Authorpreneur Dashboard – Jeff Michelson
Anticipation Day
Science Fiction & Fantasy
In the summer of 2026, amidst the sights and sounds of one of the oldest pubs in London, Dr. Joshua Lee receives a call that will alter his life for the foreseeable future—he's asked to work on a clandestine project that will transform every America's way of life.
Six years later, amidst the steel and glass canyons of the Denver suburbs, a group of friends assemble for dinner the night before their first escape into Anticipation Day, an immersive simulated experience that is promised to be an annual respite from the daily grind.
Among them are Alexandra, Eric, Patrick, Mike, and MaryAnne, each with their own motives and dreams. As they prepare to plug into the simulation, their desires entwine with the code, blurring the lines between reality and the electric dreamscape.
In this cityscape of the mind, they'll confront their deepest fears, chase elusive happiness, and unlock the secrets buried within their digital avatars. But as they delve deeper into the algorithmic labyrinth, the question lingers: Will their journey lead to salvation, or will it unravel the very fabric of their existence?
Join this eclectic band of urbanites as they navigate the shining streets of their desires, in a quest for meaning amidst the chaos of the digital age. Anticipation Day beckons, but not everything is as it seems in this electrifying tale of urban futurism.
Book Bubbles from Anticipation Day
Part 2: Chapter Two: Mike - the NHL Plyer
Mike is a complicated character. He's been through a challenging life since tearing his ACL's in high school. He was a great hockey player and had a real shot at the NHL if he continued going the way he was. So, for him, having the chance to experience an NHL game, even in a simulation, is a dream come true. This sequence shows how emotional he is getting ready to step onto the ice for the first time in a long time.
Part 2 - Chapter One - Patrick
This chapter is the first time a character enters the simulation experience. I wanted the reader to get the sense that the characters need time to get used to the simulation at first as the world they have entered is generally "mind-blowing". Patrick's journey begins with him standing outside with a group of people and it takes him a few minutes to get his surroundings and get used to what is going on.
Part One - Chapter 2
This chapter is where the reader gets introduced to the rest of the main characters for the remainder of the story: David, Clarise, MaryAnne, Mike and Patrick. They have all gathered together the night before their experiences. I wanted this chapter to be a good introduction to the characters so you could get a sense of where they are in their lives the night before their experience. MaryAnne also shares about her prior simulation she was able to do the year before.
Part One - Chapter One
The first chapter of Part One introduces two new characters, Eric and Alexandra Right, who will be central to the remaining story. Eric and Alexandra are a married couple dealing with issues in their marriage and professionally. The chapter focuses on Alexandra's viewpoint of their relationship and what she is hoping to get out of her simulation, as well as what she hopes Eric will get out of his simulation.
Prologue 4 - The Rose Garden Ceremony
This chapter is a key part of the Prologue as it introduces Dr. Claudine Shanley, who is was the originator of the Anticipation Day Task Force. This chapter goes through the background of Ms. Shanley and how Anticipation Day came to be in the first place. The setting takes place in the Rose Garden as the President is signing a bill to make an annual simulation for every American citizen law. It also goes through details of Anticipation Day and the significant changes expected to take place in American society as a result of this new legislation.
Prologue 3 - The Decision
While this chapter is short, I wanted it to be a happy ending to Joshua's character. All the blood, sweat and tears he and his team had put in over the past several years had finally paid off with the passage of this bill. I thought it would be a nice way to end Joshua's story before the story moves on to other characters.
Prologue 2: The Testimony
The second chapter of the prologue focuses on Dr. Joshua Lee's testimony to a Senate subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Lee takes the subcommittee through the results of the task force and the results of their simulations. As part of this testimony, Dr. Lee asks the Senators to close their eyes and imagine a world of their choosing as a way to convince them that these simulations are a good idea for the American public. I wanted this chapter to emphasize how important this was to Dr. Lee and how passionate he was about his project many years in the making.
Prologue 1 - The Sleepless Night
The opening of the prologue focuses on characters that are involved in the creation of the Anticipation Day simulation program. This chapter focuses on Dr. Joshua Lee and his colleague, Dr Neil Jergenson, who are both in Washington DC to present to a Senate committee on Artificial Intelligence to summarize the results of their research into a new simulation that would be provided to every American citizen. The technology has been several years in the making and there is no guarantee the Senate committee will move this program forward. Dr. Lee is understandably nervous. This chapter works through the history of his relationship with Dr. Jergenson and the development of this program.
