Primary Justice [Import] [Hardcover]

William Bernhardt (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Severn House (1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727847058
• ISBN-13: 978-0727847058
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,165,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I love my job. Even on the worst day when I can't seem to put together a coherent sentence, I am grateful for having been given this magnificent opportunity to participate in the literary exchange of ideas. My mother says I was telling people I wanted to be a writer when I was seven. I know that seems incredible, but she's my mom, so we have to believe her. I never missed an opportunity to visit the library, which was blissfully near my home, and the librarians there took a great interest in this nerdy, shy, bespectacled kid who kept reappearing almost every day. They encouraged me to read widely and to read the best of everything, and that is exactly what I did and have continued to do all my life.

I sent off my first submission when I was eleven, to Highlights Magazine. This was a poem of which I was particularly proud concerning the Oklahoma Land Run. They turned me down. Yes, that was my first rejection letter. Over the next twenty years, I collected over 400 more of them. No, I'm not exaggerating. I still have them. Every last one. There was a reason, I realize now, why all those compositions were being rejected. They weren't very good. But they improved over time. I didn't know it, but during the entire torturous process of submission and rejection, I was learning how to write.

I finally had my first novel published (by Ballantine, a division of Random House) when I was thirty-one. To some, this may seem an early age to publish, but if you clock it from my first rejection, it took twenty years. That was a great year--my first son, Harry, was born in August, and my first book, Primary Justice, was born in December. The book surprised everyone and the follow-up did even better and before I even realized it I had accomplished my goal--I was a real honest-to-gosh writer. I've been writing ever since. I've written more than twenty novels, edited two anthologies, done two books for children, and published numerous stories, essays, puzzles, and poems. I have three children now, and this job allows me to be present when they come home from school and available when they need me during the day, which is a blessing I could not have anticipated back when I was a seven-year old gazing dreamily at author photos on dust jackets, wishing I could see myself there.

My goals for the future are to continue to learn, to grow, to find new ways of doing my work and doing it better. I think the current interest in thrillers provides a marvelous opportunity to spin bigger and more exciting stories. I've learned that I enjoy teaching, which has led to the William Bernhardt Writing Programs and The Fundamentals of Fiction DVDs, as well as many speaking and teaching engagements throughout the year. My interest in mentoring aspiring writers led me to start the Small-Group Seminars and Master Classes, which allow me to teach my favorite subject all across the nation. And in my personal life, my goal is I to be the best parent possible to Harry, Alice, and Ralph, and the best possible partner to my wife, Marcia. I'm very excited about the future--my personal life with these extraordinary people, and my professional life, creating new stories for you wonderful people who still understand the importance of storytelling and the written word.
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William Bernhardt is the author of more than twenty novels, including Primary Justice, Murder One, Criminal Intent, Death Row, Capitol Murder, Capitol Threat, Capitol Conspiracy, and Nemesis. He is one of fewer than a dozen recipients of the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He is also one of the country's most popular writing instructors, teaching at various conferences throughout the year. A former trial attorney, Bernhardt has received several awards for his public service. He lives in Tulsa with his wife, Marcia, and their children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that started it all., July 14, 1999

By 

Tam Sesto - See all my reviews

This review is from: Primary Justice (Mass Market Paperback)

Primary Justice was William Bernhardt's debut novel. It was also the novel that introduced us to attorney Ben Kincaid and his sidekick, Christina McCall as they try to solve the mystery of a not so typical adoption case. The story is fast paced, written with humor, and Mr. Bernahrdt has no trouble humanizing Ben. If you read a "Justice" novel, you need to start with this one, as Mr. Bernhardt does carry characters and information over from one Justice novel to another.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good debut, July 26, 2004

By 

David A. Spearman (Harbor Beach, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Primary Justice (Mass Market Paperback)

I wanted to go back after reading one and start with his first book. I found it OK but not what I would have expected. It had the young lawyer and interestng characters but it seemed to lack something. Even with the surprise ending well done it still left me with a little wonder. He certainly has written many more so I will continue to proceed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great start for a new series, December 9, 2003

By 

Sebastian Fernandez (Tampa, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Primary Justice (Mass Market Paperback)

You won't be dissapointed with this series which has it all: humor, suspense and great characters. These books are very easy to read and you will find yourself finished with them sooner than you expected.

I hope you give this series a try!