Mark Frascinella

a.k.a. Mark Fraz (Spelling my real last name was a challenge in first grade)

I started the research into this novel somewhat serendipitously. I was originally looking into life extension techniques as a matter of curiosity. One aspect of research into the subject was the use of fetal components to cure disease and prolong a healthy life. That, in turn, gave me pause to think about what this kind of research would lead to – exploitation.

So, that warranted answering a fundamental question; “When is a fetal life a protected human life?” I decided to read up on Supreme Court decisions. Surely, they would have a clear cut scientific analysis to justify any decisions they made on unprotected fetal life.

OK. You guessed it. They haven’t bothered to answer that question. The claim was that there was no ‘Bright Line’ test at any point in fetal development to yield an answer. All the arguments were based on prevailing social considerations and constitutional rights of the female.

As an engineer with an open analytical mind, I felt smart enough to find the ‘Bright Line’ point that they missed. The research took many months, but it was as enlightening as it was frustrating to find that protected humanity point.

It turned out to be a fool's errand - there is no ‘Bright Line’ point. It’s like trying to find a ‘Bright Line’ point in the development of an infant when they suddenly become a child instead of a baby.

Now, where did that leave me? Well, not as smart as I thought I was, but with a wealth of knowledge about what’s going on inside the uterus. I couldn't ignore the biology of it all, and be satisfied with following politically correct dogma. To showcase that unborn human life, I needed to invent a story to reveal that fetal life outside the womb in a convincing manner.

The solution was entertainment. This novel is not a heavy handed dogma - that would get stale really quick. It is plot driven - no contrivances. I populated the story with everyday characters sorting their way through conflicting situations and beliefs. After a while the characters came alive for me in really funny ways, and some, kinda, took on a spiritual bent.

And, no one wants to read a bunch of facts and figures. The AMNION story and its sequel is an outgrowth of avoiding that approach. It's set in the future world, where achieving a prolonged healthy life comes at the expense of pillaging the defenseless. It’s about a few everyday people who share a common goal that leads to danger, love, humor, tragedy, and ultimately to redemption.

Knowing how controversial this novel will be, hostile readers with want to nit-pick the story to death. So, I paid meticulous care with the legal and technical aspects. I hope this isn't a turn off to my readers. Instead my hope is that your journey is as entertaining as it is educational - even if you're on the fence about the fetal life issue.

Perhaps this struggle from the viewpoint of one little female fetus can open your mind to other possibilities.