WriterCon

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews David Gaughran, book marketing expert and author of Amazon Decoded.Chapter 1: IntroductionTwo great new books on sale:Final Verdict (Daniel Pike Legal Thriller #6) by William BernhardtThe Jaguar Queen (Veritas Codex Paranormal Thriller #2) by Betsey KulakowskiChapter 2: Newsa) Publishers Weekly creates a new virtual book show.b) Josh Hawley finds a new publisher—distributed by Simon & Schuster.c) Publishers Marketplace reports that book deals increased in 2020.d) Ebook customers file antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.e) The new President and VP star in their own comic books.f) Braydon Harrington and Amanda Gorman (Inaugural Poet) have books forthcoming.g) Call the Poetry Hotline!Chapter 3: Writing TipsEvery author needs a good editor, and until the end of January, one of the best editors, Alicia Dean, is offering a great sale—only $200 for a content or developmental edit of the entire manuscript. Email Alicia@AliciaDean.com for details.Chapter 4: Interview Bernhardt talks to David Gaughran, author of a new edition of Amazon Decoded, on how writers can maximize their book sales in the current marketplace.Chapter 5: Parting WordsKeep writing!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Liz Berry, publisher of 1001 Dark Nights and Blue Box Press, about book branding and marketing.Chapter 1: IntroductionBernhardt reminds you that in tumultuous times, people turn to books for solace and wisdom. So keep writing.Chapter 2: Newsa) Simon & Schuster cancels Josh Hawley's forthcoming book.b) Print book sales from retail outlets reportedly increased by 12% in 2020.c) Audiobooks and podcasts are being eyed by major companies, providing opportunity to writers.d) Works first published in 1925 enter the public domain.Chapter 3: Writing TipsBernhardt offers three questions to help you focus on what you should write in 2021, and how you should aspire to publish it.Chapter 4: InterviewBernhardt interviews Liz Berry, publisher and marketing expert, about how to build your brand and most effectively market your books.Chapter 5: Parting WordsPlease rate or review this podcast wherever you get your podcasts!William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Steve Berry, New York Times-bestselling author of The Warsaw Protocol and many other historical thrillers featuring series character Cotton Malone.Chapter 1: IntroductionFinal Verdict (Daniel Pike #6) can now be pre-ordered.Send me your suggestions for the podcast, WriterCon, or the WriterCon website: wb@williambernhardt.com.Chapter 2: Newsa) Unpublished manuscripts are being hijacked by an unknown source.b) The CASE Act creates a small claims court for copyright cases.c) Portrait of 2020: Book sales are up, Amazon is soaring, but independent bookstores are hurting.Chapter 3: Writing TipsPopular fiction novels can reference the real world and engage with the issues of the day, but avoid being preachy and let your protagonist's actions set an example.Chapter 4: InterviewBernhardt interviews bestselling author Steve Berry about the creation of one of the most successful series characters of the modern era.Chapter 5: Parting WordsMake your New Years Day resolution to write every day (or as close as possible)!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews William Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of the Peter Fallon historical thrillers, including Bound for Gold.Chapter 1: IntroThis episode was recorded during the first-ever Red Sneaker online writing workshop, which has been a tremendous success.Chapter 2: Newsa) ABA announces that it will discontinue its annual trade show, BookExpo.b) Critics and commentators weigh in on the sale of Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House.c) Barnes & Noble fires a third of its staff.d) Amazon Publishing is talking to DPLA, which distributes books to libraries.Chapter 3: Writing TipsSome of the participants in the online Red Sneaker writing workshop share what they've learned.Chapter 4: InterviewBernhardt talks to William Martin, the New York Times-bestselling author best known for his historical thrillers about how he mines history and incorporates it into his bestselling books.Chapter 5: Parting WordsPlease spread the word about this podcast and leave ratings and reviews.Keep Writing!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Lauren Turow, Head of Growth at Lately AI.Chapter 1:IntroductionLast Chance to register for Bernhardt's Online Writing Workshop, Dec 9-13. Info: www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsChapter 2: News:a) Bertelsmann (owner of Penguin Random House) will buy Simon & Schuster for $2.2 billion.b) Barack Obama’s memoir posts the largest first-day sales for any book published by Penguin Random House. c) Due to the complaints from authors, ACX has changed its payment policy for returned audiobook titles. d) Binge Books launches a book discovery site for fiction. e) Ebook distributor Draft2Digital announces payment splitting. f) Audiobooks can now be delivered through BookFunnel. g) Elephind is a free resource for researching historical newspapers online.h) James Patterson was the decade’s bestselling author. Chapter 3: Writing Tips:Take advantage of the new features available on your Amazon Author Central page.Chapter 4: Interview Bernhardt interviews Lauren Turow, the Head of Growth for Lately AI, a service that helps authors maximize their social media presence.Chapter 5: Parting WordsPlease rate, review, and post about this website!Attend the Online Writing Workshop!And until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews J.A. Ludwig, author of the high fantasy novel Bloodfall Arena.Chapter 1: IntroductionWe have power again! I'm back in the recording studio!Chapter 2: Newsa) Amazon allows publishers and authors input on their series pages.b) ACX claims production delays are due to large numbers of low-quality submissions.c) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is for sale.d) Kindle Owners Lending Library is ending.e) UK publishers are putting major authors into Kindle Unlimited.f) Penguin Random House parent company buys Quad printing operations.g) According to a new study, literary fiction and popular fiction affect the brain differently.Chapter 3: Writing TipsBernhardt discusses the challenges of adding diversity and inclusion to your writing and how to do it the right way—to improve your book, rather than simply making token gestures.Chapter 4: InterviewBernhardt interviews J.A. Ludwig, author of the Blood Magic high fantasy series, which leads with the novel Bloodfall Arena. She discusses her path to becoming a writer and what she has learned along the way.Chapter 5: Parting WordsPlease rate this podcast or leave a review!Join William Bernhardt for his five-day online writing workshop. Get direct feedback on your manuscript. Get the answers you need to succeed. For more info, visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreats

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the book world, offers writing tips, and interviews David Gaughran, book marketing expert and author of Let's Get Digital.Chapter 1: IntroductionA complete power outage is no excuse to slack off.Chapter 2: Newsa) A debut author scores a $2 million deal with Doubleday.b) Book sales are soaring. Readers are buying 30% more eBooks.c) Experts warn that holiday shoppers will start early and buy more than half online.d) Molly Stern starts Zando, a publishing house the will focus on high-profile partners and promoters—not bookstores.e) Mike Shatzhin says publishers must shift their focus from bookstores to direct sales.f) A British six-year-old publishes a book: My Mummy is Autistic.Chapter 3: Writing TipsLara Bernhardt (The Wantland Files) discusses techniques for getting readers emotionally involved in your book.Chapter 4: InterviewDavid Gaughran discusses all the new tips and data in the new edition of Let's Get Digital, his guide to publishing and marketing eBooks.Chapter 5: Parting WordsJudge and Jury, William Bernhardt's fifth book in the Daniel Pike series, is now on sale. The next, Final Verdict, will be available in January.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books and interviews Pierce Gaynor, CEO of Fictional, an online AI prose editor for writers and publishers.Chapter 1: IntroductionBernhardt offers an online five-day writing workshop in December.Big response to new tech programs for writers—including FixionalChapter 2: Newsa) Writer is an online service that checks your manuscript for potentially offensive or otherwise problematic prose.b) Joseph Esposito explains why Penguin Random House wants Simon & Schuster.c) A new publishing startup, BookClub, helps authors create their own book clubs.d) Amazon launches a similar book-club-creation service.e) Barnes & Noble computer records were hacked.f) Children's book sales are up.g) Five years later, it appears the New York Times prediction about the demise of eBooks was incorrect.Chapter 3: InterviewBernhardt interviews Pierce Gaynor about his new online AI editing service, Fixional.Chapter 4: Parting WordsIt is not too late to register for Bernhardt's December small-group retreat. Visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsKeep writing!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Steven James, author of the Bowers Files thrillers and Story Trumps Structure.Chapter 1: IntroductionBernhardt's first online small-group writing workshop is filling fast. Visit www.williambernhardt.com for more information. Chapter 2: Newsa) Fixional offers AI-driven editing and revision services for authors and publishers.b) Plotrr allows authors to outline and create timelines for their books.c) Lately is an AI-driven service that helps you prepare and spread your social media posts.d) Trinity Audio provide a text-to-speech service to create audio versions of books, stories, and articles.Chapter 3: Writing TipsTech is great, especially if it helps you sit down and get the work done, but no AI will ever replace your human creativity. That's what makes you a writer.Chapter 4: InterviewSteven James is the author more more than thirty books, including thrillers, the SF novel Synapse, and Story Trumps Structure, a writing guide. He shares his thoughts on whether character arc is necessary for series characters, the importance of revision, and much more.Chapter 5: Parting WordsYou can support this podcast by joining William Bernhardt's Patreon page: www.patron.com/willbernIf you're enjoying this podcast, please leave a positive review wherever you get podcasts!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the book world, offers writing tips, and interviews Betsey Kulakowski, author of The Veritas Codex series.Chapter 1: IntroductionWriterCon 2020 was a success, and WriterCon 2021 will stream again!Chapter 2: Newsa) Simon & Schuster may be purchased by Random Houseb) Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt discusses the need to make bookstores a destination.c) David Burleigh from OverDrive discusses the surge in library use of digital books.d) Marlowe, an AI program, will analyze your book for $89.Chapter 3: Writing TipsEditing is essential to producing a first-rate book. Bernhardt discusses the differences and purposes of developmental edits, copy edits, beta readers, and proofreading.Chapter 4: Interview with Betsey KulakowskiBernhardt interviews the author of The Veritas Codex, the first book is a new series featuring a television journalist who explores strange and explained mysteries.Chapter 5: Parting WordsWriters looking for direct feedback on their manuscripts should consider Bernhardt's upcoming small-group workshops, one online in December, one in person in 2021. Bernhardt reads manuscripts and daily work, discusses relevant topics, and provides direct critique and editing. For more information, visit www.williambernhardt.com and click on "Red Sneaker Writers."Until next time, keep writing, and remember, you cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.