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William Bernhardt

@wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social
153 followers 56 following 526 posts

Author of The Superman Wars and the Ben Kincaid and Daniel Pike legal thrillers

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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 11h
Read "The Great Automatic Grammatizor," written by Roald Dahl 72 years ago, in 1954: Adolph Knipe is a frustrated, unsuccessful writer who realizes magazine editors don't want art, they want formula. So he builds a machine... Sound vaguely familiar? You can read the story here: bit.ly/4y9cIPS
bit.ly
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
And then Ralph said, Ok, other than not getting the Nobel Prize, what other goals have you not accomplished yet? And then he gave me the video version. My life is now complete.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
It would appear at this point that I am unlikely to receive the Nobel Prize—so Ralph decided to award me one anyway.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Congratulations to my pal Barry Friedman on today's release of his new book, the fourth volume in his series about his late father. Strongly recommended and no, you don't have to read all the others first. Barry will be signing in Tulsa for Magic City on October 13! www.amazon.com/Jack-Sh-What...
amazon.com
Jack Sh*t 4: What Do They Want From My Life? (Jack Sh*t Trilogy)
Buy Jack Sh*t 4: What Do They Want From My Life? (Jack Sh*t Trilogy): Read Kindle Store Reviews - Amazon.com
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Did you get the latest issue of the William Bernhardt Newsletter yesterday? No? How did you make it through the day? Let me help. Click on the link and subscribe to the monthly Substack newsletter. It's completely free. williambernhardt.substack.com/p/the-willia...
williambernhardt.substack.com
The William Bernhardt Newsletter (October 2026)
WriterCon 2026, the Emmy Awards, and Bustopher Plays the Piano!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
So here's Winifred Take 2, using a different Ralph photo as model and taking some liberties. Ok, cats don't have the nerves to form a true smile, but I thought she was smiling inside. And everyone is happy when there are balloons.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Since I've painted Bustopher about a million times, I thought in fairness I should take a shot at Winifred, who is much harder, given all the variegated coloring. I used one of Ralph's great photos for a model. But she looks too sad, and the colors aren't quite right (the scan makes them lighter).
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Every morning around 6ish Bustopher and I go out to watch the sunrise and the birds attracted by all the feeders and homes Lara has erected. Little did I know they were just humoring me!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Did you know that in China, 9th graders are required to read Jane Eyre? Apparently they consider it a breakthrough tale about a strong woman demanding fair and equal treatment. Now if we could just make it required 9th-grade reading in the United States... www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/w...
nytimes.com
What China Sees in ‘Jane Eyre,’ Now Required Reading for 9th Graders
The Victorian heroine has long been celebrated in China for her independence and insistence on equality.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Lara and I have been teaching at a writers conference in Iowa. Between us, we did five talks and four panels discussions. But I'd always rather stay busy. The weather was rainy and overcast but I don't think anyone minded much. We stayed at a beautiful B&B, the Oakwood Inn, that I highly recommend.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Ok, more fun photos from the pre-Emmy DGA Suite. There's a whole page of them now! I was amazed at how interested TV folk seemed to be in my book, but of course, it is ultimately about creator rights, which should be of interest to all creatives. www.blackchateauenterprises.com/dpa-pre-awar...
blackchateauenterprises.com
DPA Pre-Awards Lounge 2026 in Honor of the Primetime Emmy
Black Château participated in the prestigious DPA Pre-Awards Gifting Suite, showcasing their authors at an exclusive event.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Love seeing all the coverage about the 100th title from Babylon Books (the publishing arm of Bernhardt Books, our family biz). The 100th title, a historical novel titled Jack & Nikita, will be released in November. www.einpresswire.com/shareable-pr...
einpresswire.com
Babylon Books Celebrates 15 Years of Publishing as Landmark 100th Title Approaches
The publisher marks 15 years with bestselling authors, a growing catalog, international readership, and its forthcoming 100th release.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Ralph has been processing some of his photos from Vietnam. He took this photo while hiking in Sa Pa, Vietnam. The location is real, but when Ralph Bernhardt of Ralph Bernhardt Media is behind the lens, it looks like a magical fairy tale village.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Ralph is visiting for a few days. He and Bustopher are great pals. Because Busopher plays the piano and Ralph sings. Also, Ralph is the family photographer and Bustopher is his best photo model. And it's so much easier when he sits in your lap.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
There are now two pianists at Bernhardt Manor. Bustopher is following in my footsteps. Lara got this great video while I was muttering about some puzzle. Unlike myself, Bustopher gets treats when he plays. I mostly just hear doors closing...
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
While I was in LA, I of course went to Superman: The Experience at Warner Bros Studios, basically an interactive 3D movie game with lots of flying and punching. It was morning on a school day and 110 outside, which explains why I was the only guest there. I have to say, it was fun. Up, up, and away!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
We just posted the latest episode of the WriterCon podcast, recorded LIVE at WriterCon 2026 with William Martin and Dani Pettrey. Lots of fun, news, and a special treat—a game Jesse devised involving—what else?—James Patterson. The podcast will return in October! www.spreaker.com/episode/live...
spreaker.com
Live from WriterCon 2026! William Martin, Dan Martin & Dani Pettrey - WriterCon
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I got a bunch more photos from the pre-Emmys DGA Gifting Suite so I wanted to share a few faves. The young woman on the left in the 2nd photo is Tina Ivlev, who was nominated for The Pitt. Look at all the swag on that table! And that was just one room.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Side-by-side comparison of the original photo by Ralph and, thanks to ChatGPT (this showed up in my Inbox), the anime version of me. Which do you prefer? (Btw, Alice crocheted that scarf for me!)
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
📣 New Podcast! "Live from WriterCon 2026! William Martin, Dan Martin & Dani Pettrey" on @Spreaker
spreaker.com
Live from WriterCon 2026! William Martin, Dan Martin & Dani Pettrey
This is the final episode of our fifth season, as always culminating in this LIVE recording made on Sunday afternoon during the conference with keynote speaker and NYT #1 bestseller William Martin, USA Today bestseller Dani Pettrey, and game writer and designer Dan Martin. We're taking a break for the rest of September, but we will return in early October with our sixth season! Opening Thoughts We LOVE WriterCon! News 1) Defendant ordered to pay attorney fees for Tracy Wolff 2) AI detection kills $2M book deal JESSE'S GAME! In the first of what I hope will be a new feature, Jesse, always obsessing over James Patterson, created a game for the panel: James Patterson Books: Real or Fake. He gives you the titles and co-writers, and you have to decide whether it is a real Patterson book. The audience loved it. Interview With three great writers all at once, we investigated how they became writers, their writing process, and also took a deep dive into some offbeat questions that provoked some very unexpected answers. Parting Words Let me also remind you that WriterCon has its own newsletter and you don’t want to miss the next issue, which has wonderful articles on breaking issues. Go to Substack. If you haven’t joined the WriterCon Facebook Group yet, do it now! Do it today and join this wonderful community of writers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/113141678727273 If you’re enjoying this podcast, please subscribe, then rate or review wherever you get podcasts. It does make it easier for new listeners to discover us. You can find the video version of these podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@writerconpodcast1307 Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit. William Bernhardt http://www.williambernhardt.com/ http://www.writercon.com/ 
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Ralph has been working around the clock and yesterday delivered the first tranche of author photos he took at WriterCon. They are gorgeous, as you might expect from Ralph Bernhardt Media. Here are some of my fave fam photos.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I wanted to share more of the great photos people have posted from WriterCon 2026. Photobombed a book signing with Marty Ludlum, Bill McCloud, and Lou Berney, the only person in Oklahoma with an Edgar statuette at home. I love writers and especially our WriterCon family!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Back from LA. Two eight-hour shifts hanging with Emmy nominees, VIPs and cool brands at the DPA GROUP lounge. Huge thanks to Nathalie Dubois-Sissoko! The highlight was meeting K Callan, who played Ma Kent on Lois and Clark and seemed delighted that her show was mentioned in my book. #dpagroup
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Ralph rushed through the photos he took at the WriterCon awards ceremony so the winners could post pics on social media. Here are some of my favorites. I see some fantastic writers in here. And some warm and wonderful people.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Flew to LA for "DPA's most coveted gifting experience." You've heard about those swag bags celebs get before the Emmys? Well, this year, in addition to the French cologne and Tahitian pearls, they can get a copy of The Superman Wars. I mean, I know what I'd want. natlawreview.com/press-releas...
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
As you may have heard, yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the first-ever airing of Star Trek back in 1966. I wanted to go on a Klingon-language immersion cruise but, given how close this was to WriterCon, we settled for the theatrical re-releases of Star Trek 3 and 4 (paired with OG episodes).
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Wrapped up the 19th annual WriterCon! We hosted our biggest group yet. I saw many happy faces as our guests learned, made friends, got agents, and advanced their writing lives.We had a lovely dinner with longtime friend William Martin. Bonus activities included a book bedazzling session and karaoke.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
WriterCon 2026 starts tomorrow morning. Some of the add-ons are no longer available, but we will take walk-in conference registrations, so if you've been dithering about taking this chance to improve your writing skills or career, don't delay! Join us at WriterCon! writercon.com/about-writer...
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Picked up Ralph at the airport yesterday. True to his word, he's back in time to take author photos at WriterCon. Here's a photo from his Vietnam expedition of the "Golden Bridge" in Ba Na Hills. It's a 150-meter pedestrian bridge through the mountains supported by two giant stone hands.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I MADE THIS! (From a kit.) Sometimes in the evening if I'm not playing the piano or painting or working a cryptic, I like to put things together. So I assembled this book box featuring one of my favorite books. I love that it has a light and that the rabbit hole looks bottomless.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Last night Kadey finished all the goodies for the WriterCon "check-in dossier" and Lara and I and Alan and David put it all together assembly-line style. Then I reviewed and finalized the schedule. As you can see, Bustopher helped, though at some point it was too late even for him. www.writercon.com
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Today I'm mourning the passing of a friend and colleague, Will Murray. Will was a terrific writer and historian with an unmatched expertise on pulps and comics. He generously agreed to fact-check my Superman book and made many helpful suggestions. Will was a titan and I already miss him.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
WRITERCON 2026 starts Friday with over 300 people coming from 17 states and five countries! Less than a week away but there's still time to register. Visit the website and review the schedule—100+ sessions from 60+ speakers covering every aspect of writing. #writercon26 writercon.com/writercon-20...
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
WriterCon prep is well underway at Bernhardt Manor. The elves are creating the swag by hand and the cats are on guard to keep it all safe. Bustopher may be sleeping, but he's still keeping it safe...
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
There have been many online tributes to Dolly Parton and many accounts of her adventures. But no one has mentioned her comics. This is from an Archie comic set in the future. Ok, she looks like Sabrina the Teenage Witch on her way to a beer bar, but don't you wish she HAD been vice-president???
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Ralph is still in Vietnam (though he has promised to return to take author photos at WriterCon). The main photo is on Hanoi's Train Street (yes, a train goes right down the middle and there's no barricade). I recall taking him horseback riding about twenty years ago. He hated it. Times change!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Lara and I had a great time at LitFest this weekend. Much bigger and better this year, great turnout. Props to the downtown metro OKC library staff and Kim Ventrella. Of course, our Kadey was also there being charming as always.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Here's one last sample of Ralph's efforts to put his dad in the pages of his favorite books. Slightly harder, but I have confidence in you.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Ok, the first one was too easy. Can you guess what book I'm in this time?
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Ralph is still learning to use his Sora generative-video program, and for his latest exercise, he's placed me in several famous books. (Ignore the subtitles; he didn't do that.) So I'll post them without explanation and you can try to guess the book. I'm betting you can get this one.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
📣 New Podcast! "Building a Writing Career with Lauren Smith" on @Spreaker #agents #ai #amazon #author #conference #fiction #indie #marketing #nonfiction #pitching #poetry #publisher #publishing #self_publishing #writer #writercon #writing
spreaker.com
Building a Writing Career with Lauren Smith
Bestselling authors William Bernhardt (https://www.amazon.com/Superman-Wars-Battle-Justice-American/dp/B0FLKBB8JC/) and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview https://laurensmithbooks.com/, the USA Today-bestselling author of many books, some romance, some romantasy, and some involving Sherlock Holmes. She has published over 90 books that have been translated into at least 6 languages. She was a Semi-Finalist award for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award and a 2018 RITA ® Finalist in the Romance Writers of America Contest. 0:00 Opening Thoughts Of course, all we can think of is https://writercon.com/writercon-2026-conference/, our annual writers conference in Oklahoma City over Labor Day weekend, Sept 4-7—barely two weeks away! It is not too late to register! Come join us and take your writing career to the next level! www.writercon.com 4:05 News 1) Amazon Sponsors Pop-Up Library for Indie Authors 2) Atlantic Report Reveals 20% of Self-Pub Books Use AI 14:32 Craft Corner Leticia Gomez talks about how to make the perfect pitch 18:08 Interview with Lauren Smith 47:16 Parting Words Come to https://writercon.com/writercon-2026-conference/! It's all we can think about! This will be the biggest and best conference yet and you need to be a part of it. Join us!  Until next time, keep writing, and remember: You cannot fail, if you refuse to quit. William Bernhardt  http://www.williambernhardt.com/ http://www.writercon.com
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
It's official! WriterCon has increased its attendance again in 2026! In fact, we've grown every year since the lockdown. We have people coming from 19 states and six countries! Over 60 speakers, over 100 sessions, more than a dozen agents and publishers to pitch. Come join us! www.writercon.com
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Yesterday I was a guest on the OKC Ch4 morning show (Rise & Shine) talking about WriterCon, our writers conference Sept 4-7. What a treat! New registrations have been coming in ever since! Here's a link to the interview: kfor.com/in-studio-gu...
kfor.com
In Studio Guests
Visit the post for more.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
We held a belated celebration of Kadey's BIG BIRTHDAY. She's 30 so we wore party hats and took her to BJ's for dinner, her choice, with brothers, parents, and husband. She lights up every room she enters. The best part, though, may have been watching Lara enjoy that S'more-flavored Pizookie!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Ralph is alive and having fun in Vietnam, in part because he's the friendliest person who ever traveled. He made friends on the flight over! Who does that? Right now he's at a popular street festival and people keep coming up to get selfies with him. He thinks it's the hair. Makes him stand out.
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
WriterCon 2026, our annual writers conference in OKC, is right around the corner, Sept 4-7. Contest entries are due tomorrow! Guests received invites into the conference app yesterday so they can see everything we've planned. We've also had orders from the Merch page. writercon.com/writercon-me...
writercon.com
WriterCon Merch - WriterCon
The 18th Annual WriterCon takes place Labor Day Weekend in Oklahoma City. Get your merch today!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I feel much safer knowing the cats are guarding the fortress. Here you see both Bustopher and Winifred patrolling the back door. And if you look very carefully, you can see the squirrel who has their attention!
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Some have criticized Jerry Siegel for initiating his creator rights battle in 1947 (which helped so many later). You listen to what the company did and how they took advantage of Jerry's absence while he was serving his country during WWII. Wouldn't you sue? Get The Superman Wars: amzn.to/446aEfi
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Thanks to Cinema Sentries for this terrific review of my latest book, The Superman Wars. "His retelling of this story is through an engaging literary voice full of care and compassion for Siegel and Shuster, while not shying away from their human follies." cinemasentries.com/book-review-...
cinemasentries.com
Book Review: The Superman Wars: A Battle for Truth, Justice, and an American Icon by William Bernhardt - Cinema Sentries
“Truth, justice, and the American way,” may be Superman’s famous catchphrase, but for Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, their fight for even a fraction of these things took most of th...
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William Bernhardt @wbernhardtwriter.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Lara and I celebrated our anniversary yesterday, another year with a fabulous woman and mother. We caught One Night Only, then—Lara's pick—dined at the local hibachi place. Back home we played Cards vs Gravity, which involves stacking cards in a precarious arrangement. Happy anniversary, sweetheart!
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