When the Army Corps of Engineers needed somewhere to locate the Manhattan Project's primary research site, they selected the Pajarito Plateau for two reasons. One was its isolation. Being mostly surrounded by cliffs, it was difficult to access and easy to guard. Given the area's sparse population and level of infrastructure in the early '40s, not to mention the limitations of most vehicles available at the time, the spot would have seemed ideal.

Beyond its perfect physical location, however, was the fact that Los Alamos had already undergone some rudimentary development. At the time the plateau was scouted by Major John Dudley and J. Robert Oppenheimer, it was largely cleared of timber and already home to the Los Alamos Ranch School, comprised of fifty-four buildings. This meant workers could be housed immediately, and construction of the research facilities could begin at once. The most prominent reminder of Los Alamos' origins is the Fuller Lodge, the former centerpiece of the Ranch School. The massive log structure was designed by John Gaw Meem, and it was built primarily from materials found on the plateau—ponderosa and aspen trees and local sandstone. It serves its community today as an arts center.

I first visited Los Alamos in 2016. It was a cool, gray day—very unusual for this part of the country—and I stayed just long enough to take a brief walk around town and have a quick lunch. It wasn't until after a second, longer visit the following year that the idea for a story that would eventually become Benders began to tickle the back of my brain.

In addition to the city's role as host to Los Alamos National Laboratories, and the entirely hypothetical potential for any kind of great and terrible invention to spring from its mysterious depths, I was interested in the city's aura as a very safe, sheltering place. I understand how growing up there it could feel a little too sheltering, a bit too far from the rest of the world, but I was intrigued by the idea that such a tranquil place could give rise to some kind of major, existential threat.

In many contemporary books, the characters are motivated by desperation. Their decisions and subsequent actions are driven by the need to survive under the most dire of circumstances. I wanted to show four young people living essentially carefree lives—to the extent that high school could ever be called "carefree"—who nonetheless make similar brave decisions for no other reason than because they believe those decisions are the "right thing to do."

The photo above shows a portion of Ashley Pond Park. The labs in which the first atomic bomb was invented once stood around the perimeter of the pond. Today it is a place to picnic and enjoy one of the city's 276 sunny days per year.

Ellie's Los Alamos may not be entirely true to the one we know, but there are a few places from her world you can actually visit. Sadly, you won't be able to sample the chocolate truffles from the CB Fox department store. It, as well as the Time Out Pizza restaurant (aka "Take Five Pizza"), are now out of business. The Smith's grocery store's Starbucks location really does offer a stunning view of the Rio Grande Valley. If you're there during the week, check out the Blue Window Bistro for lunch or dinner.

Santa Fe is not far from Los Alamos, and whether you go for the galleries, the food, or to experience a unique slice of US history, this charming city is always a safe bet for a wonderful time. Want to try Sam's much-loved green chile BLT? Head to Café Pasqual. Doodlet's, Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeehouse, Maya, and the Rooftop Pizzeria and Draft Station are likewise all real stores and restaurants in Santa Fe. (Or "were," at any rate. The Draft Station and pizzeria have also both closed since Benders was written.)

For a true taste of New Mexico, check out the wares of the Native American artists lining the front of the Palace of the Governors. Southwestern jewelry is just part of the picture. You're also likely to find pottery, figurines, and more available directly from the artists who created them.

I often wonder what becomes of Los Alamos following the events at the end of Breakers. Does Project Eyrie ever become a reality? If so, how long is it before the climate recovers enough for the local area to be repopulated? What happens along the way? Does the Eyrie even matter centuries in the future?

Ellie has little time to contemplate her notion to have her parents spearhead a project aimed at preserving the best elements of contemporary culture and safeguarding them for future generations. It's merely an idea, not a plan. What happens to those artifacts and concepts when the people preserving them have lost any direct connection to the culture that produced them? And what would they mean to the new cultures that have evolved in response to the traumatized environment?

These are only a few of the questions I need to answer before I can extend the story in this new direction. I continue to wonder, though, so perhaps those answers will come and I'll be able to move forward. If you'd like to know when that happens, go to the Sign Up section of the Contact Page and I'll drop you a note as soon as it does.