about the book
For generations, the Chambers family has had a love for all things science and space. They produced stargazers one after another, to the point where Arcturus “Arty” Betelgeuse Chambers was born and named that ridiculous name. He loves his name, though, and now that he is twelve years old, Arty is thoroughly a Chambers and is obsessed with finding life on other planets, like Mars.
But how is Arty supposed to be able to see the stars when the family moves to Las Vegas, the City of Lights, a city where neon and spotlights block out all starlight?
Worse, while his parents look for a house, Arty is forced to stay with his scary next door neighbor, whom he calls “Mr. Death.” However, Mr. Death is actually Cash Maddox, a real astronaut!
When Arty finds that out, his whole world changes.
about the author
Jennifer Brown was born outside of Kansas City, Missouri, and moved often as a child.
She wrote her first tale in fourth grade; it was two pages long, and the main character had a name like Donna Schlieigermeigssterkks. Valerie’s grandmother got such a hoot out of the story, she called an aunt and read the whole thing over the phone, laughing. Jennifer loved the attention.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Jennifer’s GRAND PLAN involved moving to the inner city and slinging pizzas. After several moves and job changes, she ended up taking night classes at William Jewell College, earning a degree in psychology. She got a job in human resources, but spent her time hiding in her cubical pounding out poems and stories instead of working.
After writing her first book, she took it on her first in-person pitch to an agent. The agent told her no one would buy the book with Jennifer’s “midwest voice.” Jennifer went home, cried for hours, stuck the book in a closet, and started writing again.
Now a published author and award-winning humor columnist, Jennifer still makes her home in Kansas City with her husband, three active kids, two cats, a boxer pup, and basset hound.
Sources:
Author biography: Goodreads
Author interview : Tara Lazar
Author interview: Ashley Morgan Promotions
Author interview: Mid-Continent Public Library
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