The Story Behind The Story
During the summer of 2002, Amy Palmer was between her 6th and 7th grade in school. Her father thought it would be fun for them to work on a unique project together. Doug suggested they create and write a science-based adventure story. Amy thought it would be fun to create an adventure novel too, so the story writing began.
It would be based on man’s quest for knowledge, with lots of action. It would need to include unexpected twists and turns, and it would need to address a simple question.
Have you ever learned about something that later you wished you never knew?
They knew a project like this would keep them engaged in discussions about current events, science, and technology, and they knew over time they could keep it interesting by regularly asking each other, “What if?”
Wondering what guiding thoughts they should keep in mind as the story unfolded, they felt it needed to include drama, mystery, action, suspense, dilemmas, humor, excitement, and surprise. The story would also need to include current events, unsolved mysteries, scientific facts, and real places.
There was no doubt in their minds it would be a long-term project, and with busy school and work schedules there was always the chance that their story might never see completion. The main point was that no matter what, it would be a fun project to work on together.
After more than ten years, and countless starts and stops, their co-authored story has finally become a reality.
Changes Over The Years
Since they started working on their adventure, Amy finished Middle School and Junior High, graduated High School, and she has completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major and minor in college. Her majors were in Marketing and International Business, and her minor was in Spanish Studies.
While Amy was advancing her education, Doug decided to expand his horizons as well. At age 45, he went back to college and earned a Master of Arts in Communication. This proved to be a complement to his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, and Education, and his decades of experience in the field of Product Design, Research, and Development.
Over the years, this father-daughter writing team would work on the story for a while and then put it aside. As time went on, they realized parts of the story needed to be re-written. This was because everyday technologies had changed drastically since they first started writing.
Think about it. Desktop computers are being replaced with laptops, and laptops are in the process of being replaced with tablets. Cell phones are rapidly replacing land line telephones, and at the same time, cell phones are changing into smartphones.
Individual data storage and communication product formats are morphing into new devices altogether. The features and functions of what used to be separate, unique devices are being combined. Phones are now also cameras that take videos and still pictures. These pictures can be sent to other phones, to computers, or to anyone on the World Wide Web in real time. Ten years ago, all these features in one device were unheard of! Today these features are taken for granted.
Technology Has Always Been Changing
The past few generations have witnessed the recording industry’s progression from 78, 45, and LP records to tape formats on reel-to-reel, 8-Track, and cassettes. These in turn have been replaced with Compact Disks, MP3 players, and iPods. Cameras have gone from film to digital images, and home video recordings have progressed from film through countless tape formats like Beta, VHS, and 8mm magnetic tape. These in turn have been replaced with DVD’s and HD digital recording systems that store video and audio on high capacity computer chips, USB drives, and hard drives.
It’s hard to believe, but current social networks didn’t even exist when this story was started. Since the early days of the story we have seen the rise and fall in popularity of using MySpace, AIM (Instant Messaging), and now we live in a world of Facebook, and Twitter.
What will we have gone through in another ten years?
When considered carefully, today’s science fiction often becomes tomorrow’s reality.
While doing story edits near the book's completion, Doug and Amy asked some target-market readers to review the manuscript and share their thoughts. These readers helped the authors realize the latest generation didn’t know what hanging up a land line telephone sounded like. How can you get across what slamming a telephone receiver down sounds like if you have never experienced it? The same goes for the use of devices like a phone pager (also known as a “Beeper”), or what a squealing modem, or FAX machine sounds like.
The authors realized these kinds of changes happen all the time, without anyone paying much attention. They were writing a story that involved current events and science, but realized time and again that they needed to re-write it due to today's fast changing technologies.
Even The Title Changed
Even the story's title changed over the course of time. In the beginning, the story was going to be called, Dust To Dust, since the story starts on a Christian Holy Day known as Ash Wednesday. This day serves as a reminder to everyone that in the end, each of us are little more than dust, "... and to dust you shall return.”
As the authors neared completion of the story, an Internet search revealed there were numerous books already using that title. Doug and Amy didn’t want there to be any confusion among readers about which story was theirs, so Hidden Thirst became the title.
With all that said, the authors hope you have as much fun reading their story as they had writing it.
Will there be more to the adventure in another book?
Stay tuned!
During the summer of 2002, Amy Palmer was between her 6th and 7th grade in school. Her father thought it would be fun for them to work on a unique project together. Doug suggested they create and write a science-based adventure story. Amy thought it would be fun to create an adventure novel too, so the story writing began.
It would be based on man’s quest for knowledge, with lots of action. It would need to include unexpected twists and turns, and it would need to address a simple question.
Have you ever learned about something that later you wished you never knew?
They knew a project like this would keep them engaged in discussions about current events, science, and technology, and they knew over time they could keep it interesting by regularly asking each other, “What if?”
Wondering what guiding thoughts they should keep in mind as the story unfolded, they felt it needed to include drama, mystery, action, suspense, dilemmas, humor, excitement, and surprise. The story would also need to include current events, unsolved mysteries, scientific facts, and real places.
There was no doubt in their minds it would be a long-term project, and with busy school and work schedules there was always the chance that their story might never see completion. The main point was that no matter what, it would be a fun project to work on together.
After more than ten years, and countless starts and stops, their co-authored story has finally become a reality.
Changes Over The Years
Since they started working on their adventure, Amy finished Middle School and Junior High, graduated High School, and she has completed a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major and minor in college. Her majors were in Marketing and International Business, and her minor was in Spanish Studies.
While Amy was advancing her education, Doug decided to expand his horizons as well. At age 45, he went back to college and earned a Master of Arts in Communication. This proved to be a complement to his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, and Education, and his decades of experience in the field of Product Design, Research, and Development.
Over the years, this father-daughter writing team would work on the story for a while and then put it aside. As time went on, they realized parts of the story needed to be re-written. This was because everyday technologies had changed drastically since they first started writing.
Think about it. Desktop computers are being replaced with laptops, and laptops are in the process of being replaced with tablets. Cell phones are rapidly replacing land line telephones, and at the same time, cell phones are changing into smartphones.
Individual data storage and communication product formats are morphing into new devices altogether. The features and functions of what used to be separate, unique devices are being combined. Phones are now also cameras that take videos and still pictures. These pictures can be sent to other phones, to computers, or to anyone on the World Wide Web in real time. Ten years ago, all these features in one device were unheard of! Today these features are taken for granted.
Technology Has Always Been Changing
The past few generations have witnessed the recording industry’s progression from 78, 45, and LP records to tape formats on reel-to-reel, 8-Track, and cassettes. These in turn have been replaced with Compact Disks, MP3 players, and iPods. Cameras have gone from film to digital images, and home video recordings have progressed from film through countless tape formats like Beta, VHS, and 8mm magnetic tape. These in turn have been replaced with DVD’s and HD digital recording systems that store video and audio on high capacity computer chips, USB drives, and hard drives.
It’s hard to believe, but current social networks didn’t even exist when this story was started. Since the early days of the story we have seen the rise and fall in popularity of using MySpace, AIM (Instant Messaging), and now we live in a world of Facebook, and Twitter.
What will we have gone through in another ten years?
When considered carefully, today’s science fiction often becomes tomorrow’s reality.
While doing story edits near the book's completion, Doug and Amy asked some target-market readers to review the manuscript and share their thoughts. These readers helped the authors realize the latest generation didn’t know what hanging up a land line telephone sounded like. How can you get across what slamming a telephone receiver down sounds like if you have never experienced it? The same goes for the use of devices like a phone pager (also known as a “Beeper”), or what a squealing modem, or FAX machine sounds like.
The authors realized these kinds of changes happen all the time, without anyone paying much attention. They were writing a story that involved current events and science, but realized time and again that they needed to re-write it due to today's fast changing technologies.
Even The Title Changed
Even the story's title changed over the course of time. In the beginning, the story was going to be called, Dust To Dust, since the story starts on a Christian Holy Day known as Ash Wednesday. This day serves as a reminder to everyone that in the end, each of us are little more than dust, "... and to dust you shall return.”
As the authors neared completion of the story, an Internet search revealed there were numerous books already using that title. Doug and Amy didn’t want there to be any confusion among readers about which story was theirs, so Hidden Thirst became the title.
With all that said, the authors hope you have as much fun reading their story as they had writing it.
Will there be more to the adventure in another book?
Stay tuned!