Local Legends Series, Vol. 2: Live from Cedar Creek – CNN to Small-Town Suspense
Featuring – Jim Willi, Mystery Author & Former CNN Consultant
These mysteries are more than fiction—they’re snapshots of a lake community seen through a journalist’s lens.
While some view retirement as a slowdown, Jim Willi saw it as a new beginning.
A former Emmy-winning news executive and CNN consultant, Jim spent decades telling America’s stories from the inside—reporting from newsrooms, managing stations, and shaping how the public saw the world.
Now? He’s writing the stories of the place he’s long called home—right here at Cedar Creek Lake.
The Mystery Series Captivating Cedar Creek
It began with a frogman.
The Frogman of Cedar Creek, Jim Willi’s debut novel, introduced readers to a killer who emerges from beneath the lake’s surface—unseen, untraceable, and hauntingly close to home. But what captured readers wasn’t just the suspense. It was the setting.
The names were familiar. The landmarks recognizable. The streets, the towns, the tone—it all felt personal.
And readers wanted more.
Four novels later, the Cedar Creek series has earned a loyal following across East Texas, drawing readers in with stories that feel both immediate and eerily plausible:
The Frogman of Cedar Creek – An underwater killer hides in plain sight.
Vanishing in Cedar Creek – Festival season turns grim when several women disappear without explanation.
The Firebug of Cedar Creek – A string of arsons leaves the community tense and deeply unsettled.
Vengeance in Cedar Creek – A copycat killer emerges, mirroring past crimes—and blurring the line between memory and motive.
These aren’t generic thrillers. They’re written with a precision that comes from proximity. Jim doesn’t invent the world he writes about—he lives in it. These books reflect the tempo of small-town life: steady on the surface, layered underneath.
Observant, familiar, and just unpredictable enough to make you look twice at the neighbor across the street.
From CNN to Cedar Creek
Before becoming a novelist, Jim Willi served as a reporter, anchor, news director, and general manager in major cities like Phoenix, Green Bay, Buffalo, and Columbus. He earned two Emmy Awards in Phoenix for leading coverage during a massive city explosion, and was listed in Who’s Who in America for his work in journalism.
Later, as co-owner of the media consulting firm AR&D, Jim worked behind the scenes to guide over 100 television stations—including CNN, MSNBC, ESPN, and The Golf Channel—on how to reach and retain viewers in a changing media world.
His work shaped how the nation saw breaking news. But eventually, Jim stepped back from the screen and turned to the page. He retired to Cedar Creek Lake full-time in 2018—and brought decades of storytelling experience with him.
Writing Where He Lives
Jim Willi spent decades advising top names in American media. Now a full-time resident of Cedar Creek Lake, he brings that same dedication to the community he’s long called home.
He volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 3 years, offering support to neighbors who need it most. He’s an active Rotary Club member and now serves as President on the Board of the East Cedar Creek Freshwater Supply District for his 3rd year (after serving on the board for 6 years), contributing to the long-term stewardship of the lake’s infrastructure.
Jim is also a sought-after speaker for book clubs, libraries, and community groups across the region. His talks are thoughtful, candid, and deeply informed by a lifetime of observing how people—and communities—work.
A Career That Keeps Turning Pages
Jim Willi once said, “It’s really fun to start a new career at age 73.”
Now working on his next book, Jim shows no signs of slowing down.
And here it is... the official cover for Night Nurse of Cedar.
Thrilled to be the first to share this chilling glimpse into what’s coming next from Jim.
Upcoming Author Events
Mark your calendars and meet the author behind the Cedar Creek mysteries:
- September 20 – Bookish in Malakoff
- October 10 – Bookworms in Mabank
- October 14 – Henderson County Literary Society
- March 2 – AARP at Casa Linda
- April 28 – Women’s Club of Cedar Creek Lake
📚 Find signed books from Jim’s series at Shelly’s McClain’s Restaurant, the Tri-County Library and The Serenity Beauty Shop.
Editor’s Note
Jim Willi doesn’t write to be the voice of Cedar Creek Lake—he writes because he knows how to listen to it.
After decades in national media, he turned his attention to something smaller, but no less significant: the patterns of lake life, the undercurrents of local character, the way small towns carry their stories. His novels reflect this region with precision, not sentiment. They’re grounded in familiarity—written by someone who’s not just nearby, rather immersed.
That’s why he’s our Local Legend.
National Recognition
We’re excited to share that Local Legends Series, Vol. 2 was featured in the June 15, 2025 edition of the Rick Gevers & Associates newsletter, a national publication trusted by news directors and broadcast media leaders across the country.
We’re honored to have our article included in his newsletter and proud to see Jim Willi’s retirement story shared with their nationwide readership.
Thank you, Jim Willi, for your lasting contribution to Cedar Creek Lake.
📚 Want to Follow Jim’s Next Chapter?
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