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Author William Bernhardt Rob Holden: William Bernhardt, thanks for joining us today at ReadersRoom.com. It is a pleasure to speak with you! William Bernhardt: My pleasure. Thanks for asking me. Rob Holden: I would like to start this out by talking about your latest novel Capitol Murder. Could you tell our readers a bit about it? William Bernhardt: This is the 14th Ben Kincaid novel and the first set in Washington, D.C. Intrepid trial attorney Ben is representing an Oklahoma senator involved in a sex scandal that suddenly turns into a murder case. Rob Holden: Capitol Murder, while revolving around the trial, touches on some extraordinarily dark issues. Could you tell us a bit about those? William Bernhardt: I'm going to guess you're referring to the vampires... Rob Holden: They are about as dark as it gets. William Bernhardt: Vampires and politicians -- make your own joke. Sadly, this cult of "real-life" vampires is not something I made up. Several hundred thousand of these "wannabes" exist all across the nation, in numerous vampiric circles. And yes, some of them actually do drink blood. Rob Holden: The novel does as extraordinary job of taking the reader into a sub-culture that very few people know about. I am just wondering what kind of research you did on that? William Bernhardt: Well, you probably noticed that I'm wearing a turtleneck. But seriously, I did a lot of reading on the subject. I mention some of my sources in the Acknowledgements. There are also a frighteningly large number of websites devoted to real-life vampires and their practices. And of course, I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Rob Holden: I am certainly not going to give away any of the specifics – we want people to read the book -- but I think you did an amazing job bring this phenomenon to life! William Bernhardt: Thanks. It was a bit of a departure for the minions of the Benverse. Rob Holden: William, there has been something of a trend in legal fiction lately to stay OUT of the courtroom. You, however, in most of the Kincaid series, stay in the courtroom. Can you tell us a bit about why?

William Bernhardt: It's hard to beat a good trial. Conflict in a bottle. All in one room, diametrically opposed parties in combat with words, which works well for a novel, and within that context, you can address virtually any subject.

Rob Holden: When we chatted with David Baldacci a couple of years ago, he told us that he found courtroom scenes to be among the most difficult to write. Do you find them to be the same, in your work?

William Bernhardt: Not really. With all due respect to David, who I think is great, I enjoy the courtroom scenes. They almost write themselves, perhaps because I worked as a trial attorney for many years. Or perhaps because they tend to be heavy on the dialogue which I think is one of my strengths. No reader wants you to pause a good trial to describe the light fixtures. It's all verbal warfare.

Rob Holden: Another thing I find rather unique about this series is the development you give to the "ensemble" cast supporting Ben – particularly Loving, and Christina. They interact in a way that indicates you know ALL these characters well. Can you give us an idea of how they were inspired?

William Bernhardt: I think the supporting cast is what makes the series fun. They've all changed and matured over time. Loving has a co-starring role in this book for the first time. That was fun. I do think I've come to know them well over time, and so have my readers--but they can still surprise me. After so many years, it's hard to remember what inspired them. Ben I suppose has a smidgen of my own personality, and I knew he would need a tough spunky partner if he was going to get anywhere. Without Christina, Ben would be useless. With her, he's one of the best trial attorneys in the country--even if he doesn't know it.

Rob Holden: I hate to take this chat in an unpleasant direction, but I am afraid I HAVE to ask you about Washington, D.C. The novel really seems to get inside the nation's capitol. Was that "feeling" difficult to get in this novel?

William Bernhardt: It did require a lot of research, but it was mostly interesting and fun research. Who knew the US senators had these hideaways in the basement of the senate building? Who knew the true secret to the lobbyists' power? And I felt it was a natural direction for the series. I try to keep the series fresh by trying new things. Judging from sales, this experiment appears to have been a success.

Rob Holden: Speaking of series, after 13 in the Ben Kincaid series, you launched a new series, with Dark Eye. Could you tell our readers a bit about that?

William Bernhardt: Dark Eye focuses on Susan Pulaski, a police psychologist, and Darcy O'Bannon, an autistic savant, who somehow are thrown together in a case in Vegas featuring a serial killer taking his clues from the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Susan and Darcy have a relationship not unlike that of Ben and Christina--they need each other, they fill each other's gaps. And as a result of working together, by both find a measure of purpose and redemption that they didn't have before.

Rob Holden: Darcy is an absolutely fascinating character. Could you tell us a bit this character came from, and how you got "inside" him?

William Bernhardt: As always, I did a lot of research, spent a lot of time with autistic adults. When people think of autism, sadly, they tend to think of Rain Man, which was fine drama but not a very accurate portrayal of autism. And I hated, the conclusion of the movie, which seems to suggest that there is no hope for autistic adults other than lifetime institutionalization. Many autistic adults are living fulfilling lives on their own. At the start of my book, Darcy has been told he is useless, hopelessly dependent. As a result of his work with Susan, he realizes that his special skills can be applied, that he can be of use to people. As I said, the story is all about redemption.

Rob Holden: I suppose the natural question here is, with a very successful series thriving already, and a number of outstanding standalone novels, what made you want to start another series?

William Bernhardt: Well, it didn't have to be a series, it was a book I wanted to write. But I have to admit that I conceived it in my head as being at least a trilogy. I've written the second book, and my publisher has it, but I can't say when it will be released. Speaking as a writer, I don't think you can let the fact that you have a successful series prevent you from trying new things. Not every idea is right for a Ben Kincaid novel.

Rob Holden: I would like to get back to research for a moment. Your novels are all extremely well researched. Which do you find more rewarding personally -- the research, or the actual writing? And, which is the hardest for you?

William Bernhardt: Writing is the creative part. It's fun. It's also hard work, time-consuming work but still fun. Research is just hard work. Slow work. I've had many books that took longer to research than to write. But it's important to me to get the details right (at least whenever possible). The sad truth is that there was never a perfect book, and there will always be boo-boos. But at least they won't be errors caused by failure to check the facts.

Rob Holden: Do you do your research AS you are writing? Or do you have everything set to go before you put pen to paper -- or fingers to keyboard?

William Bernhardt: I usually do the bulk of the research before I begin -- good research can help shape the book, can stimulate new good ideas. But there is also almost always a point in the actual writing when I realize there's something I need to know that I don't know yet. More research.

Rob Holden: Like so many of the authors we have interviewed, you started out as a trial lawyer. What caused you to make the jump for attorney, to novelist?

William Bernhardt: I've been writing my entire life. I always wanted to be a writer. Although I enjoyed practicing law (for the most part), I never saw it as anything other than a way to make a living until I was a published writer.

Rob Holden: One of the questions our readers who are also writers like us to ask is about our guest's writing schedule. What is a "typical" work day like for you?

William Bernhardt: I get up at 6, run, exercise, answer email. At 7, I fix breakfast, get the kids ready for school, then take them to school. I'm back by 9:15 or so and start writing, and don't get up until some point well into the afternoon, when I put away the writing and work on other things, such as the small press I'm working on, the Masters degree I'm working on, side writing projects. Around 4:30 the children come home and it's Study Hall till dinner. Very glamorous, don't you think?

Rob Holden: Sounds very exhausting, to be honest! Would you like to tell our readers a bit about the small press you are working on?

William Bernhardt: I created HAWK Publishing in 1999, mostly because I knew so many talented writers who couldn't seem to get published. We publish all kinds of books. And we save space on the schedule every year for previously unpublished writers. You can visit the website: http://www.hawkpub.com.

Rob Holden: I know that you have received a number of awards for public service. Are they any particular organizations that are near and dear to your heart?

William Bernhardt: The Nature Conservancy. An "anthology novel" I organized, Natural Suspect was a fundraiser for the Nature Conservancy. And a very successful one -- way better than I expected.

Rob Holden: You ARE a busy man! So, can you tell us when we can expect to see Ben Kincaid back again?

William Bernhardt: Looks like Ben will be back in February of 2007. If you've read Capitol Murder... well, the last chapter pretty much sets up the sequel. To be continued!

Rob Holden: Yes, I was hoping that would be the case! So, what is next for William Bernhardt?

William Bernhardt: Ben will still be in Washington. And there's no murder trial as such--but there is something else just as good, if not better. I don't think I can say any more without not only spoiling the secrets of that book but spoiling the secrets of Capitol Murder as well!

Rob Holden: Fair enough! Before we wrap this up, I would like to thank Patty Park of Ballantine Publicity for all her help in setting this up.

William Bernhardt: Thanks, Patty! (She's great.)

Rob Holden: Finally, William, is there anything you would like to say to your fans who might read this chat at ReadersRoom.com?

William Bernhardt: If you have a chance to read Capitol Murder (or even if you don't), drop me an email and let me know what you think: willbern@mindspring.com. And for more info about me, more than any sensible person would want to know, visit: http://williambernhardt.com.

Rob Holden: William Bernhardt, thanks for joining us here today -- and all the best in the future!

William Bernhardt: Same to you. Thanks, Rob. Thanks, Laura!




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