I spend a lot of time thinking about journeys. I was on my first airplane before one and, at age 25, I have lived in four countries and visited around 30. I love the idea that my presence, no matter how brief, may have impacted each of the places I’ve been in small but important ways. I want (really, really want) to affect those cities as much as they have affected and shaped me. The question is, how much of that is hubris and how much of that is the giddy desire to explore?

Back in 2012, in the Mars craze which continues today, I read about all the different ways humans could make it to Mars. I became really intrigued by the idea of the one-way trip and, specifically, what type of person would willingly volunteer to go, knowing they would never return "home." I started "Project Avalon," which became a novella for my senior creative writing thesis at my college, now called Franklin University Switzerland.

"Avalon" tells the story of the four crew members aboard the spacecraft Avalon as it heads to Mars on a one-way journey of exploration. Although there are flashback scenes, the focus is on the story of the journey itself and how these four crew members interact with each other in the ever looming face of their own mortality. Their mission is purely in the name of scientific discovery and exploration.

Science fiction shows us the very base nature of humanity (which is why there tend to be a lot of overt "humanity on trial" tropes; what’s up TNG Trekkies! I see your Q and raise you one!) and I really want to explore the idea of what it means to be human. So far, "Avalon" is a shorter novella, but I’d really like to take the time to expand it into a full novel. Please let me know what you think!!! I look forward to your comments.