William Bernhardt
@wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social
Husband, father, poet, writer, musician. Author of the Ben Kincaid and Daniel Pike legal thriller and the Red Sneaker books on writing.
Yesterday was the 47th anniversary of the release of Superman: The Movie. His daughter told me that, at the premiere, she sat between her parents holding both hands. When Jerry's name zoomed across the screen, he squeezed her hand and began to weep. I wrote about it for my book, The Superman Wars.
December 11, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Yesterday was the 47th anniversary of the release of Superman: The Movie. His daughter told me that, at the premiere, she sat between her parents holding both hands. When Jerry's name zoomed across the screen, he squeezed her hand and began to weep. I wrote about it for my book, The Superman Wars.
Today is the birthday of our greatest American poet, Emily Dickinson, so I'm sharing one of her best poems.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
December 10, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Today is the birthday of our greatest American poet, Emily Dickinson, so I'm sharing one of her best poems.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
Ralph shared some of the photos he took in the Philippines (after he escaped the typhoon, flooding, and kidney stones). The Temple of Leah is in Cebu. It was built in the Roman style in 2012 as a tribute to the architect's wife Leah, and as a museum for her collections of artifacts.
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Ralph shared some of the photos he took in the Philippines (after he escaped the typhoon, flooding, and kidney stones). The Temple of Leah is in Cebu. It was built in the Roman style in 2012 as a tribute to the architect's wife Leah, and as a museum for her collections of artifacts.
In addition to the big tree, I put two smaller ones in the living room. For the lights, I had to string an extension cord between the two, then used cat toys and houses to disguise the cord. Winifred got there first, but Bustopher is waiting patiently for his turn.
December 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
In addition to the big tree, I put two smaller ones in the living room. For the lights, I had to string an extension cord between the two, then used cat toys and houses to disguise the cord. Winifred got there first, but Bustopher is waiting patiently for his turn.
Bustopher has had enough of my continuing incompetence. He's taking over. Check out the video—it's only ten seconds. Cats tend to be succinct...
December 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Bustopher has had enough of my continuing incompetence. He's taking over. Check out the video—it's only ten seconds. Cats tend to be succinct...
While the family was shopping on Black Friday, the boys stayed home and worked. I wrote two chapters. Bustopher reviewed my pages and told me it needed more scenes with Ben's cats. Then I think he got bored...
December 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
While the family was shopping on Black Friday, the boys stayed home and worked. I wrote two chapters. Bustopher reviewed my pages and told me it needed more scenes with Ben's cats. Then I think he got bored...
Yesterday I posted a $50 off code for the WriterCon Cruise. Now I'm doing the same for the conference. We have the best lineup of headline speakers we've ever had! Over 60 presenters. Over 100 sessions. Contests. Agents. Publishers. Join us Sept 4-7 and advance your writing career! www.writercon.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Yesterday I posted a $50 off code for the WriterCon Cruise. Now I'm doing the same for the conference. We have the best lineup of headline speakers we've ever had! Over 60 presenters. Over 100 sessions. Contests. Agents. Publishers. Join us Sept 4-7 and advance your writing career! www.writercon.com
Register for the upcoming WriterCon cruise, May 7-15 from Ft Lauderdale, with over 20 hours of writing classes led by me and several other authors, plus a fabulous agent who will meet with everyone.Save $50 by registering this weekend! Use code BFC50 when you check out! writercon.com/writercon-cr...
November 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Register for the upcoming WriterCon cruise, May 7-15 from Ft Lauderdale, with over 20 hours of writing classes led by me and several other authors, plus a fabulous agent who will meet with everyone.Save $50 by registering this weekend! Use code BFC50 when you check out! writercon.com/writercon-cr...
Ralph is home safe. Still a bit under the weather, but we're hoping that will change soon enough for him to eat Lara's delicious homemade cinnamon rolls tomorrow. He hasn't had time to work on new photos, so I'm sharing this gorgeous pic from the Faroe Islands. Enjoy your Thanksgiving prep!
November 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Ralph is home safe. Still a bit under the weather, but we're hoping that will change soon enough for him to eat Lara's delicious homemade cinnamon rolls tomorrow. He hasn't had time to work on new photos, so I'm sharing this gorgeous pic from the Faroe Islands. Enjoy your Thanksgiving prep!
Lara has been in Dallas for several days with Kadey and Madeline having a spa/shop holiday. Meanwhile, I'm at home with the cats. Alas, the workers have started on our new roof and the cats do not like the noise. Bustopher is currently hiding in my clothes closet under a row of hanging shirts...
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Lara has been in Dallas for several days with Kadey and Madeline having a spa/shop holiday. Meanwhile, I'm at home with the cats. Alas, the workers have started on our new roof and the cats do not like the noise. Bustopher is currently hiding in my clothes closet under a row of hanging shirts...
Ralph is flying back from the Philippines today, weather permitting (it's still terrible), so fingers crossed, everyone. Meanwhile, here's a lovely double rainbow photo from the Ralph Archives.
November 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Ralph is flying back from the Philippines today, weather permitting (it's still terrible), so fingers crossed, everyone. Meanwhile, here's a lovely double rainbow photo from the Ralph Archives.
Yesterday was National Adoption Day, so I (unwittingly) posted about the world's most famous fictional adoptee. I liked that last summer's movie emphasized that although Krypton gave him powers, he is who he is because he was raised by two loving Kansas farmers. www.amazon.com/Superman-War...
November 23, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Yesterday was National Adoption Day, so I (unwittingly) posted about the world's most famous fictional adoptee. I liked that last summer's movie emphasized that although Krypton gave him powers, he is who he is because he was raised by two loving Kansas farmers. www.amazon.com/Superman-War...
OIur beautiful orange cat Winifred escaped! Then late Wednesday night I saw Bustopher rush to the front door and press his nose against the window, screeching. Lara shouted, "It's Winnie!" So the cats are together and playing again, and Bustopher has reminded us that he's the best WatchCat ever.
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
OIur beautiful orange cat Winifred escaped! Then late Wednesday night I saw Bustopher rush to the front door and press his nose against the window, screeching. Lara shouted, "It's Winnie!" So the cats are together and playing again, and Bustopher has reminded us that he's the best WatchCat ever.
Ralph's birthday was Monday but I didn't post then because he was in a Philippines hospital. Turned out he had kidney stones. He's fine now and photographing to make up for lost time. He spent most of that hospital time making graphics and AI videos. Even in pain, he didn't lose his sense of humor.
November 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Ralph's birthday was Monday but I didn't post then because he was in a Philippines hospital. Turned out he had kidney stones. He's fine now and photographing to make up for lost time. He spent most of that hospital time making graphics and AI videos. Even in pain, he didn't lose his sense of humor.
Harry recently returned from a trip to Laos. He described it as one of the most beautiful places he's visited, full of lush green landscapes and waterfalls and ancient temples. I've attached some photos. If you'd like to see more, visit his YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/@burnheartsw...
November 18, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Harry recently returned from a trip to Laos. He described it as one of the most beautiful places he's visited, full of lush green landscapes and waterfalls and ancient temples. I've attached some photos. If you'd like to see more, visit his YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/@burnheartsw...
Alice had her gall bladder removed about three weeks ago, but I'm pleased that she's recovered and is back to her habit of walking Turkey Mountain trails every day after work. I like walking with her because she's consistent and energetic and doesn't require small talk.
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Alice had her gall bladder removed about three weeks ago, but I'm pleased that she's recovered and is back to her habit of walking Turkey Mountain trails every day after work. I like walking with her because she's consistent and energetic and doesn't require small talk.
Ralph is in the Philippines and has seen first-hand all the devastation they are suffering, floods and typhoons (one caused his plane to suffer terrible turbulance). He asked me not to share some of the photos because he didn't want to be insensitive, but I think these will tell the story.
November 13, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Ralph is in the Philippines and has seen first-hand all the devastation they are suffering, floods and typhoons (one caused his plane to suffer terrible turbulance). He asked me not to share some of the photos because he didn't want to be insensitive, but I think these will tell the story.
Lara and I and Kadey and Joe attended the Billie Eilish concert last night. She put on a terrific show, and we were on the floor, up close and personal. We could feel the heat from the fire jets and got sprayed with confetti. Very entertaining evening with a performer who is making her own rules.
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Lara and I and Kadey and Joe attended the Billie Eilish concert last night. She put on a terrific show, and we were on the floor, up close and personal. We could feel the heat from the fire jets and got sprayed with confetti. Very entertaining evening with a performer who is making her own rules.
Here's my November Superman Minute: Superman inventor Jerry Siegel created "K-Metal," a chunk of the home planet that was deadly to the hero...
All this and more in my forthcoming nonfiction book, The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. www.amazon.com/Superman-War...
All this and more in my forthcoming nonfiction book, The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. www.amazon.com/Superman-War...
November 8, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Here's my November Superman Minute: Superman inventor Jerry Siegel created "K-Metal," a chunk of the home planet that was deadly to the hero...
All this and more in my forthcoming nonfiction book, The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. www.amazon.com/Superman-War...
All this and more in my forthcoming nonfiction book, The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. www.amazon.com/Superman-War...
Well, it's November, so Ralph is once again photographing squirrels, the subject that won him the Washington Post award. Here's his first official squirrel portrait of 2025.
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Well, it's November, so Ralph is once again photographing squirrels, the subject that won him the Washington Post award. Here's his first official squirrel portrait of 2025.
One more Halloween post! Ralph has always loved animals, but sometimes I'm surprised by how much they love him! Here he is innocently setting out Alice's exquisite carved pumpkins for Halloween...when a bird lands on his head. I think my reaction would've been much more dramatic!
November 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
One more Halloween post! Ralph has always loved animals, but sometimes I'm surprised by how much they love him! Here he is innocently setting out Alice's exquisite carved pumpkins for Halloween...when a bird lands on his head. I think my reaction would've been much more dramatic!
An annual Halloween tradition—showing off Alice's carved pumpkins. She did all the work freehand. I particularly like the very literary Headless Horseman art. I'm also posting a pic of Ralph handling treat of treat duties so you could see how great the pumpkins looked outside.
November 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
An annual Halloween tradition—showing off Alice's carved pumpkins. She did all the work freehand. I particularly like the very literary Headless Horseman art. I'm also posting a pic of Ralph handling treat of treat duties so you could see how great the pumpkins looked outside.
Since she's appropriately pumpkin orange, we're letting Winifred wish you a spooooooky Halloween! (Photo by Ralph Bernhardt)
October 31, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Since she's appropriately pumpkin orange, we're letting Winifred wish you a spooooooky Halloween! (Photo by Ralph Bernhardt)
I don't know how I missed this, but apparently yesterday was National Cat Day. Bustopher was very disturbed that he wasn't featured in my social media posts. See the look he gave me, with those big sad eyes? So I'm compensating today. (Photo by Ralph Bernhardt.)
October 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I don't know how I missed this, but apparently yesterday was National Cat Day. Bustopher was very disturbed that he wasn't featured in my social media posts. See the look he gave me, with those big sad eyes? So I'm compensating today. (Photo by Ralph Bernhardt.)
I'm mourning my friend and fellow writer Jon Meyers, who died unexpectedly yesterday. He co-wrote the nonfiction book Writer Better Together and was very proud of having finished his first novels. We will miss his enthusiasm and knowledge, but mostly we will remember him as a warm, generous friend.
October 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm mourning my friend and fellow writer Jon Meyers, who died unexpectedly yesterday. He co-wrote the nonfiction book Writer Better Together and was very proud of having finished his first novels. We will miss his enthusiasm and knowledge, but mostly we will remember him as a warm, generous friend.