We chat with author Nicole Glover about The Starseekers, which is Indiana Jones meets Hidden Figures in this brand-new stand-alone historical fantasy set in the world of The Conductors, in which the space race of the mid-20th century will be determined by magic…if not murder.
Hi, Nicole! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
My love of writing comes from being a major bookworm. My nose has been in a book for as long as I can remember, and I read just about anything that catches my fancy no matter the genre. When I travel to new places, finding the nearest library is on the top of my list, as you learn so much about a place from its library. Outside of books, I work in tech and cruise around my city by bicycle. I love a good video game (Final Fantasy X ranks high on my list of influences!) and I have many opinions about trains and public transportation.
Fantasy is my preferred genre to write, mainly because I think the world is in dire need of a little more magic!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I first started telling stories while playing Barbies with my younger sister. Each afternoon was a new installment of soap opera level drama and mayhem, and where I realized I liked telling stories. I enjoyed amusing her as much as I did weaving a mostly coherent tale over the course of many days. Crafting stories didn’t stop there for me. I gave stories to the paintings and figurines that filled my parents’ house, created entire histories for strangers I’d never meet again, and wondered what adventures I could have with odd objects I found as I discovered the world. Scribbling away in my notebook was just a way to collect all the stories buzzing around me.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
- The one that made you want to become an author: I don’t think there was one in particular, but just going to the library and seeing all the books made me want to add my own books to the shelves!
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark.
Your latest novel, The Starseekers, is out January 6th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Witchy 1960s NASA with murder!
What can readers expect?
The Starseekers is a whimsical mystery and adventure, in a world where everyone can do magic. Set in 1964 we have the backdrop of the Space Race as the main character Cynthia Rhodes works as an engineer at a magical research facility at NASA. In addition to murder and deadly cures, there are a few subplots that range from a magical version Sesame Street to student protests to enchanted herbs that add to the fun. Readers can also expect a splash of romance alongside the adventure, as Cynthia’s archaeology professor love interest, Theo, is her partner for both the mystery and beyond.
For readers who read my other books, I continue my blend of history, magic, and mystery, with small cameos and nods to previous stories. For new readers, they should know that The Starseekers is a standalone story, and you can start here without too much issue….and check out the others later without fear of spoilers!
Where did the inspiration for The Starseekers come from?
The central inspiration was Hidden Figures, which got me excited both for the subject matter and the research I could dive into. With the arrival of the film, there was a major boost in sharing stories of the people who work at and for NASA that we didn’t often hear about, making it far easier for to get a snapshot of the era that it would have even a few years earlier.
As I did my research into the 1960s I brought into the book other topics that caught my interest, such as the Black history of Sesame Street and food media pioneers with helped shaped subplots and continue to flesh out the world I started way back with The Conductors.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One of my favorite bits was showing off broom riding! Cynthia is an avid broom rider, prone to speeding and other reckless flying. Throughout the book readers will get to see her flying about on her broomstick in various capacities. As she’s a rather introverted and quiet character, her love of flying is a fun character trait that shows off a different side of her. Her broom gets worked into her sleuthing as well, as it provides her a way to snoop about after suspects and clues.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge for me was figuring out how I’m going to write a character who was an engineer and math genius when I wasn’t! I did a lot of research to understand the mathematics, mechanics, engineering aspects, as well as the intricacies of different NASA projects. While I won’t be giving a lecture on astrophysics anytime soon, I absorbed enough to comfortably writes scenes and leave enough of my research on the page to show that the characters at least are quite knowledgeable.
What’s next for you?
I have something in the works that hasn’t been announced yet, so I can’t say much about it other than it’s another mystery, but contemporary and will arrive later in 2026.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
- Year of the Mer by L.D. Lewis
- The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass by Leslye Penelope
- Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
- Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee
- The Body by Bethany C. Morrow
