The Monster Lover: Can you tell us about the book?

Bryan Davis: Starlighter is a fantasy-world adventure. One hundred years before this story begins, a dragon from the dragon planet Starlight passed through a portal to the human world (called Major 4 by humans and Darksphere by dragons). He captured several human couples and took them back to Starlight where he enslaved them, forcing them to dig for pheterone, a gas the dragons needed to survive. After the humans procreated sufficiently, he killed those he kidnapped in order to erase the memory of a home world for the humans. One human escaped and returned to Major 4. He told the story of the kidnapped humans, but since he couldn’t reopne the portal, the authorities didn’t believe him and instead arrested him for the murder of the missing humans.

A few, however, believed his story, and the tale was passed on through the generations among the peasant community. Finally, after the hundred years passed, two teenagers, Jason and Elyssa, find the portal and travel to Starlight. Unfortunately, most of the slaves don’t even believe that they originated from another world. Jason and Elyssa meet Koren, the Starlighter, a slave girl with amazing powers who will try to help them find a way to liberate the slaves.

The Monster Lover: I love reading the book dedications. Starlighter is dedicated to
Amanda who gave you the idea for the story. What was the basis for this book?

Bryan Davis: I wanted to write a dragons story that was completely different from my previous ones, so I asked my children for help. Amanda, my 18-year-old daughter came up with the story concept. I expanded it quite a bit, but the basis of the story was her idea. I get many ideas from my kids. It’s great to have so many bubbling pots of imagination around.

The Monster Lover: We find out partway through the book what & who the Starlighter is. Without spoilers, can you tell us a bit about the powers of a
Starlighter? It is something one is born with but can they control
their powers and perfect them?

Bryan Davis: I am still discovering all the powers of a Starlighter. So far, I know that she is able to tell true stories about the past, even if she doesn’t know the facts. The knowledge comes to her as she speaks, and the characters and scenes involved appear around her, acting out the story. They are semi-transparent, like ghosts, and those who listen to the story become mesmerized as they watch the events unfold. She is able to speak with eloquence beyond her years and education, and she has further powers that I shouldn’t reveal yet. That would spoil it too much.

The Monster Lover: Starlighter is book #1 of the Dragons of Starlight 4 book series,
when you wrote Starlighter, did you have the 4 books all mapped out? Are you are planner OR do you let the story take control?

Bryan Davis: I don’t plan at all. I am definitely a seat-of-the-pants writer. I think it’s a lot of fun that way. I get to go on the adventure with my characters–feeling the danger, excitement, anticipation, and joy as they do. Sometimes it’s risky not knowing what’s going to happen, but if a story twist enthralls and surprises me, I hope it will have the same effect on the reader.

The Monster Lover: Can you tell us what we can next next from this series?

Bryan Davis: Since I don’t plan, it’s impossible for me to give you details beyond what I have written. Since I have finished book #2, I can tell you that Koren is going to go through a great deal of suffering because of her gifts and her passion to free her people from bondage. Jason is going to go through some serious testing to prove his worth. Elyssa and Wallace will be involved quite a bit, and Randall and Tibalt will have some adventures back in Mesolantrum. I think the second book builds the characters to a greater extent as they are tested beyond anything they thought they could endure.

Thanks for stopping by Bryan!

About the book:
What if the Legends Are True? Jason Masters doubted the myths that told of people taken through a portal to another realm and enslaved by dragons. But when he receives a cryptic message from his missing brother, he must uncover the truth and find the portal before it’s too late. At the same time, Koren, a slave in the dragons’ realm, discovers she has a gift that could either save or help doom her people. As Jason and Koren work to rescue the enslaved humans, a mystic prophecy surrounding a black egg may make all their efforts futile. In Starlighter, bestselling author Bryan Davis masterfully weaves fantasy and inspiration into a captivating novel for young adults.

About the author:
Bryan lives in Western Tennessee with his wife, Susie, and their children. Bryan and Susie have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.

Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.

Bryan is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.S. in Industrial Engineering). In high school, he was valedictorian of his class and won various academic awards. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and voted Most Likely to Succeed.

He continues to expand his writing education by teaching at relevant writing conferences and conventions. Although he is now a full time writer, Bryan was a computer professional for over 20 years.

For more information visit: www.dragonsinourmidst.com