Monday, June 26, 2006

Are Aliens Really Among Us?








Tell me: What do YOU think? I was asked that question a lot during my interviews for Parallel Attraction, and the truth is that—crazy as I may sound—I do think aliens are probably real. It’s part of what fascinates me about them, enough so that I chose to write a series about the possibility of aliens living all among us.

My husband has written a number of science books, and one of the things he pointed out to me back about five years ago—and which was part of what inspired PA—was that the periodic table throughout the universe would be largely the same. From that, his own personal theory is that aliens wouldn’t look all that different from us. Well, maybe somewhat, but in the ways that matter, just like us. So… I came up with the Parallel series, but I forgot to research one critical matter. I invented Mirror Lake in the middle of Yellowstone because I thought about how pure and beautiful the lakes there are. Only last week did I discover my huge flub—there really is a Mirror Lake in Wyoming! Duh. Not only in Wyoming, but in Yellowstone to boot.

Even creepier and weirder? Some, uh, ufologist has come up with a conspiracy based around Lewis and Clark, Yellowstone, and… yes, Mirror Lake. Check this out:

www.imlufos.com

Is this not the WEIRDEST thing ever??? I promise: I really did not ever check that there was a Mirror Lake in Yellowstone (and in fact the pictures I looked up don’t even resemble my fictional Mirror Lake.)

By the way, the picture above is the road that heads to Ufologically famous, Groom Lake. Thought it was apropros. :)
I need to know what you guys make of this and if you’re not seriously weirded out like I am.

12 comments:

Diana Peterfreund said...

I don't know, the weirdest thing to me was hat bit about Cheyenne meaning "alien!" How odd is that? I think the Mayans had alien myths as well...

Did anyone else check out the links? A lot of crazy ideas out there!

Kristen Painter said...

Crazy things are what make life fun. And yes, I think there might be aliens. If you're not sure, I'll introduce you to my mother-in-law.

KIDDING! Totally kidding. She's French, that's not completely alien.

charleneteglia said...

Synchronicity!

Therese Walsh said...

I love it when things like that happen. One of my strangest experiences took place years ago when developing a new character--a type of rare dog. When I told my husband about the addition of this cool canine character, he told me that a new acquaintance of his had a dog of the same rare breed...and then he told me the dog's name. You guessed it: it was the same name I'd chosen for "my" fictional dog. It's a little spooky when things like that happen, but I think of those events as confirmation that I'm on the right track!

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

I LOVE stories like this! Not creepy at all. Affirmation of the interconnectedness of all things.

Or something.

Gena Showalter said...

Excellent post! Some of those links are really wild. I didn't get to them all, but I'm going back in just a bit because I didn't get to devote enough time to surfing.

Jaci Burton said...

This is so cool. I studied that Lewis & Clarke picture for the longest time *g*

Did y'all check out those links?

WOW!

Karmela said...

There was once an episode of Star Trek TNG that posited that there was a vastly superior alien race that "seeded" several galaxies, and this (in the ST universe at least) would explain why all the humanoids are basically the same shape or form: one head, one torse, two arms, two legs. When I saw that episode (I think I was in early college back then), it was like a light bulb turning on in my head. Ding! Of COURSE! In my warped, conspiracy-thinking mind, it could totally be the explanation for the existence of aliens, and aliens who look like US!

Trekkers unite! ;-)

Monica Burns said...

To believe that we're the only intelligent life forms in the universe is a pretty arrogant thought as my beloved grandmother alwasy said. And whatever my grandma said, I believed.

As for actual aliens. Well you know me, what do you think? *grin*

Anonymous said...

I didn't know that. Isn't it funny how sometimes our imagination comes up with realities we didn't know exist?

I'll check out the links :)

Deidre Knight said...

Things have such a wild way of coming together, just like this. I'm amazed by how that works creatively... hugs!

Cora Zane said...

I hope aliens are real. It would be a small comfort to know we aren't the only screwed up species in the universe. :P

How cool to find out there actually is a Mirror Lake in Yellowstone!