Episodes

  • High-Tech Thrillers with Janet Yeager

    High-Tech Thrillers with Janet Yeager
    Dec 22 2025
    Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Janet Yeager, author of the high-tech thriller, Two Birds, One Stone.

    0:00 Opening Thoughts
    How Writers Prep for the Holidays

    4:51 News
    1) Amazon Offers Free AI Foreign-Language Translations
    2) Grammerly Becomes Superhuman with AI Assistant

    15:26 Craft Corner
    Our panel of experts discuss the use of Amazon and AI by Writers

    19:57 Interview with Janet Yeager

    40:18 Parting Words
    The WriterCon Cruise worked for Janet Yeager. Could it do the same for you? We’re leaving from Ft Lauderdale for an eight-day cruise through the Eastern Caribbean, beautiful tropical vistas combines with over twenty hours of writing instruction, plus an onboard agent who will happily talk to every participant. Don’t miss out. Plan now to be with us March 7-15. Visit the WriterCon website for more info.

    Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
    William Bernhardt
    www.williambernhardt.com
    www.writercon.com
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    44 mins
  • 200th Anniversary Episode!!! with Will and Julia Bryan Thomas

    200th Anniversary Episode!!! with Will and Julia Bryan Thomas
    Dec 11 2025
    Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Will Thomas, author of the Victorian-era Barker & Llewelyn mysteries, and Julia Bryan Thomas, author of five novels, most recently The Kennedy Girl.

    0:00 Opening Thoughts
    The Best Memories from 200 episodes

    4:14 News
    This is a 200th Anniversary News roundup focusing on the two topics that appeared most recently in the news during our previous episodes: Amazon and AI.

    13:36 Craft Corner
    Marty Ludlum (At First I Was Afraid) continues his discussion of writing conferences, focusing on the people you should be looking for to advance your writing career.

    20:10 Interview with Will & Julia Bryan Thomas

    43:12 Parting Words
    The 2026 WriterCon Cruise departs from Ft Lauderdale for an eight-day trip through beautiful tropical vistas plus over twenty hours of writing instruction from Lara and I, plus Betsey Kulakowski, plus an onboard agent (Katharine Sands) who will happily talk to every participant. Don’t miss out. Plan now to be with us March 7-15. Visit the WriterCon website for more info.

    Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
    William Bernhardt
    www.williambernhardt.com
    www.writercon.com
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    46 mins
  • Capturing Media Attention for Your Book with Leah Paulos

    Capturing Media Attention for Your Book with Leah Paulos
    Nov 19 2025
    Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Leah Paulos, the founder and leader of Press Shop PR, who for more than 25 years has helped promote top titles from major publishers.

    Note: Because the team was on the road, the sound quality of this episode is not our usual. Apologies. We will be back to normal next time for our 200TH EPISODE!!!

    0:00 Opening Thoughts
    What book are you thankful for this year?

    4:02 News
    1) Beventi and INKfluence Team to Help Authors Direct Sell Enhanced Books
    2) Huge Phianthropic Fund for Literary Arts

    10:39 Craft Corner
    Tamara Grantham (Never Call Me Vampire) explains the importance of giving your characters memorable eccentricities.

    14:06 Interview with Leah Paulos

    36:10 Parting Words
    Join us for the WriterCon Cruise! Over 20 hours of writing instruction while we cruise the Eastern Carribean on an 8-day sail leaving from Ft Lauderdale, March 7-15. Seas the Day!

    Join the WriterCon Facebook Group, a warm and supportive group of writers. Know what's going on in the writing world every day!

    Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
    William Bernhardt
    www.williambernhardt.com
    www.writercon.com
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    38 mins
  • Thrillers Come Home with Courtney Psak

    Thrillers Come Home with Courtney Psak
    Nov 12 2025
    Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars)and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Courtney Psak, author of the new thriller The Tutor.

    0:00 Opening Thoughts
    The Crew talk about recent travels and debate whether Bill is tragically unhip.

    4:23 News
    The All-Lawsuit Edition!
    1) Judge Declares Texas Book Rating Law Unconstiutional
    2) Michael Wolff Sues Melania Trump for Allegedly Trying to Silence HIm
    3) Big Five P{ublisher Sues the Heirs of Nelson DeMille
    Note: when Bill talks about S&S paying $600 and some, he means $600,000+

    15:18 Interview with Courtney Psak

    32:02 Parting Words
    Join us for the WriterCon Cruise! This time, we’re leaving from Ft Lauderdale for an eight-day cruise through the Eastern Caribbean, which is a new destination for us. So beautiful tropical vistas, plus over twenty hours of writing instruction from Bil, Lara, Betsey Kulakowski and agent Katharine Sands, who will happily talk to every participant. Don’t miss out. Plan now to be with us March 7-15. Visit the WriterCon website for more info. www.writercon.com/cruise
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    34 mins
  • SciFi Doubles with Kuwal & Miller

    SciFi Doubles with Kuwal & Miller
    Oct 29 2025
    Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Sam J Miller and Mary Robinette Kuwal, both award-winning authors of one-half of a new science fiction "Saga Double."

    0:00 Opening Thoughts
    How are you celebrating Halloween?

    05:03 News
    1) Lawsuit Over Amazon Prime Cancellations Settled
    2) TikTok and Spotify Launch New Joint Hub

    12:43 Craft Corner
    Betsey Kulakowski, author of the Veritas Codex series, offers advice on character and world-building, and how the two interact.

    15:35 Interview with Mary Robinette Kuwal and Sam J Miller

    Parting Words
    Mark your calendar for the WriterCon Cruise!
    MARCH 7TH - 15TH
    8-DAY EASTERN CARIBBEAN: GREATER ANTILLES & LEEWARD ISLANDS
    When the boat is at sea, we'll offer more than 20 hours of writing instruction, group and individual, plus we'll have Katharine Sands of the Sarah Jane Freymann Agency on board to meet privately with each participant. Don't miss it! Click here for more information.
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    41 mins
  • Christmas in October with Shanna Hatfield

    Christmas in October with Shanna Hatfield
    Oct 16 2025
    Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Shanna Hatfiled, the author of more than one hundred novels about her new Christmas novel, The Bridge.

    0:00 Opening Thoughts
    Welcome to Season Five of the WriterCon Podcast! We're going to reach our 200th episode in December and we're looking for suggestions on how to celebrate this momentous event. Post your ideas in the Comments section!

    02:56 News
    1) New Developments in the Anthropic Settlement
    Here's a link to the site where you can determine whether any of your books were impropoerly used by Anthropic. You can also submit a Claim Form so you can participate in the settlement—if you qualify.

    Searchable database: https://secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup/?_gl=1x16ddk_gcl_auMjExNTg2NTEzMi4xNzU5NDE1NTc0

    Submitting Claim Forms: https://www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/

    2) New "Book Club" Scam Floods Writers' Email Inboxes

    Support and follow Writer Beware! https://writerbeware.blog/

    13:32 Craft Corner
    Barry Friedman (author of Jack Sh*t 3: I'm the Father) offers suggestions on bringing reality to your fiction.

    15:52 Interview with Shanna Hatfield

    30:58 Parting Words
    The 2026 WriterCon Cruise in March leaving from Ft. Lauderdale on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Come join us!
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    33 mins
  • LIVE from WriterCon 2025: The Joy of Writing

    LIVE from WriterCon 2025: The Joy of Writing
    Oct 8 2025
    This episode was recorded LIVE at WriterCon 2025 on August 31, 2025. Our fifth season will begin next week. See you there!

    Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Laurie L Dove (Mask of the Deer Woman) and Nova McBee (Calculated), the keynote speakers for WriterCon 2025.

    Opening Thoughts
    We're recording LIVE from the third day of WriterCon 2025. Lara enjoys the fun, especially karaoke night. Jesse is disgruntled because he found James Patterson books in his hotel room.

    News
    1) Enterpreneur Replaces Speed Dating with Read Dating
    2) New Platform Allows you to Choose Your Own Adventure in Famous Fictional Worlds
    3) Stephen King and Benjamin Percy Launch Novel Serialized in Newspaper Format

    Interview with Laurie L Dove and Nova McBee

    Parting Words
    Sorry to tell you, but if you’re listening to this at home, you have missed WriterCon 2025. But there will be another one in 2026 during Labor Day weekend (Sept 4-7, 2026), so start making your plans now. www.writercon.com.

    WriterCon has its own free newsletter and you don’t want to miss the next issue, which has wonderful articles and news about breaking issues. Go to Substack and search for WriterCon.

    And if you'd like a daily dose of WriterCon, join our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/113141678727273
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    32 mins
  • "Have a Fulfilling LIfe—Then Write About It" with Candace Kade

    "Have a Fulfilling LIfe—Then Write About It" with Candace Kade
    Aug 21 2025
    Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Candace Kade, the author of The Hybrid series, a YA sci-fi trilogy.

    00:00 Opening Thoughts
    LAST CALL for WriterCon 2025 at the Skirvin Hilton in OKC over Labor Day weekend, August 29-September 1. Over 60 speakers and over 100 breakout sessions, pitching, manuscript reviews, private consultations, etc. It’s also a great opportunity to meet other writers, people who share your hopes and dreams, form critique groups or gain beta readers, or present your work at the Open Mic. It is NOT too late to register! Learn more at: www.writercon.com/conference/

    03:51 News
    1) Siegel and Shuster Plaza Opens in Cleveland

    07:43 Craft Corner
    Desiree Duffy from Black Chateau and Books That Make You explains the FIVE main benefits of writing conferences. Some of them may surprise you...

    11:59 Interview with Candace Kade

    25:52 Parting Words
    ONE LAST TIME! Join us at WriterCon 2025! www.writercon.com/conference
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    28 mins