The Journal - Issue No. 1 - Eric Valdespino

THE ERIC VALDESPINO JOURNAL

Eric’s Insight Into His Writing

Where Stories Begin as Questions
Issue No. 1

A Letter from Eric

Thank you for becoming part of the Eric Valdespino Ambassador Program. I hope these pages inspire thought, spark meaningful conversations, and remind us that every great story begins with a single question.

I look forward to sharing many more journeys with you.

Warmest regards,

Author | The Eric Valdespino Ambassador Program

Behind the Story

Every novel I write begins with a question, and Marium’s Ivory Box was no exception.

The inspiration for Marium Stone came from conversations with people who live with chronic pain. Many described how pain gradually changes more than the body, it reshapes daily routines, relationships, hopes, and even a person’s sense of identity. Some found relief through treatment, while others continued searching for answers. Listening to their experiences reminded me that pain is deeply personal, and that no two people experience it in exactly the same way.

As I reflected on those conversations, a question emerged that I couldn’t let go:

What if pain wasn’t something we simply endured? What if it could be transferred from one person to another?

That single question became the foundation of the novel.

Then another question followed.

If you could eliminate your own suffering, knowing someone else would have to bear it, would you do it?

From that moment, Marium Stone began to take shape. She became an ordinary woman confronted with an extraordinary moral dilemma after discovering an old ivory box that seemed to possess an unexplained power. For three years, the mysterious box remained unopened, quietly waiting until the day Marium finally learned its true purpose. Once she did, the story took on a life of its own.

Writing Marium’s Ivory Box became more than creating a suspense novel. It became an exploration of compassion, sacrifice, responsibility, and the difficult choices we make when there are no perfect answers.

In the end, I hope readers close the book by asking themselves the same question that guided me from the very beginning:

What would you do?

Research Notebook

One of the questions I’m often asked is where my ideas come from. The answer surprises many people.

Although I write speculative fiction, my imagination is grounded in science, observation, and common sense. My professional career has been devoted to research, engineering, and developing new technologies. Years of solving practical problems taught me to question assumptions, look for patterns, and ask, “What if?” before accepting conventional answers.

That same approach guides my writing.

I rarely begin with a character or a dramatic scene. Instead, I begin with an idea that seems impossible—or perhaps simply overlooked. Then I ask myself whether science, philosophy, history, or human behavior might offer a path that makes the impossible feel plausible.

Before writing Marium’s Ivory Box, I spent considerable time reflecting on the nature of pain. Science explains the biological mechanisms of pain remarkably well, but it cannot fully explain the deeply personal experience of suffering. Pain affects the body far more than the body. It influences memory, relationships, hope, and the choices people make throughout their lives.

That observation led me to ask a question that science cannot answer, but fiction can explore:

What if pain could be transferred from one person to another?

The answer wasn’t meant to prove anything. It was meant to explore the moral consequences of such a possibility.

I believe stories can become laboratories of thought. Within the pages of a novel, readers are free to examine ideas that science has not yet answered, philosophy continues to debate, and humanity has struggled to understand for centuries.

If my books accomplish anything, I hope they encourage readers to think beyond the obvious, question what they believe, and consider possibilities they may never have imagined.

After all, every discovery—whether in science or in literature—begins with someone willing to ask a question.

Eric Valdespino

Question for Our Ambassadors

One of the reasons I created the Eric Valdespino Ambassador Program was to bring together readers who enjoy asking questions as much as reading stories.

The purpose of this community is not to persuade anyone what to believe or to provide definitive answers. Instead, it is a place where curiosity is welcomed, ideas are explored, and respectful conversations can flourish.

Every month, I will pose a question inspired by one of my novels. There are no right or wrong answers—only different perspectives shaped by our own experiences.

This month’s question is simple:

If you could remove your own suffering, knowing someone else would have to bear it, what would you do?

More importantly… Why?

Your answer may not match someone else’s, and that’s exactly the point. By sharing our thoughts, listening to different viewpoints, and asking new questions, we often discover ideas we had never considered before. Writing has always been my way of exploring the unknown. I hope this Ambassador Program becomes a place where we can continue that journey together—one question at a time.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to read this issue of The Eric Valdespino Journal. I sincerely appreciate your interest in my work and your willingness to become part of the Eric Valdespino Ambassador Program.

Writing has always been more than telling a story. It is an opportunity to explore ideas, ask difficult questions, and imagine possibilities that may inspire us to see the world a little differently. I hope this journal encourages thoughtful conversations that continue long after you’ve turned the final page.

As we continue this journey together, I invite you to share your thoughts, your questions, and your perspective with our Ambassador community.

And always remember:

“The purpose of this community is not to tell readers what to think, but to inspire them to think.”

Thank you for being part of the journey.

With my sincere appreciation,

Author | Founder, The Eric Valdespino Ambassador Program

Coming Next Month

Issue No. 2

Why I Wrote The Star Child

What if a five-year-old child possessed knowledge no one could explain?

That simple question became the beginning of The Star Child, a novel that explores memory, consciousness, faith, and the extraordinary potential of the human mind.

In the next issue of The Eric Valdespino Journal, I’ll take you behind the story and share how a single question evolved into one of the most personal novels I’ve ever written. I’ll discuss the research that shaped the story, the real-world ideas that inspired Abe Cohen, and why I believe some of the greatest mysteries aren’t found in outer space—but within ourselves.

We’ll also explore the question at the heart of the novel:

What if knowledge isn’t something we acquire… but something we remember?

Join me next month as we look beyond the pages of The Star Child and into the ideas that inspired its creation.