Glow in the Dark: A Streak of Light
Written by T.J. Scripps
Cover Illustrated by Forrest Curtis
Chapters Illustrated by Dane Doubell
Ages: 8+ | 202 Pages
Publisher: Skybok Press | ISBN: 979-8991217477
Publisher’s Book Summary: Ruby, a regular 10-year-old girl with fiery red hair and wild green eyes, has her life turned upside down when her grandmother gives her a magical dreamcatcher. One night, it transports her to the dazzling planet of Starland, where she discovers The Aura Embassy, a magnificent glass castle floating in space. There, she meets alien kids and Royal Light Beings, who welcome her as one of their own. Excited to unravel Starland’s mysteries and connect them to her own world, Ruby faces danger as sinister Dark Beings threaten to extinguish all light, both on Starland and Earth. With thrilling challenges ahead, Ruby must maintain her disguise, uncover secrets, and stop the dark forces before it’s lights out forever. Join Ruby on her daring quest to save the world’s light!
Available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
T.J. Scripps is an author and storyteller passionate about inspiring the next generation through magic,
adventure, and meaningful life lessons. With a background in Journalism and Film Production from the University of Cape Town and further training at the New York Film Academy, T.J. has spent the past decade developing content through her production company, Skybok, bringing stories of people, events, and businesses to life.
Her life experience has seen her working with children worldwide, first through Rotary International and later through her own non-profit, “Imbeko” (meaning “Respect”), based in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. She is committed to making a difference for children in need throughout the world. This hands-on work with children has given her an understanding of how they think, process emotions, and cope with trauma, which she channels into her writing to create stories that resonate deeply with young readers. She strives to create hope in the lives of young readers - many of whom are living with real challenges.
Her first book, Glow in the Dark: A Streak of Light, blends fantasy with inspiration, introducing young readers to the idea that the universe sends uplifting signs to guide and encourage. These signs are all found in nature and can be spotted on a daily basis. T.J. aims to encourage children to embrace their uniqueness, nurture their inner glow, and find strength by identifying these positive clues in their everyday lives.
As a proud UCT graduate and South African at heart, T.J. promotes the spirit of promise and strength to those younger people who are facing worry and struggles. She undertakes to give light so they can believe in their own ability. Every young reader will enjoy interpreting natural symbols as they go about their life. The overall message of this book is to be excited about life and its beauty.
For more information, visit https://glow-in-the-dark.com, https://www.instagram.com/t.j.scripps_writes, https://www.tiktok.com/@t.j.scripps_writes.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Dane Doubell was born in the 1980s—back when computers were the size of microwaves and dial-up was the soundtrack of the future. As a child, he dreamed of drawing robots and building them to take over the world—so far, he’s nailed the drawing part.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
T.J. Scripps - My favorite scene to write was definitely Chapter 9: "The Museum for Rotten Children". I loved imagining a place where kids could see wax dolls of naughty children, "caught in the act" of doing wicked things, all because their auras were dim—they hadn't kept themselves glowing by decoding the signs from the universe. It's a bit of a spooky reminder, but also funny, and I hope it inspires readers to think twice before ignoring those magical signs.
I can't seem to forget Leak, one of the Light Beings who makes an appearance! The visual of Leak was so beautiful to me—a little Light Being with a condition where he leaked rainbow light from his boots. There was something magical and touching about that image, a reminder that even our imperfections can be sources of wonder. Plus, writing about Leak added such a bright and unique element to the story.
Of course, there's also the advertisement on page 56, which Sir Cosmos reads straight out of the fictional "Starland Chronicle"! That moment was so much fun to write, and my editor Lyndsay Stanley made it come to life so fantastically—it really is no wonder the book received an A grade from Publisher's Weekly for its outstanding design and typography, as well as an A grade for its compelling marketing copy!
Life Is What It's Called - What do you think readers will like most about this book?
T.J. Scripps - I hope that what readers will like most about this book is the idea that signs are being sent to us from the universe to help make our auras glow. It's such a hopeful concept, that there are gentle nudges and bits of magic out there guiding us, and I wanted to show how paying attention to those signs can make a big difference. I'm hoping they are curious about that and head over to @glow_in_the_dark_books on Instagram, where I've created a digital dictionary of what the signs mean. It’s a way for readers to continue the journey and explore the magic even after they've closed the book.
Life Is What It's Called - What lessons will readers learn from this book?
T.J. Scripps - Readers will learn that the universe is always sending them signs—gentle, hopeful messages meant to guide and protect. These signs remind us that we are never alone and that there's always a bit of magic looking out for us.
Life Is What It's Called - If you could describe this book in two words, what would they be and why?
T.J. Scripps - Signs and Wonders: The book is all about the magic found in the natural world, where the signs from nature guide us in mysterious and wonderful ways.
Life Is What It's Called - What can you tell us about yourself and your writing background?
T.J. Scripps - I have no formal education in writing, but I've spent the last 15 years working with children all over the world through outreach efforts with Rotary International and specifically The Rotary Club of Algoa Bay, and in the last 5 years through my own non-profit in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa, (named this because he was born there) called "Imbeko," which means "Respect." These experiences have given me a deep understanding of how children think, how they deal with trauma and pain, and how they process emotions. This hands-on, practical, and devoted work with kids enabled me to tell this story with authenticity and care. Professionally, I studied Journalism and Film Production at the University of Cape Town, followed by further training at the New York Film Academy in New York. I've been actively producing for the past 10 years through my production company Skybok, based in Austin, Texas, which has helped shape my storytelling skills and bring depth to my creative projects. I truly believe in the resilience and potential of children. As they say in Xhosa (Nelson Mandela's language), "Umntu ngumntu ngabantu"—a person is a person through other people. It speaks to the importance of community, kindness, and how, with the right support and love, children can grow into their best selves, ultimately benefiting everyone. You could say the spirit of "Ubuntu" infuses my stories.... It means: "I am because you are."
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a signed paperback of Glow in the Dark: A Streak of Light! Imagine the thrill of being the one lucky winner who will receive a signed hard copy, a Montessori Toy Interactive Constellation card pack, a Scratch & Play Scripps National Spelling Bee activity book, and the official dictionary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025 “Words of the Champions”!
Glow in the Dark: A Streak of Light: Book Giveaway
