About the Book
In the far reaches of the Cerulean Nebula, on the junk planet of Scrapheap, 23-year-old Eliza "Tink" Tinkerson spends her days sifting through mountains of discarded technology. Unlike the other salvagers who search for valuable parts to trade, Tink sees potential in every broken gadget and forgotten machine.
When her favorite helper bot, Wobble, unearths a strange artifact during their morning scavenging, Tink's peaceful routine is disrupted. The object—a palm-sized, iridescent sphere that pulses with a soft blue light—reveals itself to be ARIA (Ancient Repository of Interstellar Archives), the last remnant of the Luminari—a peaceful, technologically advanced civilization that mysteriously vanished centuries ago.
Join Tink and her quirky companions on a journey of self-discovery as they piece together ARIA's memories, revitalize abandoned communities, and help others find beauty and purpose in what others consider junk.
Elements of the Story
Low-Stakes Storytelling
Unlike traditional space adventures, Tink's journey doesn't involve laser battles or planetary warfare. Instead, she and her friends embark on a series of small-scale quests, piecing together ARIA's memories through old artifacts and forgotten archives.
Whimsical, Comforting Setting
From Tink's cozy cargo pod home with its starry ceiling of salvaged LEDs to the Rust Bucket Café run by sentient mining droids, the world of Scrapheap is filled with warmth and wonder despite its harsh exterior.
Focus on Community and Relationships
At its heart, this is a story about found family and community. Tink's journey brings together a cast of quirky companions who form deep bonds while helping others and finding purpose in the discarded and overlooked.
Hopeful Tone and Happy Endings
The story climaxes not with an epic battle, but with Tink using her unique understanding of both Luminari technology and scavenged innovations to restore a sanctuary and transform her junk planet home into a hub of innovation.
Soft Magic and Everyday Enchantment
The Luminari weren't just technologically advanced—they were masters of creating technology that enhanced connection, comfort, and creativity. Their magic lies in the harmony between organic and mechanical life.
Meet the Characters
Eliza "Tink" Tinkerson
A 23-year-old salvager with wild, curly auburn hair and bright green eyes. Tink sees potential in everything and everyone, with an intuitive understanding of mechanical and electronic systems. She begins as someone who connects better with machines than people but learns to open up and trust others throughout her journey.
ARIA (Ancient Repository of Interstellar Archives)
A palm-sized, iridescent sphere that unfolds like a mechanical flower to reveal a core that projects a holographic face with gentle, twinkling eyes. ARIA is gentle and thoughtful, asking insightful questions rather than providing immediate answers.
Gears McGinty
The gruff, elderly owner of the local parts shop who acts tough but secretly leaves care packages of rare components on Tink's doorstep. His mechanical arm occasionally malfunctions to give people hugs against his will.
Nova Bright
A flamboyant interstellar trader with color-changing hair who visits Scrapheap monthly in her ship, the "Nebula Nomad." She speaks entirely in rhymes when excited and collects odd trinkets from every planet she visits.
Professor Whizzbang
An eccentric academic who was exiled from the Galactic University for his "outlandish" theories about the Luminari. He wears mismatched socks for good luck and is followed everywhere by his floating library of ancient texts.
The Rust Bucket Crew
A trio of former mining droids who gained sentience after a lightning strike and now run the coziest café on Scrapheap, serving beverages in repurposed engine parts.
Wobble
A round little droid with mismatched eye sensors and a tendency to tilt to one side. Wobble was Tink's first successful creation and has been her constant companion ever since.
Explore the World
Scrapheap
A small, dusty planet with a rust-colored atmosphere and visible mountains of discarded technology. It serves as the dumping ground for discarded technology from across the sector, where each new delivery brings both danger and opportunity.
Tink's Cargo Pod Home
A repurposed cargo pod perched atop a stable hill of compressed metal. Despite its small size, the interior feels spacious due to clever organization, with fold-down furniture, a workshop, and a ceiling covered with strings of tiny lights made from salvaged LEDs.
The Rust Bucket Café
Built from the remains of an old mining vessel, this cozy café is run by the Rust Bucket Crew. The entrance is through what was once the cargo bay door, now decorated with colorful mosaics made from broken machine parts.
The Luminari Sanctuary
Hidden on a barren, cratered moon, this sanctuary is revealed only when activated by Tink's medallion. The architecture features graceful, organic curves that blend with the natural rock formations, constructed from a pearlescent material that seems to glow from within.