William Bernhardt

Are you a Red Sneaker Writer?Dynamic dialogue can turn an otherwise ordinary novel into a delightful read, but dull, uninspired dialogue will cause readers to lose interest and try something else. In this book, bestselling author William Bernhardt, renowned for his handling of dialogue, explains his techniques for making characters come to life through their words. He explains the importance of matching character and dialogue, of avoiding dialogue that's "on-the-nose," and the value of using dialogue to suggest what no one will say aloud. Bernhardt explains how to enrich your story and quicken the pace with dramatic and clever dialogue exchanges, skillful use of dialogue beats, and subtext. The book also includes exercises designed to help writers apply these ideas to their own writing.

Readers can open any page in this book at random and realize that William Bernhardt is a poet of the rarest kind--one who can communicate grace, illumination, and shared experience without the obscurity and obfuscation that sometimes causes people to avoid modern poetry. His everyman approach and direct language draws in readers who might normally never give a poem second glance. Drawing inspiration from forebears such as Billy Collins and Robert Frost, Bernhardt creates a unique voice that is at once accessible and profound. Bernhardt's poems show how the everlasting themes--parenting, severed relationships, loneliness, loss, and love--are all an essential part of membership in community of humanity. With the turn of a phrase, Bernhardt's versatile and often playful poems can move you, thrill you, or make you laugh out loud. Smart, lyrical, observant, and textured, these poems confirm, as American Book Award-winner Rilla Askew wrote, that Bernhardt is "a compelling new voice in American poetry." William Bernhardt is the author of over forty books, and also teaches writing through the Red Sneaker Writing Center.

Attorney Ben Kincaid defends a man accused of a mass murder. When the woman who helped convict him--whom Ben suspects of perjury--turns up dead, only Ben can hunt down a killer determined to cover his tracks.

Are you a Red Sneaker Writer? "Writing is structure," William Goldman said, but too often aspiring writers plunge into their work without grasping this fundamental principle. Story structure is one of the most important concepts for a writer to understand--and ironically, one of the least frequently taught. In this book, New York Times-bestselling author William Bernhardt explains the elements that make stories work, using examples spanning from Gilgamesh to The Hunger Games. In each chapter, he introduces essential concepts in a direct and easily comprehended manner. Most importantly, Bernhardt demonstrates how you can apply these ideas to improve your own writing.

Are you a Red Sneaker Writer?Even the most unique and interesting characters will not engage readers if their journey--the plot--fails. In this book, bestselling author William Bernhardt reveals the secrets that will keep readers riveted to the page. He explains the importance of matching character to plot and the key distinction between surprise and coincidence. Bernhardt discusses how to enrich your story by layering three levels of conflict and, in the final chapter, analyzes the primary plot structures that have delighted readers since the first story was told. The book also includes exercises designed to help writers apply these ideas to their own writing.

Are you a Red Sneaker Writer?All fiction is character-driven, according to William Bernhardt, despite what you might have heard elsewhere. If your characters don't interest readers, even the most exciting plots will fail. "Action is character," Aristotle wrote, but what does that mean, and how can you use that fundamental principle to create dynamic fiction that will captivate readers? This book explains the relationship between character and plot, and how the perfect melding of the two produces a mesmerizing story. Using examples spanning from The Odyssey to The Da Vinci Code, Bernhardt discusses the art of character creation in a direct and easily comprehended manner. The book also includes exercises designed to help writers apply these ideas to their own work.

Why do some books linger in memory long after they are read? Why are some books reread, recommended, shared in the classroom? How can you add your book to this distinguished company? The key is theme, giving your story a dynamic idea that lends it power and purpose. William Bernhardt explains what theme is, how it is best revealed, and how to find the theme that, handled correctly, will distinguish your book from all the others. Plus, in the final chapter, Bernhardt explains how your book can have a positive impact on the world in which you live.The Red Sneaker Writing Center is dedicated to helping writers achieve their literary goals. What's a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction and guidance rather than obfuscation and attitude. Red sneakers get the job done and so do red sneaker writers, by paying close attention to their art and craft, committing to hard work, and never quitting. Are you a red sneaker writer? If so, this book is for you.

Attorney Ben Kincaid is back with the most controversial case of his career. Ben's former friend, Oscar Kirby, an Iraq war vet subjected by the CIA to "enhanced interrogation techniques," is the primary suspect when his "interrogator" is murdered. A dramatic trial unfolds in the courtroom-loaded with pitfalls, surprises, and a breathtaking betrayal. Something else, something very dangerous lurks on the perimeter of this case, and Ben must pull every trick he knows to uncover the truth--before it's too late."Bernhardt is a born stylist. His writing through the years has aged like a fine wine-sharper, deeper, and better than ever."- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Charlemagne Pursuit"Bernhardt is the undisputed master of the courtroom drama."- Library Journal

It's not whether you live or die, it's how you play the game.While in Vegas for the American Poker Grand Slam, BB Thomas-the Game Master-is suddenly arrested by the FBI and taken to a top-secret laboratory. A scientist has been murdered in a bizarre manner, and BB's daughter has been kidnapped. Reluctantly joining forces with his ex-wife, Linden, BB plunges into a labyrinthine mystery incorporating the world's oldest and best-known games and taking them to Paris, Dubai, Pyongyang, and Alexandria. Pursued by a relentless FBI agent and an unknown assailant who wants him stopped at any cost, BB races to uncover an insidious plot involving secret societies, ancient cover-ups, and savage vengeance. Someone is playing a deadly game, and the object is the destruction of every government on the face of the earth-no matter how many people die in the process.

William Bernhardt, author of seven bestselling novels featuring attorney Ben Kincaid, asked ten of his fellow lawyer/authors to contribute their most fiendishly clever short pieces for this anthology, and told them their imaginations were their only guides. The result is Legal Briefs, a smorgasbord of stories boasting a wonderful variety of themes and styles. From John Grisham's exploration of a doctor's guilt in "The Birthday" to Richard North Patterson's story of a lawyer's loyalty to his mentor in "The Client," to Grif Stockley's tale of a divorce lawyer who learns the hard way that things are not always what they seem, these pieces showcase the extraordinary depth and breadth of talent among the new breed of legal thriller writers. Some of these stories feature twisting and inventive plots; some illuminate the moral dilemmas and psychological complexities faced by the modern-day lawyer; some are good, old-fashioned yarns. But for all their diversity of approaches and characters, these writers understand that the courtrooms and law firms from which they came offer the raw material for the most dramatic, suspenseful stories you can read. Legal Briefs will be a delight for fans of all these bestselling authors, and a splendid introduction to their talents for readers new to the genre. Author proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to the Children's Defense Fund.

Ben Kincaid wants to be a lawyer because he wants to do the right thing. But once he leaves the D.A.'s office for a hot-shot spot in Tulsa's most prestigious law firm, Ben discovers that doing the right thing and representing his client's interests can be mutually exclusive. An explosive legal thriller that takes readers on a frantic ride of suspicion and intrigue, PRIMARY JUSTICE brings morality and temptation together in one dangerous motion. From the Paperback edition.

Up in the sky! Look! It's Superman! Almost everyone knows about the man from Krypton who, disguised as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent working with the fearless Lois Lane, fights for the vulnerable and the oppressed. But few know the truth about this indelible character’s creation. From mobster tactics to decades-long courtroom drama, a beloved American myth was born, betrayed, and eventually reclaimed—almost eighty years after the character first appeared. New witnesses, unpublished manuscripts, personal letters, and more reveal the complex and dramatic history of Superman and his creator, Jerry Siegel. This is a David and Goliath clash with twists, turns, and devastating upheavals. An underdog tale of a creator who fought for his rights and finally found redemption in his battle for truth, justice, and the American Way. A story that has never been fully told… Until now.

"This book sparkles like a jewel in a cosmic clockwork-an uplifting gift to readers everywhere." - Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior Why are the churches closed on Christmas Eve in Florence's San Frediano district? This mystery perplexes an acclaimed American poet who journeys to the fabled city seeking inspiration. The proprietor of his hotel, raconteur Alberto Giannotti, reveals that it has nothing to do with the holiday-and everything to do with poetry. With charm and Tuscan flair, Giannotti relates the story of Pietro Begnini, who was blessed with the sign of the sonnet. He wants to become a poet and marry his beloved Sophia-but a devastating blow from a jealous enemy, the Grand Inquisitor for the Academy of Poetic Arts, sends him reeling throughout Italy and beyond. Pietro meets the great genius Leo (from Vinci), the doomed beauty Lucy (eventually a Borgia), the publishing pioneer Aldus Manutius, the poetry instructor Vito (the Vituperative), and the renowned pirate Jean-David Neu, the Italian Flail. He is even tempted by The Evil One. But eventually, Pietro returns to Florence for one last chance to achieve his dreams. If you cherish passion, perseverance, or poets, you'll be enthralled by this enchanting story of what one man can achieve for love. The Florentine Poet is bestselling author William Bernhardt's most personal and unique work, illuminated by Brian Call's delightful illustrations.