Step inside The Commons, where every big question leads to an epic adventure.
Book one · out
Paperback and ebook.About the book
Adventure Query · Book one
Eleven-year-old inventor Elijah is sure of two things: his automated snack-delivery drones are going to be epic, and the universe is just a giant machine perfectly explained by science—no Creator required.
But when Elijah and his friends stumble across a mysterious teal shipping container in the middle of an old orchard, they are swept into a journey that challenges everything they thought they knew.
Accompanied by an eccentric archaeologist and her robotic assistant, Apollo, the children are transported into a clockwork universe in need of repair, and the only way out is through.
Trapped in a dangerous cosmic maze of towering brass gears and glowing data streams, the crew must race to the engine's core to find their way home. With decaying sectors collapsing around them and a towering, spark-spitting Clockwork Monster blocking their path, Elijah is about to find out that surviving will take more than just scientific theory.
Three friends, one archaeologist, and one very polite robot. Pick a name and Apollo pulls up the file.
The Master Tinkerer / Inventor
If it has gears, wires, or a power source, Elijah can figure out how it works—or how to build something even better. With his dark curly hair and a trusty pocket screwdriver always in hand, Elijah fearlessly jumps into every new idea at full speed without bothering to think everything through.
“I’m an inventor, not a dreamer.”
The Note-Taker & Project Manager
Quick-thinking and deeply observant, Jada is the one who keeps the team moving when a discovery turns dangerous. She spots the crucial details that others overlook and never backs down when the crew is backed into a corner.
“You can’t go through life being scared of everything.”
The Cautious Best Friend
Small and short for his age, Benny is Elijah's fiercely loyal, albeit highly anxious, best friend. Benny can usually think of a dozen ways an idea could go wrong before they even step out the door.
“Oh, sweet, beautiful, solid ground. You have no idea how much I missed you.”
Lead Restorative Archaeologist and Ancient Historian
Dr. Charlotte Anne Maddox works out of a teal shipping container in an old orchard, surrounded by stone tools, parchment, and holograms. She doesn’t hand out answers. She hands out amber glasses and lets the kids test their own ideas.
“Getting to the truth isn’t a race—it’s a journey.”
Personal Robotic Assistant
A floating metal sphere with one glowing face screen that changes color with his mood (he’d say he doesn’t have moods). He runs customer-satisfaction surveys and fills them in himself.
“Would you like me to provide you with a bowl of rice?”
Out November 17, 2026, in print and ebook. Store links show up here as each one goes live.
Things to do between chapters, for readers and the grown-ups reading along.
Seven quick questions. Apollo runs the numbers and tells you who you’d be on the trip.
A few spoiler-free questions about the Adventure Query, for the dinner table or the classroom.
New games and activities go up as they’re ready. Each one gets the author’s sign-off first.
The author
Get a note when the book is out, when Book 2 gets a title, and when new activities go up. That’s all we’ll send.
Oakwood Park is maintained by the Global Heritage Foundation.Apollo is on standby. Type his name, or .
