I began writing the novel, 100 Years to Extinction, as a wakeup call to young people about the dangers to human civilization from modern technologies. The pace of technology development has far outrun our society’s ability to safely regulate and control their many dangerous consequences.. I was inspired by astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s 2017 prediction that humans will not exist on Planet Earth in 100 years. As a scientist, I worried Hawking was being optimistic. I agree with Greta Thunberg – our house is on fire! And it’s not just from global warming.
My goal as an author and educator, is to make the technology dangers we face widely understandable to the public. My vehicle is a story told by three brilliant Gen Z protagonists. I have twelve grandchildren who will be facing these dangers, and I drew on their personalities to shape my young characters. The story follows the actions, romances, and emotions of the three new adults as they pursue different career paths. They confront the dangers and come to believe Hawking’s dire prediction is true. The three young people believe the older generations have left them a dysfunctional world, and it’s up to their Generation Z to save it. They vow to find solutions. They demand that we must come together as the Earthling Tribe to Make Earth Great Again. Let’s go, Earthling Tribe! Let’s put the fire out before our house is nothing but ashes.
What are the optimistic alternatives to extinction? Should they follow Hawking’s exhortation, to save humanity and its accomplishments by becoming a multi-planet species? My novel is a modern epic of settling a new world, like the saga of the Mayflower voyagers. But the story is also about leaving the old world a better place.
I spent 2024 writing query emails to literary agents. It is said that there are 6,000 queries for each acceptance. I did somewhat better than that when I got a positive response from my second query to Jan Kardys of Black Hawk Literary Agency. I spent the beginning of 2025 working with Black Hawk’s VP and editor Barbara Ellis. I’m finished writing now and working with a wonderful team to find the right publisher. The team is also helping me make more people aware of the technology dangers using the Internet and social media.