Guest Author: Cecil Castellucci on Inspirations & Influences

“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.

Today we have Cecil Castellucci, young adult author and geek girl supreme, over for a guest post about her newest novel, First Day On Earth (reviewed later today by Ana).

Please give it up for Cecil!

To the aliens who may or may not surround our planet stealthily.

I feel that there are enough willing volunteers on planet Earth willing to go with you that you can probably stop your abductions completely. I mean, why not just come on down and say hello? Unless you are planning to take over the planet and use us as food. Then, honestly, I have to say that I don’t want to meet you. I want you to go away. But to all of you friendly aliens, I am willing to come on up to your space ship and hang out and be human for you.

Love,

Cecil

I have always looked up at the stars. All those tiny suns light years away, warming planets that we are just beginning to discover. I have always believed that we are not alone. Even though, chances are, we’ll always feel like we’re alone. And that’s probably why I love a good human meets alien story. I suppose the idea that they could come here, or that we could go there comforts me in some way. Like maybe our timing is off but our imaginations can make up for the fact that we might miss each other.

But I’m not a fan of evil aliens. Although I like a good human resistance movie like, V. Or Aliens. Or Attack the Block. I’m more a fan of the gentler cosmic encounter. The friendly alien who meets a human and makes a friend.

So, here’s a handy little list of some of my fave gentle alien stories for you to enjoy or put on your netflix queue.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Contact
E.T.
Lilo and Stitch
The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Brother from Another Planet
Cocoon
Earth Girls Are Easy
Escape to Witch Mountain
Enemy Mine
The Fifth Element
Galaxy Quest
K-Pax
The Last Starfighter
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Starman
Paul

Of course, I’m still hoping that our timing works out. And in case they do, I hope they’ve read my letter. I’ll get packing. And see you all in a few light years.

Cecil Castellucci is the author of numerous young adult novels including Boy Proof (about a girl who loves science fiction films!) She also wrote The Plain Janes / Janes in Love graphic novels illustrated by Jim Rugg. Her newest novel is First Day on Earth and it’s her first maybe it is or maybe it isn’t sci fi novel. For more, visit www.misscecil.com

Thank you, Cecil! And make sure to check out Ana’s review of The First Day on Earth later today.