WriterCon

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of publishing and books, then interviews the amazing Genese Davis, author of thrillers (The Holder's Dominion), film-related books, games, podcasts, science fiction, and much more.News Items:1) We lost William Goldman, screenplay writer and novelist, whose book Adventures in the Screen Trade changed the way many people viewed storytelling. Goldman said, "Writing is structure," and always emphasized the importance of laying out the essential elements to compose a spellbinding story.2) Wattpad is huge and expanding into film adaptions based upon Wattpad stories. This webpage has been used by many authors to post their work, to get feedback on drafts, and to increase their visibility, which in some cases has led to deals in traditional publishing and film/tv adaptations.3) Draft2Digital has partnered with Findaway Voices to give independent authors a new avenue for producing and distributing audiobooks. Digital audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment of the current book market. In the interview, Genese Davis discusses writing, the importance of maintaining focus, and marketing approaches that lead to sales and success. She also talks about the importance of speaking the truth, of emotional honesty, both in the promotion of your books and the books themselves. Davis has appeared on more than 500 convention panels in the last five years, which gives her enormous insight into what's happening in today's publishing world. Links:WriterCon 2019, the annual writers convention co-sponsored by the Red Sneaker Writers Center: www.writercon.org.Genese Davis: www.genesedavis.comWilliam Bernhardt Email: wb@williambernhardt.com, Webpage: www.williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews Joanna Penn, founder of The Creative Penn and host of The Creative Penn podcast.News Items: 1) Amazon appears to be diminishing the influence of the "Also Bought" book page feature in favor of paid advertising. Is it time for you to take the plunge into the world of Amazon ads?2) Big Five New York publishers are consolidating and eliminating many of their imprints. Is this a recognition that the book world has changed and brick-and-mortar stores are no longer the primary place where books are sold?3) We mourn the passing of Stan Lee, creative genius of Marvel Comics. What lessons can Red Sneaker Writers take from his fascinating life?In the interview, Joanna Penn explains content-based marketing and how writers--including fiction writers--can create promotional material that engages writers and increases the sales of their books. She discusses specifically what works--and what doesn't.For more information about the New Orleans Writers Retreat, visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreatsAbout WriterCon 2019--Did I say we were offering a 50% discount? Oops. I mean a $50-off discount, if you register before the end of 2018. For more information, visit: https://writercon.orgLinks:The Creative Penn: https://www.thecreativepenn.comWilliam Bernhardt: https://www.williambernhardt.comEmail: wb@williambernhardt.com

Bestselling author William Bernhardt provides a roundup of the latest news of interest to writers, followed by an interview with literary scouting agent for Franklin & Siegel, Erin Hennicke.In the news roundup, Bernhardt discusses:1) the results from PBS's Great American Read, and what writers can learn by studying the list of books selected by readers;2) the pricing scheme for John Grisham's latest novel, which suggests that the Big Five New York publishers are trying to drive readers away from digital books and back to print;3) the first American dwarsliggers, horizontal books about the size of a cellphone and no thicker than your thumb, designed to simulate the experience of reading on a phone but in a print format; and 4) a new Chinese bot that translated a 300-page English novel in thirty seconds with a 95% accuracy rate, requiring only a week of subsequent work by a translator, and the ramifications this innovation may have for writing enterpreneurs.In the interview segment, Bernhardt talks with Erin Hennicke, who is the Director of TV/Film for the largest literary scouting agency in New York, Franklin & Siegel. Hennicke explains what she looks for when she considers books and stories for adaptations, and how you can make your book more attractive to Hollywood. Hennicke will speak and hear pitch at the next Red Sneaker writers conference, now called WriterCon 2019. Early bird discounts are now available for early registrants at www.writercon.org. Bernhardt will also host a small-group seminar in New Orleans December 9-13. For more information, visit: https://www.williambernhardt.com/writing-retreats.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, followed by an interview with Kevin Tumlinson, author and Director of Marketing for Draft2Digital. In the News segment, Bernhardt discusses:1) Announcements from Draft2Digital that in addition to helping authors self-publish eBooks, they are expanding into providing print editions for clients. They are also adding a "shared words" feature for various fan fiction franchises.2) Bernhardt visits an Amazon brick-and-mortar store in New York City.3) Barnes & Noble is entertaining buyers.Bernhardt interviews Kevin Tumlinson, who discusses his own writing, his podcast Wordslinger, and his work with Draft2Digital. Tumlinson has written many books, including 30 Day-Author: Develop a Daily Writing Habit and Write Your Book in 30 Days (or Less), which he says does not necessarily compromise the quality of the work, but simply requires diligence, professionalism, and experience. Tumlinson also discusses the services Draft2Digital provides authors, formatting and distribution and more, charging nothing up front, but only taking a 10% cut of profits that arise. For more information, visit: draft2digital.com.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, then interviews husband-and-wife mystery writers Will and Julia Thomas.Chapter 1: Welcome and IntroductionChapter 2: The News. Amazon experiments with a new brick-and-mortar bookstore format. Why writers need a will to protect their intellectual property. A significant new deduction in the revised tax code that could significantly benefit writers.Chapter 3: Bernhardt interviews Will Thomas, author of the Barker & Llewellyn Victorian-era mysteries, the tenth of which, Blood is Blood, will be released in November. He also interviews Will's wife, Julia Thomas, also a mystery writer, most recently of Penhale Wood. They discuss how their dual writing life works, what inspires them, and what makes a great mystery story.Chapter 4: Please send your thoughts and comments on the podcast to: willbern@gmail.com. Bernhardt will host a five-day writing retreat in New Orleans on December 9-13, 2018. For more information, email Bernhardt or visit www.williambernhardt.com.

William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the worlds of books and publishing, including:1) the latest book sales reports for 2018;2) the possible acquisition of Barnes & Noble;3) Amazon investigating allegations of employees being bribed to remove unwanted book reviews; and4) the author of "How to Murder Your Husband"...who was arrested for murder.In the interview segment, Bernhardt talks with Jess Lourey, author of the Mira James mysteries and, most recently, Mercy's Chase, a feminist mystery featuring FBI agent Salem Wiley. Lourey discusses writing, rights acquisition, the challenges of writing for multiple genres, and why she recommends being a hybrid writer.Host: William Bernhardtwww.williambernhardt.comwillbern@gmail.com#wbernhardt #redsneakerwriters

Donald Maass, CEO of the Donald Maass Literary Agency and author of writing books, discusses the evolution of book publishing, challenges faced by writers, the evolution of contemporary fiction, and the dynamics of reader emotions in fiction writing.