Writing ideas come from the strangest places.
Sometimes they creep into our heads while we are on the cusp of sleep. Other times they tug at our subconscious as we go about our normal routines. In this case, the idea for the SANDSTORM series came from a song title, which spawned a full-fledged world, filled with characters and a premise that I couldn't ignore.
As the idea solidified, I envisioned a colony on a harsh desert planet called Ravar, its members cut off from their counterparts on Earth and forced to make do with limited resources. Over time, and with no communication from the supply ships or from Earth, the colonists accepted that perhaps this new planet was their home, and that they weren't leaving.
New caste systems emerged. Stories and rumors developed into truths. And new generations would be taught the most important thing they needed: to survive.
The SANDSTORM series is the story of a young woman on a harsh planet, trying to provide for her family, but it is also the story of a group of outcasts, forced to come together and fight for the only world they know.
In this story, I pay homage to some of my favorite sci-fi classics, while (hopefully) providing some new twists and turns!
I hope you enjoy SANDSTORM!
-Tyler Piperbrook
May 2018