The Music of Mars–Reviews

Already, several readers asked about a sequel to The Music of Mars. I will write another, and I’m actively considering events to challenge Frank, Gretchen, and the Earth archaeologists working in the Bvindu city named The Vault of Ages. A GoodReads reader left this comment in part: It was very accessible and didn’t have a … Read more

The Music of Mars-The Antagonists

Part of the fun in writing is the opportunity to create characters to interfere with the needs and desires of the main characters. The trick is to give the antagonists an excellent reason to oppose the main characters. In The Music of Mars, Peter Konklin, the CEO of Peter Konklin Interplanetary, lost control of MarsVantage twelve … Read more

The Music of Mars and Quotations

When I wrote The Music of Mars, I looked to America’s colonial times for inspiration. I wanted to tell a story where Mars’s culture was starting to deviate from Earth’s, allowing for plenty of tension. While I allow for instantaneous communication, to get anything physically between Earth and Mars requires about one month. I specifically … Read more

The Music of Mars-Chuck Has a Spy Problem

Chuck’s concerned about Konklin’s spies within MarsVantage… I have no proof. Either my board members disbelieve or don’t care, but I know Peter Konklin has spies in my company, MarsVantage. For over a decade, Konklin and his company have been one step ahead of us. As soon as we get traction in an area, we … Read more

The Music of Mars-Frank and the Knowledge Keepers

Franks talks about the Knowledge Keepers… Just after my engagement to Lori, she inducted me as an initiate in the Knowledge Keeper Order. She taught me the ins and outs until she died in the Airlock Accident. When the public catches Knowledge Keepers in action, they see clowns, which is designed to cover our actual … Read more

The Music of Mars-Behind the Story

In The Music of Mars, I wanted to explore practical aspects of having a colony on Mars, which means dealing with planetary separation, and how various elements of such a distance affected character motivation and actions. Today, it takes around 260 days (a tick under nine months) to travel from Earth to Mars with the … Read more

The Music of Mars-Why Gretchen Went to Mars

Gretchen shares her reasons for going to Mars… After my husband non-renewed our marriage contract, I completed the residence change application. The Housing Ministry assigned me housing to match my single status. In other words, it was small. Don’t get me wrong, it was pleasant enough–far better than living in a Quonset hut in Antartica. … Read more

The Music of Mars-The Caretaker’s Perspective

The Caretaker, the lone Bvindu on Mars, shares his thoughts on current events… For over 100,000 orbits, I safeguarded the knowledge and treasures of my people, the Bvindu, on this dead planet, fourth from the star. I eagerly await the day my people return for me and our heritage, so I can leave the control … Read more

TMOM-Erin’s Perspective

Erin, MarsVantage’s top pilot, shares her thoughts on current events… If events would’ve happened a few months earlier, I would’ve known everything. But after I turned down Frank’s marriage proposal, he made himself scarce. Actually, he’s been avoiding me. I hurt him, and he’s still in pain. When Frank approached me to back up his … Read more

The Music of Mars–Peter Konklin’s Side

Peter Konklin shares his perspective: Twelve years ago the government stole my Mars division after a small, unfortunate accident. That now-independent company, MarsVantage, is striving to prosper. And it’s mine, regardless of what the government thinks or what the incorporation papers say. Back then, I couldn’t stop the government, moved by the public outcry over … Read more