For the person . . . all that is asked.
- from the Physician’s Oath
Varayla Ansegwe—perpetual student, aspiring poet, and scion of the (allegedly) criminal Syndicate—didn’t volunteer for this alternate-world exploration mission, and the crew are fed up with his dawdling and distractions. When he disobeys orders and rescues an injured alien, he puts the entire mission at hazard ... and changes the world.
Vanessa MacLaren-Wray writes stories and poems, makes robots and photographs, and works towards a more climate-safe energy paradigm. She grew up in a peripatetic military family, experiencing First Contact with strange beings and new worlds as a regular part of life. When she discovered science fiction magazines hidden in her grandmother’s attic, Vanessa finally felt she had arrived home.
Vanessa earned an engineering Ph.D., launching a thirty-year career in energy systems analysis while writing in her spare time. Often the only woman on a project, she never lost touch with the outsider’s viewpoint, using her insights to bridge such divides. A few years ago, Vanessa reshuffled priorities, keeping involved in the energy field, but shifting into high gear on story-telling. Not surprisingly, people coping with their differences is a recurring element in her work. All That Was Asked is her first published fiction book.
You can find Vanessa at cometarytales.com.