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

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.

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!

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

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
Desire 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

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Sydney Pruett, a therapist who helps authors make their characters (fiction and nonfiction) psychologically compelling and consistent.

00:00 Opening Thoughts
WriterCon is almost here! Come join the best writers conference in the Southwest. Over 60 speakers, over 100 breakout sessions covering every aspect of the writing life, craft, agents, publishers, marketing, and more. Pitching, consults, manuscript reviews, and much more. It is NOT too late to register. For more info, visit: www.writercon.com

03:41 News
1) Audiobook Walking Clubs Gain Popularity
2) Fan Fiction Leads to Controversial Online Chatter

13:07 Craft Corner
Jon Meyers talks about the vaue of writers conferences—and his upcoming MasterClass on memoir.

18:18 Interview with Sydney Pruett

30:25 Parting Words
Have I said this already? Come join us at WriterCon! www.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Abigail O'Bryan, who recently released her first novel, Iron Rose—a dark YA reimagining of Beauty & the Beast meets Hunger Games.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
You are cordially invited to WriterCon, our annual writers conference, this year at the Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City over Labor Day weekend, starting Friday, August 29. Over 60 speakers and over 100 sessions, pitching, contests, manuscript reviews, private consultations, etc. But the best thing about it is that this is a real community of writers, people eager to help, people who have your back and understand the challenges of being a writer in today’s world. I think people are often surprised by how warm and welcoming the group is, and how many friends they make and keep after the conference is over.

04:36 News
1) AI Whistleblower Act Proposed
2) You Might Be Able to Copyright Your Face

11:07 Craft Corner
This week's writing craft chat comes from Friend of the Podcast Betsey Kulakowski, author of the bestselling Veritas Codex series and a new book, The Veil of Secrets. Today she addresses the gigantic benefit of attending writer conferences.

13:37 Interview with Abigail O'Bryan

33.21 Parting Words
Did I mention WriterCon yet? Of course I did. Come join us! Take your writing dreams to the next level.

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
William Bernhardt 
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Nove McBee, author of a young adult action-adventure series called Calculated—and a keynote speaker at this year's WriterCon!

Opening Thoughts
Bill announces his new book scheduled for release in 2026: The Superman Wars: The Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. And everyone shares their excitement about this year's WriterCon.

News
1) BookCon will return in 2026!
2) Marginalia Mania ("Tabbing") is a Hot New BookTok Trend.

Interivew
Nove McBee talks about traveling the world, using math to fuel fiction, and juggling many irons at once so she's ready when the right publisher comes calling.

Parting Words
WriterCon 2025 takes place in Oklahoma City on August 29-September 1. Over 60 speakers. Over 100 sessions. Free pitching. Contests. One-on-one consultations. Manuscript reviews. Book vendors to help authors. And much more. At thehistoric Hilton Skirvin in Oklahoma City. Come join us and take your writing to the next level!

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.

William Bernhardt
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com  

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Laurie L. Dove, WriterCon keynote speaker and bestelling author who scored a huge success earlier this year with her debut novel, Mask of the Deer Woman, a thriller set on a Native America reservation with indigenous characters.

00:00 Opening Thoughts
Last Call for the WriterCon Retreat, a five-day immerisve writing workshop at Canebrake Resort, Wagoner OK, from July 16-20.

05:39 News
We take a deep dive into the ongoing controversies surrounding artificial intelligence and how it affects writers, talking about the recent Anthropic decision, the studio suit against Midjourney, and writers being accused of using AI—even though they didn't.

18:36 Craft Corner
Jon Meyers of Write Better Together discusses the importance of choosing your setting deliberately.

23:18 Interview with Laurie L Dove
In this compelling interview, we hear the bestselling debut author discuss her road of many years leading to Mask of the Deer Woman, her chart-topping breakout novel, now planned to launch a series. She talks about how the Murdered and Missing Indiginous Women crisis informed the book and how she devised the plot twists and turns that have led to stellar reviews and high sales.

36:38 Parting Words
Yes, the Retreat ia almost upon us...so let's start talking about the WriterCon Conference, Labor Day weekend (Aug 29-Sept 1) at the historic Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City. Come join us!

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.

William Bernhardt 
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com

Note: This episode was delayed for technical reasons, so some may be confused by the opening when William teases his latest book sale. If you follow him on social media, you've already seen The Big Reveal. And if not—check out the next episode. Also, that is indeed William and Lara's dog, Baxter, expressing his enthusiasm for the new Amazon Kindle policy. We could've removed it—but why?

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Lauren Smith, the USA Today-bestselling author of many bestselling romance novels, including The Care and Feeding of Rogues—which involves not only romance, but Sherlock Holmes.

00:00 Opening Thoughts
All the latest news from Bill, Lara, and Jesse

04:53 News
1) Kindle Readers Can Now Purchase Books Within the App
2) New Book Says "Bibliotherapy" Can Improve Your Health

14:18 Craft Corner
Jon Meyers of Write Better Together discusses the importance of choosing setting deliberately.

20:23 Interview with Lauren Smith
Lauren Smith has won multiple awards in several romance subgenres and was a 2018 RITA Finalist in the Romance Writers of America Contest. She was also a 2024 OK Book Awards nominee for The Care and Feeding of Rogues and she will be joining us at the WriterCon Retreat on July 16-20.

36:44 Parting Words
Don't forget about the WriterCon Retreat at Canebrake Resort on July 16-20. It's a five-day, small-group writing retreat at the 300-acre resort on Ft. Gibson Lake. Our retreat group will have the resort to ourselves with paths to hike, a pool to enjoy, bikes to ride and much more! Classes every day, small-group work, guest lectures, plus plenty of time to get some writing done in a gorgeous environment. This retreat will leave you inspired to move forward in your writing journey! www.writercon.com/retreat/

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
William Bernhardt 
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Mark Stevens, author of several crime novels, including Trapline. His new novel No Lie Lasts Forever involves a reporter investigating a cold-case serial killer who may have returned.

00.00 Opening Thoughts
Jesse has returned from Ireland with a new appreciation of books—especially illuminated ones.

04:29 News
1) MIllion Lives Book Festival Disaster
2) Agatha Christie Rises to Teach Again

15:31 Craft Corner
Jon Meyers (Write Better Together) discusses the use of attachment theory when creating characters and character relationships.

21:30 Interview with Mark Stevens

42:20 Parting Words
LAST CALL for the WriterCon Cruise (May31-July 7). Seven days at sea touring Alaska—with lots of writing instruction when the boat is at sea. Over 20 hours of talks, small-group work, plus private interviews with an onbaord literary agent. Register now!

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
William Bernhardt 
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Kaira Rouda, the author of many bestselling novels of domestic suspense, translated into more than a dozen languages. Her new novel is Jill is Not Happy.

Openting Thoughts
NaNoWriMo has shut down—but don't let that stop you from writing. Create a schedule for yourself and stick to it!

News
1) Plagiarism Accusations in the Romantasy World
2) An AI program "specifically designed for writers"

Craft Corner
Marty Ludlum, author of At First I Was Afraid, discusses the importance of choosing the rights words to bring your story to life.

Interview with Kaira Rouda

Parting Words
It's not to late to register for the WriterCon Alaskan Cruise, May 31-June 6, departing from Seattle. Over 20 hours of instruction, meetings with a major literary agent, plus one-on-ones focusing on your work-in-progress. Workshop your book while admiring some of the most beautiful vistas on earth. For more information about the cruise, the retreat, and the annual conference, visit www.writercon.com.

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
William Bernhardt
www.williambernhardt.com
www.writercon.com

Errata: William acknowledges that the fifth book in the Douglas Adams Hitchhiker series is "Mostly Harmless," not "Mostly Serious" although he thinks both equally inaccurate. The Faulkner quote he butchers is "The past is never dead. It's not even past."

The title of the Barry Friedman series we didn't say aloud is Jack Sh*t 1 & 2, lovely vignettes of his father's colorful wit and wisdom.

This Week on WriterCon:

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Matt Goldman, New York Times bestselling author, playwright, and Emmy Award-winning television writer for Seinfeld, Ellen, and other shows. He has now written a novel, The Murder Show.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
Check out the new books from fabulous Friends of WriterCon (and edited by Lara): Beauty and the Bund by John Wooley and Broadway Dreamer by Lynette Bennett.

5:13 News
1) Author of the Original Vampire Dairies Books was Blackballed from Her Own Series
2) AI-written Poetry is Indistinguishable and More Popular than Human Poetry

21:06 Craft Corner
Desire Duffy of Black Chateau talks about how to get reviews from readers.

25:26 Interview with Matt Goldman, author of The Murder Room

45:46 Parting Words
The Show more...