If you love epic sci-fi books and are always looking for the next story to devour, I'm happy to introduce you to C.E. Stone, author of the Starganauts series! Get to know her and the world she's crafted for you to explore below!
What first drew you to writing sci-fi?
Legos and TV shows, of all things! I started out writing fantasy but I loved watching Star Trek, Star Wars, and playing sci-fi video games. I imagined Starganauts taking place in a galaxy, and created all of the stories over 7 years of Lego play. What drew me to writing them was telling my best friend, M.H. Elrich, about the stories and characters. She thought they sounded more awesome than my fantasy series, so that's how I started writing it all down. I fell backwards into sci-fi, so to speak. ;)
Have your stories always been faith-based or is that something that developed over time?
It definitely developed over time. My first stories were clean but secular because I was inspired by the Redwall series. When I was 15, I read a Christian fantasy book called Beyond the Summerland by L.B. Graham. That made me decide to incorporate more of my faith, but I was 17 before I sensed God calling me to write overtly Christian stories for Him. That resulted in my first Christian space opera story, The Sorcerer's Realm. Then, eventually, Starganauts.
If readers could only take one message away from the Starganauts series, what would you most want it to be?
That God walks with us even through our darkest days. He is in control, He has a plan, and we can trust Him when all hope seems lost. That's a theme that resonates throughout all of my stories, because I've lived it.
My husband's health began deteriorating for no reason just 4 years into our marriage. After 18 months, he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome. He lost his job and health. We lost our dreams of owning a home and starting a family. Before and after this, we've also experienced unemployment, loss of family, financial hardship, and other difficulties. Yet through it all, God has been with us and our source of strength.
That's the message I strive to pass along to the struggling Christian or the one who feels hopeless. In Jesus, we can always have hope no matter how bad things get.
Describe your book series in three words!
Faith, action, orbs.
Tell us a bit about what you’re currently working on.
I'm excited about this question! I'm currently working on two projects. I'm editing Starganauts: Book 4 for publication, with a planned release date early next fall. This story is going to be GREAT because it features the next generation of Starganauts facing new enemies, finding new worlds, and dealing with a new host of relatable issues and faith struggles. I'm sharing the title on January 2nd (aka sci-fi day), but it'll be epic!
The second project I'm working on is writing the next entry in the series, Book 5. I work best if I stay a book ahead of what I'm releasing, so I'm taking a longer gap between book launches to write this one. I can't say much about it, but I will tell you this. Book 5 is where we finally learn a LOT of things about the orbs, my galaxy, and who was behind the villain called the Voices in Book 1. I'm currently about 30% of the way through writing this one.
Where can readers connect with you online and find your books?
You can find my series at most major online retailers and through my website. To connect with me, you can find me on Instagram and on my website, and/or sign up for my author newsletter. :) I'm on Instagram most frequently, where I post once a week and interact. In my newsletter, I also share story excerpts, world-building, artwork, and life news.
Before you go...
1. Have you read Starganauts? Let me know what you loved about it in the comments! What other science fiction books have you enjoyed?
2. If you love whimsical, bookish treasures like faith-based fantasy stories, bookmarks, embroidery, and handmade wax seals, explore my online bookstore here!
