Work on 20K LIGHTYEARS FROM EARTH has begun!

Not a word has been put on the page as of it, but at least the outline is done.

As with almost every book, I prepare to dive into it with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. The former, because I never know if the various ideas and thoughts rattling around my brain are good enough to be translated to a full-length book. The latter, because if I didn’t love the idea, I wouldn’t be devoting my time to it.

I love this idea.

I love the chance to go to outer space, with a story heavily inspired by one of my favorite books, Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Like the classic novel by Verne, 20K Lightyears from Earth is an adventure, a mystery, a cautionary tale, and a love letter to exploration. Unlike the classic novel, my story will feature a trio of kids.

I was intrigued by the idea of tossing youngsters into a setting where they might not normally be featured. In this case, I wondered what would it be like to put a handful of preteens in a story that features grownups debating ethics on a voyage across marvelous creation. I think I have managed to integrate them into the tale in a way that retains the spirit of the original story, while also adding some new wrinkles as well.

Of course, the original is set in the late 1800’s; my story is set far into the future. Naturally, there will be many differences between my story and Verne’s, but one thing I knew was important to retain was the spirit of adventure and the dangers in unbridled ambition. I know, even without writing a word as of yet, that I’ll never be able to match the complexity and charisma of Captain Nemo. I can only hope my Captain Ebeny Cortez is good enough.

I’ll be working on the book for the next couple months, so stay tuned for samples and art.

Until then!