On this day in 1949, the Hale telescope at the Palomar Observatory became the largest aperture optical telescope. Astronomer Edwin Hubble targeted NGC 2261, later known as Hubble's Variable Nebula. The Hale telescope is still in use by CalTech.
Space. The final frontier. Brenda Hiatt, beloved historical author, makes a giant leap into Young Adult science fiction with her Starstruck series, starting with Book 1, STARSTRUCK:
The middle of nowhere just got a lot more interesting!
Nerdy, orphaned astronomy geek Marsha, M to her few friends, dreams of escaping tiny Jewel, Indiana and becoming “somebody”—a distant dream until hot new quarterback Rigel inexplicably befriends her. As Rigel turns his back on fawning cheerleaders to spend time with M, strange things happen: her acne clears up, her terrible eyesight improves, and when they touch, sparks fly—literally! When M digs for a reason, she discovers deep secrets that will change her humdrum life forever and expose her to perils she never dreamed of.
Read the first few chapters here.
Ebook currently available for just 99¢ at Amazon, BN.com, Kobo, Smashwords and Apple iBooks.
Brenda is celebrating the release of Book 2, STARCROSSED:
Fate bound them together. Will her destiny tear them apart?
M and Rigel seem to have found their happy ending . . . but things aren’t always as they seem. When a new boy shows up at Jewel High, he brings secrets with him–secrets that may rip apart the perfect bond M has with Rigel. Unless they can find a way to rewrite her destiny?
Ebook available now from Amazon, BN.com, iBooks, Smashwords or Kobo!
Print edition available soon!
M and Rigel seem to have found their happy ending . . . but things aren’t always as they seem. When a new boy shows up at Jewel High, he brings secrets with him–secrets that may rip apart the perfect bond M has with Rigel. Unless they can find a way to rewrite her destiny?
Ebook available now from Amazon, BN.com, iBooks, Smashwords or Kobo!
Print edition available soon!
 |
| Mauna Kea - White Mountain Public Domain (link) |
Brenda is giving away an ecopy of STARSTRUCK, Book 1, with a Smashwords coupon. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about space - does it interest you? Have you visited a planetarium? Do you have a favorite constellation?
Mauna Kea, the tallest peak on the Big Island of Hawaii, is home of several international observatories. It is also the only place to find snow. In fact, it means White Mountain in the Hawaiian language.
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, February 1, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 2.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Brenda and her books, check out her website at brendahiatt.com.
 |
| Haleakala, on the Maui, looks like a moonscape. |
We have a wonderful planetarium in Pittsburgh. I'm constantly watching TV shows about space (and extraterrestrials).
ReplyDeleteI've been to Adler planetarium a few times. I love watching shows about aliens.
ReplyDeleteOn Friday the author of Starstruck and Starcrossed hit #4 on the New York Times bestseller list (#2 in the ebook category) for a different book.
ReplyDeleteI have been to many. I love space. IN fact, I am taking my students on February 3. My favorite? Hmm I do like Perseus.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kim! I love your site and its theme. I was lucky enough to have a high school with a planetarium (in the Washington, DC area) so grew up with a fascination with all things space. (Yes, I'm a huge Trekkie, too! LOL!) Not only that, I spent 3 years in Hawaii as an Army wife right after getting married, so I'm right with you in that Aloha spirit! As Keith said above, I just learned Friday that I hit #4 on the NYT list, my first time EVER in my long career! So this is turning out to be one heck of a wonderful weekend for me, between that and the release of STARCROSSED, second book in a series that's so very close to my heart!
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that there might be life somewhere in space. I hope that this might be confirmed during my lifetime. I did go to the London Planetarium when I was a child.
ReplyDeletePlease don't enter me into the contest, as I don't read e-books.
It's kind of interesting; haven't been to one
ReplyDeleteI've been interested in space and space travel since the beginning of our manned space program. That translated into an interest in astronomy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had an opportunity to visit a planetarium, but I am interested in space. We did visit the NASA Space Center in Houston and had the chance to witness a lift off with the people that actually working on the shuttle - very moving.
ReplyDelete