Eric Bernt attended Northwestern University, where he learned that journalism was not for him—but storytelling was. Upon graduation, he moved to Hollywood, where he wrote seven feature films including Virtuosity (starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe) and Surviving the Game (starring Rutger Hauer, Gary Busey, and F. Murray Abraham). He has also written for television (Z Nation). Eric lives in Agoura Hills, California, with his wife and three children.
About Eric
Where do you get your ideas?
My ideas arise from an obsessive curiosity about most everything, but particularly technology. I’m utterly fascinated by how our lives are changing due to new and evolving systems, techniques, gadgets, and machines. From the first time I read an article about acoustic archeology, I knew I had to build a story around it.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
My favorite parts are those that involve Eddie, one of the main characters. I simply love spending time with him. His innocence and honesty give me hope in our otherwise jaded and cynical world.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Every writer has moments of complete frustration and doubt. Accept these as part of the process, then get back to work.
What’s your next project?
Book Two in The Speed of Sound thriller series, The Sound of Echoes. The story picks up exactly where The Speed of Sound leaves off.
During your time in Hollywood, which actor did you most enjoy working with?
Russell Crowe was amazing to work with. His role (SID 6.7) in Virtuosity was his first leading role in an American film. While the movie was a creative disappointment for me, working with Russell was a highlight.
You were just given a yacht. What would you name it?
Rogue – because I’ve always loved pirates.
What was the first live concert you ever attended?
I saw James Taylor in an outdoor venue in Philadelphia as a teenager. It remains one of the best shows I’ve ever attended.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I am our local high school football game announcer. I simply love being part of Friday night lights.
What is your life motto?
Work hard to find your passion, then work even harder to make a living at it.
About The Speed of Sound
The Speed of Sound was a genuine labor of love. It was a novel I simply had to write. I am truly grateful for all the readers who have connected with it.
In this propulsive thriller, one of the most ingenious young men in the world has also become the most dangerous . . . or has he? Harmony House is more than a “special place for special people.” It’s a think tank where high-functioning autistic savants harness their unique abilities for the benefit of society. Resident Eddie Parks’s contribution is nothing less than extraordinary: an “echo box” that can re-create never-recorded sounds using acoustic archeology. All Eddie wants is to hear his late mother’s voice. But what he’s created is inadvertently posing a threat to national security. To Harmony House’s shadowy government backers and radical extremists, the echo box is the ultimate intelligence asset—an end to the very concept of secrecy. Now for Eddie and the compassionate Dr. Skylar Drummond, the true nature of the institution is becoming chillingly clear. As ruthless competing enemies close in on Eddie and his miraculous machine, Skylar risks all to take him on the run. Because once that prize is won, Eddie Parks will no longer be considered a “special person” but a dangerous redundancy. An inconvenient echo that must be silenced.