'The Star Shard,' Saturday at Beyond Bedtime Books

“The Star Shard,” the newest book by author Frederic Durbin, will come to life at Dormont’s with a reading and musical events tomorrow, Saturday.

The event, like the book, is geared toward children between the ages of 9 and 14. It will be held between 1 and 3 p.m. Beyond Bedtime owner Jamie Grassman said since the bookstore’s events usually involve poets or novelists, it’s refreshing to have a new genre to promote.

“Since this is a children’s book, we felt it was something different to hold here,” Grassman said. “You don’t find many people who write children’s literature, so it’s a different thing to have here.”

“The Star Shard” is a coming-of-age fantasy tale that was originally published as a series in Cricket Magazine. The story’s young heroine is a slave in her mythical society who is trying to escape.

“It’s really a fantasy adventure story,” Durbin said. “As the book goes on, she’s trying to escape. So it’s really a story about using your own talents and finding your place in the world.”

Durbin, who lives in McKees Rocks, discovered when he moved to the Pittsburgh area a few years ago and was looking for a job. Although he never worked at the bookstore, he said it had a great atmosphere for promoting a book such as “The Star Shard.”

He will be reading from the book and signing copies. The book also contains songs, and the musical composer, Dorothy VanAndel Frisch, will perform.

The McKees Rocks author has written two novels geared more toward adult audiences, and a number of short stories, but said this is his first novel written specifically for children.

“It seems that about half of what I write is for children and half is for adults,” he said. “I’m basically writing for myself. I don’t want to write down to children. It has to be a story that entertains me, too.”

“The Star Shard” also is available online from major booksellers.

If you’re going:

• What: “The Star Shard” book signing.
• Where: Beyond Bedtime Books, Potomac Avenue in Dormont.
• When: April 21, 1 to 3 pm.
• Cost: Event is free; book is available for $15.

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