I Am Q

Seeking Human Connections

In a world deeply influenced by technology, how do you define human progress?

I Am Q - Marble Composition Notebook

The Story

Seeking Human Connections

These were the words inscribed on a business card left for Sam Noble at a dimly lit bar in Manhattan.

There was nothing extraordinary about the life of Sam Noble. As a freelance content writer for commercial products and a mediocre standup comedian, Sam succumbed to a life of complacency. That is, until he met Q, a complex woman in her twenties suffering from an acute bone-marrow disease.  Living an unorthodox lifestyle under the protective wings of her parents, a series of fateful events immerses Q into Sam’s life. After accepting a lucrative business proposal from a high-tech global enterprise, Sam is tasked with the abstract goal of teaching Q about the human connection.

During intimate lessons with Q, ancient ruins of Sam’s own past become unearthed, unraveling a stream of consciousness dialogue reflecting on the influence of technology in our lives. Starting somewhere before the modem and ending around selfie-sticks, Sam’s lessons shed light on the subtle advancements of technology, demanding his astute pupil to question progress. But never did he imagine how far these lessons would take them — from discovering unknown truths about his own identity, to confronting greater forces of progress in acts of martyrdom.

Sample Chapter

As I waited on the subway platform, I couldn’t recall the last time I had been part of the urban current. Part of the commute. It was definitely the first time I would be surfacing so close to the financial district. Needless to say, there was nothing Wall Street about me. I carried a goddamn flip phone. 

I emerged from the Fulton Street station and instantly felt energized. Yellow taxis streaked by and steam rose from tall orange cylindrical cones like some elementary-school science experiment. I smelled exhaust with a hint of bacon and eggs. As I was nudged on all sides, I realized this was not the time nor place to soak it all in. 

The lobby of One World Trade must have been at least 100 feet high. I arrived on the wrong side of the building, and was directed to the security area on the north side. The last time I rode elevators on a daily basis was carrying packages from the mailroom. I shot up towards the sky lobby in less than five seconds like some scene from the Jetsons.

My nameless escort chauffeured me directly to Q’s office. While I waited, I pulled out a marble composition notebook from my worn, beige Jansport. I couldn’t help feeling like some overpriced tutor. In an attempt to actually earn my paycheck, I had made some broad-stroke notes the day before. I could feel my palms sweating, hoping that I wouldn’t start talking about my mother or something like that. I wiped them on my denims as Q entered the room.

  • "Extremely relevant and full of mystery."

    @evanlh - hacker & ex-bloomberg

  • "Compelling in unexpected ways. I can't stop reading."

    @mickelleweber - Founder House of Peregrine

  • "Pushes the boundaries of storytelling."

    @paolodenese - Founder of Storya

  • "A compelling read for the anxious times we live in - filled with big questions about what it means to be human in a world obsessed with technological mediation."

    @verakachouh - writer & author of How to Heal from Heartbreak (Penguin House)

  • "Super entertaining and thought-provoking. It's like Dan Brown for Gen.-X meet Gen.-Z."

    @loictallon - Cultural Technologist for The Met & McKinsey

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  • "Cultivating human connections has been the most important aspect of my life. I'm so grateful for this opportunity to share my story."

    @iamq - content creator & investor