Starchild Series

The Starchild Book Series by Vacen Taylor

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Lights, camera, action!

March 16, 2013 by Vacen Taylor

It’s the time when a book slips out of the author’s hands and stands alone in the light. The author is nervous but excited for the big reveal. An anxious wait draws out the whole process as an author waits for the first review to be posted.

This month it was my time to experience the emotions associated with the release of my first children’s book. In the early stages of development I wanted the whole series to be a quick read for the more experienced readers, but an achievable read for children who were beginning to experiment with new genres and expanding their reading challenges. The first review posted strengthened my belief that I had accomplished my goal. You can read the review here.

Starchild: The Age of Akra is a unique story created from a few simple questions.  What if the nations were divided not just by race but by a unique power? What if a group of children were brought together by a prophecy? What if the underworld craved the collective powers of the nations? This is how four children came together and became linked to the events that lie ahead. The struggle to bring peace to the world of powerful energies lies in their hands.

The Starchild blurb

When Mai is chosen to take a pilgrimage to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts to train with the oldest and wisest master of their people, an ancient prophecy is set in motion. The events to come have been predicted but are not unchangeable. When the Starchild returns to the planet Sage, the foreknowledge of the prophecy begins to gain strength.

Four children come together and become linked to the events that lie ahead. In The Age of Akra, the first stage of their journey has them facing the deadly spiderflax, only then to be confronted by a creature of the underworld, an evil Dementra called Amual.

The struggle to bring peace to the world of powerful energies lies in the hands of these four children and a strange little lizard. And it will not come easy. This journey is only the beginning.

Starchild is available in paperback or ebook on Amazon, Barns & Noble, iTunes, Kindle and Kobo HERE!

StarchildCover

Filed Under: News

Energy

March 6, 2013 by Vacen Taylor

Energy can come in many different forms. Kinetic energy, potential energy and radiant energy are just three forms of energy. But there are many more forms of energy.  Sound is a form of energy.  Heat is also a form of energy. In astronomy there is a hypothetical form of energy called dark energy.

But what about humans? Do we produce energy?  Well, our bodies are huge masses of atoms and that means we can generate electricity. Electricity is important to our survival.  Except the electrons in our body don’t flow along a wire; instead, an electrical charge jumps from one cell to the next.  Almost all of the cells in our body are capable of generating electricity.

What would it be like if we lived in a world divided by powerful energies?

Image if you could read the minds of others. Or perhaps have the power to see where another person has been and what they have done? What would it be like to have the power to connect to the earth itself? What if you could produce, control or manipulate fire, water or the earth? What would you do with this kind of energy, with this kind of power?

On a world like the planet Sage energy is everywhere.

 StarchildCover

Next time I’ll be talking about FRIENDSHIP!

Filed Under: News

Booking a place as top author

February 19, 2013 by Vacen Taylor

Booking a place as a top author is wonderful idea indeed but there are a lot of elements that go into producing a good book, and not all of them are to do with the author. There are many people who help an author along the way to produce something wonderful for readers.

A good editor challenges an author to bring more to the story. A great publisher teams an illustrator with a writer to create a great book cover.  A fantastic publisher takes a chance on a story, believes in the author and does everything to produce an awesome product for their readers.

As an author it’s a  joy to receive such wonderful support from a great media establishment. So thank you to the  Gold Coast Bulletin for highlighting Starchild Book One: The Age of Akra. 🙂

 

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Filed Under: Announcements, News Tagged With: articals, Children's Books, media

Character

February 4, 2013 by Vacen Taylor

What is a character? If you look up the dictionary you’ll find the word “Character” has a few context or general meanings.

I could be talking about a few different things here. I could be asking about what an author decides to give the people and places in their story, things like, traits, defects, or personal qualities. Then again, I could be talking about what a character is exactly.  A person, people or animals that are featured in books, comics, web series, films or plays.

Well today, I’m talking about both of the above. Firstly, let me introduce some of the characters in Starchild. Right throughout the Starchild series you will meet both major and minor characters. The major characters are Mai, Akra, Long, Sahib and Barka, the little lizard. Though, in book one Barka only has a minor role, but I can assure you the little lizard will become quite the character as the series continues. Another minor character would be Caylee.  Each of these characters have been given character.  What I mean is they will be given qualities or features that provide them with individual differences from each other.  Just like your friends are different from you in some ways. This is what makes people interesting, fun to be around, or not so fun to be around.

StarchildCover

 

I like to give my characters, the people and animals, a talent and I like them to have a best friend and a worst enemy. By doing this I then have to give them qualities or features they must use to have the ability cope in different situations.  Some characters will need to have strong character traits. He or she might need to be courageous when in a dangerous situation. Another character might have to be very kind and caring in situations of need. This is what is sometimes called fleshing out the character.

There are also other things that bring a character to life. Things they own. The little things people carry in their pockets are important. You can tell a lot about a person by the things they carry in their pockets or bags.  To compliment this I give my characters different actions or ways they go about things. This keeps the characters individual from each other. I’ve done this by bringing them together from different nations or places.  Different countries have different cultural behaviours and customs. This gives them individuality and a sense of realism.

I also like to include the loss of something because finding the lost item or thing is a source of motivation. In Starchild, Akra has lost his memory and getting it back will be a long process.

I hope this has helped you understand a little bit about “Character”

Next time I’ll be talking about ENERGY!  A world full of powerful energies!

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Adventure, Character, Children's Books, Fantasy

Starchild Blurb

January 26, 2013 by Vacen Taylor

When Mai is chosen to take a pilgrimage to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts to train with the oldest and wisest master of their people, an ancient prophecy is set in motion. The events to come have been predicted but are not unchangeable. When the Starchild returns to the planet Sage, the foreknowledge of the prophecy begins to gain strength.

Four children come together and become linked to the events that lie ahead. In The Age of Akra, the first stage of their journey has them facing the deadly spiderflax, only then to be confronted by a creature of the underworld, an evil Dementra called Amual.

The struggle to bring peace to the world of powerful energies lies in the hands of these four children and a strange little lizard. And it will not come easy. This journey is only the beginning.

 

 

Filed Under: News

Art Splash Creations

January 13, 2013 by Vacen Taylor

Work by Hayden from the Gold Coast
Painting by Monique from the Gold Coast
Painting by Shannon from the Gold Coast
Painting by Hayden from the Gold Coast
Painting by Monique from the Gold Coast

Filed Under: Creative Winners

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