WILLIAMS

New local author publishes relationship advice

By: BRITTANY COFER

Posted: 7/17/08

A local author says the rules of dating are all about balance.

Robert Williams, an assistant principal at Clarke Middle School and assistant pastor at Timothy Baptist Church, spoke Wednesday about his new book, titled "Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game: A Girl's Guide to Benching the Bad Boys."

Williams' book is about relationships and what he calls success factors.

"It's about players, the game, the things they do and say in reference to seduction and using girls," Williams said.

The self-help book includes eight specific rules of relationships, which Williams came up with after years of working in elementary and middle school systems.

Williams said he decided to write the book after being a chaperone for a school group and sharing some of his insights.

The book is mainly geared toward girls looking out for "players," he said, but he warns boys that there are girls who "play the game just as hard."

Williams highlighted three central themes of his book - choices, responsibility and balance. He looks at these things as success factors not just for relationships, but also for life.

"If you're going to be successful, you've got to have balance in your life," he said.

The first-time author said when he began writing the book, he had his nieces in mind and has dedicated the book to them.

"I'm telling them all the things their Uncle Bob has gone through, and I make apologies in the book to all the women I've come across to as a player," he said.

He said his purpose is to give advice to young people based on his and others' experiences so they can make better decisions in life and relationships.

"You don't have to go through every door to know what's on the other side," he said.