  Mystery
This week: Edited by: Vivian  
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I enjoy mysteries, suspense, detective stories and novels. One author whose books I've read and enjoyed, and who I've met, is William Bernhardt.
Bill allowed me to interview him, and for this issue of Mystery Newsletter, I'll share what he had to say.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guest editor again this week.
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Meet William Bernhardt
According to William Bernhardt's biography, he has always loved books. He said he wanted to be a writer since he was seven-years old. He received his first rejection letter when he was eleven, and he admits to receiving more over the next nearly twenty years.
He now has twenty-three books to his credit. The most recent title is Capitol Threat, cover shown below:
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William Bernhardt's writing has won many awards, among them: the Oklahoma Book Award for Best Fiction, twice (an award in which I'm most interested, maybe someday I'll receive one); the Southern Writers Guild's Gold Medal Award; and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award.
Not only is Mr. Bernhardt a renown author, he's also the founder and owner of HAWK Publishing Group, which is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Bill earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma after being an English major in college. After law school, he returned for a Masters Degree in English literature. He's also a gourmet cook and, as an accomplished pianist and songwriter, has written the music, lyrics, and script for a musical.
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Let's imagine we're sitting at a table at the local Starbucks with Bill Burnhardt. I dig out my list of questions and start the interview:
"Where and how do you find ideas for plots for your books?" I ask, sipping plain hot tea, even though I had to bring my own tea bag and ask for a cup of hot water.
Bill gives a boyish grin. "For me, it's not a question of how do I get ideas; it's how can you not? Ideas are everywhere, when you're out in the world, reading, staying abreast of current events, meeting new people. I write every day, so my mind is constantly in the 'search' mode for good ideas, good characters."
What details help make your characters 'live'?
The details that other people can relate to readily. When I created Ben Kincaid, I wanted a protagonist who was not “perfect,” not Perry Mason, some guy who always wins and always knows the right answers. I can’t relate to that. I can relate to someone who is often unsure of himself, plagued with self-doubt, sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing, but determined to do the right thing. I think most of my readers like Ben because he is a good person but he is not perfect and that’s something they can understand.
If a writer doesn’t have a thorough knowledge of a career he/she wants for a character, how would you suggest the author get into the “skin” of that job?
I would suggest that they spend a lot of time talking to someone in that career and also have them review the manuscript after it’s written. I have done that many times, with police officers, for instance, in my crime novels, or historians, for my forthcoming historical novel.
Your writing career has included several best sellers and awards, but how did you start writing?
I’ve been writing since I was very young. I always wanted to be a writer. I have rejection letters that go back to when I was eleven. And I didn’t publish anything till I was thirty, so that’s an almost twenty year stretch. But I kept at it and eventually came up with something someone wanted. I always tell my writing students, if you keep writing and don’t give up, eventually you’ll publish. It’s true.
Do you finish one book before you start another? How long does it take to finish a book?
Yes.
Depends on what you mean by “finish a book.” Usually these days I can do the actual writing in a few months, but I don’t start writing until I’ve got an idea and I’ve done the research and I’ve put together an outline—and that may take a year or more. The book will digress from the outline a thousand different ways, but the book still goes more smoothly because I have a plan and structure in place. You cannot overvalue the importance of an understanding of story structure—and that’s one of the elements of writing that is least frequently taught.
Since you’re both an author and a publisher, do you find it difficult to wear both hats?
No. I love everything to do with books and I love giving other authors the wonderful opportunity I’ve had to see my work in print.
Which award meant the most to you and why?
The H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award, because it was perhaps the first to recognize that there was something going on in my books beyond mere entertainment, that, to quote the award, my writing was “an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large.”
How can authors find the submission guidelines for your publishing company?
Visit the website: www.hawkpub.com.
You and your publishing company host a writing conference, and you have participated in many others. What benefit do writers gain from attending conferences?
The June HAWK workshop is, as the name implies, a workshop, and we focus on getting people writing and improving what they have written. I look for speakers and faculty who are genuinely interested in mentoring and being of use to the next generation of writers. This year, in addition to the usual fabulous teachers, we’re having one of the top literary agents in New York, Melissa Flashman of Trident Media, who is actively looking for new clients. In addition to all the assistance provided at the workshop, both for writing and for marketing your work, we also invite attendees, at no additional charge, to submit work after the conference to be professionally edited by a staff member.
In July, I’m hosting a smaller intensive five-day seminar (fifteen people, tops) for serious writers with a substantial work-in-progress. You can find out all about these programs by visiting the HAWK workshop: www.hawkpub.com.
Wish I could attend the June workshop, but factors beyond my control won't allow me. I'm making a note to find out more about the July seminars.
What other comments would you like to make to beginning and to experienced writers?
Never stop writing. This is your dream, and it is an important one. Don’t give up.
Thank you, Bill. I hope readers find this interview as interesting as I have.
If you enjoyed this interview, perhaps I can visit again and bring another one with me.
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Mysteries from W.Com
I decided to go back in time and find some of the older writings from the stie.
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Final Words
Since I was the guest editor last week, also, I did receive some feedback, which I'm happy to share.
katherine76
Another great newsletter Viv! Always a delight to see what you will bring us. I checked out the link to your sisters in crime as well. Thank you.
Thanks, Katherine. I'm glad you enjoyed last week's newsletter.
writetight
Hi, Viv,
Your last Mystery Newsletter gave some great advice concerning resources, Viv. Back when I was actively writing I found that people seemed more than happy to answer questions for me when I told them I was a writer.
For one action story my main character, a private detective, did not carry a gun due to losing his license over a questionable shooting. To carry on his work and still have a measure of protection he became proficient with knife throwing. My problem arose when I realized I knew nothing about knives.Smile
A visit to a local knife shop fixed that. When I told the clerk I was writing a story about a knife throwing detective, and outlined the story for her, she gushed forth information faster than I could scribble my notes.
She showed me the knives perfectly balanced for throwing. When I told her my character would need to carry several, concealed but easily accessible, she showed me holsters that could be worn at the base of the neck, the waist and the ankles, and small but deadly knives that would work well with the holsters. She even gave me her telephone number should I have additional questions. (I was younger and better looking back then{e:laugh.}
People love to talk about what they know, so potential resources are everywhere.
Dan
PS Thanks for featuring my Mystery/Detective folder last issue.
You're most welcome, Dan, and thank you for the example of contacting experts. Finding sources to get the needed information really helps bring a story or novel to life.
D.L. Fields 
You're right! If you want to know about a particular field, ask the experts.
One thing I just realized is to start compiling a list of experts I MIGHT need some day. That way I'm not scrambling to find someone at the last minute. I can't tell in the future what all experts I may need, but I can guess and be that much ahead.
Thank you for joining me again this week. Please be sure and support the regular editors. Enjoy reading and writing mysteries.
Vivian |
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Mystery: March 19, 2008 Issue [#2281]
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