Mike Van Horn

The Agate & Breadbox Series.

Four books of humor, heart, and music — plus a free bonus prequel for fans after Book 1.

START WITH BOOK ONE

A Galaxy Built on Heart.

This is not your typical far-future, dystopian, evil-alien science fiction. It is a story of self-discovery, found family, and the messy business of being human — and not-quite-human.

At the center is Selena Morisot — a popular singer dragged into an interstellar adventure that begins with a crashed spaceship in her backyard.

What makes this series unique? The music. Original songs are woven into the story — listen while you read.

With Soundtrack

Songs tied to key scenes

Strong Heroine

A sassy popular singer

Wry Humor

Real characters, real laughs

Plausible World

Impossibilities that make sense

Reading order: Book 1 → Book 2 → Book 3 → Book 4. Then enjoy the free prequel as a bonus.

Book 1

— BOOK ONE • AGATE & BREADBOX

Aliens Crashed in My Back Yard.

A wounded alien. A singer. A friendship that changes everything.

When an alien spaceship crashes on the hillside behind your house, would you summon the authorities? Not Selena. She decides to nurse the surviving alien back to health and help it get back home.

She can’t talk with it, so they end up singing to each other. They help each other rekindle their passion for singing. What if the alien doesn’t even want to return home?

But the government wants that spaceship and comes to take it. The struggle begins.

PublishedFebruary 3, 2019
GenreScience Fiction
SeriesBook 1 of 4

Listen While You Read — Songs in Book 1

  • Cotton Candy Lovin’Ch. 11 & throughout
  • My Spaceship Calls Out to MeCh. 28, 31, 34, Epilogue

Open full soundtrack →

— BOOK TWO • AGATE & BREADBOX

My Spaceship Calls Out To Me.

If I have a spaceship, why wouldn’t I fly it to the stars?

Aliens on distant worlds urge Selena to come sing because she is a rare True Singer. She wants to be true to her music on Earth, but she says, “I have a spaceship — I might as well use it.”

The government says she hijacked it from them, and they’re chasing it to the Moon to recover it.

How could she fly in it? It was outfitted for aliens that look nothing like humans. Selena plus an astronaut and an exo-biology student team up as the Three Spaceketeers to make it work and travel into space together.

PublishedJanuary 24, 2021
GenreScience Fiction
SeriesBook 2 of 4

Listen While You Read — Songs in Book 2

  • My Spaceship Calls Out to MeCh. 78
  • My Lover Done Left MeCh. 20
  • Pele Throws Down from the MountainCh. 76
  • Let Me Lead You AstrayCh. 76
  • Rocket GalCh. 76

Open full soundtrack →

Book 2
Book 3

— BOOK THREE • AGATE & BREADBOX

Space Girl Yearning.

Marooned beyond the Moon — fighting to survive.

Selena eludes government forces just long enough to get into space, but they’re still after her — with better weapons. No way can she return to Earth without being captured and losing the spaceship.

And now the aliens from the Galactic Confederation of Oxygen-Breathing Races are getting involved again. Some are friendly, some angry, and others feeling sorry for themselves.

The Galactic Librarian entices her to come sing at the sacred Songstone. Could it be a trap? She really wants to go.

Then Star Choice gets damaged while Selena is deep in space, and she is marooned beyond the Moon, forced to leap between stars to survive.

PublishedJanuary 25, 2021
GenreScience Fiction
SeriesBook 3 of 4

Listen While You Read — Songs in Book 3

  • Forever to InfinityCh. 6
  • Cotton Candy Lovin’Throughout series

Open full soundtrack →

— BOOK FOUR • AGATE & BREADBOX

Alien Invasion: There Goes the Neighborhood.

Aliens come to Earth — not as hostile invaders, but as tourists.

Many people are horrified, but others ready their cash registers. Once one alien arrives and is well-received, it opens the door to a flood of others. Earth will never be the same.

The Galactic Confederation decides to put a stop to this illicit travel by its citizens, and sends forces to Earth to stop it.

The stunning conclusion to the four-book Agate & Breadbox series.

GenreScience Fiction
TypeSeries Finale
SeriesBook 4 of 4
Book 4
Forbidden Alien Escapade

— BONUS PREQUEL FREE

Forbidden Alien Escapade.

A gift for fans after Book 1.

This is a story about an alien who comes to Earth and is rescued by a popular singer. But where did the alien come from? You’ll want to know after you read Book 1. The prequel tells her story.

Presenting the prequel as a bonus after Aliens Crashed in My Back Yard builds curiosity without giving too much away up front.

Listen While You Read.

Songs relate to particular scenes in Books 1, 2, and 3. Open the soundtrack, press play at the chapter listed above, and immerse yourself.

OPEN SOUNDTRACK