M.E. Wright's Blog, page 4

2040 Tech

As a kid, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what tech would look like in the future. Star Trek gave us a few clues: tablets, 3D chess, communicators (aka cell phones), and computers that could talk to us!

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what Allison’s world will look like. I’m not one of the writers who says ‘of course we’ll have 200,000 people living on Mars and trips to the Moon will be as commonplace as vacations to Europe!’ Nope. I am one of those strange people who use today’s world as a jumping off point for tomorrow’s dystopian adventure.

So, here’s a bit of my brainstorming:

Available in the near future (Within 1–2 Years):

These should be normal in a luxury home by 2025, let alone 2030:

Smart lighting systems (like Lutron or Philips Hue): programmable circadian rhythm lighting, voice/gesture-controlled dimming, geofencing.

Heated flooring with room-by-room zone control.

Smart mirrors that display time, weather, and biometric info (like CareOS).

Voice assistants integrated with every system (climate, security, appliances) — think Alexa/Google/Siri but deeply embedded.

Glass that tints automatically based on sun exposure (SageGlass, View Inc.).

High-level biometric security (fingerprint, retina, facial recognition) for entrances, closets, and safes.

Emerging Tech (Likely Widespread by 2030):

These would be available to people with money by 2028–2030:

AI-powered environmental controls that auto-adjust lighting, temperature, and audio based on biometric feedback (like pupil dilation, skin temp).

Security systems that track emotional states via thermal imaging or micro-expressions (think elite border patrol tech rebranded for home “wellness”).

Digital privacy rooms: a physical space shielded from all smart tech, used for calls or meditation (luxury developers are already selling this concept).

Emerging Tech (Likely Widespread by 2040):

Augmented-reality glass or wall panels that display personalized data (without requiring external devices).

Flexible AR bands: given current trends in wearable tech, AR/MR development, and miniaturization, this is definitely something that will evolve (Meta’s Neural Wristband, Snap Spectacles, OpenBCI Galea, Mojo Vision).

The Elevated Transit System (ETS): By 2040, Manhattan’s crumbling infrastructure, rising seas, and vertical living have forced transit into elevated, sealed tubes—suspended between skeletal towers—where mobility, power, and control now move through the sky instead of the streets.

There’s more in my dystopian brain but these are the small pieces that you see in A Ward of the State. Hopefully, those tech bros will lean in and get it all done ahead of schedule. I want my smartwall, dang it!

The Unborn Child Protection Act Companion Site is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Meet Maria

Maria is more than just a housekeeper—she is a constant, grounding presence in Allison’s world. She isn’t family, but she knows Allison better than most. She is always there in the background, quietly making sure everything runs smoothly, whether that means setting out perfectly arranged breakfast spreads or anticipating what Allison needs before she even asks​.

She is warm but reserved, never overstepping, always careful not to intrude. She knows when to speak and when to simply offer comfort through small gestures—a fresh glass of juice, a favorite meal prepared just right, or a plate of homemade Flammkuchen after a long day​.

Subscribe now

Maria’s appearance is always polished, her apron crisp, her movements precise but never rushed. She is graceful in her efficiency, ensuring that the home runs seamlessly while remaining invisible when necessary​. She has a habit of clearing plates quietly, lowering her gaze as if she knows when conversations are too delicate to interrupt​.

Maria isn’t just performing a job—she is a caretaker, a quiet witness to Allison’s life, someone who remembers the little things that others overlook. When Allison returns from Germany, it’s Maria’s presence, not the luxury of the penthouse, that makes the space feel somewhat familiar. She notices the small details—how Allison’s appetite shifts with her emotions, how certain foods bring her comfort​.

Though she rarely shares much about herself, Maria’s actions speak louder than words. She offers Allison food when she’s too overwhelmed to ask, she keeps the home in order even when everything else feels unstable, and she never pushes, only offers. She is a reminder that, no matter how much Allison’s world shifts, someone is always looking out for her​.

Meet Mr. Brice

Mr. Brice is the headmaster of Vanguard Preparatory Academy, a man who embodies rigid authority, academic elitism, and quiet condescension. He is tall and thin, with short, neatly combed graying hair, always dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. His glasses sit perfectly on his nose, and his expressions are measured, never warm, always carrying a hint of disapproval.

Every word he speaks is precise, deliberate, and coated in quiet superiority. He doesn’t raise his voice or show emotion—his power lies in his ability to dismiss, deflect, and control. When Allison arrives at Vanguard, he barely skims her records, assuming she is an under-performing student because her grades don’t match the U.S. system. Instead of investigating, he places her in remedial classes without question​.

Subscribe now

Only when Allison’s father confronts him does Brice acknowledge the mistake. Even then, he never admits fault—he simply agrees to “review” the situation while making it clear that he resents being challenged​.

Brice expects absolute compliance from students, parents to defer to his expertise, and faculty to uphold the school’s strict standards. When speaking to Allison, his thin politeness barely hides his belief that she is an inconvenience. Even as he concedes to her parents’ demands, he exerts control by instructing her to wait outside, reducing her to a problem to be managed​.

Brice isn’t openly cruel—he doesn’t need to be. He is the system. The gatekeeper of Vanguard, ensuring that those who don’t fit the mold are either reshaped—or erase.

Interested in joining my Street Team?

I’ve been waiting a long time to show you this—and it was worth every second. The official cover for A Ward of the State is here, and I couldn’t be more in love with it. At the top, you have the deep red from The Fatherhood Mandate. At the bottom, the deep blue from The Motherhood Mandate. The colors merge in the middle to create a purplish pink for Allison in A Ward of the State.

What do you think?

The Countdown Is On

There are just 59 days until A Ward of the State launches, and there’s so much to share between now and then. If you want exclusive sneak peeks, deleted scenes, and content I created while writing the series (yes, including recipes and cut scenes!)—The Unborn Child Protection Act Companion Site is the place to be.

📝 Free for everyone:

Deleted scenes

Bonus worldbuilding and character notes

Recipes and behind-the-scenes reflections

🔥 For Paid Subscribers:

Exclusive short stories

Early access to documents created while I wrote the series

Deeper insights into A Ward of the State

Street Team members will receive expanded access to paid Substack content during launch month as a thank you for helping me spread the word.

Want to join the Street Team?

It’s easy—just comment "I'M IN" on the Instagram post, and I’ll add you to the team.

Thank you for being here—and for being part of this powerful story.

orderofthebookish A post shared by @orderofthebookish

Meet Omega

Omega is more than just a bodyguard—she is a constant presence in Allison’s life, the silent protector in the background, always watching, always ready. She carries herself with rigid discipline, her every move measured and deliberate. She is not just assigned to protect Allison—she takes her job seriously, with a no-nonsense efficiency that leaves no room for error.

She is tall and powerfully built, with short silver hair and an unreadable expression that rarely changes. Her black tailored suit is always immaculate, and she wears mirrored sunglasses that give nothing away​.

Whether she’s standing still or in motion, there is a precision to her presence, as if she’s always aware of every detail in her surroundings. She is not easily rattled—even in moments of crisis, she remains calm, collected, and completely in control.

Subscribe now

Omega is a former military or high-level security operative, though she doesn’t talk about her past. Her expertise is evident in how she scans a room before allowing Allison to enter, how she always positions herself near exits, and how she subtly directs movement in dangerous situations​. She has a keen ability to assess threats quickly and acts without hesitation when danger arises.

Despite her cold exterior, there is a level of care in how she protects Allison. She does not coddle her, but she is firmly in her corner, offering quiet reassurances when needed. When Allison is shaken after witnessing a mugging, Omega does not offer empty comfort—she simply says, “Because some people take what they can get. You’re safe now.” It is a blunt truth, but one that comes with the certainty that Omega will not let anything happen to her on her watch​.

She is deeply professional, treating her job with the same precision as a soldier on a mission. Yet, in small moments, there are glimpses of something almost human beneath the surface. She waits until Allison is safely inside before she leaves, she adjusts security settings with methodical care, and when Allison’s mother tells her to stay, she does—without question​.

Omega’s presence is both reassuring and unnerving. She is a protector, but she is also a reminder—of the dangers Allison faces, of the fact that someone is always watching, and of the world’s sharp edges just beyond the polished, perfect surfaces of her life.

She is not just a bodyguard. She is a fortress, a shield, and the line between Allison and whatever threat lurks in the shadows. And she does not fail.

Whose Embryo Is It Anyway?

When I saw the headline, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me: Paying child support for unborn children could become a reality with new law in Kansas.

Lawmakers are carving new paths through the legal system that stretch the definition of parenthood—and personhood—before a baby is even born.

Kansas House Bill 2062 is a quietly explosive piece of legislation that says men should be financially responsible for unborn children. Not someday. Not after birth. From conception.

And just to sweeten the deal: if you’re expecting, you might be able to claim your fetus as a tax exemption.

Seriously. Did we collectively wake up in a parallel universe? Or, did someone in Kansas read The Fatherhood Mandate and decide to implement parts of it?

Let’s break it down. HB 2062 does two big things. First, it says a pregnant person can seek child support for pregnancy-related medical expenses—starting from the moment of conception. Second, it lets you claim an unborn child as a dependent on your taxes. That’s a $2,320 exemption for the 2025 tax year.

This isn’t about helping families—it’s about control. It’s about pushing fetal personhood into the law by way of tax forms and child support orders. And once fetal personhood is recognized for one thing, it tends to sneak into everything else.

Supporters of the bill say it’s about fairness—that dads should step up and share the costs of pregnancy. And on the surface, sure. No one’s arguing that pregnancy isn’t expensive. But Kansas law already lets courts consider pregnancy-related costs in support cases. This isn’t new help. It’s a new precedent.

Because once a fetus is a “person” in one context, it opens the door for all kinds of legal interpretations. Miscarriages become potential crime scenes. Medical decisions get second-guessed by lawmakers. And suddenly, being pregnant means being watched.

And the bill doesn’t explain what happens when things don’t go according to plan. What if there’s a stillbirth? A miscarriage? What if the father isn’t actually the father? Establishing paternity before birth is murky at best, and federal rules don’t allow it—so Kansas would be footing the bill for the extra testing and casework. (Which the state’s own fiscal analysis admits.)

Add it all up, and what you get isn’t support. It’s surveillance. It’s symbolism. It’s a message, loud and clear: pregnancy isn’t just yours anymore. It’s the state’s business. It’s the court’s business. It’s the tax department’s business.

And if this passes, other states won’t be far behind.

This isn’t fiction anymore. This is the slow bleed into the world of The Unborn Child Protection Act—where surveillance, suspicion, and suppression are the rule, not the exception.

A Ward of the State

Allison Maxwell has spent the last two years in Hamburg with her father, growing up in a world that values intellect and independence. But when tensions in Europe escalate, she’s forced to leave her life behind and return to Manhattan—only to find that home is no longer the place she once knew.

Enrolled at Vanguard Preparatory Academy, an elite school reserved for the children of the wealthy and powerful, Allison quickly realizes the curriculum is designed not to educate but to control. Boys are trained to lead; girls are conditioned to submit. The future laid out for her is suffocating, with a rigid structure of expectation where compliance is mandatory and questioning the system is dangerous.

As she struggles against the academy’s restrictive rules, Allison befriends Michelle, a sharp-witted student who challenges her to look beyond the veneer of perfection that Vanguard projects. Through their growing friendship, Allison begins to uncover the hidden mechanisms of power that keep women like them in place—not just at school, but in the very structure of society.

When unsettling family secrets come to light, revealing the stark reality of her mother’s past and the deep roots of control within her family, Allison is forced to confront an impossible truth: the system isn’t broken—it’s designed to function exactly as intended. And her place within it has already been decided for her.

But Allison isn’t ready to accept her fate. As she pushes back against the rules dictating her future, she finds herself at odds with not just the school, but her own powerful family. With the weight of generations pressing down on her, she must make an impossible choice: comply and preserve her status, or risk everything to carve out a future of her own.

Set in 2042, A Ward of the State is a compelling story of resistance, resilience, and the quiet rebellion of a girl who refuses to be controlled.

Papers, Please!

We’re already seeing it: people pulled aside at checkpoints, bus stations, or airports—not for committing a crime, but for how they look, how they sound, or where they’re perceived to be from. In other words: racial profiling.

And in this climate, not having proof of U.S. citizenship can put you at serious risk of being detained—even if you’re here legally.

There have been high-profile cases where people who are approved asylum seekers or permanent residency were wrongfully detained have been taken in for questioning. Most disappear into Immigration Detention Centers.

Read more

Meet Michelle

Michelle Bartoni is Allison’s first real friend at Vanguard, and unlike the other girls, she isn’t trying to fit the mold. She’s rebelling in every way she can without outright defying the rules, and she’s smart enough to know exactly how far she can push before crossing a line.

She has warm olive skin and wavy black hair, usually left loose or tied back in a low ponytail when she’s thinking. She favors dark colors, fitted jackets, and sturdy boots, and her black nail polish is always chipped, a small but deliberate rejection of the school’s perfectionism. Michelle wears her blazer open when she’s supposed to keep it buttoned and takes it off entirely during chess matches, even when the air conditioning is uncomfortably low. It’s not much, but it’s her way of saying, Vanguard doesn’t own me.

Subscribe now

Michelle and Allison click almost immediately, not because they come from the same background but because they both see through the surface-level perfection of Vanguard. Michelle quickly becomes more than just a friendly face—she’s the first person to show Allison that she isn’t alone in questioning the system.

Unlike Allison, who is still figuring out how far she can push, Michelle has already made up her mind—she’s not going to be molded into something she doesn’t want to be. She’s blunt, sometimes a little too direct, but never cruel. She pushes Allison, challenges her, encourages her to dig deeper, ask harder questions, and stop waiting for someone else to give her the answers.

But Michelle isn’t just rebelling for herself. She knows that her family’s background makes them a target. Being Roman Catholic in a school shaped by Christian Nationalist ideology puts them in an uneasy position. They’re tolerated, but not fully accepted. Michelle has seen how the system works—how it pressures people to conform, to erase parts of themselves in order to fit in. She understands that staying in line is a matter of survival. She’s smart enough to play along when necessary—but only just enough to avoid attention.

She doesn’t talk much about what it feels like to be on the outside, but Allison notices the way Michelle hesitates before speaking sometimes, self-conscious about her Italian accent. When she stumbles over a word, she covers it with a joke or a quick subject change, never giving anyone the chance to make it a problem. It’s a quiet thing, but Allison recognizes it—the unspoken effort of trying not to stand out in the wrong way.

Beneath her sarcasm and quiet defiance, there’s anger at the system that’s trying to control them. And when Allison begins to unravel the truth about her own situation, Michelle is right there beside her, ready to help her fight back.

She isn’t just a friend—she’s an ally, a strategist, and, when it comes down to it, the person Allison trusts most.

Meet Allison’s Friends from Manhattan

When Allison left Manhattan for Germany, she also left behind a group of friends who have grown, changed, and started to figure themselves out without her. Two years is a long time at their age, and though they were once inseparable, stepping back into their world isn’t as simple as picking up where they left off. They have new inside jokes, new routines, and new experiences that don’t include her—but beneath the surface, there’s still a connection.

Subscribe now

Victoria is still witty, sarcastic, and dramatic, but she’s learned when to pull back and when to go all in. Her dark skin and sharp ponytail give her a sleek, put-together look, but she’s still as expressive as ever—rolling her eyes, throwing up her hands, always moving. She’s started to understand that words have weight, and her teasing sometimes carries an edge that wasn’t there before. She’s growing into her confidence, and Allison isn’t sure if she’s being welcomed back or subtly put in her place.

Marjani has stepped fully into her own sense of style and confidence. She’s always liked standing out, but now she does it with purpose. Her deep brown skin, bold earrings, and patterned skirts make her look effortlessly cool, but she’s not just about the fashion—she’s also more sure of herself in other ways. She’s the one who still feels the most familiar, but Allison wonders if she’s just being polite, or if she truly missed her.

Annabelle has gotten even better at hiding what she’s thinking. She’s always been a little reserved, but now she rarely lets anything slip. Her platinum blonde hair is always perfect, her outfits carefully chosen, and she still never seems to be in a hurry for anything. She speaks with the same calm, measured tone, but Allison can’t tell if it’s because she doesn’t care or because she’s just gotten better at controlling the conversation.

Cecelia has started to care about the details—her light brown skin, chestnut waves, perfectly coordinated outfits always seem a little more put-together than before. She’s more aware of the social scene, of who’s sitting with who, of who’s in and who’s out. She’s still friendly, but there’s something more calculated in the way she moves through conversations now, as if she’s making sure she’s always in the right place at the right time. Allison isn’t sure if she’s happy to see her, or if she’s just figuring out where she fits into the new group dynamic.

Their friendship isn’t the same, but it’s not gone. It’s shifting, just like they are. They remember the old Allison, the girl who left. But does she still fit into who they are now?