Olympus Bound follows a commander of a lunar base who navigates the challenges of constructing a habitable outpost while dealing with political tensions, unexpected meteor storms, and personal struggles. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The world emerged from my work as a leadership futurist: I imagined following some of the trends we are experiencing now colliding into a possible future. These included a degrading climate, the rise of eco-warriors/terrorists, and political struggles for resources. Then I mapped out the individual journeys of the various characters, how conflict would sink or extend them. As far as inspiration goes I wanted to tell a story that was compelling for its own sake as well as offering the reader the chance to explore leadership challenges through various lenses. Plus, I’ve always had a thing for imagining living in space, on the Moon, on Mars. Can’t get enough of those kinds of stories!

Xanthe Waters is a woman with strength. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?

Xanthe has really endured a lot of grief: the loss of her son at an early age and the demise of her marriage for the sake of her career. Through it all she remains committed to her vision and purpose and tries her best to be a leader that serves the mission and her team. She doesn’t make a lot of room for joy or pleasure, hefting the worries of the world on her own shoulders. She’s an interesting mix of personal ambition, altruistic purpose, and steely reserve trying to keep the pain of the world from tearing her apart. I really hope she finds a way to experience joy and happiness too. This is her wound to heal.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

From a leadership point of view, I was interested in the pursuit and manipulation of power, and its effect on individual choices. I was also curious to see if collaboration could be a genuine option in a politically volatile environment. For the individual and team dynamics, I was keen to explore how pressure and leadership affect interpersonal relationships, and how people might grow and change in the company of others. Found family and intense teamwork in high-pressured situations was also an aspect I wanted to examine.

Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?

The next book, Olympus Rising, picks up just days after the conclusion of Olympus Bound. The Olympus crew is divided with Xanthe, Troy, and Jonas left on the Moon, Serena, Xavier, and Madison heading back to Earth in the repaired Saturnia, while Dave and Max head back to Earth in the Minerva. Their plan to outsmart the Spaceward Bound renegades falls apart as other forces, also interested in the helium 3 bounty, move in on the scene. No one is sure who is behind the eco-terrorists’ plot and what the real agenda is. The stakes couldn’t be any higher for our intrepid crew as they face kidnapping, threats, and losing control of not only the Mooonbase but the security and equitable access to clean energy. This book reminds us that space is dangerous and when it comes to power and wealth, tough leadership decisions mean the line between villain and hero blurs.

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