Underpinnings - 2

Writing has such a powerful influence on patterns of thought or perhaps the mechanics of thinking. It is a rigorous discipline when pursued with dedication, one that demands forethought, precise expression (to be effective), and introspection. There is no escaping the fact that your work is staring back at you from a monitor or on a piece of paper. Writing a book also takes a certain amount of time, allowing for an evolution of thought as expressed in writing. And when you write a series over a period of years, the evolution of thought is also impacted by maturation and passage through life events. This was certainly the case in writing The Alarai Chronicles. Interestingly enough, however, it wasn't until a reader pointed out the true underpinnings of Exile to the Stars, the strong current of spiritual growth, that I took note. It was true.

While the first draft of Exile to the Stars was completed in about three months, at least 25 re-writes over a period of two years lay ahead. That's what it took - two years of gaining skill in writing, all the while drilling down into the heart and soul of the story until it lived and breathed. Until it had spirit and spiritual force. But I am no longer into bandying words or using convenient synonyms - the spirit of God permeates every volume in The Alarai Chronicles. That's about as unconventional or politically incorrect a statement as can be made about a science fiction series. You know, it's about science, about space and alien peoples, not about God! That's religion! What does God and religion have to do with science fiction?

Wow. Where to start? Honestly, I must admit to being put off by the idea myself at first. How had God managed to slip into the story? Stay tuned.