WILLIAM BERNHARDT

The Grim Reaper is coming to the courtroomwhere Daniel Pike and Ben Kincaid may face their final judgment. In Florida, defense attorney Daniel Pike is stunned when his legal files are ransacked and his lover, Maria Morales, disappears. In Oklahoma, semi-retired attorney Ben Kincaid is horrified when his connection to this apparent abduction endangers the people he loves most. Desperate for help, Pike seizes Kincaid and hauls him on a cross-country road trip to discover what happened to Mariaand why a killer is so interested in a California murder case. During the journey, Dan and Ben encounter Roswell aliens, San Diego cosplay, snowstorms, barroom brawls, assassination attempts, a cartel rubout, and an old acquaintance now behind bars. But someone dressed as the Grim Reaper is leaving a bloodstained trail of victims from one coast to the other. Every new clue points to a West Coast murder convictionand a pending motion that might prevent a major injustice. Reluctantly, Dan and Ben agree to represent the defendant who might hold the answers they seekor might make them the next victims. Will this be the capstone to their distinguished careersor the final ride into the sunset? Enthralling for newcomers and fans, Partners in Crime launches a new Daniel Pike series and also features Ben Kincaid, the authors first fictional attorney returning after more than a decade. If you like spellbinding courtroom drama, unexpected revelations, and jaw-dropping action, youll love William Bernhardts thrill-packed legal road trip.

William Bernhardt''s bestselling novels featuring Oklahoma defense attorney Ben Kincaid capture the bare-knuckles reality of high-stakes criminal defense, as lofty ideals of justice clash with power, corruption, and wealth. In Capitol Murder, Bernhardt''s hard-charging hero takes on his most shocking, headline-making case yet. Kincaid''s legal success has earned him a dubious reward: a journey through the looking glass into the Beltway. Here, in the heart of the nation''s capital, a powerful U.S. senator has been caught first in a sordid sex scandal, then in a case of murder. Senate aide Veronica Cooper was found in a secret Senate office beneath the Capitol building, on Senator Todd Glancy''s favorite couch, blood pouring from the knife wound in her throat. The young woman''s death comes on the heels of the release of a sordid videotape depicting her and Senator Glancy in compromising positions. With the senator''s reputation in tatters, the evidence against him-as a sexual predator and possibly a killer-mounts. By the time a nationally televised murder trial begins, Kincaid and his team know they''re facing the challenge of a lifetime. According to public opinion, and even in Kincaid''s most private thoughts, Glancy is one more politician who cannot admit his own culpability. But while a dramatic trial unfolds in the courtroom-loaded with pitfalls, traps, and an astounding betrayal-another trial is taking place on the mean streets of D.C., as Kincaid''s investigator pursues a young woman who was a friend of Veronica Cooper''s, plunging Kincaid into a bizarre world of Goths, sadomasochists, and a community of self-proclaimed vampires. Somewhere in this violent underworld lies the secretbehind Veronica Cooper''s demise . . . and the crux of Senator Glancy''s innocence or guilt. In a case that pits Kincaid and his freewheeling partner Christina McCall against the brutal machinery of Washington politics, the answers they seek are hidden in a murderous maze of lies and hidden motives. And in William Bernhardt''s best novel yet, getting to the truth is an unparalleled experience in pure, satisfying suspense. From the Hardcover edition.

If he loses this case, the consequence is death Ever since his fathers wrongful incarceration, defense lawyer Daniel Pike has defended the innocent at any cost. But hes stunned when his archrival DA is found shot dead and brutally crucified. And after Pike himself lands in jail for the crime, he smells a terrifying setup. Fearing hell suffer the same fate as his parent, the determined attorney uncovers evidence that the DA was involved with a sinister sex-trafficking ring. But with the prosecution presenting an ironclad case against him, its clear someone wants Pike out of the way. And if they cant get him with a lethal injection, they may resort to bullets Can Pike get to the truth before hes condemned to die behind bars? Twisted Justice is the tense fourth novel in the Daniel Pike Legal Thrillers series. If you like dark conspiracies, heart-stopping suspense, and courtroom battles against the odds, then youll love William Bernhardts breathtaking tale. Buy Twisted Justice to escape death row today!

"This book sparkles like a jewel in a cosmic clockworkan uplifting gift to readers everywhere." Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior Why are the churches closed on Christmas Eve in Florences 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 holidayand everything to do with poetry. With charm and Tuscan flair, Giannotti relates the story of Pietro Begnini, he who was born with the sign of the sonnet. He wants to become a poet and marry his beloved Sophiabut 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, youll be enthralled by this enchanting story of what one man can achieve for love. The Florentine Poet is bestselling author William Bernhardts masterpiece, illuminated by Brian Calls delightful illustrations.

The court of public opinion found her guilty. But one attorney resolved to change the verdictAttorney Daniel Pike knows the dire consequences of crossing the government. So when rising political star Camila Perez faces charges in a gruesome quadruple homicide, his instincts sense a frame by powerful rivals. But Dan and the Last Chance Lawyers may have a hopeless case when the police discover damning evidence scrawled at the crime scene in blood...Sorting through incriminating clues in the horrifying murders, Dan pieces together a dark conspiracy. But just when it seems he might have a rebuttal, a social media leak sparks a nationwide outcry for conviction.Can Dan foil the vicious scheme before Perez and her career go up in flames??Court of Killers is a standout book in the gripping Daniel Pike legal thriller series. If you like intricately plotted suspense, gritty courtroom drama and surprising twists and turns, then youll love William Bernhardts captivating novel. Buy Court of Killers to watch a determined lawyer unmask a murderer today!

In his latest collection, William Bernhardt again demonstrates that he is a true poet, one whose work accomplishes the difficult task of being both accessible and profound. He communicates with grace and illumination, avoiding the obscurity and obfuscation that sometimes causes readers to avoid modern poetry. He writes about the subjects that matter most: personal relationships, family, children, and the challenges of everyday life. Bernhardt is a poet who appeals even to those who think they dont like poetry and is cherished by those who do.While addressing subjects of everlasting import, Bernhardts poems are engaging, relevant, and sometimes playful, reminiscent of beloved predecessors such as Billy Collins and Robert Frost. Readers will be struck by the versatility of the poems and the wide range of form. Smart, lyrical, observant, and textured, these poems explain why Rilla Askew (Kind of Kin) called Bernhardt "a compelling new voice in American poetry" and R.C. Davis-Undiamo (World Literature Today) named him one of "the nations literary treasures.""William Bernhardt writes with warmth, wit, and a clear desire to commune with his reader. Whether he is working in free verse or in meter and rhyme, Bernhardt makes of poetry a way of connecting person to person. Like Montaigne, Bernhardt is a man consubstantial with his book, and the full range of human feeling is on display in these poems with great honesty and ardent empathy." Benjamin Meyers, OK Poet Laureate, Crouch-Mathis Professor of Literature, OBU"In this new collection, Bernhardt comes out guns blazing with the wonderful manifesto "Get This Over With"...and in the title poem "Traveling Salesmans Son," we get a solid taste for the pace, honesty, and power of the book overall...These poems rove through the minefields of society and culture with the eyes of a seasoned soldier. They roam loves hall of mirrors, knowing when to laugh and when to cry at the distortions. And they take a long thoughtful walk with what it means to be "family." Its all here." Nathan Brown, former Oklahoma Poet Laureate

A struggling lawyer. A bitter custody battle. A deadly fire. This case could cost Kenzi her careerand her life. Kenzi Rivera is furious. Passed over for promotion at her own fathers firm, the talented divorce lawyer is tired of fighting chauvinism every single day. When a desperate scientist begs for help getting her daughter back, Kenzi cant resist even though this client is involved in Hexitel, a group she calls her religion but others call a cult. Kenzi uncovers evidence of disturbing practices at Hexitel involving large sums of money, servitude, and sex. She also learns her clients lab has been plagued by death threats and cutthroat competition. After the workplace burns to the ground and her client is charged with murder, the ambitious attorney knows there is much more at stake than a simple custody dispute. Can Kenzi find a path to the truth before shes trapped in a maze of death? Splitsville is the dramatic first book in the Splitsville Legal Thriller series. If you like gutsy heroines, diverse characters, and page-turning suspense, then youll love William Bernhardts twisty tale. Buy Splitsville and strike a blow for justice!

He has one chance to find the facts hes searched for his entire life. All he has to do is prove his Number One enemy is not a killerDaniel Pike has devoted his legal career to ensuring no innocent person dies in prison like his father did. But hes still no closer to uncovering his painful family secrets. And after a terrible twist of fate, hes hired to defend his arch-nemesis whos been charged with a gruesome murderWith a string of grisly clues placing his client squarely in the frame, Pikes investigations incur the fury of a powerful and callous cartel. After a key defense witness is brutally slain, not even this talented attorney stands a chance of convincing the jury that his clients hands are not blood-stained. And the cartels next target is Pikeand everyone he loves.Will Pikes most challenging assignment destroy everything hes struggled to achieve?Final Verdict is the sixth book and the riveting conclusion to the Daniel Pike Legal Thriller Series. If you like spellbinding courtroom dramas, startling revelations, and jaw-dropping action, then youll love William Bernhardts edge-of-your-seat finale.Get Final Verdict to bring the gavel down today!

What must a writer know to survive in the modern publishing world? In this volume, William Bernhardt tackles essential topics that, while smaller in scope, are nonetheless necessary to a contemporary authors survival. How do you create a memorable series character? Should you write in the first person? What does "Show, dont tell" really mean? How do you add suspense? Bernhardt also discusses legal issues confronting writers and marketing concerns, such as the all-important book description for online sales pages. Bernhardt tackles these eleven topics with his usual direct, no-nonsense style, telling writers what they need to know without wasting their time.William Bernhardt is the bestselling author of more than fifty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike novels. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. He has received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award, which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." In 2019, he received the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award.The Red Sneaker Writing Center provides a free e-newsletter, podcast, workshops, retreats, and an annual conference to help writers achieve their goals. Whats a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction 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!

A billion-dollar inheritance. A suspicious reappearance. Can Dan dig up the secrets of the past before hes buried six feet under?Attorney Daniel Pikes flashy courtroom antics have earned him plenty of enemiesbut also freed many innocent people. When he learns that the same crooked cop who got his father locked up for life is testifying in a contested-identity suit, Dan takes the case. But it wont be easy to prove his client is the long-lost heir to an immense estate since the young man cant remember the last fourteen yearsHis civil litigation becomes a criminal trial when another heir is violently murdered and the mysterious amnesiac looks like the prime suspect. Battling vanishing evidence, political interference, and a brutal attack on his life, the savvy lawyer knows hell need to put on his best performance yet.Can Daniel save his clients name and inheritance? Or will they both pay with their lives?Trial by Blood is the third book in the nail-biting Daniel Pike legal thriller series. If you like sinister conspiracies, brash attorneys, and dark-alley danger, then youll love William Bernhardts page-turning novel.Buy Trial by Blood and take a crack at injustice today!

When a scandalous divorce trial interferes with a ruthless killer, can one tough lawyer find the truth before she becomes the next victim?Kenzi Rivera is classy, compassionate, and ready to buck the status quo. Sick of being patronized by judges and undervalued by her own firm, the no-nonsense Hispanic attorney boldly takes on a high-profile divorce for a tech-world "throuple." But the case turns toxic when leaked nudes of her client go viral and ruin her reputation.Determined to help this woman already battling a debilitating neurological disorder, Kenzi is caught off-guard when her new clients partner is strangled. With damning evidence massing at an alarming rate, vindicating her troubled client may be impossible.Can Kenzi discover whose hands are covered in blood before the jury brings back a guilty verdict? Can she make this right before the killer makes her the next target?Exposed is the compelling second book in the Splitsville Legal Thriller Series. If you like dark courtroom drama and tense mysteries, then youll love William Bernhardts powerful page-turner."Exposed has everything I love in a thriller: intricate plot twists, an ensemble of brilliant heroines, and jaw-dropping drama both in and out of the courtroom. William Bernhardt knows how to make the law come alive." -- Tess Gerritsen, NYT bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles crime series

In this story, William Bernhardt sends his crusading attorney Kenzi Rivera (Splitsville) to solve the mystery of a missing family heirloomwith several lives hanging in the balance. So pull up a chair by the Christmas tree, put on your holiday music, grab a glass of eggnog, and get the Christmas spirit with Kenzi Rivera.

How do you create a fictional world that readers will want to visit? How do you paint a picture that springs to life on the page? William Bernhardt explains how to use description and setting to enhance your story without slowing the pace. Bernhardt discusses showing without telling, providing descriptive details that inform character, and integrating visuals and action with "stealth description." In his direct, no-nonsense style, Bernhardt explains how to use all five senses to create a fully realized portrait. William Bernhardt is the bestselling author of more than fifty books, including the bestselling Daniel Pike novels. Bernhardt is also one of the most sought-after writing instructors in the nation. He has received the Southern Writers Gold Medal Award and the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award, which is given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work that has profoundly influenced the way in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." In 2019, he receivedthe Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Red Sneaker Writing Center provides a free e-newsletter, podcast, workshops, retreats, and an annual conference to help writers achieve their goals. Whats a red sneaker writer? A committed writer seeking useful instruction 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.