The Fallen Stars (A Star Child Novel)

by Stephanie Keyes

  “Cali’s sister. She lives somewhere in Connecticut.”

  “Road trip!” Gabe waved his arms in the air, clenching his fists with the second and fifth fingers extended in a rock on! gesture.

  “I missed you, man,” I said, my voice serious. I’d been totally at a loss when I’d thought he’d died. I couldn’t even think about it. Now, with him here, I appreciated how big the void would have been to fill. Holding out my hand, I waited. “Give me the car keys. I’ll find Rowan on GPS.”

  Gabe’s eyes widened. “Dude, I totaled the car.”

  My face fell as I remembered. Pressing the heels of my hands against my eye sockets, I tried to block out the annoyance of yet another delay. How were we going to find Rowan?

  “K, your shirt, it’s…um…well…it’s glowing.”

  A pale light emanated from my shirt pocket. Danu’s amulet, which I’d all but forgotten about, warmed my chest. My fingers reached into the pocket and locked around the amulet. I pulled it out to examine it in the light of day.

  “Dude, what the holy freaking heck is that?” Gabe’s mouth seemed to be permanently forced open, as though a small stick had been placed to keep his mouth agape.

  “There’s a lot I need to tell you.”

  Gabe nodded. “There’s stuff I need to tell you, too.”

  “Okay, let me go first, because you are going to really freak out about this, but I think I can get us to Connecticut without a car,” I said.

  A wicked smile lit Gabe’s face. “So can I.”

  The amulet burned in the palm of my hand as I stared hard at my friend. Whatever he had to tell me, he would tell me in his own time. The most important thing was that I had to get Cali back. Then we would go and find my father, wherever he was.

  This wasn’t done yet. I could feel it in my gut. Not by a long shot. I only hoped that when it was over, I would have Cali by my side and we would be the ones still standing.

  THE MUSIC

  If you had the chance to read the first book in this series, The Star Child, you’ll know that music plays an incredibly important role in character development for me. I always write melodies for characters in my head and that helps me to get under their skin, so to speak. As with the first book, these are not meant to be major symphonic works, but instead provide insight into my creative process.

  Acknowledgements

  It's amazing, but one person normally sits down to write a book and then thirty people end up being part of the process. There have been so many kind and gracious folks involved that I can't thank everyone here, but I can try!

  First, I'd like to give my heartfelt thanks to David Amaditz, for reading my four hundred and twenty-eight page manuscript for The Fallen Stars, twice, without payment or whining. This book is a hundred times better because of all of the rewrites that you suggested.

  To my SCBWI writer's group, particularly, Pat, Dave, Melissa, Ellen, Joe, Deborah, and Joyce, thank you for encouraging me to "rip off the scab". I've grown as a writer because of you.

  Thanks to my colleagues at Love a Happy Ending.com, for their ongoing support and encouragement, particularly Linn B. Halton. Without you, I probably wouldn't have submitted anything for publication. You were so worth flying over an ocean to meet.

  My heartfelt gratitude goes to Najila Qamber for once again designing a dream of a cover! I didn't think you could top The Star Child cover and you did. You absolutely did.

  To Shilpa Mudiganti and Melissa Keir from Inkspell Publishing, thank you for taking a chance on me twice now, with Kellen St. James and his saga. I truly believe that you love The Star Child series as much as I do.

  For my family, especially my boys, for putting up with me. There aren't many people I'd ask to spend sixteen hours in a mini-van to go on a research trip to Maine. You guys went, no questions asked. Even after I presented you all with manuscripts to proofread during the trip. For that you are awesome.

  And finally, to Aaron for being my best friend and my real-life hero.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she's still doing the same thing, except now she gets to share those ideas with readers!

  When she's not writing, Stephanie is also a graphic designer, international speaker, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she's best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.

  Mrs. Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University and a M.Ed. from Duquesne University. She is a member of the Society For Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as a featured author in the global group of writers, Love a Happy Ending.com.

  Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child (September 2012) and The Fallen Stars (April 2013), both released by Inkspell Publishing. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy, The Star Catcher.

  Website: http://www.stephaniekeyes.com

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  THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO BE CLOAKED IN DARKNESS. ONLY ONE CAN STOP THE NIGHT.

  FINDING A NEW HOME HAS NEVER BEEN SO DANGEROUS.

  ANCIENT HISTORY WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.