as Willie once touched his.

About The Author

He lives with his wife and five daughters in Los Angeles, California.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Trusted Media Brands (November 11, 2014)
  • Length: 176 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781621452263

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Raves and Reviews

"Singing To A Bulldog is such a meaningful, fun, and uplifting book. I have such sweet memories of Anson . . . like millions of others, I loved him on "Happy Days." I am proud to be a little part of this wonderfully written, revealing, informative, and entertaining book. Praise and congratulations to Anson."

– Dolly Parton

"I've always known Anson to be a great storyteller as well as a true andgenerous friend. Now he's written the most important story of hislife--about Willie Turner, the head janitor at one of Anson's first jobs, whose words of wisdom guided him through a turbulent time in his life and gave him the confidence to move forward to a successful career as anactor, television director, and entrepreneur. Even better, he's made itinto a truly inspirational book of life lessons for the rest of us."

– Ron Howard

Singing to a Bulldog would never have been written if it weren't for Dr. Robert Temes's book How to Write a Memoir in 30 Days. For years, people have been saying to me that I should write a book about my life; and for even longer, I have wanted to share with the world Willie Turner's lessons and the profound effect he had on who I became as an individual, giving me the tools for a full-bodied life.

I always thought, "Someday, when I have more time, I'll write that book." Then a friend gave me a copy of Dr. Temes's book and I was inspired to start immediately. It not only gave me a detailed, step-by-step guide to write my first memoir, but also the confidence that I could do it successfully. I encourage you to make the time to tell your story.

– Anson Williams

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