Another Milestone!
Advance sales are going well: The Astronaut Instruction Manual broke 600+ books sold:

These are advance sales. The number represents books sold to you-the-Backers and sales to chain and indie bookstores.

This is greatastic news! Why? Because bookstores, particularly indie bookstores, are places helmed by professionals with a deep passion for books who service the needs of other people with a deep passion for books

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For myself, the only retail store I have spent more time in my life than a bookstore is a comic book shop, and those two are practically cousins. I LOVE BOOKS.

As an avid lifelong book reader and advocate of reading, in terms of fostering humankind's space future, our getting books into the hands of young students to encourage the dream of living, working, and playing space is one of the best things we can do. In the least, we get another reader. And at best?

We get a space future complete with trips to space and the moon and possibly the entire rest of the solar system. What's not to love? Books (and bookstores) rule.

Thanks again and keep up the good work,
Mike Mongo

The Greatastic Book cover!

Nearly six months ago, myself and Tess Klingenstein began discussing the cover. My publisher Adam Gomolin had connected the two of us. Tess was the editorial manager who was assigned to me and The AIM. 

Tess absorbed all the insights I had and then shared, processed, and time after time brought back greatness. We worked together while honing in on the look, feel, and design of the book. What visual and design cues could we use to get kids—and and grown-ups—to recognize this was no mere book? After all, we were creating an Astronaut Instruction Manual!

What we  wanted was a book cover that spoke to both grown-ups (buyers) and kids (readers), a book cover that outwardly radiated the same confidence, authority, and true fun of the writing to be found within the book. We needed something greatastic.

It was a challenge. And to their credit, San Francisco book designers, MacFadden & Thorpe rose to it.

So there you have it, the official finished book cover for The Astronaut Instruction Manual. Thanks to Adam, Tess, MacFadden & Thorpe, Lori Garver (for the gracious cover blurb, I am honored) and most especially all of you who lent your faith and support into helping us make a cover for a book that is genuinely greatastic.

Mike Mongo

Back from Havana II:
My 2nd ‘Astronaut Teaching’ Trip to Cuba
Earlier this year, I had the privilege and honor of being a US American space STEM educator to primary students in Cuba. It was an experience I will never forget. While technically, I was teaching students space science—“Tomorrow's jobs are in space!”—in truth, they were teaching me: “Los empleos del futuro están en el espacio!” The photo below captured the moment, one that I hold as a highlight of my professional career:Of course, I fell in love with Cuba. It is only to be expected considering the natural hospitality and generosity of spirit of the people of Cuba. However, little did I anticipate having an opportunity to return anytime soon. 

Sometimes when you least expect it, the best things happen.

So it was with real excitement that on the invite of a friend this past week I jumped at a second opportunity to teach and share in Cuba for a second time this year. My excitement was well-rewarded: I taught in two schools twice over two days to approximately 200 students. Including this class of familiar faces:
Everyone who knows me knows this is like being reunited with family. 

These are all young students who now understand their future holds the possibility of doing whatever career they want in space. “Los empleos del futuro están en el espacio,” and these students know it. In fact, they taught it to me!

Mike Mongo
astronaut teacher

PS big news to share about The Astronaut Instruction Manual—including a completed cover. There really is a lot to tell you about, so stay tuned this week and keep up the good work!

Wanted: YOUR OPINION
It's been a while but we have been busy. Leading the charge was production assistant (my very own) Tess Klingenstein. Tess and I spent hours and hours together this winter pouring over edits and designs as Inkshares put the work in for The Astronaut Instruction Manual. 

The AIM is an extraordinary book, and I can report with gratitude that the spectacular graphic design (by San Francisco's MacFadden & Thorpe agency) captures and catalyzes the message of the book for its intended audiences: pre-teens who want to live, work, and play in space. Yes, it has genuinely become aweseomer.

As a backer of The AIM, you are along for this fantastic voyage—from concept to reality—and so I wanted to provide you with a treat, a sneak peak at possible cover choices, and to get your opinions.

These are four of my favorites. These four proposed covers give you an idea of the eye-catching design within the book. Here they are: 
 

Study them closely. Remember, they are works in progress. Of course, I have a favorite. Which one speaks to you? Let me know what you think. 

Finalizing the cover, we put The AIM to bed—in June, it heads to the printers to be ready for October delivery.
Mike

NSS International Space Development Conference 2015

Good news! I am thrilled to report I have been invited to present as a space STEM educator at National Space Society's (NSS) 2015 International Space Development Conference (ISDC).

What distinguishes ISDC from other conferences? For one, ISDC is one of the largest space conferences in the world. For another, ISDC is open to the general public and allows for the average person—including young students and future space professionals—to engage with celebrated working space and science professionals.

With thousands of attendees—including students from around the world competing for science prizes—the interactions which take place at ISDC genuinely affect the direction of our planet's global conversation about space science and space exploration. 

For young fans of space and space science, ISDC is like WonderCon, the Oscars, and TED combined. Being invited is an honor, and as a self-professed geek and a new author with a book on the way—I'm walking on clouds today.

Speaking of the book, we are working on galleys (prelimary layouts with text and art) of The Astronaut Instruction Manual for Pre-Teens. Judging from what I've seen, Inkshares and I will have something by May in the hands of you, our readers and backers.

That's it for now. Thanks again, everyone, for all the support and kind words and retweets and likes, and keep up the good work. And if you have any questions, feel free to tweet or email. I'm here.
Mike

Cuban Space Program: Astronaut teaching…in Havana.

Two weeks ago, the day before I turned 50, I left Miami, FL, for Havana, Cuba. Being a native-born Floridian, going to Cuba was something I had wanted to do for as long as I can remember remembering. For me, Cuba has always been “the forbidden land”. Growing up on South Florida for almost half my life, Cuban culture is largely my culture too: the name Mongo is Cuban.

While I have taught astronautics before classrooms and audiences of students and professionals from California to Haiti, teaching in Cuba seemed unattainable, beyond my grasp, only…a dream?

As I am still working through details of what I can and cannot discuss following this treasured opportunity—as I understand, I was the 1st-ever US American guest of the Primary School—I will share more in the future. But I am happy to report: With any luck, somewhere in this photo above may well be pictured the 1st-ever Cuban astronaut from Havana. 

And the reality is that because of its vicinity to the equator, Cuba is an excellent location for a spaceport. Cuban space program, indeed!

Needless to say, I am honored and grateful. Connecting with students all over the world and pointing a future with us all, this is why I am an astronaut teacher.

Keep up the good work, everyone, 
Mike
PS Oh yes! We are working on edited book galleys now. Samples to come!