WriterCon William Bernhardt & Rene Gutteridge

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt and Rene Gutteridge discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Tamara Grantham, author of more than twenty books and novellas, including multi-award-winning fantasy novels for middle-grade, YA, and adult readers. Many of her novels launched as #1 bestsellers. She’s won two first-place Rone awards, a Praiseworthy award, and an Indiefab book of the year award for fantasy. Her new book is The End of Never, which is the second book in her Chronicels of Ithical series.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Why Were There No Authors at the Oscars?

Chapter 2: News
1) Update on the Susan Meachen Story—Romance Author Thought Dead Emerges
2) New Story on Faleena Hopkins—Author Disappears Then Misses Court Date

Chapter 3: Interview with Tamara Grantham
In this interview, Grantham discusses:
1) Why she writes SF and Fantasy;
2) How she creates new worlds;
3) How she plans a book or series;
4) How small-group classes advanced her career; and
5) the best writing advice she ever received.

Chapter 4: Parting Words
Bernhardt's new novel, The Florentine Poet, is now on sale. This is a fun and fanciful story of what one man will do to pursue his passions—poetry and true love. "The Princess Bride for Literature Lovers."

The WriterCon Small-Group Retreat will be in Branson MO from July 19-23 and there are still seats available. Tamara Grantham says attending these classes was a "life-changing exierience" for her. Could it do the same for your writing career?

Rene has finished her screenplay and is working on a nonfiction book.

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 and Rene Gutteridge discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Andrea Nasfell, a screenwriter whose most recent credits include the Christmas movies Every Other Holiday (Lifetime) and Holiday for Heroes (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries). She’s also the writer of theatrical faith-based comedies The Resurrection of Gavin Stone (Blumhouse) and Moms’ Night Out (Sony Affirm), which won a Dove award for Inspirational Film of the Year.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Where is your writing place?

Chapter 2: News
1) There's a New Imprint at Hachette
2) Audible Lowers Prices
3) Amazon Streamlines Author Pages
4) Amazon Drops Charitable "Smile" Program

Chapter 3: Interview
In this interview, Andrea Nasfell discusses:
1) how to write for the movies;
2) how to break into writing for the movies;
3) how to work on assignment;
4) how to develop ideas from scratch; and
5) the importance of discipline

Chapter 4: Parting Words
You can pre-order The Florentine Poet, which has been called "The Princess Bride Meets The Alchemist," the journey of Pietro Begnini in Renaissance Italy. All he wants is to be a poet and to marry his beloved Sophia, but as you might imagine, there are problems. Dreamsofmanderley, an Instagram review site, wrote: “Nothing short of brilliant. This is the author's love letter to poetry, words, and writing. It is also a tribute to all of those who help us along the way, and the lessons they teach us.” https://www.amazon.com/Florentine-Poet-William-Bernhardt-ebook/dp/B0BRBMQGJL/

Rene is writing another screenplay on the heels of last year’s hit movie Family Camp which won a MoiveGuide award. For more information on Rene, find her at ReneGutteridge.com

Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit.
_______
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/113141678727273

And to subscribe to the free WriterCon e-newsletter, send an email or sign up at my website: willbern@gmail.com and www.williambernhardt.com

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/@writerconpodcast1307

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

Bestselling authors William Bernhardt and Rene Gutteridge discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Lexie Elliott, who wrote The French Girl, which was published by Berkley in 2018, followed by The Missing Years and How to Kill Your Best Friend. Her fourth psychological thriller, BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS, was published on Valentine’s Day.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Rene has no plan, Bill overplans, and Jesse prefers the hot tub.

Chapter 2: News
1) Romance and TikTok drive Bookscan sales
2) Harper Collins Reduces Staff by 5%
3) Indie Author Faked Her Own Death—Then Rose Again

Chapter 3: Interview
Lexie Elliott grew up at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, attending a local high school and spending much of her teenage years writing stories, reading and swimming. She earned a doctorate in theoretical physics from Oxford while also on the swimming and water polo team. She worked for an investment bank, took up triathlons, got married and had two boys, swam the English Channel solo, ran marathons and ultramarathons, and, of yeah, found time to write a novel. Her fourth psychological thriller, BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS, was recently published by Berkley.

In this interview, you will learn:
1) what it means to be a professional writer;
2) how to make time to write with the busiest of schedules;
3) the value of outlining;
4) the beauty of setting; and
5) how a background in theoretical physics informs her writing.

Chapter 4: Parting Words
William Bernhardt has a new novel coming out! You can pre-order The Florentine Poet (which has been called The Princess Bride Meets The Alchemist), a fun and fanciful journey of Pietro Begnini in Renaissance Italy. All he wants is to be a poet and to marry his beloved Sophia, but as you might imagine, there are problems. Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior, wrote “This book sparkles like a jewel in a cosmic clockwork—an uplifting gift to readers everywhere.”

Rene Gutteridge's film, Family Camp, won a major award. She has finished the screenplay for her next film.

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 and Rene Gutteridge discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Rebecca Kelley, author of the new thriller No One Knows Us Here.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Bill, Rene, and Jesse discuss how Valentines Day affects readers and writers.

Chapter 2: News (4:01)
1) Brandon Sanderson Distributes His Audiobooks Through Spotify (not Amazon/ACX)
2) Fiction Sales Reports Focus on Romance and TikTok

Chapter 3: Interview with Rebecca Kelley (12:10)
Rebecca Kelley is a fiction writer from Portland, Oregon. Her first novel, Broken Homes & Gardens, was published in 2015. She also coauthored The Eco-nomical Baby Guide with Joy Hatch. When Rebecca isn’t writing, she is conducting elaborate baking experiments, designing book covers, and keeping up her thousand-plus-day streak in Duolingo. Her new novel is No One Knows Us Here (https://amazon.com/No-One-Knows-Us-Here-ebook/dp/B09VGK5697/)

In this interview, you will learn about:
1) why Kelley wrote a female antagonist;
2) the "gifrlfriend experience;"
3) the dangers of defying gender expectations;
4) the value of outlining; and
5) the critical importance of persistance.

Chapter 4: Parting Words (30:24)
We’re still taking registration for the WriterCon Cruise, which will sail on April 9 from Galveston and hit several Western Caribbean ports like Cozumel and Honduras. And we’ll provide more than 20 hours of instruction in between ports of call, some group instruction, some small-group, and some one-on-one, instruction specifically tailored to the people in our group, providing what you need most to advance your writing aspirations. If you’d like to learn more about it, please visit our website: www.writercon.com

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/113141678727273

To subscribe to the free WriterCon e-newsletter, send me an email or sign up at my website: willbern@gmail.comand www.williambernhardt.com

You can find the video version of these podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@writerconpodcast1307

For more information on Rene, find her at www.ReneGutteridge.com, or on social media, or as a senior contributor at Writing Momentum.

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 and Rene Gutteridge discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Barry Friedman, top-tier professional standup comic for decades and author of six books, including a new one, the title of which we can’t say on the podcast because then I'd have to check the Adults Only distribution box. "Jack Sh*t" is a collection of anecdotes about Friedman's late father. This book is warm, wonderfully written, and uproariously funny.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Predictions for Publishing in 2023 from Bill, Rene, and Jesse

Chapter 2: News
2022 in Review:
Biggest Authors of the Year: Brandon Sanderson and Colleen Hoover
Biggest Tech Development: ChatGPT writing stories and AI-narrated audiobooks
Biggest Event of the Year: PRH's Failed Attempt to Acquire S&S
Biggest Winner of the Year: TikTok
Biggest Loser of the Year: Big Five Pub (Though Amazon Didn’t Do Great Either)

Chapter 3: Interview
Barry Friedman has millions of fans and followers and there’s a reason—because his work is not only funny, not only insightful, but also, he’s a terrific writer, as he has shown before in a beautifully wrought memoir, Four Days and a Year Later, and his account of life on the road, The Joke Was On Me. His new book, Jack Sh*t, is about his late father. In this interview, you will learn:
1) how to integrate humor in memoir (when the events aren't always funny);
2) mining life for art;
3) the value of revision and good feedback;
4) how to portray the complexity of human relationships, and
5) the importance of voluptuous bagels and flamboyant toupees.

Chapter 4: Parting Words
If you haven’t joined the WriterCon Facebook Group yet, do it today and join this wonderful community of writers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/113141678727273

To subscribe to the free WriterCon e-newsletter, send me an email or sign up at my website.

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 versions of these podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@writerconpodcast1307

Learn more about Rene Gutteridge at her website or by following her on social media. She is also a contributor to Writing Momentum.

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 and Rene Gutteridge discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Chris K. Jones, enterpreneur and author of the new novel Headcase, who gave up a lucrative career to pursue his dream of writing.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Looking Back on 2022

Chapter 2: News
1) Written Word Media Shows That the Most Successful Authors Market
2) Witness Says Bookstore "Bestseller List" Placements are Bought
3) Large Literary Agent Took on Few New Clients in 2022

Chapter 3: Interview
Chris K. Jones calls himself a recovering serial entrepreneur who quit at the peak of his career to honor the promise he made to himself at 19 that he would become a writer. Chris splits his time between Tarrytown, NY and Barbados, where he finds time to swim with turtles and observe cloud animals. He is an extrovert who has decided to work in the world’s loneliest profession. Writing his first novel, Headcase, has been the best form of therapy he has ever had.
In this interview, you will learn:
1) why he dramatically changed his career course;
2) how he finds his characters;
3) the difference between writing for tv and books;
4) his unique approach to outlining;
5) focusing on product rather than result; and
6) how you can possibly focus on writing when you live in Barbados.

Chapter 4: Parting Words

We’re still taking registration for the WriterCon Cruise, which will sail on April 9 from Galveston and hit several Western Caribbean ports like Cozumel and Honduras. And we’ll provide more than 20 hours of instruction in between ports of call, some group instruction, some small-group, and some one-on-one, instruction specifically tailored to the people in our group, providing what you need most to advance your writing aspirations. If you’d like to learn more about it, please visit our website: writercon.com.

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/113141678727273

To subscribe to the free WriterCon e-newsletter, send me an email or sign up at my website: willbern@gmail.comand www.williambernhardt.com

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/@writerconpodcast1307

You can find more info about Rene at ReneGutteridge.com, on social media, and as a senior contributor at Writing Momentum.

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