WriterCon

Bestselling author and host William Bernhardt interviews Rene Gutteridge, author of Christian novels, screenplays, novelizations, comedy, and much more. Gutteridge also (with Bernhardt) co-hosts WriterCon, one of the best writers conference in the nation. They discuss how to survive in the world of writing and how Gutteridge has managed to write in many genres successfully.William Bernhardt: www.williambernhardt.comWriterCon: www.writercon.org

Bestselling writer William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news from the world of books, then interviews Jeffrey Yamaguchi, marketing director for Blackstone Audio.Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Newsa) Several authors have had trouble with people on social media accusing them of racism, body shaming, or Islamophobia;b) The wholesaler Baker & Taylor discontinues distribution to bookstores; and c) The Self-e program for distributing indie titles to libraries adds a few options that could result in payment to writers.Chapter 3: Interview with Jeffrey YamaguchiThe marketing director for Blackstone Audio--which has recently expanded into print books--discusses audiobooks, his work with writers, and practical, step-by-step marketing advice for building an author platform based upon what he has seen work in the past.Chapter 4: Register now for WriterCon 2019 while the Early Bird price is still available and save yourself $50! Visit: www.writercon.org (WriterCon takes place in Oklahoma City over Labor Day weekend--August 30 to September 2).You cannot fail unless you quit!William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.comwillbern@gmail.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews editor Marcia Markland about the paths to writing and publishing success.Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: NewsThe Canadian bookstore chain Indigo opens its first store in the United States.Nora Roberts files a lawsuit against an alleged plagiarist in Brazil.Audiobooks sales have increased even more than people realized, and a survey suggests that the leading audio genre is mystery and the primary place people listen is in their cars.Chapter 3: Writing TipsBernhardt discusses the advantages of audiobooks, not only to increase the market for your work but also as a tool for improving your work.Chapter 4: Interview with Marcia MarklandMarcia Markland worked as an editor for decades at houses such as St. Martin's and Thomas Dunne, and now works as a writing coach. She offers her insights on publishing, the independent publishing boom, and which path might be best for you.Chapter 5: Closing WordsWriterCon 2019 (www.writercon.org) is the official Red Sneaker conference in Oklahoma City during Labor Day weekend (August 30-Sept 2). And there are many other Red Sneaker programs and offerings, including a free bi-weekly newsletter. When you sign up for the newsletter, you will receive the free Red Sneaker Handbook. Register at: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling writer William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Jane Friedman about her new book, The Business of Being a Writer.News:1) Tor introduces a new horror imprint.2) Scribd offers new short-form works to its subscribers.3) WattPad makes a deal with Sony to develop its stories into film.Writing Tips1) This may be the best time to publish your poetry--and start on Instagram.InterviewJane Friedman has been in the publishing world for more than twenty years, advising both writers and publishers. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, an industry newsletter, and her new book is titled The Business of Being a Writer, in which she discusses how an author can integrate the creative and the business aspects to make both successful.William Bernhardt will be leading a small-group writing retreat in Eureka Springs AR in July. For more information, visit: william.bernhardt.comStart planning to attend WriterCon, the annual Red Sneaker writers conference in Oklahoma City. This year's conference will have the largest and most comprehensive lineup of guests and offerings yet, including three days of sessions, masterclasses, private consultations with authors and editors, private dining opportunities, contests, and much more. For information, visit writercon.org

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news of interest to writers, offers writing tips to make your work more appealing to movie/tv scouts, and interviews Danielle Norman, a romance writer who explains how she used dictation to increase her productivity and find her voice.News:1) Barnes & Noble opens a new "bookstore of the future."2) Amazon release a less expensive Kindle, increasing the viability of Kindle ads.3) Amazon explains that its "most favored nation" policy requiring competitive pricing still applies to KDP authors.4) The Second Circuit rules that digital files (like audiobooks) may not be resold.5) Bernhardt explains why Amazon is arguably the best place for a new or unknown author to build a following.Writing Tips:Bernhardt talks about TaleFlick, a new online platform that allows writers to get their work in front of movie/tv scouts, then discusses the elements that makes stories more appealing to those producing stories for visual media.Interview with Danielle Norman:This wildly successful romance author explains how, although she had never written before, she started dictating her early drafts and found a multi-book contract with Simin & Schuster in seven month. She says that dictation not only allowed her to increase her productivity but to find her voice. She provides details on how you can do the same.Want to join William Bernhardt's Patreon mentoring program? www.patreon.com/willbernThinking about attending WriterCon over Labor Day weekend? www.writercon.orgPlease post reviews and like this program at your favorite podcatcher. Email William Bernhardt at: wb@williambeernhardt.com

Bestselling writer William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news from the world of books, then interviews Victoria Gerken of Podium Publishing, a pioneering audiobook specialty house.The Last Chance Lawyer, William's Bernhardt's new novel, the first in a series of legal thrillers featuring attorney Daniel Pike, is now on sale in ebook, paperback, large print, and audiobook editions. Bernhardt explains his overall plan for the series.News:1) A new report suggests that a large quantity of Amazon book reviews are "fake." But what constitutes fakeness?2) Publishers are reportedly losing millions by ignoring the exponential growth of voice-first technology (voice-activated devices like Amazon's Alexa).3) A new study explains when readers buy ebooks, when they buy print, in what quantities and in what circumstances.Interview: Victoria Gerken, author liaison with Podium Publishing, discusses the current surge in audiobook sales. She relates how Podium found Andy Weir's breakout novel The Martian while it was still a free giveaway on Weir's webpage and helped turn it into a bestseller. She also discusses what works in audio, what doesn't, and how authors can best take advantage of this increased interest in the spoken word.For more information about The Last Chance Lawyer, the Red Sneaker books on writing, or this podcast, visit: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news that writers need to know, offers writing tips, and interviews David Gaughran, author of BookBub Ads Expert and the blog Let's Get Digital.News:1) Barnes & Noble earnings are flat, Amazon closes pop-up stores, Draft2Digital adds Google Play, PublishDrive adds Amazon Ads, Reedsy adds the Discovery program, and BookBub adds Chirp, a service to help writers promote audiobooks.2) A plagiarism scandal erupts in the world of romance fiction. Is Amazon to blame?3) Quillbot is a web-based program that offers to improve your writing. Can artificial intelligence give you sizzling style?Writing Tips1) A Twitter-storm arises and a forthcoming debut young adult author accused of racial insensitivity withdraws her book. Given the hyperactive online ecosystem in today's world, how can a writer avoid problems like this? And how should you deal with it if it arises?Interview:David Gaughran is an Irish author of fiction and nonfiction and an expert on online book marketing. He discusses his new work, BoobBub Ads Expert and how you can use BookBub, Amazon Ads, and other online opportunities to effectively increase the sales of your books.William Bernhardt's new novel, The Last Chance Lawyer, can now be pre-ordered online in ebook, print, and audio. This is the first novel is a new series of legal thrillers featuring lawyer Daniel Pike. The book will be released March 19, 2019.David Gaughran will be one of the featured presenters this year at WriterCon 2019, an annual writers conference in Oklahoma City held over Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit writer con.org.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt (The Last Chance Lawyer) discusses the latest news from the publishing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Dave Chesson, the "Kindlepreneur" who offers educational classes, books, and the invaluable program KDP Rocket to help writers promote their work.Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Newsa) For the first time, Amazon Studios has purchased the media rights to a book published by Amazon Publishing, creating synergy that could make Amazon an even more desirable publishing choice.b) Stephen King becomes the first author to have his own Amazon skill (program), allowing people to find a King book through their home Alexa device. This will likely be the first of many such skills created by authors to market their books and audiobooks.Chapter 3: Writing TipsThe publishing world has been beset with scandal. Journalist Jill Abramson has been accused of plagiarism, and novelist Dan Mallory has been accused of borrowing the plot elements of his new novel from the work of others. Writers must be cautious not to use the words of others without giving proper attribution, and must be careful to distinguish their stories from previous ones, even though they may share the same genre or plot archetypes. Bernhardt offers tips to help writers ensure their work is distinctive rather than imitative.Chapter 4: Interview with Dave ChessonKDP Rocket has become an indispensable tool for the modern writer, allowing them to search for the best keywords to use in their advertising. Chesson also discusses his books, blog, and classes designed to help writers find success.Chapter 5: Parting WordsWilliam Bernhardt's new novel, The Last Chance Lawyer, is now available for pre-order at a reduced price on most online bookselling sites. He also has sworn to not use the word "forefront" again for at least the next five podcasts. He can be contacted at: wb@williambernhardt.com. Please spread the word about this podcast and post reviews on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the writing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Shawn Coyne, writer, editor, and creator of The Story Grid.News:1) Steven Spielberg options a story first published on Reddit.2) Wattpad announces the creation of Wattpad Books, a book publishing division to promote its authors and stories in print.3) Otto Pendler announces the creation of a new mystery imprint.4) Amazon's press release reveals that thousands of self-published authors are making more than $50,000 a year.In the interview, Shawn Coyne discusses The Story Grid, guidelines and checklists he created after years of editing for major New York publishers. Authors can use the Grid to diagnose their work-in-progress and make sure it contains all the essential ingredients. Coyne also discusses what makes a book stand out to readers, the advantages of outlining, and the truth about writer's block.Please post reviews and ratings wherever you get your podcast. You can email William Bernhardt at wb@williambernhardt.com and learn more about his work at www.williambernhardt.com.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, then interviews RJ Johnson, author of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels, and an independent publishing pioneer.News: 1) Amazon Advertising becomes a $125 billion business by using the data collected from its customers to sell targeted marketing to advertisers. Are you using Amazon Ads yet?2) An Australian university has developed a new font--Sans Forgetica--which increases retention of what is read.3) American poet Mary Oliver, inspiration for many writers and author of the famous poem "Wild Geese," has passed.Interview:RJ Johnson was at the forefront of the independent publishing movement, skillfully using Amazon KDP, Bookbub, and other forms of marketing and advertising to build a following for his science fiction and fantasy novels. He offers wisdom and advice to writers and discusses the challenges of crossing and mixing genres.Please like or review this podcast. Send email to: wb@williambernhardt.com. For more information about the Red Sneaker books on writing, or William Bernhardt's writing retreats and annual conference, visit: www.williambernhardt.com