Yup, you've read that right! My name will appear in an upcoming Star Trek book.
What happened was that, a few days back, a particular phrase appeared in my head. So, that phrase ended up as a quote in this blog. “Above all else, Gary, a god must have compassion!”. I was quite desperate to track down where I have heard/read this phrase before and I began to think of it.
About half an hour later, I thought, “Strangers From the Sky” and Elizabeth Dehner. I began searching the Internet for the phrase “Strangers From the Sky” and Elizabeth Dehner, and I came to this website of writer Margaret Wander Bonanno.
I read her brief story about why she didn't write Probe, though it carried her name. She also gave a detailed explanation of the story on the Authors Guild. And after finishing it, I wanted to download a copy of the original Probe story, named, “Music of the Sphere”. So, I wrote to her and asked for her permission. I must have phrased myself wrongly, because she wrote back saying I couldn't, and instead, I should link to her website. And a few minutes later, she sent me another email asking for permission to use my name in her upcoming story about Captain Pike.
I replied, thanking her, and at the same time, also explained the meaning of my name, and how she could use it.
And that, boys and girls, is the story of how and why a crewman with my name will appear in a story about Captain Christopher Pike, the first Captain of the Starship Enterprise, written by Margaret Bonanno.