The Real McFarland

Warning!

Spoilers for

A Crisis at Tranquility!

are on this page.

Most of the characters that form the crew of Tranquility are based on the author's real-life friends. His friend for over thirty years, John McFarland was the perfect person for the badass curmudgeon of the Core Crew, who is simply known as, McFarland.

As the story was coming together, Marc Acer and Susan Spencer mention several different plans, including Plan H. A plan that has someone losing an arm. At the time, the author didn't know who would be the one losing an arm, but it was going to happen in the final battle at The Keep against AI known as Nic.

When it was decided that it had to be McFarland, the story took on a twist that would impact both John's and the author's lives. Nearly a year and a half later, John and his friend were heading home from work on a very rainy evening. They were hit by a semi-truck that resulted in John losing his right arm and his friend dying. 

When the news reached the author, he was horrified that he had somehow put it out there to happen to his friend. But John assured him that he didn't blame the writing and that it was just a horrible coincidence.

Three years later, the lawsuit against the trucking company was still going on. Then to add insult to injury, the owner of the place John and his mother lived at evicted them so the unit could be remodeled.

At this time John and his mother are homeless and living with family members while awaiting news that any sort of low-income housing is available for them.

It is the author's hope that the fans of his book and the character, McFarland, will donate to help John cover the cost for a prosthetic arm and the mountain of medical bills that have been plaguing him.

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