Below is my interview with author Peter Solomon who has written The Stardust Mystery, a sci-fi book for kids which he has expanded into a YouTube channel and video game aimed at getting kids interested in science. Find out how Solomon constructed the idea of this story, his writing process, and future plans for the book.
About the author and book
Author name: Peter Solomon
Author links (links open in a new tab):
Book Title: The Stardust Mystery
Genres: Fictional time-travel adventure with non-fiction science
Book summary
The book’s heroes are four girl and boy cousins who work together to solve a scientific puzzle. Their goal is to discover how they are made of stardust that was once in the bodies of Albert Einstein and the Last T-Rex.
The kids shrink to microscopic size as they explore their bodies to discover that the stardust they are made of is their atoms. They time-travel back through the universe to its origin 13.8 billion years ago to discover that their stardust was created in the end-of-life explosions of stars shortly after the Big Bang and continuing up to today.
The kids explore the history of planet Earth to discover how atoms once belonging to the last T-Rex and Albert Einstein made its way to them. Our characters also star in many of our science videos that you can find on The Stardust Mystery YouTube Channel.
Book excerpt
The back door slammed shut. The back door is always slamming when Neddy comes home. I heard her sprint through the kitchen and fly up the stairs, probably two at a time. Then she crashed open our bedroom door.
She waved a piece of paper in her hands, tried to catch her breath, and screamed at the same time, “Lizzy, Lizzy, Lizzy, we have to enter this contest.”
She dropped the papers on my open textbook in front of me.
“Not now,” I yelled back at her. “I’m busy.”
“But, but—but Lizzy—” She paused, took a deep breath, and started screaming again. “It’s called the Science and the Future contest. Dr. Q announced it right after you left.”
“Oh, zip it,” I replied, shooting her my meanest “mom” look as I pushed the papers aside. “Can’t you see I’m doing my homework?”
“But . . . but . . . but, Lizzy,” she begged, “you’ve got to see this. It’s for kids all over the United States. We can ask the cousins to enter it with us, and if we win, we can go to the moon.”
I still didn’t look up, even though that last part definitely sounded interesting.
We could go to the moon? I ignored her anyway. It’s one of my greatest skills, because Neddy isn’t always easy to ignore.
“Lizzy!” She practically screamed directly into my ear. “If we win, we can take Grandpa to the moon, just like he’s always dreamed of!”
Review excerpts
From Goodreads – ALLIE RATED THE BOOK 5 OUT OF 5 STARS – IT WAS AMAZING
This book was great! I have discussed this with my students, and we are reading it together. They are loving the information presented in a fun and relatable way. They love seeing the different families that work together to complete a common goal. I love that it uses scientific concepts and principles that we are learning in the classroom. The authors do a great job of presenting the information in ways that provide the students with the content knowledge they need. As a middle school teacher, this is a great resource for my STEM classroom. We are currently working on the project portion that is provided for teachers. My students are enjoying the website and all that it entails. As a Science teacher, I recommend this book for all science teachers! As a parent, my own children are enjoying the story and learning things they have not learned in school yet! Allie is a Middle School Teacher and a Goodreads Book Reviewer
Talking Shop
What do you want readers to take away from your books?
I want them to learn a fantastic science story while they are totally engrossed in the fictional time-travel adventure.
Name a fact or detail about your story that readers will never know is there.
The four main characters are based on the personalities of my grandchildren.
What’s the best review/compliment that you’ve received about your book?
From Author Elizabeth Haydon:
“I am rarely overwhelmed in a good way when a literary project is shared with me on which my opinion is being sought. So I was both surprised and delighted to experience The Stardust Mystery, a mind-blowing product of a National Science Foundation grant which blends clear and cogent science instruction into an engaging and expansive story told in the language and 21st-century illustration style designed to appeal to 8- to14-year-old kids.
How long did it take to write your book from the day you got the idea to write it to the day you published it?
Five years. There was a major diversion to create the video games and science videos that go with the book. This was done with funding from the national science foundation.
How long have you considered yourself a writer? Did you have any formal training, or is it something you learned as you went?
I have been a career long writer of science publications and a book. The Stardust Mystery was my first children’s book.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of great writers?
Contemporary writer favorites are James Clavell and Stephen King.
Do you have a writing ritual, odd habits, or superstitions?
I do both illustrations and writing. I often illustrate a scene and let the characters write the story.
How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews? Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?
I am fine with criticism and often use it to improve the story.
What is the most fun part about writing? The most difficult?
The first draft is the most fun. The final draft is the most difficult.
“What If” Scenarios
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
Physicist Richard Feynman
If you could be in a writer’s group with up to four famous writers, who would they be?
James Clavell, Stephen King, John le Carre, Clive Cussler
A wealthy reader buys 100 copies of your book and tells you to hand them out to anyone you wish. Who do you give them to?
Kids who love science.
Your favorite character that you’ve written comes to life for one day. What do you do together for 24 hours?
Lizzy and I sign on for the Virgin Galactic trip into space.
You are transported into your book for one day. What role do you play? How do you alter the events of the story?
That is easy. I am Grandpa.
Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?
Finish The Race to the Big Bang book
You have the means to hire a full time assistant to help you with your writing. What tasks do you give them to do?
Helping with the character personal interactions.
Your story gets picked up by a streaming service to make into a series. What service would you want it to be, and would you want them to follow your story closely, or would you rather see what directions they take it in?
Disney Channel. See where it goes.
Just for Fun
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Lots of kids who love science. Especially girls.
One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.
Climbing mountains in Nepal completed. Trip into space still on the list.
Favorite time of/part of your day.
Midday for walks and lunch.
Favorite place you’ve visited/place you want to visit.
The US and British Virgin Islands. The moon.
Food you’d like to win a lifetime supply of.
Whole foods white chocolate, macadamia nut cookies!
A book that you recommend everyone reads.
Shogun
The topic you can’t shut up about and the topic you wish everyone would shut up about.
Politics and Politics
When time travel is achieved, do you go forward or backward?
Both
Buy it!
Buy a copy of The Stardust Mystery here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
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