Writers on the Moon – The story behind my stories.

I’m Angie Arland and I’m thrilled to be a part of this creative project, sending our stories, photos and art to the moon. As a science fiction author, photographer and amateur astronomer, this is an exciting opportunity, one that inspires my imagination.

Writers on the Moon has me reflecting deeply about our future and wondering who will dig up the lunar time capsule and read our stories. Whether they come from planet Earth or the outer reaches of space is something I’ll never know but it does accelerate my imagination into overdrive. For example, what does the future hold for humanity? Will we one day have the ability to exist without restriction, to live our lives in harmony and peace? As a science fiction writer, these are normal, everyday questions for me, and this project fuels my curiosity no end.

I’m also a nature photographer and have won a number of local awards in Western Australia. The images I’ve selected for the time capsule are among my favorites. Photos I’ve taken of Australian fauna and flora, landscapes and places of interest that may not exist in the future. As an avid traveller, I captured many photographs from the Australian outback and camped out under the stars each night. With my telescope and SLR camera, I captured the essence of our country and cherished the memories I made along the way. 

During my ten years writing for an off-road travel magazine, I took readers on photography adventures to capture wildflowers, native birds and animals and my love of nature has never ceased. 

First and foremost, I’m a mother to two amazing children who I love to the moon and beyond which is why I’m sending pictures of them to the moon.  

The story behind my books:

I’ve included my current science fiction books from the Velocity Resonance series which follow a scout crew and their mission for the United Earth Fleet. The Fleet is essentially a conglomerate of ships from different alien races that work in unison to fight their common enemy. An enemy that is hunting humans close to extinction. Their goal is to survive and bring an end to the galactic war, thus finding peace. But each crew member must face their greatest fears and overcome challenges they never thought possible. 

Before writing the books, I studied different methods of space propulsion, the basics of particle and quantum physics and deep space environments. But, to have my books travel through space to the moon onboard the Vulcan Centaur is thrilling to say the least.

Photos and files, I’ve chosen to send:

Angie, Alyssa and Devin Arland and our dog Neo, because we want to gaze at the moon and know we are as close as we’ll ever get to the stars.

Rainforest walk in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, one of my favorite local places to visit.

Australian forests, landscapes and animals.

Western Australia wildflowers.

Angie Arland with a Brahminy Kite (bird of prey) on my arm. 

Current cost of living in Australia in 2021.

My ancestry report to give future explorers a glimpse into my genetic heritage.

Two pieces of art drawn by my children especially for the time capsule.

The specifications of the Vulcan Centaur that’s taking the Peregrine One lander to the moon.

Now, I’m happy to introduce you to my stowaways on this mission to the moon.

Stowaway #1
Terrance Mulloy was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up on the shores of Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Aside from a short-stint living on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, he eventually migrated further north with his family to the tropical state of Queensland. Like most kids of his era, he was fed a healthy diet of American pop-culture, developing an obsession with books, movies, comics and video games. However, prior to catching the writing bug, life carried him along a different route, which saw him work a variety of odd jobs before eventually graduating with a degree from SAE/Qantm Creative Media Institute. Post-grad, he worked professionally as a graphic designer. In 2006 he switched careers to pursue a newfound passion for storytelling on a full-time basis. Since then, he went on to option multiple original screenplays, as well as adapting Matthew Reilly’s New York Times bestselling novel, Contest. In 2010 he was hired by legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi to work on Burst 3D. Shortly after, his action-thriller screenplay Running with Monsters sold to Signature Entertainment. Terrance has also developed screenplays for a variety of production companies and studios, including Platinum Dunes, Appian Way, Screen Gems, Warner Bros., and Lionsgate. The Emissary was his debut novel – the first book in The Earth Epsilon Wars trilogy. The story centers around a military conflict with an alien race known as the Wraith, and also contains a strong time travel element, touching on universal themes such as, duty, sacrifice, and healing family relationships between a father and his estranged daughter. At the time of writing this, Terrance is 47 years-old and resides in the city of Brisbane with his wife and two dogs, a Staffordshire terrier named Clifford, and a miniature Dachshund named Ernie. When he’s not crouched over his keyboard writing, he enjoys reading, playing video games, watching movies and TV, and swimming with his dogs.

The story behind Terrance Mulloy’s book:
The Emissary is about our first interstellar conflict with a hostile alien species. I chose this book because in terms of entertainment value, it has all the stuff I personally love in science-fiction; time travel, alien invasions, AI, futuristic wars, flawed heroes who kick-ass, and terrifying, otherworldly villains. My readers get to see a vast, high-tech war machine created by humans that’s on the brink of collapsing under its own weight. The ongoing war I’m attempting to portray is gritty and brutal. At times, readers will question whether my protagonist, Matt Reeves, has made the right choices. Much of this war is also clandestine in nature, taking place in our present day (2018-2023) where people are completely unaware of what’s playing out before them. Matt must also wrestle with an extraordinary sacrifice in order to save all of humanity. But ultimately, this is really a story about love, sacrifice, and the lengths a father will go to do what he believes is right for his family. I like to think there’s a little bit of something in this story that everyone can relate to, regardless of what century they might be reading it in. – Terrance Mulloy, February 1st, 2021

Stowaway #2

Susanne Becker lives in Tasmania, off the southern coast of Australia. Famous for the vocal marsupial, the Tasmanian Devil, world-class salmon, a sustainable timber industry, and a wilderness world heritage area.

The story behind Susanne Becker’s book:
Jingle Bells Cracker Spells was written in a house on an island off an island in Earth’s southern hemisphere about a fictional town in the northern hemisphere – because why not! I wanted a bit of a witchy theme and the main character had to have a dog. Dogs are highly treasured in most homes back on Earth due to their lovable and loyal affinity for us humans. My fictional witches can have magical powers that range from respecting Mother Nature (a mother figure that watches over our environment), to powerful magic that can be used for good or nefarious purposes. My character, Christy, aligns more with Mother Nature and would rather go to the Moon than cause others harm – hence sending this book. Also, I sent this book to the moon because future travellers need something to kick back with to escape the stresses of extra-terrestrial life with the added glimpse of what others before them found entertaining. 

Stowaway photos:

Stowaway #1 Terrance and Justine Mulloy

Stowaway #2 Devin Arland

Stowaway #3 Alyssa Arland

Stowaway #4 Neo Arland

Stowaway #5 Sharon Zebegew 

Stowaway #6 Connor Plenderleith (June 24, 2019)

Stowaway #7 Jack Zebegew (October 4, 2019)

Stowaway #8 George Zebegew (January 11, 2021) Zebegew 

Stowaway #9 Richard Woodward (December 5, 1977)

Stowaway #10 Stephanie Leslie (September 29, 1983)