An Open Letter from Robert and William Stanek: Embracing Stories and Insights This Holiday Season

Dear Friends, Readers, and Supporters,

As the twinkling lights of Christmas and the promise of a New Year approach, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey that has brought me to this moment. For many of you, I am known as Robert Stanek, the storyteller behind the “Timeless Voices” series, and as William Stanek, the thought leader at the intersection of science, technology, and business. Today, I want to share a bit about my journey, the challenges I’ve faced, and the exciting works that await you this holiday season.

The Lost Decade: A Time of Challenge and Creation

The past decade has been a period of profound transformation for me, both personally and professionally. Due to health issues, I was unable to publish much under either of my names, William Stanek or Robert Stanek. Many of my loyal readers know that alongside my writing, I dedicated nearly 20 years to working with Microsoft, producing close to one million words annually. Those “little pocket consultants” may have seemed compact, but they were densely packed with insights and strategies. The “Inside Out,” and “Administrator’s Reference” books, each weighing in at around 500,000 words, were a testament to that relentless effort.

While it might seem like the decade was lost to writing, the truth is more nuanced. Although many manuscripts found themselves entangled in the lengthy editorial process—a process often as long as or longer than the writing itself—my passion for storytelling never waned. Countless stories remain in various stages of development, waiting for their moment to shine. Today, I am thrilled to unveil the culmination of these efforts: the “Timeless Voices” series—a collection of historical fiction novels that bridge the gap between my analytical past and my creative present.

Introducing the “Timeless Voices” Series

The “Timeless Voices” series invites you to journey through pivotal moments in history, each novel offering a unique window into the lives of individuals striving for love, justice, and self-discovery. Here’s a glimpse into the stories that await you:

Journey Through the Ages

The Lights of Paris

Set against the revolutionary backdrop of 1870s Paris, follow Eloise, a passionate nurse, and her courageous friends as they navigate war, love, and the fight for a just society. Amidst barricades and hospital wards, their stories illuminate the profound costs of conflict and the enduring hope for a brighter future.

August Rains

Transport yourself to 1950s small-town America, where John Anderson, a dedicated teacher and principal, grapples with preserving cherished traditions at Jane’s School. Through moments of joy and heartbreak, John’s journey explores the deep bonds of community, the power of memory, and the quiet strength required to honor the past while embracing change.

Songbird in the Rain

Experience the vibrant and tumultuous 1970s Wisconsin, where Lena Carter dreams of a life defined by music while her love, Tommy, faces the uncertainty of the Vietnam War. As Lena pours her heart into songwriting, she must navigate the complexities of love, identity, and the relentless pursuit of her dreams amidst societal upheaval and personal sacrifice.

Almost California

Journey into the 1980s small-town Wisconsin, where Bob and his circle of friends grapple with life, loss, and the quest for self-discovery. Amidst the backdrop of vibrant 1980s music, Bob faces his own dark secrets while supporting his friends through their hidden struggles. As they navigate the challenges of senior year, friendship, love, and the desire to escape their pasts intertwine, leading them to confront what it truly means to find oneself and build a future worth holding on to.

Introducing the Leadership Intelligence Mastery Series

In addition to my foray into historical fiction, my commitment to leadership and personal development continues through the Leadership Intelligence Mastery Series, authored as William R. Stanek. “Building Resilience Foundations: A 2-Week Action Plan for Leadership Success” is the first book in this transformative series, designed to empower leaders with the tools and mindset needed to thrive under pressure. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this guide offers actionable strategies to develop emotional resilience, enhance decision-making, and foster a positive work culture.

Why Add These Books to Your Holiday and New Year Reading List?

1. Diverse and Enriching Content

The “Timeless Voices” series offers immersive historical narratives that transport you to different eras, while the Leadership Intelligence Mastery Series provides practical insights for personal and professional growth. Together, they cater to both your desire for captivating stories and your ambition for leadership excellence.

2. Perfect Holiday Gifts

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a history enthusiast or a budding leader, these books make thoughtful and impactful presents that will be cherished long after the holidays.

3. Reflect and Inspire

The themes of resilience, love, and self-discovery resonate deeply during the holiday season, a time for reflection and new beginnings. These books provide both inspiration and entertainment, making them ideal companions for your festive moments.

4. Support the Journey

By adding these books to your collection, you’re supporting a journey that intertwines creative storytelling with actionable leadership strategies, embodying the essence of perseverance and passion.

A Heartfelt Invitation

This Christmas and New Year, I invite you to explore both the “Timeless Voices” series and the Leadership Intelligence Mastery Series. Let these books become a cherished part of your holiday tradition, offering both escape and reflection as you celebrate the season and look forward to the year ahead.

“Timeless Voices”—where every era speaks its own story, and every story echoes through time.

“Building Resilience Foundations”—unlock the power of resilience for leadership success.

Join Us on This Journey

Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, Helen Simonson’s The Summer Before the War, and Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven, the “Timeless Voices” series invites you to embark on a journey through history’s most transformative moments. Similarly, “Building Resilience Foundations” is ideal for those seeking to enhance their leadership skills and build a resilient mindset.

Thank You for Your Support

Your support has been the cornerstone of my journey. As both Robert and William Stanek, I am excited to share these stories and insights that have been years in the making, born from both my challenges and my unyielding passion for storytelling and leadership excellence. Let “Timeless Voices” and the Leadership Intelligence Mastery Series become treasured parts of your holiday reading, offering both escape and reflection as you celebrate the season and embrace the year ahead.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with love, warmth, and unforgettable stories.

Warm regards,

Robert and William Stanek

Explore the “Timeless Voices” Series | Discover the Leadership Intelligence Mastery Series 

Summer's Almost Here. Let the Globetrotting Begin.

I recently came across a travel article that caught my attention - it was about two adventurous women who embarked on a journey to see the world in just 80 days. They traveled to a different country, city, or place every day until they had visited every continent and explored dozens of countries. At first, the idea seemed exciting, but the more I thought about it, the sadder I became.

While I understand the allure of a whirlwind trip, particularly given the 1873 novel by Jules Verne, I can't help but feel that such an approach to travel is a missed opportunity. The world is vast and diverse, and every place has its own unique beauty and charm. Rushing through destinations at breakneck speed means missing out on the subtle nuances and hidden gems that make each place special.

William Robert and I firmly believe that travel should be savored like a fine wine. You wouldn't chug a glass of Château Margaux, would you? No, you would sip it slowly, savoring the complex flavors and trying to discern the tasting notes. The same goes for travel. Every trip, even if it's just a few days, should be approached with the same care and attention as a fine wine.

Traveling over a lifetime, taking the time to explore each destination fully, is an incredibly rewarding experience. It allows you to truly immerse yourself in the local culture, try new foods, and meet interesting people. It's not just about the sights and sounds, but also about the people you meet and the memories you create.

These memories are something tangible, real, and irreplaceable. They become a part of who you are, and they stay with you long after the trip is over. In fact, they often serve as a starting point for new adventures and experiences.

While the idea of seeing the world in 80 days may sound thrilling, we believe that true travel is something to be savored and enjoyed over a lifetime. It's about taking the time to truly appreciate each destination and creating memories that will stay with you always.

After many years of travel, William Robert and I have honed our approach to exploring new destinations. We have discovered that a rushed, whirlwind tour of multiple cities in a short time frame is no way to truly experience the beauty and culture of a new place. Instead, we opt for a more leisurely pace, allowing us to savor each destination and build meaningful experiences.

Take Europe, for example. A day in Paris, a day in Amsterdam, a day in Copenhagen, a day in Oslo, and a day in Tallinn may seem like a great way to see the continent, but in reality, it's a disservice to each city's unique character and charm. We prefer to spend a minimum of three days in each new city, taking the time to explore the local neighborhoods, try the local cuisine, and soak up the local culture.

If we think a particular city is particularly fascinating, we'll stay for five days or more. In some cases, when we know we'll fall in love with a city, we plan to spend 10-14 days in one place. This approach allows us to delve deep into the city's history and culture, to understand its people and customs, and to create lasting memories.

By taking our time and building experiences over a lifetime, we've discovered that travel can be a transformative experience. Each trip adds a new layer to our understanding of the world and deepens our appreciation for its diversity and beauty. We relish the opportunity to step outside our comfort zone, try new things, and learn from the people we meet.

So, if you're considering a trip, we encourage you to take a deep breath, slow down, and savor each moment. One trip at a time, over a lifetime of travel, you'll build a treasure trove of memories and experiences that will stay with you forever.

Robert and I hope your adventures are as wonderful as ours and hope to hear about your visits too. Please subscribe, share and like.

-

Hui Cha Stanek and William Robert Stanek

William R. Stanek. The Black and White Collection #1: Fine Art Photography Rare Masters by William R. Stanek, HC Stanek, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble (barnesandnoble.com)... Our new photography book!

Our new photography book!

About Hui Cha Stanek & William Robert Stanek

Erstwhile Photographer and Long-time Publisher Hui Cha Stanek has always been the woman behind the scenes. She has managed the day-to-day operations of Stanek Media for the past three decades. Her work has been featured in a number of gallery shows and recently in a career retrospective with her husband. She prefers candid street photography and photography of people (though not traditional portrait work). Some of her most famous works, including Tip Toe I See You and Salt Water Taffy, shown in Hui Cha William's career retrospective in Vienna can be found at https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios?cat=10605&iframe=1.

Hui Cha's most recent project is writing the text for William R. Stanek: The Black & White Collection #1 Rare Masters. @ Amazon - BN - Walmart - HPB

Seattle-based Photographer and Artist, William Robert Stanek, is a combat veteran who supports other veterans, is also a vocal champion of books and libraries. Not only an artist, he wrote nonfiction for over three decades as William Stanek and fiction as Robert Stanek. Find his fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in his online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

William has been called the Michelangelo of sunsets due to his hundreds of breathtaking sunsets, and this is especially represented in his original oil paintings, but the sun itself isn't always the centerpiece of the work. The true centerpiece of a work can as easily be waves breaking on a tropical shore as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Chapel Bridge in Lucerne Switzerland. Although William packed up his paints and brushes some years ago, his work remains available and are displayed all over the world.



William's passion for sunsets is only truly rivaled by his passion for sunrises, many of which he captures in his original oil paintings as well. Here's a print of one of his original oil paintings, titled Join the Chase.

Into the Golden Twilight is another one his original oil paintings, available as a print, this one from his Singer Island - West Palm Beach Collection.


Find William Robert's books at

Walmart https://walmart.com/c/brand/robert-stanek

BN https://barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Robert%20Stanek%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Play https://play.google.com/store/search?q=robert%20stanek&c=books

iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-stanek/id55535880

Amazon https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0841YDHSH

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/search/"robert%20stanek"/audiobooks

eStories https://www.estories.com/author/654/Robert-Stanek

Chirp https://www.chirpbooks.com/authors/robert-stanek-audiobooks




Thanks for reading please like, share and subscribe. Until next time!

Tomorrow Begins Today...

Dear Friends and Readers, I wanted to take a moment to apologize for my long absences from social media, sporadic communications, and for losing touch with so many of you over the past many years. In 2020, the Department of Justice put an end to the malicious targeting of my books and other work, though many of the negative reviews and ratings caused by these hateful activities remain at Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. As the DOJ stated in their indictments, in exchange for bribes, corrupted Amazon staff facilitated attacks against competitors of those paying the bribes, using their inside access to Amazon's network to suspend competitors' accounts and product listings, remove favorable reviews and commentary, write fictitious negative product reviews designed to hurt sales, post spurious comments to intimidate victims and drive away customers, and much more. All much as I had experienced it and blogged about for many years, including naming names of the competitors responsible.

To be clear, I do not know specifically the particular individuals indicted and convicted were involved in the malicious targeting of my work, as the DOJ tracked the criminal activities of these individuals for a very specific (and brief) time and prosecuted based on the criminal activities identified in this very specific (and brief) time, and not for the entire period of operation. What I do know for certain is the immediate, chilling effect the multiple arrests and indictments by the Department of Justice had on the malicious targeting of my books and other work. Beyond this, as a very few know, I have been dealing with a stalker for many years. This has all been a terrible, untenable situation that just would not end. The experience has been incredibly traumatic, emotionally draining, and has left my health in tatters. I no longer know where I end and the trauma begins, the me that I was no longer exists. All this has made it impossible for me to communicate openly and freely with anyone, including my friends and family. I felt like I had to constantly watch my back and be cautious about what I shared online or anywhere.

As a result, I wasn't able to maintain the same level of communication with many of you as I would have liked. I wasn't able to participate in social events. I wasn't able to even openly share my thoughts and experiences on social media. I know that this must have been frustrating and confusing for many of you, and for that, I am truly sorry. I want you to know that it wasn't my intention to distance myself or cut ties with anyone. I was simply trying to protect myself from harassment, from my stalker, from a situation that would not end, and did not want to put anyone else at risk by sharing too much information online or in person.

Now that the DOJ has done their work, now that my stalker has been imprisoned, I feel like I finally can breathe a little easier and start to reconnect with the people who have meant so much to me over the years. I know that it won't be easy to pick up where we left off, especially as so many years have passed since this long ordeal began, but I am committed to rebuilding those connections and strengthening the relationships that I've had. I hope that you can forgive me for my absences, miscommunications, whatever, and understand that it wasn't personal. I was just trying to survive an impossible situation.

Please also know that this is going to take a very long time. There is no me that I was left, due to all this and for all the years it went on. Though my past work continues to be released, sometimes as if new, I stopped writing, drawing, and painting nearly a decade ago, and don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back to any of it.

Some few know I suffered a stroke and a heart attack in 2016 which were caused by the stress and emotional rollercoaster that I went through due to being targeted online. I have previously pointed out those competitors responsible, but have never before been able to talk openly about my stalker. This person’s relentless pursuit of me took a significant, catastrophic toll on my physical and emotional health. I was constantly looking over my shoulder, worrying about what this person might do next. The stress of the situation became so overwhelming that it destroyed my life. After my stroke and a heart attack, I was hospitalized for several weeks, but the torment of this individual didn’t end there. As this person had been unsuccessful in killing me, which was their stated intent, this person then began a campaign of terror to make me attempt suicide and to convince others, including my readers, that I had died, and in particular by connecting obituaries and death announcements to me online and in social media.

It may be a long time for me to feel somewhat like myself again, or I may never get there, but I wanted to let you know. My health issues affected all aspects of my life. I was unable to work for an extended period of time, and I had to rely on the support of others to get through each day. I felt like my life had been turned upside down, and I struggled to find a sense of normalcy. I don’t even know what normal looks like. My stalker's actions caused me to feel afraid, anxious, worse. I felt like I couldn't trust anyone, and I was constantly on edge. Even after my stalker is finally imprisoned, I find it difficult to move on and let go of the fear and anxiety that had taken hold of me. Despite the terrible ordeal, I have learned a lot about myself and the importance of seeking help and support. I also have discovered the resilience and strength that I possess, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

I want to take a moment to thank all of those who stood by me during all these difficult years. Your support and encouragement were instrumental in helping me get through the toughest moments. To anyone else who may be going through a similar situation, I want you to know that you are not alone. There is help available, and it's okay to ask for it. No one who’s trying to communicate about all this should have their posts hidden by their stalker reporting them. No one seeking help or to talk about what’s happening to them should be driven into silence or made to feel like they can’t talk about what’s happening to them. No one should have to suffer in silence or feel like they are alone in their struggles.

In conclusion, I wanted to share this story with you not only to provide context for my posts over these past many years, but also to raise awareness about the devastating impact that stalking and online harassment can have on a person's life. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help others who may be going through a similar situation feel less alone and more empowered to seek help and support.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for your continued support and readership.

Sincerely,

William Robert Stanek www.williamrstanek.com

Experiencing Portugal and Lisbon Part II: Where to Stay, Where to Go, What to See

In the previous edition of our newsletter, we talked about Lisbon Portugal, which is enjoying a moment  in the spotlight that’s long overdue. We can't say enough how much we love Lisbon (and all of Portugal, even if driving the streets and highways is a bit of an experience that takes some getting used to). If you're looking to stay in Lisbon, you'll find no shortage of Airbnb rentals--rentals which change so much from month to month that there's no point in guiding you to one over another, especially with the ongoing effort by the local government to restrict and shutdown Airbnb rentals in the city. Don't worry, there's also no shortage of wonderful hotel rooms, and you'll have a wealth of choices. Some of our luxury favorites, based on quality and value:

• Altis Belém Hotel & Spa - on the waterfront near Torre de Belém (Belém Tower) and Jardim da Torre de Belém (Belém Tower Gardens). Or alternatively NAU Palacio do Governador in the same area.
• Hyatt Regency Lisbon  - near the waterfront with beautiful views of the Tagus and the Ponte 25 de Abril (25 April Bridge).
• Hotel Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos - on a hillside near the waterfront with beautiful views.
• Pousada de Lisboa, Praça do Comércio - A boutique luxury hotel across from Praça do Comércio, a waterside public plaza, and Arco da Rua Augusta, an ornate 18th century arch.

Other luxury accommodations to consider, based on quality and value:

• Pestana Palace Lisboa
• Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel
• The Emerald House Lisbon, Curio Collection by Hilton
• As Janelas Verdes/Riverview, a Lisbon Heritage Collection
• Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel
• Palacete Chafariz d'El Rei
• Pestana CR7 Lisboa

If you're driving and don't mind being up to 20-30 minutes outside the city, here are a few more luxury accommodations to consider, based on quality and value:

• InterContinental Cascais-Estoril, an IHG Hotel
• Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa
• Hotel Albatroz Cascais
• Farol Hotel
• Hotel Vila Galé Cascais
• Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel & Spa
• Fortaleza do Guincho
• Senhora da Guia Cascais Boutique Hotel
• The Oitavos

It's important to note that we probably look at luxury accommodations different than most. We've stayed at luxury hotels around the world, but multi-million-dollar lobbies don't impress us whatsoever and more than a few luxury hotels are guilty of having wonderful lobbies and not so wonderful rooms.  Fancy brands and fancy names don't impress us. What actually impresses us is the right combination of quality and value. To us, quality and value incorporates the locations/views, the rooms, and the experiences are worth more than walking into a stunning lobby and then finding the rooms are rather ho-hum. We say locations/views as there can be a tradeoff between having a great location, such as a central location near most everything you want to see and do, and having a great view, such as of the ocean or a mountain but then being in a less central location.

Another important note is that sometimes our stays are comp'd and there's been too many over the last thirty years to track which ones comp'd us and which ones didn't. If we mention a hotel, they probably comp'd us at one time or another, and we're not talking about them because of some comp years ago or even last year, we're talking about them because we genuinely enjoyed our stay and that joy stayed with us. Also important to point out our comps aren't for some random mention in a travel newsletter or a travel guide, they're because of our photography work.

As we discussed last time, the nightlife in Lisbon is good and often even great, as are the wealth of restaurants that range from inexpensive dives to fine dining. The combination of great places to eat and great places to stay is a strong reason to make Lisbon your home base when you visit Portugal. There also are other reasons, as the map shows. 

Drive three hours north and you can be in Porto, enjoying everything this other fabulous coastal city in Portugal has to offer, including the medieval district and the Palácio de Bolsa. Drive three hours south and you can be in Lagos Portugal, enjoying everything the Algarve coast has to offer, including sweeping coastlines with even more beautiful beaches and scenic rock formations to walled old towns and historic churches.

Seville in Spain is another beautiful city nearby. When we visit Lisbon, we make it a point to drive out to Seville as well since it's so close, as we talked about in the inaugural edition of our newsletter (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/off-races-seville-spain-william-robert-stanek/).

There are several common routes between Lisbon and Seville (see the map below), with the middle route being the most direct, if not the most scenic. If this is a roundtrip you are only going to make once, we suggest taking the top route through Badajoz on the way to Seville and the bottom route along the Algarve coast on the way back to Lisbon.

All of the routes take you eventually into Andalusia, one of the most famous regions of Spain. The whole Andalusia region is fantastic and well-known for its ceramics, embroidery and leather goods. With this in mind, be sure to stop in the rural shops, especially for the pottery. Each area has its own distinctive style and each craftsman makes the colorful plates, bowls and flower pots in different ways. Note that it's hard to get fragile pottery home in one piece even if you hand carry it, so keep that in mind when selecting pieces. Plates wrapped carefully will weather the journey home better than vases and such, and no matter how careful you are something may get broken.

Our favorite time of year for the drive is spring when the olive trees are in bloom. There’s nothing like driving with the windows down and drinking in the smell of olive trees in bloom. Plus, it's a gorgeous, scenic drive.

Back to Lisbon itself. Where to go and what to do in Lisbon? One starting point is Cais das Colunas on the waterfront. It's an 18th century quay with marble steps. Take a few pictures on the waterfront (and because of the sunset views, you may want to return here later as well). From the quay, you can go to nearby Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square). One of three main squares in the city.

Here, you'll find restaurants and clubs, places to sit outside with a glass of beer or wine. The square is also home to the Lisbon Story Centre, with it's inexpensive 60-minute tour of Lisbon's history. If you want tourist information, head across the square in the opposite direction. 

When you are ready to leave Praça do Comércio, walk away from the waterfront and cross the street to see the Arco da Rua Augusta. It's a stunningly beautiful 19th century triumphal arch. West down the street is another photo opportunity at Praça do Município (Municipal Square) and the exterior of City Hall. Continue walking down Rua do Arsenal and to Rua Nova do Carvalho. 

Also known as Pink Street, Rua Nova do Carvalho was formerly the red light district, but now it's famous for bars and night clubs. Afterward, you can walk back toward the waterfront and the panoramic scenic point of Cais das Pombas.

Here, you'll find a nice waterfront area where you also can take pictures of Lisbon's most beautiful bridge, Ponte 25 de Abril. Afterward, you can walk back along the river to where you started, optionally stopping at the Reminiscência sculpture. Total walking time is about an hour, without stops.

Here are the stops in a numbered list as well:

1. Cais das Colunas, Praça do Comércio, Lisboa, Portugal
2. Lisboa Story Centre, Praça do Comércio 78, 1100-148 Lisboa, Portugal
3. Arco da Rua Augusta, R. Augusta 2, 1100-053 Lisboa, Portugal
4. Municipal Square, Lisboa, Portugal
5. Rua Nova do Carvalho, 1200-370 Lisboa, Portugal
6. Cais das Pombas, Lisboa, Portugal
7. Reminiscência (Almada Negreiros), Av. Ribeira das Naus, Lisboa, Portugal
8. Cais das Colunas, Praça do Comércio, Lisboa, Portugal

 Other great places to visit in Lisbon:

• Alfama, an old neighborhood full of narrow streets, houses and restaurants. Also some of the best Fado clubs for nightlife.
• Cristo Rei, a statue of Christ on a hillside that also offers fantastic views of the Ponte 25 de Abril
• Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a waterfront monument dedicated to sailors and discovers
• Torre de Belém, a waterfront tower built in the 16th century
• Sé de Lisboa, Lisbon Cathedral
• Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora, the monastery and church of St. Vincent
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora, 16th century church
• Castelo de São Jorge, a castle with a viewpoint that offers 360-degree views of Lisbon
• Igreja de Santa Engrácia, a baroque church started in the 17th century but not finished until the 20th.
• Museo do Carmo, a 13th century monastery and museum
• Elevador de Santa Justa, an elevator with a platform at the top near Museo do Carmo

Well, that's Lisbon in a Nutshell. We hope your adventures are as wonderful as ours and hope to hear about your visits too.

-

Hui Cha Stanek and William Robert Stanek

William R. Stanek. The Black and White Collection #1: Fine Art Photography Rare Masters by William R. Stanek, HC Stanek, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble (barnesandnoble.com)... Our new photography book!

About Hui Cha Stanek

Erstwhile Photographer and Long-time Publisher Hui Cha Stanek has always been the woman behind the scenes. She has managed the day-to-day operations of Stanek Media for the past three decades. Her work has been featured in a number of gallery shows and recently in a career retrospective with her husband. She prefers candid street photography and photography of people (though not traditional portrait work). One of her most famous works, Tip Toe I See You, is shown below.

Others, not to be missed:

Salt Water Taffy

Let Me See Too

My Hair Day Too Mom

Where Did it Go

You'll find these fine art photography works and more at:

https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios?cat=10605&iframe=1

About William Robert Stanek

Seattle-based Photographer and Artist, William Robert Stanek, is a combat veteran who supports other veterans, is also a vocal champion of books and libraries. Not only an artist, he wrote nonfiction for over three decades as William Stanek and fiction as Robert Stanek. Find his fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in his online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

William has been called the Michelangelo of sunsets due to his hundreds of breathtaking sunsets, and this is especially represented in his original oil paintings, but the sun itself isn't always the centerpiece of the work. The true centerpiece of a work can as easily be waves breaking on a tropical shore as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Chapel Bridge in Lucerne Switzerland. Although William packed up his paints and brushes some years ago, his work remains available and are displayed all over the world.

William's passion for sunsets is only truly rivaled by his passion for sunrises, many of which he captures in his original oil paintings as well. Here's a print of one of his original oil paintings, titled As the Sun Breaks.

Racetracks in the Blue is another one his original oil paintings, available as a print, this one from his The Gold & Treasure Coast Collection.

Find William Robert's books at....

Walmart https://walmart.com/c/brand/robert-stanek

BN https://barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Robert%20Stanek%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Play https://play.google.com/store/search?q=robert%20stanek&c=books

iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-stanek/id55535880

Amazon https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0841YDHSH

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/search/"robert%20stanek"/audiobooks 

eStories https://www.estories.com/author/654/Robert-Stanek

Chirp https://www.chirpbooks.com/authors/robert-stanek-audiobooks

Thanks for reading!

Lisbon Portugal - Travel Photography, Art and Book Talk

Lisbon Portugal is enjoying a moment as the talk of the town and it’s long overdue. While we’re not so thrilled about one of favorite coastal idylls becoming a hotpot for remote workers and tourists, we are ready to share some of its secrets.

People often think of Lisbon as a port city in Portugal and an ocean beach destination, though the city itself is not actually on the ocean at all or even a direct beach destination. For starters, the coastal areas of Lisbon are on the banks of a river, the Tagus River. The Torre de Belem, the famous tower near the city limits that you see in photographs is ten kilometers from where the mouth of the Tagus River meets the Atlantic Ocean.

An enormous natural bay formed by the river around its delta contains a mix of salt and fresh water, and is home to expansive wetlands where thousands of bird species migrate through every year, making it one of the richest and most biodiverse places on the planet. This alone should make Lisbon a nature tourism destination, but the city is better known for nightlife, gastronomy (food) and beaches. The nightlife is good and often even great, as are the wealth of restaurants that range from inexpensive dives to fine dining. 

Portuguese cuisine like the language itself is unique. Heavily influenced by its proximity to the ocean, Portuguese food features a lot of fish and seafood, but also beef and pork. The most famous dish is bacalhau; a salted, seasoned cod, that is best in a stew or casserole. A close second may be the sweet, Portuguese egg tart. Some other great dishes...

As we said earlier, Lisbon itself isn’t really a beach or swimming destination at all. Those famous beaches people talk about in the same breath as Lisbon? They’re known as the Beaches of Almada and there are twenty eight of them. Yes, 28, from Praia Trafaria to Praia da Adiça. All fairly easy to access.

To get to the Almada beaches, you’ll have to get out of the city and across the stunningly beautiful 2KM suspension bridge known as Ponte 25 de Abril, where you’ll then find the closest beach is about a half hour’s drive away and some of the others are up to an hour’s drive away. The best of them include Praia da Cova, Praia de São João, Praia do Tarquínio-Paraíso, Praia Nova, Praia da Saúde, Praia da Cornélia, Praia da Mata, Praia da Riviera, Praia do Castelo, and Praia da Morena.

Pick one or several to visit. Your favorites will depend on whether you like to be with others or more isolated by yourself.

Another reason we love Lisbon because it is literally the beating heart of Portugal. Within an hour of the city, you have nature reserves, preserves, and national parks. All spectacular and stunning in their own way. Costa de Caparica is a nature preserve of protected coastal plains. Estuário do Tejo is a wetland estuary. Pena, Monserrate and Sintra are national parks within a forested mountain range, featuring mountain-side palaces and cliff-top castles.

One of these cliff-top castles is Castle of the Moors, shown below in a fine art photograph by William. Our photoshoot of the Castle of the Moors was incredibly challenging due to the mountainous terrain.

Most photos of Castle of the Moors are on the approach or close up, but William wanted to photograph the castle in a way that was different. As a result, we didn’t get the shots we wanted on our first visit to the castle. Instead, it was an exploration of approaches, light and terrain.

Getting around the mountainous terrain proved to be the biggest impediment. The narrow roads wind through the nearby village and up the steep mountain side. If you lose your way or miss a turn, you have to go around and around to get back to where you lost your way. On the mountain side, car parking ranges from difficult to near impossible. Hop on the shuttle or wander too far and you can easily lose where you parked, then hike the steep terrain for hours looking for your car.

After seven days of trekking up and down and all around, we came away with six photos of Castle of the Moors that William knew were keepers. Six of hundreds that were discarded. Still, those days weren’t all about a castle, they were also about a palace that looked like it was pulled straight from a fairytale. The Palace of Pena at Sintra.

If Castle of the Moors was William’s white whale that week, the Palace of Pena at Sintra was a dream through fog. The Palace is notoriously crowded from the time the park it lies within opens to the time the park closes. The Palace also has been photographed and photographed.

William took shots from many different angles and approaches. In different light. Early morning, full sun, late in the day. Day after day, he wasn’t happy with any of them. None of them were what he was looking for. Then on the fifth day as it rained on and off, William snapped two photographs of the palace emerging into the light from behind the shadows of clouds and knew they were the ones he’d been waiting for. Michelangelo of sunsets indeed. William works with light and shadow like few others.

One other photograph from the series of photoshoots made the cut. It was a photograph that also showcased shadow and light, taken from within the palace itself, on one of the many self-guided walking tours of the interior we took. Some photographs speak to you. Some loudly. Others in unassuming tenors, with simple splendor.

For fellow writers out there, it is true that one can write from anywhere, but it took a lot of special considerations to ship the crates of servers that William needed for technical how-to writing for Microsoft from one place to the next. But he never missed a deadline, and never told where he was writing from :)

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Hui Cha Stanek and William Stanek

About Hui Cha Stanek & William Robert Stanek

Erstwhile Photographer and Long-time Publisher Hui Cha Stanek has always been the woman behind the scenes. She has managed the day-to-day operations of Stanek Media for the past three decades. Her work has been featured in a number of gallery shows and recently in a career retrospective with her husband. She prefers candid street photography and photography of people (though not traditional portrait work). Some of her most famous works, including Tip Toe I See You and Salt Water Taffy, shown in Hui Cha William's career retrospective in Vienna can be found at https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios?cat=10605&iframe=1.

Hui Cha's most recent project is writing the text for William R. Stanek: The Black & White Collection #1 Rare Masters. @ Amazon - BN - Walmart - HPB

Seattle-based Photographer and Artist, William Robert Stanek, is a combat veteran who supports other veterans, is also a vocal champion of books and libraries. Not only an artist, he wrote nonfiction for over three decades as William Stanek and fiction as Robert Stanek. Find his fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in his online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

Connecting to his roots in his work is important to William Robert. The beautiful fine art print that follows is a view from within Mont St. Michel in Normandy France, part of his popular A Day at Mont St. Michel photo series. Special to William Robert as this is the region where his French ancestors are from--an ancestry William Robert has traced back from Quebec Canada to its origins in France.




Find William Robert's books at

Walmart https://walmart.com/c/brand/robert-stanek

BN https://barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Robert%20Stanek%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

Play https://play.google.com/store/search?q=robert%20stanek&c=books

iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-stanek/id55535880

Amazon https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0841YDHSH

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/search/"robert%20stanek"/audiobooks 

eStories https://www.estories.com/author/654/Robert-Stanek

Chirp https://www.chirpbooks.com/authors/robert-stanek-audiobooks

Thanks for reading!

Letter from RP Books & Media Publisher, Jeannie Kim Addressing the Malicious Targeting of Robert Stanek

Dear Readers, We are aware of the false information and fake negative reviews that have been circulating about Mr. Stanek and his books, especially on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. We want to assure our customers and the general public that we've identified the sources of this misinformation and malicious targeting, and have taken appropriate steps to correct and prosecute as permitted by law, both within the U.S. and the U.K.

It's easy for large competitors to crush something small and use their platforms to cause incredible, lasting harm. Not only can larger competitors spread lies about a smaller competitor faster than the smaller competitor can keep up with, it's nearly impossible for a smaller competitor to get out from under the targeting without help and in this respect, we need you, dear readers. Your support and continued readership is essential.

As for Amazon.com and Goodreads.com involvement, the U.S. Department of Justice has identified Amazon staff accepting bribes, writing fake negative reviews and targeting products like Robert's for take downs in its indictments of September 2020.

Specifically, the US DOJ prosecuted four cases involving Amazon employees:

* Targeting people like Robert with fake negative reviews

* Using their inside access to Amazon's network to suspend accounts and product listings

* Using their inside access to Amazon's network to remove favorable reviews and commentary

* Posting spurious comments to intimidate victims and drive away customers

All four cases were successful and proved by the Department of Justice in 2022. The following contains complete details, links and the press release from the US Attorney’s Office Western District of Washington state, dated Sept 18, 2020:
https://robertstanek.blogspot.com/2020/09/doj-ids-corrupt-amazon-employees.html.

Mr. Stanek has been a professionally published, bestselling author since 1995 when his first book was published by Macmillan and his books have since been published and or distributed by nearly every major publisher in the United States. He does, of course, write as William Stanek and Robert Stanek. His books have been praised and featured in Publisher's Weekly, including a cover story on popular fantasy series, Library Journal, Children's Bookshelf, Foreword Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Parenting Magazine, The Journal of Electronic Defense, Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine for YA Librarians, Popular Children's Fiction Selections for Librarians, and more.

We have been in business since 1994, nearly 30 years, and have always strived to provide excellent products and services to our customers. We value their satisfaction and take any complaints or issues very seriously. We apologize for any confusion or concern that this may have caused and appreciate the support of our loyal customers.

We hope that you had a great experience with our products. If you are satisfied with your purchase, we would appreciate it if you could leave a positive review on your favorite book or library review site. Your feedback helps us to improve and grow our business, and it also helps other potential customers to learn about the excellent products that we provide. Thank you for your support.

 

Jeannie Kim
Sr. Publisher, RP Books & Media

 

Finding the Armchair Traveler in All of Us

Hope you had wonderful holidays! As much as I enjoy traveling, I also enjoy reading about traveling. I think there’s a secret armchair traveler in all of us. Some know me as Katie/Kate from William Robert’s combat memoir, Air War: The Incredible True Story of the Combat Flyers, which was recently released in a 20th Anniversary edition. William Robert and I started our path together over 30 years ago, as husband and wife and as business partners. He has always been the creative, the writer and artist, but for just as long, I’ve been his arts & press publisher and the woman behind the scenes of our gallery partnerships, such as those with World Galleries. While I handled his small press work and art/photography, large multinational publishers handled his other work, including IDG, Prentice Hall, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Macmillan, McGraw-Hill, Hachette, HarperCollins, Pearson Education, Cengage Learning, Microsoft, Wiley, TimeWarner, O'Reilly, HMH, and over 100 other publishers globally.

Whenever I tell people my husband is the William Stanek/Robert Stanek, writer and photographer, I’m often asked what it’s like to live with someone so creative, so driven. Well, that’s kind of a difficult question to answer. But I will say, for all those curious, that William Robert’s been my best friend in life for as long as we’ve been partners, both in a romantic and a business sense. He’s the best husband, the best father to our children.

There’s a reason those who truly know William Robert, especially other writers and artists, think of him as a gentle giant, a warrior poet and a beautiful person. He’s not only one of the most kind and thoughtful, he’s also one of the most artistic, creative and inspiring people around. He’s overcome so much in his life to get where he is today—poverty, violence, neglect, death, homelessness, combat, health issues, more. It’s a wonder he got here at all, and yet he did.

William Robert and I have lived a wonderful and eventful life, a full life, due in large part to his creative eye and dedication to purpose, to craft, to the people around him. He expresses himself in his words and art, using the pain and the tremendous obstacles he faced in his childhood and early life as a source of inspiration, rather than despair, while striving for heights he would not have reached otherwise.

I may be biased, but I think his work is incredibly special. His photographs capture something very raw, real and beautiful about life, whether his subject is a medieval cathedral, a sky-filling sunset after a storm or a mountain half seen in the distance.

With this in mind, I want to invite you to visit the world with us and dream through our new premium large-format photography book: William R. Stanek. The Black and White Collection #1: Fine Art Photography Rare Masters.

@ Barnes & Noble

@ Amazon.com

@ Bookshop.org

@ HPB

Meant for discerning collectors and special collections, this premium, oversized book works wonderfully to display on a coffee or cocktail table to inspire conversation when you are entertaining and to simply pass the time. Inside, you’ll find more than 100 fine art photographs from the Rare Master series by William, photographs from throughout his 30+-year career.

Producing a premium fine art photography book is expensive. Individual photographs featured in this book sell for hundreds of dollars in William’s studios. It was a challenge to find the right balance, to ensure not to devalue the work to which William has dedicated his life while delivering value in book form to you as the reader. For this reason, we are delivering William’s Rare Masters as a series of volumes that can be collected individually at a lower price point, and as books that combine multiple volumes into a single volume at a higher price point. We hope you agree this balanced approach works well.

Throughout this book, I discuss the story behind the work when possible to give you insider insights and to inspire conversation and, perhaps, to inspire your own adventures too.

Full page photographs, with extras. Photoshoot locations:

1. Newport Beach, California, USA

2. Lucerne, Switzerland

3. Ghent, Belgium

4. Vienna, Austria

5. Paris, France

6. Lucerne, Switzerland

7. Paris, France

8. Costa del Sol, Andalusia, Spain

9. The Bernese Highlands, Switzerland

10. Bavaria, Germany

11. Vienna, Austria

12. Oa’hu, Hawaii, USA 

13. Orléans, France

14. Kauai, Hawaii, USA

15. Florida, USA

16. Kauai, Hawaii, USA

17. Zermatt, Switzerland

18. Ghent, Belgium

19. Kauai, Hawaii, USA

20. Ghent, Belgium

21. O’ahu, Hawaii

22. O’ahu, Hawaii

23. Hallstatt, Austria

24. Kinderdijk, Netherlands

25. Orléans, France

26. Washington state, USA

27. Colorado, USA

28. Lake Hallstatt, Austria

29. Oregon, USA

30. Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany

31. Kinderdijk, Netherlands

32. Bavaria, Germany

33. Colorado, USA

34. Kauai, Hawaii, USA

35. Oregon, USA

36. Adelboden, Switzerland

37. Oregon, USA

38. Bournemouth, Dorset, UK

39. Vienna, Austria

40. South Carolina, USA

41. Vienna, Austria

42. Maui, Hawaii, USA

43. Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

44. Hawaii, USA

45. Hawaii, USA

46. Florence, Italy

47. London, Great Britain, UK

48. Bavaria, Germany

49. Hawaii, USA

50. Hawaii, USA

51. Hawaii, USA

52. Lake Tahoe, California, USA

53. Berchtesgaden, Germany

54. Paris, France

55. Vienna, Austria

56. Rome, Italy

57. Rome, Italy

58. Salisbury, United Kingdom

59. Lucerne, Switzerland

60. Sintra, Portugal

61. … 81 The Netherlands, for the Art in Flowers special collection

82. Vienna, Austria

83. Maui, Hawaii, USA

84. Vienna, Austria

85. Vienna, Austria

86. Blois, France

87. Fontainebleau, France

88. Lucerne, Switzerland

89. Obertraun, Austria

90. O’ahu, Hawaii, USA

91. Rome, Italy

92. Salzburger Land, Austria

93. Delft, Netherlands

94. Rome, Italy

95. Kauai, Hawaii, USA

96. Gstaad, Switzerland

97. London, Great Britain, UK

98. Lake Walen, Switzerland

99. Hallstatt, Austria

100. Paris, France

101. Washington state, USA

102. The Bernese Highlands, Switzerland

103. Normandy, France

104. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

105. Stirling, Scotland, UK

106. Loire Valley, France

107. Windsor, Great Britain, UK

108. Rome, Italy

109. Bavaria, Germany

110. Zermatt, Switzerland

111. Volendam, Netherlands

112. Vienna, Austria

113. Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy

114. San Francisco, California, USA

115. Auxerre, France

116. Bay of Naples, Italy

117. Florence, Italy

118. Washington state, USA

119. Vienna, Austria

120. Lazio Italy

About Hui Cha Stanek

Erstwhile Photographer and Long-time Publisher Hui Cha Stanek has always been the woman behind the scenes. She has managed the day-to-day operations of Stanek Media for the past three decades. Her work has been featured in a number of gallery shows and recently in a career retrospective with her husband. She prefers candid street photography and photography of people (though not traditional portrait work). One of her most famous works, Tip Toe I See You, is shown below.

Others, not to be missed:

Salt Water Taffy

Let Me See Too

My Hair Day Too Mom

Where Did it Go

You'll find these fine art photography works and more at:

https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios?cat=10605&iframe=1

About William Robert Stanek

Seattle-based Photographer and Artist, William Robert Stanek, is a combat veteran who supports other veterans, is also a vocal champion of books and libraries. Not only an artist, he wrote nonfiction for over three decades as William Stanek and fiction as Robert Stanek. Find his fine art photography and prints from his original oil paintings in his online studios:

360 Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/360.Studios

1North Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/1north

Studio 24 - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/24

Robert Stanek Studios - https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/robert.stanek

Connecting to his roots in his work is important to Robert. The beautiful fine art print that follows is a view of Mont St. Michel in Normandy France, part of Robert's popular, limited A Day at Mont St. Michel photo series. Special to Robert as this is the region where his French ancestors are from--an ancestry Robert has traced back from Quebec Canada to its origins in France.

Find William Robert's books at

Walmart https://walmart.com/c/brand/robert-stanek

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Robert%20Stanek%22

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/search?q=robert%20stanek&c=books

Apple iTunes https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-stanek/id55535880

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robert-Stanek/author/B001K8IESG