Author Bio: Arnie Bernstein

Arnie Bernstein earned a B.A. in Film Studies/Theater from Southern Illinois University and a Master's in Creative Writing from Columbia College. He now slings out copy for all sorts of venues, including corporate writing, articles for trade journals and popular culture magazines, public relations and marketing, video scripts, encyclopedias, and fiction. Along the way Arnie nabbed some cool honors including a Puffin Foundation grant for his fiction writing, winning a slot in the highly coveted Warner Brothers Comedy Writers Workshop, and a Regional Emmy Award nomination for his work in children's television.

In 1998 Arnie turned his passion for movies and the Windy City into his first book, Hollywood on Lake Michigan: 100 Years of Chicago and the Movies. This comprehensive history of Chicago filmmaking was honored with as 1st Place Winner of the American Regional History Publishing Award 2000, Midwest Region.

Arnie followed this up with another Chicago-related film book, "The Movies Are": Carl Sandburg's Film Reviews and Essays, 1920–1928. This volume brought to light Sandburg's little-known role as a daily film critic during the silent era. Roger Ebert, who penned the introduction, wrote: "Arnie Bernstein has performed an extraordinary accomplishment in bringing this booking into being. ... To that enormous task Bernstein adds great knowledge and insight in his introductions to the reviews, providing background, orientation, historical information, helpful footnotes. This is a book that reopens a chapter of journalism and history that might have remained closed forever."

His third book for Lake Claremont Press is The Hoofs and Guns of the Storm: Chicago's Civil War Connections. This volume traces the Windy City¹s impact and importance as the center of the Northwest during the War Between the States. The book also provides a comprehensive look at how Chicago played an important role in the lives of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, and their sons Robert and Tad.

Arnie has spoken on many broadcast outlets, community groups, and classroom audiences on Chicago history, film, Carl Sandburg, and the Civil War. He's been interviewed numerous times on "The Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan" on WGN-AM 720 Radio. He's also been interviewed on the BBC, public television, and several cable programs. Arnie has appeared on panel discussions including forums at the Chicago Historical Society, Columbia College, DePaul University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Raised in Chicago's north suburbs, Arnie Bernstein has lived throughout many north side neighborhoods including Edgewater, Lakeview, and Wrigleyville. He now makes his home in the south side Beverly area. He also lives in cyberspace at www.arniebernstein.com.

When it comes to life principles and wisdom, Arnie fervently believes in the words of His Holiness, Groucho Marx: "I find television very educational. Every time someone switches it on I go into another room and read a good book."

Bernstein's Books:
• Hollywood on Lake Michigan: 100 Years of Chicago and the Movies
• "The Movies Are": Carl Sandburg's Film Reviews and Essays, 1920–1928
• The Hoofs and Guns of the Storm: Chicago's Civil War Connections

Arnie Bernstein is available for media interviews,
and for bookstore/library events and other public programs.

For more information, contact the author directly by writing to: arnie@arniebernstein.com.