Hello everyone! I am so honored to be able to give back to “Enchanted Book Promotions,” the book tour group that sponsored and set-up my “New Beginnings,” blog tour last year, but by being a tour host for them now! ^_^ And what an amazing way to start this journey! As you know, I have always had a connection to the stars, between my love of the night sky and obsession to my first anime/manga, Cardcaptor Sakura, and my beloved Sailor Moon. In fact, many of you know this simply by the fact that the main character in my book series, “Spirit Vision,” is named Stary Moon. Conscience? I think not!
Today, I have a treat for all my star-gazers and dreamers: a guest post and excerpt from Mr. Reuben Miles’ work: “The Boy Who Spoke to Stars.” In this guest post, he explains to us how stars influenced not only his YA book, but his life. Take it away, sir!
P.S. His last name is my brother’s first name: it’s fate! =D
How Stars Influenced my Life and Their Roles in the Story:
There’s this place I like to go with my closest friends. It’s miles away from any town or city, where the air is fresh and the night sky is the deepest, darkest black. I’ve been going there since I was a little kid. We wait for the sun to go down and build up a fire, and just sit and gaze on the stars. Even from a young age I was staggered by the enormity of it. Impossible distances. Impossible possibilities floating above my head. We would make up stories about all the things that might be happening.
My favourite thing about science is how freely it admits to not knowing everything. I’ve always been suspicious of anything that claims to know the absolute truth. There is still so much we don’t understand about the universe, about galaxies, about stars. Why pretend we have all the answers? If we had all the answers, we’d just stop asking questions. Imagine how boring that would be. Some people say ignorance is dangerous because it’s a fertile ground for mistakes to grow in. I think that depends entirely on what you plant in the soil.
In The Boy Who Spoke to Stars I try to fill some gaps in our current knowledge with imagination. That’s where I think the best stories come from – they attempt to explain things we don’t yet fully understand. We learn a little bit about what stars are in Kasper’s world, but there’s much more to say as the story unfolds. There’s a quote from one of my favourite authors, Paolo Coelho that puts it better than I ever could:
‘Forget everything you’ve ever learned about the stars and they’ll once more be transformed into angels, or into children, or into whatever you want to believe at that moment. It won’t make you more stupid – after all, it’s only a game.’
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Excerpt from “The Boy Who Spoke to Stars.”
It felt like a good dream turning sour. Kasper stood in the field at the back of Malt Wood, blinking. Something wasn’t right. The grass was knee-high, and motes of pollen spun in the evening light. Pine and larch edged the meadow along the north side. Their roots and trunks were blue with shade. The low sun cast a long shadow off a distant sycamore, its boughs groaning like cellos as they swung in the breeze, calling sorry warnings.
… And a gloom roamed underneath the larches, drumming on a carpet of dead pine needles.
Thud, thud, thud.
Soft.
Dangerous.
Like a tiger’s purr.
And Kasper knew it wanted him. The darkness wanted him. It always did.
About the Book:
Title: The Boy Who Spoke to Stars
Author: Reuben Miles
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Book 1 of The Astral Strings Series
Secrets. Forgiveness. Death.
Nothing has been right in Kasper’s life for quite some time. Then the eclipse comes, and his father is stolen away. When the police arrive, instead of trying to help, they drag off his mother too. Down at the station later, the desk sergeant claims to know nothing about Kasper’s mum, and insists that the detective who arrested her doesn’t exist.
Loki, Kasper’s cousin, is the only one who really understands him. Her parents promise to keep him safe until his mum and dad return, but soon they are gone as well. There’s no-one for Kasper and Loki to turn to – except Tenrō, a dangerous older boy who knows more than he should, and claims to be a star…
As they set off into the night, they have no way of knowing what they will have to face. The secrets they are about to uncover will change their lives. Their actions will seal the fates of every living thing in the universe.
Somewhere in the dark, the truth is waiting. And the stars are watching.
About the Author:
Reuben Miles grew up in London until his parents decided that they needed fresher air. They bundled themselves up and drove to Devon, which is in the South West of UK. He spent the rest of his childhood climbing trees and telling stories and writing music in a tumbledown cottage with friends.
Reuben studied Artificial Intelligence and Psychology in Bristol, followed by a degree in Music and Engineering. In 2008 he moved to Brighton to play in a band. When it became clear that no one really wanted to listen to their music, he started working for Children’s Centres and writing stories instead.
Reuben is a dog person. He thinks that if you prefer cats there is probably something very wrong with you. Possibly the cat has brainwashed you, in which case it’s not really your fault, but you should seek help all the same.
Links:
Ghostwood Books: http://gwdbooks.com/books/the-boy-who-spoke-to-stars/
Reuben Miles’ website: http://www.reubenmiles.com/
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