A recurring idea in science fiction involves altering the menstrual cycles of women. It is one of those background items that is just there, much like computers and space travel.

While working at a biotech company, I quickly learned how interconnected all the systems in the body are. It is difficult to affect one part of the body without affecting other parts. That is why so many drugs have side effects.

I started wondering what would happen if there was an unusual side effect to stopping menstruation. Menstruation starts at a young age and runs for roughly forty years. During that time there is a lot of biological activity that is occurring. What happens if that all that energy is available elsewhere? What if women started living longer than men?

That was the early idea for the story. From there I began to wonder how this disparity in life span would impact world politics, economics, the military, and society. The balance of power would gradually shift from men to women, resulting in massive changes.

Obviously a disparity like that cannot exist without someone somewhere trying to correct it. That is where I chose to begin my story.

The rest of the story wrote itself, with the help of Ryan, Olivia and Nicole. I find that when I write, the characters take over and the story develops in unexpected directions. The result is a story that I hope you will enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it.