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 Me Vampire, explains the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing and the advantages and disdvantages of both.

17:36 Interview with Steve Younis

37:56 Parting Words
Make plans now to attend the WriterCon Retreat (July 15-19) and the WriterCon Conference (Sept 4-7). 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 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, Eastern Caribbena itinerary leaving from Ft. Lauderdale. Over twenty hours of writing instruction specifically tailored to the needs of the particpants. You'll have opporunities to interact, make friends, and meet individually with all the writers plus a top literary agent. Seas the Day!

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 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 Ludlum (At First I Was Afraid) talks about words to avoid.

Interview with Heather Snodgrass

Closing Words
Don't forget the WriterCon Cruise, March 7-17. We leave from Ft. Lauderdale and cruise through beautiful locations, plus you get over 20 hours of writing instruction, personalized to meet the needs of the group, while the boat is at sea (we won't bother you when the boat is in port). Have some fun and take your writing skills to the next level. For more info, 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

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 forget to register for the WriterCon Cruise! This time, we’re leaving from Ft Lauderdale for an eight-day voyage. So beautiful tropical vistas plus over twenty hours of writing instruction from Lara and I, plus Betsey Kulakowski and an onboard agent (Katherine 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

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

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

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

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!