Diane Williams, owner of Prodigal Publishing started producing books when she was just a pre-teen. “I’ve always loved everything about books. The words printed on the page, the way they are made, and the information they carry have affected my life tremendously.” Ms. Williams has a reputation for setting trends by being the “first” to break out of the pack. She was the first black student to break a century-long tradition of Chinese Valedictorians. She was also the first student in her elementary school to participate in the International Baccalaureate program. Although she her home was 44 West, in Harold Ickes projects of Chicago, she was the first in her neighborhood to graduate with an IB diploma and to travel around the world. Ms. Williams has built a solid reputation as a “go-getter”. She holds a Masters degree in Writing, with a concentration in Book Publishing. She started Prodigal during her first year of graduate school at Portland State University. Her years of experience in the publishing and writing span industries from private finance to academia. With her determination and great work ethic, Prodigal is bound to succeed.