Dear readers, tonight with us are fraternal twins, a sister and brother, from Earth’s future. At least, a future where science and magic clash, the best defense against rampant alien technology is magic, and the only hope for humankind rests in the hands of the legendary Star Children.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

Cassidy: Well, we’re twins, in case you can’t tell.

Torr: We’re identical.

Cassidy: Haha. You wish you looked like me.

Torr: I do, actually. Your eyes, anyway.

Cassidy: Awww, that’s sweet.

Torr: We grew up in Mt. Shasta, in California.

Cassidy: Land of the crazy shamans. We got out just in time.

Torr: Or, we left too soon. Depends on how you look at it.

Cassidy: True. The shamans protected us from the Tegs. If we were in Shasta right now, we’d be safe on Earth, instead of on this god-forsaken rock.

Torr: The moon’s not so bad.

Cassidy: [eye roll] It sucks. Just sayin’. So, what questions do you want to ask us?

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

Cassidy: My favorite toy was Grandma Leann’s mirror.

Torr: A dangerous weapon.

Cassidy: [Laughs] I used to be able to move things with it. It was awesome.

Torr: I saw the flaming monster woman in it once when I was a kid. I wouldn’t go near that thing for years afterward.

What do you do now?

Torr: We’re refugees on the moon. I feel kind of useless. There’s not much to do here.

Cassidy: We’re supposed to save the world. Earth, that is. And the other planets too, I guess. Seems kinda ridiculous.

Torr: People think we’re the Star Children, and we’re supposed to find our ancestors on a lost planet across the galaxy. The golden Star People. But nobody knows where the home planet is. It’s kind of stressful having everybody look at you with this burning hope in their eyes. I mean, you’d think we were magical saviors or something.

Cassidy: We need to learn magic.

Torr: Yeah. We need to go to the planet Muria.

Cassidy: But then we’d have to leave here.

Torr: I thought you wanted to leave.

Cassidy: I do. I don’t.

Torr: Errgh.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Torr: Well, we did finally locate our land. We inherited lunar land parcels. Only … things are not as they seem.

Cassidy: Don’t tell him, it’ll ruin it.

Torr: Oh, yeah. Okay.

What did you first think when you saw your land?

Torr: First I thought, wow, this crater is enormous. I mean, picture the Grand Canyon. Only round. Then I thought, what are we supposed to do with this thing? I mean, there’s no atmosphere on the moon. You can’t just walk around outside and build shit. There are no resources. You have to get everything from Earth.

Cassidy: There’s lots of dust here. Valuable dust, supposedly.

Torr: Yeah, if you have mining equipment and a way to isolate the elements. Which we do not. Dust is useless, believe me. And annoying. It gets into everything. So what are we gonna do? Get off this dead satellite as soon as possible, that’s what.

What was the scariest thing in your adventures?

Torr: Facing the Teg army. They’re backed by the alien Cephs. The Tegs are heartless. There’s something seriously wrong with them. The Cephs have them brainwashed or something. The Cephs have some nefarious agenda, which involves enslaving the entire Earth population. Next they’re going to target the moon. Mark my words.

What is the worst thing about living on the moon?

Cassidy: No plants. No animals. No insects. No rain. No wind. No rivers. No oceans. No forests. No air. No sound. Shall I go on?

Torr: Lack of women. There are a few here. But mostly it’s men. It’s like an old frontier town here. I wish I had my guns.

What is the best thing about living on the moon?

Cassidy: Seeing Earth. It floats like a giant gem in the sky. Ocean blue, forest green, desert gold. It’s unbelievably gorgeous. And Jasper, but I won’t tell you any more about that.

Tell us a little about your friends.

Torr: [Grins at Cassidy] Jasper is our best friend. We grew up together in Shasta, then he lived with us during high school after his parents left him to travel the galaxy. Cassidy and Jasper have been in love since they were kids.

Cassidy: We have not.

Torr: [Lifts one eyebrow]

Cassidy: Okay, maybe we have. But he’s being a jerk. All his secret Guild trading. Slipping off at all hours of the day and night. What is he doing, anyway?

Torr: Don’t look at me. You think he tells me what he’s up to? Probably no good, as usual.

Any romantic involvement?

Torr: [Looks at Cassidy]

Cassidy: [Frowns] No. And mind your own business.

Whom (or what) do you really hate?

Cassidy and Torr in unison: The Tegs.

Cassidy: When the Tegs take over a region, they raze all the cities and towns and replace them with farms, factories, and work camps. Anyone who doesn’t join the Teg military must live in the camps. And women aren’t allowed into the military. So where do you think that leaves me?

Torr: And the Tegs make the soldiers kill each other so only the strongest survive. They’re beasts.

Cassidy: And they don’t feed the people in the work camps very well. And the young women need to report to breeding centers.

Torr: Basically, the alien Cephs are using the Teg army to turn Earth into a Cephean colony. They’re scum. All of them.

Okay, so on that cheerful note. What’s good in your life? What’s your favourite drink, colour, and relaxing pastime?

Cassidy: Any color other than moon dust gray and tent canvas khaki. Take your pick.

Torr: Beer. Cold beer.

Cassidy: Trying to get my crystal ball to work so I can get my second sight back.

How will the crystal ball help you get your second sight back?

Cassidy: It’s a tool. Like the mirror. But I’m learning that it’s more than just a tool. I think it knows things. It just won’t tell me what it knows because it’s temperamental. Or I don’t understand its language. I think it wants me to let it be in control, but then it wants me to ask for what I want. It’s very confusing, and often infuriating. But don’t tell the crystal that, it will get stubborn and refuse to show me anything.

What does the future hold for you?

Torr: We’re supposed to find the Star People and bring them to Earth on golden shafts of light, and kick the Tegs the hell off our planet. I’m not sure where the Tegs will go, come to think of it. The Cephean Federation, maybe. But there are so many Tegs. Way too many to transport to another planet. Maybe we’re supposed to kill them all. That’s not going to be easy. Or pleasant. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I’m sure Palmer knows, but she won’t tell, because that’s like nine or twelve books out or something. Lots of shit has to go down before we get to find out about that.

One more question. Can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

Cassidy: It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you, now would it?

Torr: I’ve got one for you. I think I’m reincarnated, from the previous male Star Child from a thousand years ago.

Cassidy: The one who didn’t make it??

Torr: Yeah. Him. That’s one of the reasons Grandma Leann’s mirror freaks me out. Sometimes when I look into it, I see someone else. I think it’s him.

Cassidy: Does that mean I’m reincarnated too?

Torr: Maybe. Have you ever seen someone else’s reflection staring back at you in Grandma Leann’s mirror?

Cassidy: No, I don’t think so. But I want to try.

Torr: Sure. The mirror’s in my tent. We can go there as soon as we’re done here. Are we done?

Don’t let me stand in the way of the Star Children discovering their past and their future.

Torr: Great. It’s been fun. Talk to you later.

Cassidy: Bye!! Watch out for the Tegs. And Schlitzer’s spies. They could be anywhere … or anyone … Catch us in Book Two, “Light Fighters,” due out in 2020, when the adventure continues.

Palmer has been writing fiction since she was eight. She received her BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University, with concentrations in Religion and Race Relations. She currently works in Silicon Valley as an Innovation and Technology Manager for HP, Inc. In addition to her career in high tech, Palmer holds a certificate in Chinese Acupressure, is a certified solar panel installer, and studied Tibetan Buddhism with the 14th Dalai Lama. She lives and writes in the magical redwood forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, and travels back and forth to Nashville, Tennessee, where she dabbles in songwriting.

You can find Cassidy and Torr on the pages of Moon Deeds.

Join us on Friday to meet lord from a world where forgotten dead sagas predict the rise of the dead. Please follow the site by email (bottom-right) to be notified when the next interview is posted.

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