Each copy is signed by the author and includes a complementary bookmark! All proceeds, minus shipping cost, from sales of The Mother Code will go to The Karat School Project, a nonprofit with initiatives in the Ivory Coast and SF Bay Area to support the education of children, especially girls.

Dear Reader,

I once made a living in the sciences. And as a science fiction author, one of my goals has always been to interest non-science readers in STEM topics like biology, robotics, and AI – to pump some STEAM into STEM!

But where does a love for science and math really begin? For me it began as a child at home, working out math puzzles with my engineering draftsman dad at the kitchen table. It began in grade school, with amazing teachers who integrated lessons in biology, chemistry, physics, and math seamlessly into their curricula.

That’s the way it ought to be – a childhood free of the stresses of day-to-day survival, one that allows a kid to learn, grow, and adapt in our ever-evolving technological age.

But there are so many kids who need a boost. in November 2017, Evelyne Keomian founded the Karat School Project (https://theksp.org) to enable children in the country of her birth, Africa’s Ivory Coast, to receive a quality education. That didn’t just mean building a school; it also meant providing support to the children and their families to remove the stressors – hunger and poverty – that put their education at risk.

With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, KSP went local in the SF Bay Area, beginning an initiative to help our local children living in Recreational Vehicles (RVs) (https://theksp.org/usa). While many Bay Area children lacked internet access, educational materials, and other support essential for remote learning, families living in RVs were especially hard hit. These families, many with school-aged children, live in tight quarters with no space for children to work, and they struggle with food insecurity on a daily basis. KSP provided aid to these families in the form of “Edu-Kits,” advocacy, and financial support.

Even as COVID eases and schools reopen, the needs of these families continue. And the work must continue, too. I’m honored to be able to support such a great cause!

Happy Reading!