Frantic

In FRANTIC by Brent Bradley, a sense of unease spreads rapidly as a therapist’s prison session ignites a dangerous chain reaction tied to artificial intelligence and political ambition. Within hours, personal histories, hidden alliances, and looming threats converge into a relentless race against time.

When a prison patient warns Dr. Brian Heiser of an impending disaster, he expects another delusion—until a prophecy comes true just hours later. Unsure what to believe, he contacts Dr. Fred Gonzalez, a forensic psychologist known for both his brilliance and his irreverence toward traditional theory. Their search quickly reveals a Texas State AI Bill being forced through channels by powerful tech billionaires with everything at stake. Patricia Reigns, an elite AI developer with ties to those forces—and unresolved emotions toward Brian—joins their rapidly intensifying investigation. Over the next seventy-two hours, they encounter assassins funded by unimaginable wealth, political systems willing to bend under pressure, and a media narrative easily manipulated.

What they discover at the end is more explosive than any of them anticipate.

Dr. Brent Bradley holds a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy, an MA in Christian Theology, and a BA in English Literature. A tenured former university professor, he has spent nearly three decades working with couples in therapy while publishing journal articles, book chapters, and co-authored works on emotion and change in psychotherapy. Drawing from his deep understanding of human emotional experience, he brings an intimate psychological intensity to his writing. Before academia, he explored newspaper reporting—an early passion that sharpened his instinct for compelling narrative detail. Brent lives in Houston with his wife and their daughter; they also honor the memory of their twin lost in the womb. He enjoys working out, freshwater fishing, reading, cooking, good coffee, and cheering on the Astros, Texas A&M, the Texans, and the UFC. He is a follower of Christ. Visit Brent at his website and follow him on X.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4o4bDEb

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229219928-frantic

Writing Process & Creativity

How did you research your book?

I did a lot of research! I went deep into AI magazine articles, online articles, and research articles. I also watched a lot of Youtube videos on AI, especially interviews with leading engineers  in the field of AI. 

What’s the hardest scene or character you wrote—and why?

The toughest scenes for me were the romantic ones from a female perspective. For me as a male, it’s not easy to authentically write what a female character is feeling when it comes to romance and attraction. However, I’ve done couples therapy for 25 years so I have a LOT to pull from!

Where do you get your ideas?

I tend to get ideas from areas that I am already interested in, and ones that I think others are too. They MUST provide a context for juicy relationship dynamics, which is my specialty. I let ideas simmer for quite a while before writing anything. Other ideas start flowing during these “simmer” times too. I do a lot of research, so ideas come from the research findings as well. 

What sets your book apart from others in your genre?

I have a PhD in Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy), so I think my depth of knowledge from that and from seeing over a thousand couples in therapy and supervision of other therapists really dials me in well for the psychological thriller genre.

As a professor I researched and published quite a lot on emotion and how it drives us as humans. This should come through in the book during intense scenes, as well as when characters have inner dialog, which I often use in my writing.

What’s your favorite compliment you’ve received as a writer?

That my writing is relatable and resonates with everyday blue collar people. 

Your Writing Life

Do you write every day? What’s your schedule?

I try to write every weekday. I wake up, go to the gym, work out hard, come home, make coffee, read the bible and pray, then get to writing and researching.

Where do you write—home, coffee shop, train?

I mainly write from home. I have a desk and a couch. These days I use the couch the most. I block out all calls and interruptions. I usually need at least three hours to get anything done. Then I let that simmer. A lot of simmering…

Any quirky writing rituals or must-have snacks?

Coffee. Love it. I also write better after a good workout.

Behind the Book

Why did you choose this setting/topic?

I am fascinated with AI and the possible dangers that most,  including me, have no idea about. That seemed so timely to me. The setting is where I live, so I think I was able to write with specificity for the locales. These are places I often go to.

If your book became a movie, who would star in it?

Good question. Haven’t really thought much about that! I would want it to be a series, not a movie. This allows for more character development and building intensity. One person I would love to play the female co-lead (Patricia) is actress Willa Fitzgerald. I have no idea how well-known she is, but I loved her in the Reacher series, I believe season one.  Real southern accent too. 

Which author(s) most inspired you?

Dan Brown. I read his Angels and Demons years ago and loved it. Like his intensity. I also like Trent Dalton. I like how well he brings in emotion and uses regular, struggling people for his characters. Besides that, I mainly read biographies. I’ve been tethered to academic books on couples therapy and doing couples therapy for decades. My hope is that this helps me bring a fresh style and perspective to the psychological thriller genre because I am new to it. I haven’t been shaped by what’s already out there.

I Didn’t Realize Being an Author Meant…

Being so lonely. It’s a lonely journey. You often ask yourself, “Is this any good?” “Is it entertaining?” But there are no answers because you’re  just writing it – no one can read it yet. And once you’re about through you wonder if you’re a fool and just wasting your time. Having said that, I enjoy it greatly.

What do you hope your readers experience when reading your work?

My hope is that they will thoroughly enjoy the main characters’ relationships with each other. I try to show fear, anxiety, genuine care, and love in the relationship between main characters. I studied relationships for over 25 years. I want readers to feel real emotion in these relationships and the incredible suspenseful situations they find themselves thrown into. I am not trying to put across any agenda. I am trying to provide a wild ride that moves the reader through the gamut of emotions. Perhaps they can find parts of themselves in these characters, and pull for them, and against other characters, as they read. 

Fun & Lighthearted Qs

What’s your go-to comfort food?

Chicken wings, hamburgers. 

What are you binge-watching right now?

My wife has a lot of sway here. Right now it’s The Blacklist. I never watched it originally. I like the Reacher series too. I don’t care for much profanity or explicit sex scenes, so that limits things. 

If you could time-travel, where would you go?

1969. Las Vegas. Elvis concerts when he was first coming back, in great shape, and killing it onstage. I’d take in about 50 concerts! My parents grew up around Elvis and his family, so it’s been a lifelong thing. Besides that it’d have to be when Jesus was here, which would be my first choice.

What’s something that made you laugh this week?

I get so much enjoyment from my pets. We have two dogs and a cat. They make me laugh. It’s my first cat, so she really cracks me up. They really do have unique personalities. And there’s something about those short interviews that actors do with Zach Galifianakis in Between Two Ferns. Cracks me up.