Imagine a covert operative enhanced by microscopic technology, only to discover the very tools that empower her might also be used to control her. This is the exhilarating premise of The Hidden Pulse, a high-octane blend of science fiction and thriller that grabs hold from page one.
In this Q&A, we talk with author Edward L.E. Phont about his process of writing an adrenaline-fueled, pulse-pounding techno-thriller
Many readers have praised the novel’s seamless integration of high-concept biotech with grounded human drama. How did you strike that balance while keeping the stakes personal for Catalina?
Striking that balance was crucial to keeping the stakes personal for Catalina while ensuring the scientific elements remained immersive rather than overwhelming. The key was making the biotech advancements feel intimate—not just a tool for the world around her but something interwoven with her emotions, physical reality, and evolving identity. The nanobots, for example, aren’t just cutting-edge technology; they violate her autonomy, reshape her perceptions, and force her into an internal battle against their influence. This struggle adds layers to her relationships—whether it’s Mindy’s control, Sophia’s manipulation, or Aliza’s unexpected connection—turning the technological intrigue into an extension of Catalina’s personal conflicts rather than separate from them.
I also ensured that readers experienced the science firsthand, through Catalina’s sensory shifts, hormonal changes, and psychological turmoil rather than detached exposition. Instead of explaining the tech in clinical terms, I built tension by showing how it affects her hunger, pain, awareness, and ultimately her choices. The ethical dilemmas—especially around genetic engineering and self-replicating Xenobots—keep readers questioning what it means to maintain agency in a world designed to control her. At its core, The Hidden Pulse is about power, autonomy, and the consequences of technological ambition—but it’s also deeply human. Catalina’s fight isn’t just against external forces—it’s about reclaiming who she is beneath the science, making the stakes universal and emotionally gripping.
Your book highlights the ethical dilemmas embedded in your biotech world. Did your professional background in healthcare and research inform the moral questions the novel raises like bodily autonomy, surveillance, and enhancement?
Absolutely. My background in healthcare and research played a significant role in shaping the moral questions explored in The Hidden Pulse. Working in a hospital setting has given me firsthand experience with the delicate balance between medical innovation and ethical responsibility. Decisions regarding patient autonomy, informed consent, and the unintended consequences of technological advancements are part of real-world discussions in healthcare, and I wanted to bring that complexity into the novel.
Bodily autonomy, for instance, is a central theme—Catalina’s forced integration with nanotechnology mirrors real-life concerns about medical procedures, data tracking, and patient consent. In healthcare, enhancement technologies are often framed as solutions, yet they pose ethical dilemmas about choice versus coercion, especially when the line between treatment and augmentation blurs.
Surveillance plays another crucial role. Hospitals rely on continuous monitoring to improve patient outcomes, but it raises questions about privacy and control—which I expanded into the world of biotech implants and AI-driven tracking in the novel. The idea that technology can both save lives and strip autonomy fascinated me, and I wanted to explore the tension between who controls that power and whether it’s truly beneficial. I drew from real healthcare challenges to craft a speculative world where science and morality collide. The novel isn’t just about biotech—it’s about who gets to decide the future of human enhancement, and at what cost.
Catalina is praised as both “hyper-capable” and deeply human, someone fighting not just external enemies but for her own identity. How did you craft her voice to feel authentic and emotionally grounded amidst such heightened stakes?
I crafted Catalina’s voice to feel authentic by ensuring her hyper-capability never overshadowed her vulnerability. She is intelligent, resourceful, and highly skilled, but I made sure that her emotions—fear, doubt, desire, frustration—were always present in her internal dialogue and interactions. This balance keeps her human, allowing readers to connect with her struggles despite the heightened stakes.
One of the ways I grounded her emotionally was through sensory immersion. Every technological upgrade or manipulation isn’t just described in abstract terms—it’s felt. When the nanobots alter her, she experiences the changes in hunger, fatigue, pain, and perception, reinforcing that she is still fighting for control over her own body. The physical and psychological sensations keep her grounded, making the science personal rather than purely conceptual.
I also allowed her relationships to shape her voice. Her interactions with Melinda, Sophia, and Aliza aren’t just about advancing the plot—they reflect different layers of her identity. With Melinda, she’s trying to resist control, with Sophia, she’s locked in a psychological battle, and with Aliza, she finds unexpected intimacy and trust. These relationships force her to reevaluate herself, adding nuance to her thought process and dialogue.
Finally, I kept Catalina’s internal contradictions front and center. She is both predator and prey, both healer and destroyer, both independent and deeply manipulated. Her emotional responses aren’t always predictable—she doubts herself, she reacts impulsively, and she rationalizes her actions. This unpredictability reflects real human nature, making her voice feel raw and genuine even in the midst of technological chaos.
By ensuring her agency, relationships, sensory experience, and contradictions remained central, I kept her voice deeply human while allowing her hyper-capability to shine. Readers follow not just her mission, but her internal war over identity, control, and survival.
Control versus freedom seems to be the novel’s heartbeat especially as Catalina tries to resist being turned into a weapon. What inspired this central conflict, and do you see it echoing in contemporary society?
The conflict between control and freedom in The Hidden Pulse is rooted in Catalina’s struggle for autonomy—over her mind, body, and identity—against forces seeking to manipulate her for their own ends. This theme was inspired by the real-world tensions between technological advancement and personal agency, particularly in fields like biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and surveillance. The idea that someone could be shaped, modified, or controlled without consent mirrors ethical debates happening today.
In contemporary society, we see echoes of this conflict in the way corporations, governments, and institutions wield influence over individuals—whether through genetic engineering, predictive AI models, or data surveillance. The question of who holds power over our decisions, bodies, and futures becomes more relevant as technology grows more sophisticated. Catalina’s resistance isn’t just physical—it’s existential. She isn’t merely fighting an enemy; she’s fighting the erosion of choice and humanity itself.
This theme extends beyond sci-fi. In healthcare, discussions about gene editing and AI-driven diagnostics reflect concerns about who decides how far technology should go. In politics, debates over privacy and state surveillance highlight the fragility of personal freedoms. Every step forward in scientific innovation raises ethical dilemmas about self-determination versus systemic control, making Catalina’s struggle resonate beyond fiction.
Ultimately, The Hidden Pulse asks: Is freedom truly possible in a world designed to control us? Catalina’s battle reflects the broader societal question of whether technological evolution serves individuals—or simply those in power.
You don’t shy away from mature content such as visceral action to explicit encounters. How do you decide when to push boundaries, and what role does that rawness play in the story’s impact?
I approach mature content with intentionality, ensuring that every visceral action and explicit encounter serves the narrative rather than existing for shock value. The rawness plays a crucial role in immersing readers into Catalina’s world—a place where power, control, survival, and human impulses collide.
Pushing boundaries isn’t about excess; it’s about emotional and psychological depth. The violence isn’t just about action—it reflects Catalina’s internal war and the brutal reality of the forces shaping her life. The intimate encounters aren’t just for sensuality—they reveal power dynamics, trust, manipulation, and transformation. Every scene—whether violent, passionate, or emotionally raw—is designed to push Catalina further into her evolution and force the reader to experience her reality without filters.
I decide when to escalate the intensity based on Catalina’s emotional state and the stakes involved. If a moment requires a visceral, unflinching lens to underscore her loss of control, assertion of power, or battle for identity, I lean into that rawness. But restraint is just as vital—some moments demand quiet intensity, the weight of unsaid words, or psychological tension rather than overt descriptions. The mature content in The Hidden Pulse isn’t gratuitous—it’s a tool for storytelling that deepens immersion, heightens stakes and reinforces the themes of autonomy, manipulation, and survival. It ensures that Catalina’s journey remains visceral, emotionally gripping, and unforgettable.
If Catalina returns in a future installment, what themes or conflicts are you interested in continuing to explore?
If Catalina returns in a future installment, I want to explore the aftermath of control—not just the fight for autonomy but the cost of winning it. She’s no longer just resisting external forces; she’s shaping them, which introduces new ethical dilemmas. The question then becomes: Does Catalina remain a force of disruption, or does she take on the role of the very people she once fought against?
I’d also delve deeper into the psychological effects of nanite augmentation. In The Hidden Pulse, Catalina struggles with what defines her humanity—but in a sequel, I’d want to explore how long-term exposure to evolving AI-driven technology affects cognition, relationships, and identity. If the nanobots continue adapting, is she truly free, or are they subtly shaping her thoughts and actions in ways she can’t detect?
Additionally, I’d push the idea of a world altered by biotechnology. Now that Catalina holds significant power, how does society respond? Does she become a legend, a target, or something more? Her evolution could lead to global consequences, especially if the technologies she carries begin spreading beyond her control. What happens when others attempt to replicate her abilities, and what lines will she draw—if any—to stop them?
A future installment could shift from survival to legacy, forcing Catalina to answer the hardest question yet: Now that she’s free, what does she want to become? This idea ties into my next novel, Obsidian Requiem, which explores biotechnological dominance and moral paradoxes in a world where genetic enhancements are no longer whispered secrets but powerful, enforceable realities. While The Hidden Pulse was about Catalina’s struggle for control, Obsidian Requiem expands on who defines the future of human evolution—and whether anyone can truly remain untouched by it.
What do you hope readers take away from The Hidden Pulse once the adrenaline fades — what’s the lingering message you want to leave behind?
I want The Hidden Pulse to leave readers questioning the boundaries of autonomy, power, and technological evolution long after the final page. At its core, the novel isn’t just about Catalina’s survival—it’s about who owns the future and whether true freedom is ever possible in a world shaped by forces beyond our control.
The adrenaline might fade, but the ethical dilemmas remain. I hope readers reflect on the fragility of choice in a society increasingly governed by biotech innovations, AI surveillance, and genetic manipulation. Catalina’s struggle is deeply personal, but the themes extend beyond her—touching on real-world conversations about medical ethics, enhancement technologies, and the shifting definition of what it means to be human.
Ultimately, I want The Hidden Pulse to linger as a story about resistance—not just against external enemies, but against the slow erosion of identity. As Catalina fights for her autonomy, readers might ask themselves: What does control truly mean, and how much of it do we actually have?
About Edward L.E. Phont:
Edward L.E. Phont is an accomplished author and dedicated RN administrative supervisor at a prestigious healthcare organization in Florida. With two master’s degrees — an MBA and an MSN — and currently pursuing a PhD in Healthcare Administration, Edward’s career is grounded in a commitment to excellence and innovation in healthcare. His unique blend of administrative expertise and ethical research principles fuels his passion for meaningful storytelling.
Married to his best friend and the proud father of three sons, Edward cherishes every moment spent with his family and their two beloved dogs, Kingston and Bentley. When not writing or working, he can be found paddle boarding at sunrise, surfing the waves or savoring the tranquility of Florida’s breathtaking sunsets. As an accomplished seafood enthusiast, he also enjoys creating elegant dishes that delight the taste buds and bring loved ones together.
Through his writing, Edward strives to blend his professional expertise, creative spirit and love for life, offering readers stories that inspire, educate and captivate.
