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New Adult fiction • Light Sci-Fi / Romance • Word Count: 81,000
Pitch:
When aerial silk artist Shani Flanagan auditions for a new circus in Lexington, Kentucky, she falls in love with violinist Lyric Stargaze, who she doesn’t know is an alien from another planet hiding from American immigration authorities.
Blurb:
Shani Flanagan, 18, grew up in America’s largest traveling circus, where she dreamed of becoming an aerial silk artist. But after the circus closed, she was forced into a job she despised to support her family of clowns. When a poster for a new circus rekindles her passion, she auditions, unaware that her future employers are aliens hiding from immigration authorities. Shani becomes captivated by Lyric Stargaze, the circus owner’s son, a striking 18-year-old violinist from Stellethnos whose heart has never before beat for a human. Lyric, a curious and witty soul, approaches humanity with fascination but fears rejection if his secret is discovered. His human tutor, Felix Jones, 19, becomes his closest friend and accomplice, teaching him to blend in while grappling with feelings for Lyric’s sister, Melody—a sensitive 17-year-old cellist who longs for home, struggling with her new identity and the constant threat of exposure.
How it started:
When I stumbled upon an article in Forbes about Lexington, Kentucky, inviting aliens from TRAPPIST-1 to visit, I thought, what if aliens intercepted that message and decided to start a circus in Lexington? A circus could be the perfect platform for them to prove they meant no harm. Just as Roman Emperors used spectacles to win over the masses, my aliens could use the same tactic. I became obsessed with the idea, researching and writing incessantly, pausing only for life's unavoidable interruptions, and completed the novel 11 months later.
The Characters
Shani Flanagan, 18, is fierce, occasionally sarcastic, understanding, and forgiving, always striving to empathize with others. Her determination and resilience were inspired by my favorite heroines: Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, Tris Prior from Divergent, and Feyre Archeron from A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). However, her background stemmed from the countless YouTube videos and documentaries I watched about the lives of circus performers.
Lyric Stargaze, 18, is a violinist from the planet Stellethnos who arrives on Earth with his family to fulfill his father’s dream of running a circus. Their accidental landing in El Paso, Texas, leads to their mistaken identity as illegal immigrants. Lyric is an idealist, romantic, and naturally curious. He pays close attention to everything he experiences, from new cuisines and human behavior to the contradictions of cultural norms. A lover of nature and the environment, he approaches life with zest and a passion for discovery. However, his intense focus on personal interests leads him to overlook Melody’s struggles to adapt to human life, making him seem self-centered. His go-with-the-flow attitude and tendency to sidestep inconvenient obligations—especially when he’s having fun or caught up in the whirlwind of romance—land him in trouble with Shani. His character was inspired by my personality.
Felix Jones, 19, is outgoing, patient, understanding, and supportive. He’s been a good boy all his life, following his parent’s footsteps in pursuing a career in gymnastics until Lyric’s grandmother recruited him to be a trapeze artist in her family’s circus and Lyric’s tutor in human affairs. By accepting the job, Felix vows to keep the aliens’ identities a secret without realizing the implications behind his decision to become an accomplice in their illegal status. His character was inspired by a combination of all the ‘good boy next door’ characters with loving parents from the many movies I’ve seen over the years—those characters who are not afraid to bend the rules to help those in need, even if it could get them into trouble. Additionally, many Cirque du Soleil trapeze artists have a background in gymnastics, so it made sense for Felix to have one too.
Melody Stargaze, 17, is Lyric's sister. She's a talented cellist, sensitive, and observant. As an introvert, she often grapples with her identity and her Grandmother's idea of what she should be like. She fears what might happen if humans discover her family's origins and longs for the safety and familiarity of her home planet. Her character was inspired by Nesta Archeron from ACOTAR. Like Nesta, Melody was thrust into a new life against her will, is more sensitive and observant than others realize, and feels uncomfortable in her new body despite enjoying her sexuality.
Senene Nightfall is Lyric’s and Melody’s grandmother—a brilliant scientist and master schemer behind all her family’s drama and development. She has the wisdom of a seasoned professor and the sharp wit of an aristocratic matriarch. Senene is one of those characters who reveal themselves to the author as the story develops. She wasn't part of my initial plans, but she made herself known and demanded her presence. I suppose, subconsciously, she is a blend of the evil queens and fairy godmothers from the fairy tales I read as a child. But to my delight, she turned out as witty and blunt as Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter and Violet Crawley from Downton Abbey, both played by the wonderful late Maggie Smith.