WriterCon

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news in the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Katharine Sands, the highly-sought-after literary agent from the Sarah Jane Freymann Agency.Opening ThoughtsYes, Bill and Lara are married and live together, they just broadcast from different rooms. But it doesn't matter because there are books and superheroes in all of them.News1) AI Program Lets You Speak to the Dead2) First-Time Author with Major Book Deal is Cancelled Due to Online BehaviorInterviewDuring this chat with Katharine Sands, you will learn:1) how she became an agent;2) what she's looking for:3) hot trends she's seeing for 2024;4) how to perfect your pitch; and5) what she'll be doing on the WriterCon Cruise.Closing ThoughtsLara wants you to join her for the WriterCon Cruise. Lots of instruction, both large-group and small, guaranteed one-on-one meetings with the agent and others, chances to make new writer friends and learn new writer tricks. Plus we have a blast, and Lara is talking about wearing a swimsuit! Join the adventure: https://writercon.com/writercon-cruise/Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.com www.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Debbie Babitt, thriller author of First Victim and Saving Grace.Opening RemarksThe WriterCon podcast is praised on social media...by Pirr.NewsYour hosts make prognostications for 2024 on critical book-world topics, like emerging genres, book banning, AI, and the FTC suit against Amazon.Interview with Debbie BabittDuring this chat, you will learn:1) why she writes thrillers;2) how she broke into the business;3) where she finds inspiration;4) how she helps other writers; and5) what happenjs next.Parting WordsLara wants everyone to join us on the WriterCon Cruise in April. We have negotiated excellent discounted prices you will not find anywhere else. The Cruise offers over 20+ hours of instruction, plus one-on-one meetings with a top-ranked agent and anyone else on our eight-person faculty. Plus, we have tons of fun! Join us!Remember writers, you cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardtwillbern@gmail.comwww.writercon.comwww.williambrnhardt.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing and publishing tips, and interview Micah Leydorf, inspirational writer of The Unseen Battle.Opening ThoughtsBill's thriller Dark Eye (2005) has been banned in Florida. He is very excited about it.Lara is more excited about the forthcoming WriterCon Cruise.News1) Lord of the Rings Fan Fiction Author Loses in Court—Twice2) Steamboat Willie, Tigger, and Other Valuable IPs Go Public DomainInterview with Micah Leydorf:During this chat you will learn:1) what distinguishes spiritual or faith-based fiction;2) how to break into the market;3) how she merges politics and faith;4) her path to publication; and5) why she calls herself "the wife, mother, and serial entrepreneur who writes out of obedience.” Parting WordsJoin us for the WriterCon Cruise, April 21-29, 2024! Since the last podcast, we’ve added three more faculty members, so we now have eight instructors on our Cruise faculty, four authors (including two major-list bestsellers), two publishers, an audiobook engineer, and a top agent from the Sarah Jane Freymann Agency. This will be the third WriterCon cruise—and four of our previous attendees are now published with excellent houses. On the cruise, you will receive more than 20 hours of on-board instruction, plus a private meeting with the agent (and anyone else you request). You may even be able to squeeze in time for the hot tub. You will learn (but we also have lots of fun). Click here for more information.Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.com www.writercon.comwillbern@gmail.com

Happy New Year! For our final episode of 2023, we're combining two previous interviews (from two separate episodes) with Erin Heinecke. Erin is with the largest firm in the US specializing in book-to-movie deals, which saw a big upswing in 2023. How can you be a part of this? Listen to Erin.We'll be back in 2024 with more interviews, more writing tips, more news analysis, and more information about forthcoming programs like the Cruise, the Retreat, the Magazine, and of course, the WriterCon conference itself.Thanks for listening to this podcast! Tell your writing friends about us!William Bernhardtwillbern@gmail.comwww.writercon.comwww.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Dan Short, co-author of The Santa Claus Chronicles, with Rene Gutteridge.Note: Due to the circumstances—Dan giving us an interview between Santa gigs—the audio is imperfect. Apologies, but we didn't want you to miss out on Dan's wonderful stories.Chapter 1: Opening ThoughtsWe are ready for the holidays!During the holiday break, we will release a classic compilation episode featuring Erin Heinecke, the prominent movie/tv literary agent.Chapter 2: News1) Big 5 Publishers Use AI to Select Manuscripts2) Wattpad Launches Premium Subscriptions3) Wall Street Journal Cancels its Bestseller ListChapter 3: Interview with Dan ShortDuring this chat, you'll learn:1) how Dan started writing;2) how he started being Santa;3) how he brings the joy of the season to his work; and 4) the experiences and lessons of his life.Chapater 4: Parting WordsLara Bernhardt's Christmas Spirit is marked down for the holidays!William Bernhardt has a Kenzi Rivera short story int he holiday anthology Christmas Tapestry.The holiday issue of WriterCon Magazine has been released. Subscribe today!William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.comwww.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Dan Martin, head writer for Star Trek: Resurgence and many other computer/video games. He has also worked as a Hollywood script reader.Chapter 1: Opening ThoughtsJesse is elated by the prospect of a guest relating to Star Trek.Chapter 2: News1) Book/Movie Deals are on the Upswing2) Amazon Sues Scam PublishersThe You Tube scam-hunter Lara mentions is Kitboga.Chapter 3: Interview with Dan MartinDuring this chapter, you will learn:1) what Hollywood script readers are looking for;2) how to write a game script;3) handling the infinite branches of a gaming story;4) creating layered characters in a plot-driven story; and5) how to break into this billion-dollar industry.Chapter 4: Parting WordsLara Bernhardt's novel Shadow of the Taj is now on sale. William Bernhardt has a Kenzi Rivera story in the anthology Christmas Tapestry.The holiday issue of WriterCon Magazine is now on sale, featuring articles about writing holiday stories, marketing holiday stories, inspirational pieces, gift lists for writers, and much more. Get it at: writercon.substack.com.

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Rebecca Hanover, New York Times-bestselling author of The Last Applicant.Opening RemarksThanksgiving has passed, but a new and bigger holiday looms on the horizon...News (4:25)1) Pirr Ai Program Helps You Write Your Own Smut2) Americans Reveal How Many Books They OwnInterview with Rebecca Hanover (17:55)During this chat, you will learn:1) why every writing process is different;2) how she won an Emmy;3) gravitating from television to novels;4) why she wrote YA; and5) why she now writes thrillers, chasing a good story, not a genre.Parting Words (33:08)Lara's Christmas novel, Christmas Spirit, is deep-discounted for the holidays. Get it now!Christmas Tapestry is an anthology of Christmas stories from differnt genres. Each author (including William Bernhardt) provides a story featuring their series characters.WriterCon Magazine releases its holiday issue next week, with tips on writing for Christmas, gift lists for writers, and much more. Did you read the last one? Visit: writerconmag.substack.com

Happy Thanksgiving weekend! We're taking the week off, but just so you don't have to go without, we're sending you this holiday re-release of two 2020 interivews with the brilliant novelist Steve Berry. You'll be amazing at how honest he is—and how helpful his thoughts are—to writers at all stages of their careers. So don't eat too much, take a long walk, and enjoy this blast-from-the-past interview with the incredibly successful NYT-bestselling author of The Last Kingdom, the latest book in his acclaimed Cotton Malone series.

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Jerry Izenberg, acclaimed sportswriter, memoirist, and author of After the Fire.Chapter 1: Opening Thoughts (0;49)Would you go on a Meet Your Favorite Authors Cruise? How do we make this happen? Send me your ideas: willbern@gmail.comChapter 2: News (6:09)a) Report from the Frankfurt Book Fair: BookTok Rulesb) Report from the Authors Guild: Romance Rules (and Indie Authors Breakout around 5 Years)Chapter 3: Interview with Jerry Izenberg (25:17)During this interview, Jerry discusses:a) 70 years of outstanding sportswriting;b) why he shifted to memoir; c) choosing a publisher; d) fictionalizing reality; ande) suviving in the publishing world.Chapter 4: Parting Words (44.26)William Bernhardt's new novel, Partners in Crime (Daniel Pike #7; Ben Kincaid #20) is NOW ON SALE! Watch Bernhardt's famous fictional lawyers team up for the courtroom case of their lifetimes! If you haven’t joined the WriterCon Facebook Group yet, do it now! Do it today and join this wonderful community of writers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/113141678727273Subscribe to WriterCon Magazine or the free WriterCon e-newsletter on SubStack. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please subscribe, then rate or review it wherever you get podcasts. It does make it easier for new listeners to discover us.You can find the video version of these podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@writerconpodcast1307Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit. William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.comwww.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview William Martin, NYT-bestselling author of December '41 and many other historical thrillers.Chapter 1: Opening ThoughtsWriterCon Magazine needs a better name! Send your suggestions to: willbern@gmail.comAnd the second issue will soon be sent, so subscribe now!Chapter 2: Newsa) A New Look for Barnes & Noble;b) Amazon posts stellar Q3 profits; andc) Amazon allows authors to push recommendations to followersChapter 3: Interview with William MartinDuring this chat, Martin considers:a) why history is his jam;b) how he researches his books;c) Humanoids of the Deep;d) plotting by obstacles; ande) why he suggested his writer-son consider law school.Chapter 4: Parting WordsLara Bernhardt has an upcoming BookBub promotion for Red Rain in Australia.William Bernhardt's new legal thriller is Partners in Crime, which teams his two lawyer series characters, Ben Kincaid and Daniel Pike.Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.comwww.writercon.com