WriterCon

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Eloisa James, the reigning queen of romance, who has over 7 million books in print, about her new novel The Last Lady B, which has been called "Jane Austen Meets The White Lotus."

0:00 Opening Thoughts
Bill wants everyone to know that his new book The Superman Wars is finally on sale. This is the story of Jerry Siegel, the man who came up with the idea for Superman only to lose control and see his c...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview David L Robbins, author of many novels involving 20th Century military history, including War of the Rats, a bestseller set during a critical WWII battle between Germany and Russia. He also helped launch The Mighty Pen Project, an intensive writing program for Virginia's military veterans and their families.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
The Superman Wars hits the stands on April 28. Order now to read this history/biography of Jerry Siegel, originator of Superman, the first American...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Erica Wright, the author of the "psychic mystery" The Museum of Unusual Occurence.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
Don't fall for scams targeting authors!
5:13 News
1) Shy Girl is Cancelled by Hachette Due to AI Use
2) Tracy Wolff is Found Not Liable for Plagiarism
15:18 Craft Corner
Lara Bernhardt explains the importance of imagery in your work.
18:18 Interview with Erica Wright
31.23 Parting Words
The WriterCon small-group retreat is July 15-19 at...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Elliot S! Maggin, author of novels and comic book stories, including now-classic tales for Superman.
0:00 Opening Thoughts
Lara updates us on her recent acitvities
2:50 News
1) DNF Rating Added to Goodreads
2) Solarpunk Genre Presents Positive Futures That Address Climate Change
11:51 Craft Corner
Lara Bernhardt (The Wantland Files) explians how to Get to the Heart of Your Story
16:54 Interview with Elliot S! Maggin
38:40 Parting Words
Bill explains a moment...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Carol Van Den Hande, author of the Goodbye Orchid series.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
Bill got his first review for The Superman Wars! And it's good (or he would'nt have mentioned it). Jesse is just back from the Star Trek Cruise. He has been assimilated.

3:47 News
1) Bookstreaming Comes to Twitch
2) Bindery Books Lets Book Influencers Become Acquiring Editors

11:56 Craft Corner
Betsey Kulakowski, author of the Veritas Codex series of...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Steve Younis, host of the Superman Homepage and author of a new book, Man of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: A Calendar of Significant Birthdays, Premieres, and Milestones in Superman's History.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
We chat about hockey romances and why they are having their moment.

6:44 News
1) BookSpot Offers Unique Reading Challenge
2) Spotify Offers PodMatch for Audiobooks

13:35 Craft Corner
Tamara Grantham, author of many fantasy novels, including Never Call...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Mark McCraw, acclaimed author of twelve children's books.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
There's still time to file a claim in the Anthorpic lawsuit.

3:48 News
1) Substack is Coming to Television
2) "Autofiction" takes off in Scandinavia

14:00 Craft Corner
JD Caine, co-author of the Manifest Destiny series, explains how to scare your readers.

17:58 Interview with Mark McCraw

33:57 Parting Words
FINAL CALL for the WriterCon Cruise, March 7-15, E...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Heather Snidgrass about her new book, A Love Letter to Reading, a thriller that incorporates music throughout. She also discusses how listening to music improves her writing.

Opening Thoughts
Bill, Lara, and Jesse make their predictions for 2026 and the world of writing.

News
1) Spotify is Producing Dramatized Audiobooks Based on Original Material
2) Publishers Are Using AI to Review Submissions and Pick Books to Publish

Craft Corner
Marty...

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (The Superman Wars) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview John Phillips, author of the Vietnam-era historical fiction, Dress Whites.

Opening Thoughts
The crew re-examines their predictions for 2025—and didn't do half bad.

News
1) Readers Rebel Against Titles with Excessive SEO Keywords
2) Harlequin Uses AI Translation Service

Craft Corner
Betsey Kulakowski (The Veritas Codex) discusses why you should write the book only you can write.

Interview with John Phillips

Parting Words
Don't fo...

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 d...

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...

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...

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...

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 K...

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...

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 R...

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 la...

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...

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...

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 th...

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...

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, incl...

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 char...

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...

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, p...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Emily Carpenter, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant. She is also the author of the bestselling novels Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies. Her new novel is called Gothictown.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
The Oklahoma Book Awards love WriterCon writers!

3:13 News
1) Mass-Market Paperbacks are Disappearing Fast
2) Dogfluencers Get Major Book Deals

14:36 Craft Corner
Betsey Kulakowski (The Veritas Codex series) discusses imposter syndrome and how writers can...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Cynthia Pelayo, the author of a new novel, Vanishing Daughters. She is the Bram Stoker Award–winning author of Forgotten Sisters and other genre-blending novels that incorporate fairy tales, mystery, and horror elements. Esquire called her novel Loteria, one of the "Best Horror Books of 2023."

0:00: Opening Thoughts
Travel recaps, plus a discussion of which wives prefer, diamonds or acrostics.

5:01: News
1) ElevenLabs offers Universal AI-narrated Audiobook Options for Authors
2) Amazon Ends Downloads from Kindle Devices by...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Lynette Bennett, star of stage and screen, who has written her first memoir, Broadway Dreamer.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
The Oscars are only two DAYS away (my bad) and we ponder why so many Best Film nominess are based on books.

7:12 News
1) Bookshop.org is Now Selling eBooks Online—For Indie Bookstores
2) Cozy Fantasy is Now an Official Alternative to Dark and Spicy Fantasy

14:28 Craft Corner
Desiree Duffy of Black Chateau explains the im...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Betsey Kulakowski, the author of the Veritas Codex series books—mostly recently, The King's Ransom (Book 7).

Opening Thoughts
Authors Acting Awful

News
1) TikTok/BookTok Survives to Sell Books Another Day!
2) Circana Bookscan 2024 Sales Figures Show Improvement

Craft Corner
Amy M Le explains why you need to be a "HUSTLER."

Interivew with Betsey Kulakowski, author of The Veritas Codex paranormal thriller series.

Parting Words
Don't forget the Wr...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Amy M Le, the award-winning author of the Snow trilogy and founder of Quill Hawk Publishing.

0:00 Opening Thoughts
What are you reading right now? The hosts share their current obsessions.

3:00 News
1) Harper Collins Makes Deal with Microsoft for AI Scanning of Nonficiton Titles
2) Revelations About Cormac McCarthy's Past Relationship Trouble Readers

15:25 Craft Corner
Jon Meyers and Emily Brooks (Writer Better Together) discuss planning talks for writing conferences

17:58 Interview with...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Barry Friedman. Barry has been a prominent professional standup comic for decades, but in recent years, he’s started writing. He’s got six books published to date, including his warm and witty series about his father (Jack Sh*t). But he also has a popular humor/political newsletter, and he does…geology writing?

0:00 Opening Thoughts
Bill. Lara, and Jesse make book world predictions for 2025.

7:32 News
1) Deluxe Book Editions Surge in Popularity
2) Arkansas Judge Strike...

Happy holidays! This is our last episode for 2024, but we will be back in January with more news and interviews!

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview DC Frost.

(0:00) Opening Thoughts
Lara and Jesse make New Years resolutions.

(3:26) News
1) Taylor Swift Self-Publishes Eras Tour Book Thru Target. (This segment was recorded before the boo-boo-ridden book was released and dubbed the "Errors Tour Book.")
2) TikTok Expands its Publishing Ventures

(14:25) Craft Corner
Desiree Duffy of Black Chateau and...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Todd Fahnestock, author of Charlie Fiction and Falling to Fly: The Book to Read Before You Give Up on Your Writing Dream.

(0:00) Opening Thoughts
Bill, Lara, and Jesse discuss books that make great Christmas gifts.

(6:32) News
1) James Patterson Starts a Substack Newsletter
2) John Grisham is Involved in Controversy Over Use of Source Materials

(17:26) Craft Corner with Desiree Duffy
The owner of Black Chateau (terrific book marketing firm) and Books That Make...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Marty Ludlum, author of the new mystery novel, At First I Was Afraid, the first book in his Disco Divas series.

(0:00) Opening Thoughts
Do you listen to music while you write?

(3:34) News
a. Amazon is Shuttering the Vella Program for Serialized Fiction
b. Written Word Media 2024 Survey Reveals Surprises

(15:39) Craft Corner
Lara Bernhardt discusses how and why to add evocative imagery to your work.

(18:02) Interview with Marty Ludlum, author...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview the #1 New York Times  bestselling author of the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children novels, which have sold over ten million copies and led to Tim Burton’s film adaptation. His new book is Sunderworld, a portal fantasy planned as the first installment in a new series.

Chapter 1: Opening Thoughts
Have you ever thought the movie was better than the book?

Chapter 2: News
1) AI Podcasts Have Arrived
2) Audible/ACX Now Allow AI/Human Hybrid Narrators

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Glenn Plaskin, the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, includingHorowitz and Katie Up and Down the Hall, Glenn’s profiles of interview subjects, including Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, and Robert De Niro, have appeared in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times, among many others.  

Chapter 1: Opening Thoughts
Everybody loves a good celeb interview...

Chapter 2: News
1) Brandon Sanderson is Opening His Own Bookstore.
2) Romantasy is Going to the Movies.

C...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Robert Dugoni, the New York Times-bestselling author with a new novel, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, the second in his new legal thriller series featuring Keera Duggan.

Chapter 1: Opening Thoughts
Welcome to Season 4! We have great plans to make this the best writer podcast EVER!

Chapter 2: News
1) Book Bars Are Growing in Popularity
2) Anti-Billionaire Books are Surging 

Chapter 3: Craft Corner
Don't Confuse "Stuff Happening" with Conflict
b...

LIVE FROM WRITERCON 2024! Recorded before a live audience! No cuts, no edits!

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Aprilynne Pike, the #1 NYTimes-bestselling author of Wings and many other novels, and Kimberly Lemming, the USA Today-bestselling author of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon.

Ch apter 1: Opening Thoughts
We are at WriterCon 2024 and loving every minute! Learn what everyone enjoys most about this one-of-a-kindconference.

Chapter 2: News
1) "Freida McFadden" is Now the Bestselling Thriller Author in the US.<...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Bob Saenz, a mutil-talented script writer who will be speaking at WriterCon 2024. Bob works in television and film, including the movies Extracurricular Activities and Help for the Holidays.

WriterCon 2024 (August 30-September 2) is coming soon—but there’s still time to register, sign up for consults, schedule lunch with agents, plan your pitches, and learn from over 70 speakers in over 90 sessions. We have a record number of agents attending. Every genre is covered by multiple agents. Every writing topic is cove...

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Aprilynne Pike, the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Wings and many other wondeerful works of YA and romantasy.

WriterCon 2024 (August 30-September 2) is only three weeks away—and there’s still time to register, enter contests, sign up for consults, and plan your pitches. We have a record number of agents attending. Every genre I can think of is covered by multiple agents, so your chances of landing one have never been better. Every topic I can think of (and I ca...