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Kemptville author's book being sent to the moon

One of Michael Blouin's books is going to be launched into space and stay on the surface of the moon. (Paulina Hrebacka - image credit)
One of Michael Blouin's books is going to be launched into space and stay on the surface of the moon. (Paulina Hrebacka - image credit)

An author from Kemptville, Ont., is going to be part of a small, interstellar club of authors whose works will be sent to the moon.

Michael Blouin says he's been interested in space travel since the Apollo 11 mission that landed humans on the moon for the first time.

To be part of a group of hundreds authors having their work immortalized within the vast expanse of space has him "gobsmacked."

"I take comfort in the fact that no matter what happens, it looks like my books — which my writing is very important to me — my books will survive and be there," he said.

"I sometimes wake up at night and say 'oh yeah, I'm going to the moon. Wow.' It's kind of amazing."

How it came to be

Blouin said he's been a lifelong fan of NASA and space exploration, so when the opportunity to get his work sent to the moon as part of the project came up he had to take it.

But around the deadline to apply, his house burned down.

Amidst the chaos of not having anywhere to live, and then moving into his son's house, he realized he'd missed his chance.

"I had missed the deadline to apply for this program for books to go to the moon by 12 hours and I was just kicking myself," he said.

"I lost everything and now I'd missed out on my chance to do something I'd always dreamed about doing."

Luckily a friend and author in Newfoundland, Carolyn R. Parsons, said she had managed to get some of her work included in the project and had enough space on her microdisk to include him as well.

United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance

When does book go?

The NASA launch is scheduled for Feb. 25 at Cape Canaveral, in Florida, which will see his book Skin House brought to the stars.

Blouin is getting the chance to see the launch and just hopes it isn't delayed or cancelled.

"These launches sometimes get delayed due to technical reasons or due to weather," he said.

"But I'm hoping to give myself a big enough window that I'll actually be on site."

He's getting another of his books — I am Billy the Kid — up to the moon in 2024.

Blouin had some advice for people who aspire to write or create.

"Any young person aspiring in the arts just shouldn't give up. Keep trying," he said.

"It can be a tough go but it's worth every moment."