After two or three of trying to get this out of my brain, I finally found the angle from which I want to tell this story.
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Support Places Where the Stars are Hidden on Patreon to receive a free copy of the book upon publication.
Why I’m writing this book
I have met hundreds of thousands of people, hosted more than 1300 sidewalk science & astronomy events, been asked thousands of questions–and occasionally, yelled at by flat earthers.
I have collected data at every single event I’ve ever hosted, documented experiences, reactions, stories people have told.
Now I want to permanently document the data, questions, and experiences in a nonfiction book.
In 2023 and 2024, I knew I wanted to translate all of this into a nonfiction science communication book of some sort, but in every draft (many of which I still have saved), I grew frustrated. I wasn’t telling the story from the angle it needed told. I kept writing from an inside-outward perspective:
- What was I doing?
- How was I reacting to people who visited the telescope?
- What were my thoughts about the work I was doing?
Then Artemis 2 launched in April 2026, my generation’s Moon moment. Instantly, I saw a change in what people felt, how people reacted, how they spoke about space exploration. This wasn’t isolated; it was global. The entire world watched Artemis 2, drew short of breath, cried, cheered.
Artemis 2 was a moment for all humanity, a bright spot in a world doomscrolling on social media, a world consumed by politics. It was a moment in which we all celebrated what makes us human: curiosity.
As Artemis 2 flew out to the Moon, circled around the back, and dropped back toward Earth, I found the angle I needed to write my nonfiction astronomy book: the community perspective. Not what am I doing with my telescope on the sidewalk? But the perspective that involves everyone: what do people experience, think, feel when they visit my telescope?
I blazed away, writing an introduction, then a first chapter, then an outline–yes, an outline, something I have literally never written in my 22 years of writing nine science-fiction books.
I’m calling this book Places Where the Stars are Hidden, highlighting how I provide sidewalk astronomy almost exclusively in bright cities where the stars are often blocked by light pollution. But these are the places where astronomy outreach can be most beneficial: seeing a telescope on the sidewalk, even under a lamppost, gets people looking up, thinking in a different way, and asking questions.
I call the intentional act of looking up the most basic act of human curiosity. And it’s true; we seldom look up by chance. Stargazing is intentional. Looking up inspires us, gets our curiosity spinning, generates questions we rarely ask.
I have seen this reaction and more play out in the hundreds-of-thousands of visitors I’ve met at my sidewalk science & astronomy. Stumbling upon a telescope on a city sidewalk is not an everyday encounter for most people. That’s why I love putting telescopes on sidewalks in different cities for weeks at a time, making the encounter more frequent and increasing the chances that people will stop for a view, or ask a question, or share their own stargazing stories.
Your curiosity made this book possible; your support helps make it reality
Support Places Where the Stars are Hidden on Patreon to receive a free copy of the book upon publication.
If you’re reading this newsletter, you’ve more than likely met me, chatted with me, and probably looked through my telescope.
All my public sidewalk astronomy is free; the sky belongs to all of us. My telescope is there for you, because you deserve the opportunity to access this resource and ask questions to someone who is familiar with the night sky.
My income relies most heavily on private stargazing tours people schedule at their homes, vacations, camps, schools, and more. I receive tips at the telescope, and sell my photography and science-fiction books on the side.
But I need help writing Places Where the Stars are Hidden. I plan to release it on my 10-year sidewalk outreach anniversary: July 11, 2028, which is about 23 months from the date of this blog post.
To successfully write and distribute this book, I must do the following:
- Set aside a few hours per writing day
- Compile the data I’ve collected
- Compile and categorize the stories, questions, conspiracies, and other research/observation-based information I’ve gathered
- Accurately translate the logistics that go into creating sidewalk outreach experiences
- Create and distribute questionnaires and surveys to gain up-to-date real-time feedback at my sidewalk outreach to incorporate into certain chapters
- Edit the book on my own
- Hire an editor after my revisions and rewrites
- Design or hire a designer for the cover (no Ai, ever)
- Format the book for paperback and Kindle (I’ve done this dozens of times for editions of my other books)
- Record the audio book
- Gather reviews prior to release
- Create materials to market the book prior to and after release
- Ship the free books to Patreon supporters prior to release
Because my sidewalk astronomy is mostly an evening program, I reserve my mornings for writing and other work (and of course, hiking and travel when I am in my open periods between cities).
To keep to my schedule, this will be my timeline:
- First draft complete by April 1, 2027
- Revise through November 1, 2027
- Provide to an editor through April 1, 2028
- Create marketing materials through June 2028
- Ship Patreon supporter books by July 1, 2028
- Public release on July 11, 2028
While I’m still writing Annex, the 6th book of my science-fiction series, I’m about 21 writing sessions from completion, and that is still scheduled for release in October 2028. Places Where the Stars are Hidden will take precedence, and I will regularly share updates on Patreon to encourage progress and accountability.
If you’re able, please consider supporting both this book and my sidewalk astronomy work on Patreon. All supporters will receive a free copy upon publication, as well as other perks depending on the tier you choose. Monthly support begins at $3/month.
Thank you to everyone who has ever visited my telescope on city sidewalks, and I hope when I visit your city that you’re able to swing by for another view or two!
This world is beautiful.
Alex
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