Ophelia Starcluck Saves the Galaxy Book Review and Author Interview

The Storyteller Squad’s very own—Kristen Gwen—launches her debut children’s book into the world on October 10, 2023! We are so excited about the release of the first book in her Starcluck Adventures Series. Please keep reading to learn more about this innovative addition to children’s literature and the author behind it all.

Book Blurb:

Ophelia Starcluck can’t lose another friend. When her last bestie, Keira, moved away, she told Ophelia that since she didn’t like jumpers and sunflower seeds, she never wanted to see her again. Then Ophelia met Finn, and she’s 95.7% sure they have everything in common. Nothing could rock their friendship…until weasels, intent on terrorizing the galaxy, invade their spaceship and knock all the adults out with sleeping gas.

Ophelia sends out a desperate cluck for help to any nearby ships, but no one answers. Alone in deep space, it’s up to her and Finn to fight the weasels in a battle of knowledge and skill to rescue their vessel and crew. But when Finn admits he’s been keeping a secret, Ophelia’s world shatters, putting the battle and their relationship at risk.

With another friendship on the line, can Ophelia work with Finn to kick the weasels off their ship and save the galaxy?

My Goodreads Review:

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for liftoff as you blast into the galaxy on a space adventure with two chicks! Their antics will leave you clucking as you flip through pages filled with fowl puns and mammal wit.

A weasel invasion on their spaceship tests the friendship of Ophelia and Finn. Young readers will relate to their struggles and cheer for them to triumph over the weasel space pirates. This book explores themes of finding common ground, true friendship, and forgiveness.

This book is perfect for readers ages 8-12. (And for those of us who are young at heart, too!) My kids and I look forward to reading more of Ophelia’s escapades in The Starcluck Adventures.

Keep Reading to Learn More about Kristen Gwen!

Congratulations on launching your debut novel! Please tell our readers more about you and your author journey.

Thank you! This has been quite the journey. I started writing with the goal of publication about twenty years ago. I tried writing picture books, historical fiction, mysteries, fantasy–pretty much everything. Writing articles for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr., and various devotional magazines honed my skills. Yet, there were still various aspects of plotting and character development that I just wasn’t “getting.” I now believe that I had to wait for God’s timing and His guiding in my writing journey. Finally, I fell in love with Middle Grade, those dastardly plotting/character elements fell into place. I’m thrilled to be at this point in my writing life. All praise to God for leading me here.

What do you enjoy the most about writing children’s literature? And what did you find the most challenging?

What I love is how imaginative and sometimes plain goofy you can be in middle grade books. When I come to a moment in the book where something needs to happen, I brainstorm the weirdest and craziest things I can think of. It’s a lot of fun.

What is most challenging is being authentic with the emotional journey of the characters. Kids are smart, so if you aren’t genuine and speak to their experiences as kids, they’re going to know it.

The illustrations for this book are so fun! How did you connect with your illustrator?

I love performing in community theater productions. The director of my last play was telling us he had just dropped his daughter off at school to study animation. I asked him if he thought she might be interested in doing illustrations for me, and thankfully, she was. Eleanor Bareford has been such a joy to work with and she’s very talented. She’s now working on illustrations for book two and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with.

What other up-and-coming projects do you have in the works?

Book two of Ophelia’s story will be published April 2024, Then I plan on releasing every October and April for the whole six-book series. After that, I plan to return to the series that started me in Middle Grade, which features squirrels. I also have a few YA fantasy books floating around in my head. Stay tuned to see what else I come up with!

Where can people find you online to follow along on your author journey?

The best way to keep up with me is by signing up for my newsletter at www.kristengwen.com/newsletter

I’m also on Pinterest. You can find me at https://www.pinterest.com/kristengwen/

Thank you for supporting our Storyteller Squad authors!

In closing, Ophelia Starcluck Saves the Galaxy is the first adventure in the new middle-grade series, The Starcluck Adventures. If you like stories with friends, quirky humor, animals, and treks through space, you’ll love Kristen Gwen’s plucky tale.

 Pick up your copy today to embark on a solar-tastic journey. Adventure awaits!

You can order Ophelia Starcluck Saves the Galaxy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble