Note from the Author / Signal from the Silence

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Yes, this is longer than a traditional note. But this isn’t a traditional journey. As a creative architect, lyricist, and clinical research executive, I've built the Celestial Flames Universe (CFU) to blend science, space, sports, and spirituality with a profound respect for ancestral epistemology.
 

I. The Root of the Beginning: The City of Big Shoulders whispered me forward

That reverence was shaped early on. Growing up in Chicago, every block had a playbook and griots who spoke through murals or from milk crates. Our gridlines greet you with grit and grace like no other. And those same streets raised every kind of player and all kinds of dreamers...including me. As a youngling, I was fortunate to explore some of the greatest museums in the world: the Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum. All were reachable with a CTA super transfer, which meant I could take full advantage of every free date and open window. To me, it felt like a gift from the city herself. She would whisper in my ear, “Go ahead, you’ll thank me later,” sending me off with a hug and a smile. That access sparked a lifelong love of learning about astral systems and orbital harmonics.

I share this with you because, as we chart this new path, you’ll come to find that my narratives reflect a layered admiration for innovation, rhythm, and legacy, as well as for Mother Earth. That tri-votion comes from being blessed to stroll to the beach, sit in the sand, and listen between the waves.

Those lessons taught me it’s okay to daydream and it’s okay to fail. Does that mean every community gets to do this? No. But any of our neighborhoods, you can easily learn from. Each holds its own history and moves to its own pulse yet contributes to the collective score.

II. T-Zero and Counting: Gaia spoke and the SoulSci formed

My worldview is Gaia-Panthean, which recognizes the interlacing of humans, animals, oceans, and the skies. The universe itself is the altar. Our Gaia is not just a setting for fellow inhabitants. She is a sentient custodian. And if you tune in deep enough, she is directing us to design, remember, and restore with intention. She messages through the Hawk, our elders, our alleys, and even as far away as the Motherland to the winds off the lake. That same guidance breathes through every syllable and every riff. Through this lens, I crafted an immersive world that echoes across disciplines and dimensions. And those echoes? They carry the vibe of house music, the curve of jazz, and the hush of gospel. That’s what I came up on. 

And it will always be a part of me. Another part of me that contributed to CFU’s framing is my daughter, Cheyenne. As a neurotrauma researcher, she taught me that plausibility and reality can coexist. Her brilliance helped formulate the speculative neurotech in this theoretical world.
The Nommos and Dogon Tribe of Mali inspired elements in my work, too. For example, the Athurri Pyralis, Zarolentis Power Scale, and Celimorta Cycle are all entirely fictional. They are original creations; not representations of any living culture or planetary infrastructure.

III. Braided Influence: Where silence sculpts and multidimensional wisdom converge

As a gregarious introvert, silence is sacred. By my side, I’ve woven aspects of my life into this immersive world. It has been my co-author, threading this texture and the glimmers of what if into CFU’s tapestry. Silence isn’t empty, and it doesn’t keep you stagnant. It’s where you recalibrate. 

It’s how you level up. It’s that time and place that gathers breath before releasing truth. 

And that stillness has helped to refine this journey. I also pulled from experiences in public policy. And from the unassailable fortitude of loved ones whose careers span military and federal agency leadership. Their dedication informed the ethical tension, strategic realism, and high stakes embedded in this story. Being a student of their courage helped me construct Nova-Ceramic, Blaze Nomads, and Dark Fleet with circumspection.
 

My expressions carry both fire and flow, honoring the ache and the ascent. I call this approach SoulSci, a layered modality where science meets soul, and ancestral resonances shape the present and influence the future. 

IV. Mission Log and Milestone Report 

It has taken me several years to create the Celestial Flames Universe trilogy. Book I: Origins is a 110,000+ word manuscript spanning over 400 pages, including a supplemental guide with timelines, maps, factions, and a full glossary. Book II: Eclipse of Power and Book III: Pyralis Reign are in development. It’s fiction. It’s fantasy. It’s a mythoscape layered with ancient wisdom, cosmic tension, and the fight against encroaching darkness born of technology + greed…and a love story that placed the Wasteland of Broken Souls on this trajectory. Click here for CFU updates, including visual concept drops, publishing progress, and chapter excerpts.

V. As the Stars Align, there is no me without you.

For whatever reason, I feel this is the moment to step out of the shadows. And I do so with the clarity of a seasoned voice and the knowing that I never walk alone. What’s understood needn’t be discussed. There will be a full acknowledgment section in the book. But for now, thank you to all who hold or have held the line, as well as next-gen guardians, whether in defense, diplomacy, or discovery. CFU carries your light.
 

Thank you to my EKGs (my lifelines of support, random hours of review and feedback, the Edie Keep Going Crew) for holding me down, lifting me up, and joining me (which I hope you will too!) on this constellation hustle. This is my grind for humanity because…The Future is Born in the Struggle.

With cosmic appreciation,

Edie Stringfellow