StarMark
My debut novel, a rags-to-riches tale, in which Irvana discovers her destiny.
After Irvana’s grandmother dies in their remote clifftop home, Irvana must travel to Koltarn. Alone in a strange city, Irvana finds employment at the palace, home of Lord Terenz, current overlord and bearer of the StarMark.
Suddenly immersed in palace life, Irvana makes a friend in fellow-servant Rosann, and there is a spark between her and the lively Mikal, Terenz’s ward. But when Terenz discovers that Irvana has something he wants, her life is suddenly in danger.
Birthmarks are often used in stories to indicate a character’s destiny, like Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson in the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.
I wanted to play around with that idea, so I imagined a birthmark that was a symbol of power and authority, which, in the presence of a special object, turned gold to prove you were the right person to be in that position.
And so the StarMark emerged; a seven-pointed star carried on the skin of those born to rule. Black at birth, gold - perhaps - later.
But what if you carried that mark and didn’t know that you had it? And what would happen if someone else found out about it before you did? I decided to let Irvana find out…
StarMark Reading Guide for Book Clubs
My own personal StarMark
When I knew that StarMark was going to be published, I decided to find a StarMark of my own to mark this huge achievement.
This is it; a seven-pointed star, set in a circle, with a gemstone called a black star diopside in the centre. It seemed rather an appropriate choice of stone, considering that one of the characters in the book is referred to as The Black Star…
Photo credit: Tom Hetzel