The Starmaker

by Catherine Doyle, Paddy Donnelly (Illustrator)

A magical and uplifting story from a prize-winning author-illustrator duo, celebrating the importance of intergenerational friendships and the beauty in passing on treasured traditions

In the little town of Gloam, every child receives their own special star from the Starmaker when they are born. Stella's star is her best friend, with a knack for adventure and a sixth sense for danger. Together they learn to ride a bike, build a fort and make the best ooey-gooey chocolate cake. And if Stella ever feels sad, her star sits very close to her heart to comfort her.

When Stella's tiny baby brother Leo won't stop crying and no-one can work out why, it's her star that nudges Stella to try and solve the mystery. Together they go on a journey into the deepest corners of Gloam to find a person who not only knows how to help baby Leo, but who also holds the key to Stella's special, starry destiny...

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 22, 2026

About the author

Catherine Doyle grew up in the West of Ireland. She holds a first-class BA in Psychology and a first-class MA in Publishing. She is the author of the Young Adult Blood for Blood trilogy (Vendetta, Inferno and Mafiosa), which is often described as Romeo and Juliet meets the Godfather. It was inspired by her love of modern cinema. Her debut Middle Grade novel, The Storm Keeper's Island (Bloomsbury, 2018), is an adventure story about family, bravery and self-discovery. It is set on the magical island of Arranmore, where her grandparents grew up, and is inspired by her ancestors' real life daring sea rescues.

​Aside from more conventional interests in movies, running and travelling, Catherine also enjoys writing about herself in the third-person.