Thrift’s love of writing was inspired by his grandmother, Joanne Thrift, a longtime journalist at the Anderson Independent-Mail. He gained an interest in science fiction from his father, a book lover who taught Thrift about space and introduced him to Star Trek.

“When I set out to write ‘The Civilization Loop,’ I wanted to write a story I knew my dad would love that captured the essence of the things he taught me when I was younger,” Thrift said. “The stories themselves are not about science fiction, but who we are as people, the choices we make, our character, and what we believe in. I believe in my family, my grandmother, God, and especially my dad for always showing me that there’s more to this world than what you see in front of you.”

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