O: Outer Space

Very little of Across the Stars takes place in outer space, yet it could be considered the most important of all the settings. It is through outer space that the Watsons come to Emoria. It is the transition from Earth to Emoria, from the Milky Way to Stappenhance, from ordinary life to adventure.

I have long been fascinated by space. I greatly enjoyed the Apologia elementary astronomy textbook I used when I was younger. I read the space chapters of my physical science textbook numerous times before I was even supposed to get to it. There is so much scope for imagination in space. There is so much you can do with it in a story. Which is why I love my galaxy of Stappenhance.

Across the Stars is not the first story involving outer space that I have ever come up with. When I was about eight or nine, I wrote two stories about aliens from different planets in our solar system coming to a town called Margville. I also have an idea for a series, which I still hope to write, that takes place in Stappenhance. It is about an orphaned brother and sister who travel the galaxy with a group of missionaries. Their home planet of Manay is actually mentioned in Across the Stars by Hanna Straite. Any sequel involving Hanna would most likely have at least one journey through space.

Outer space is a fascinating subject, and one I love to weave into stories.