Astara [Music]
May 8th, 2009 at 2:01 am by --KALEB NATION--
I wrote this song back in January but for some reason, the original version didn’t seem to work. I knew there was a song in it, and I knew the song was for Astara, but for some reason, I just couldn’t get it to sound right. It took me a full four months of on-and-off rewriting the pieces, but I think the final song is worth all the time it took.
As it says in the video, Astara entered into the book as a recycled character from an older story I wrote when I was 12. She was one of those characters I couldn’t let go, so I put her in The Farfield Curse, and it was as if she had been meant for it all the time. For those who were hoping for just a little bit about Astara, here’s the very first part of the book where Bran meets her:
Bran pressed back, expecting the person to see him in an instant and shout. The sudden lamplight, though dim, was nearly blinding, so he had to blink to see who had opened the door.
He could just barely make out what she looked like in the soft light behind her: she seemed to be around his age, dressed in ragged, dark clothes. Her hair was a few inches past her shoulders, dark blond and brown, and on her right arm was a thick strip of black cloth, wrapped around her wrist. Bran blinked again as her eyes swept the room, unable to speak because he was sure she would shout for the shopkeeper at any moment.
But something was not right. Her eyes swept straight across him, as if he wasn’t even there, down to the two books he had left dropped on the floor. She didn’t move from the doorway, staring at them curiously, and then to the box that Bran had left crooked.
You don’t really meet Astara in the preview chapters of the book, so it is probably cruel for me to say that she is one of my favorite characters when the majority of you will have to wait until September 9 (only 123 days as of now!) to find out who she even is 
. But hopefully her song will help reveal some clues about her.
Question For The Comments: What do you think of the new song?
Posted in Bran Hambric, My Music
Tags: Astara
May 8th, 2009 at 7:41 am
All the love you put into your work makes me really want to buy your book. The song is very beautiful and makes me interested in the story and characters.
I love that Astara existed even before you started writing Bran Hambric. I myself have a character who existed even before I started my current main story and he's still my favourite as well.
And just so you know, when I buy your book, it's going to be read in Czech Republic where I live and if I like it, I'm gonna lend it to all my friends=) So just so you know that it's not only USA where your fans are and will be. (I wonder what are the most interesting places where your books will be read…)
May 8th, 2009 at 8:54 am
thats odd my comment didnt post! but this is a different comment layout then the one that was just here a second ago… oh well i shall re-post what i had lmao… ok anyways… jsut from listen to the song i think i can feel that she is: careing misunderstood, wise, brave, but yet shy in ways, loving, maybe she is alone and doesn’t have anyone or maybe just a few ppl, emotional at times, curious person.
but that is just a guess from listen to the song. like how at times it soft and sad with a loving melody, then it kinda gets a brave and wise melody, then a soft whisper melody that i can even seen astara walking alone, and then another time walking with Bran.. lol…
or maybe im just over thinking things…. lmao.. what do u all think? Most important what do u think kaleb? i @ replyed you on twitter.. i would like to know if i got any of her character right outta my own curiosity lol.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:25 am
The song is SO amazing and aweet. ^__^ So I guess she's a really really good person?
May 8th, 2009 at 9:40 am
the feelings i get from the song is, Astara, is a Loveing careing person, maybe someone who will do anything for a friend. she might be emotional at times, she is brave, but yet shy at the same time. also wise, and curious. Yes i got that all from listen to ur song only once… but then i played it again lol! its a nice song.. i hope one day we can own all these songs as a cd! =)
May 8th, 2009 at 10:02 am
and i like how at times it soft and sad with a loving melody, then it kinda gets a brave and wise melody, then a soft whisper melody that i can even seen astara walking alone, and then another time walking with Bran.. lol…
or maybe im just over thinking things…. lmao.. what do u all think? Most important what do u think kaleb? i @ replyed you on twitter.. i would like to know if i got any of her character right outta my own curiosity lol.
anywhoo sorry for posting more then once… i went to post my first comment that i am replying too and it didnt really go in and i refreshed the page and all the sudden it was the old commenting system so i made another post.. and i posted it and it brought me back to the new post and my 2nd post i posted was gone lol… so i came up with some new things so im replying to my 1st post to add what i newly came up with.. lol once again sorry….
May 8th, 2009 at 10:37 am
123 days until my birthday then!
thanks for your dedication, kaleb. still can't wait.
have a lovely weekend, x
May 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
The song is strong, peaceful, hopeful, and slightly haunting. Very beautiful.
May 8th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Kaleb, I was listening to the theme of Bran and Rosie, and I love that song the most out of all of your compositions. Sadly, tsk, tsk, you don't have it as a download, which I would really love if you would. Please make it a download!
Still cannoT wait for thine book to appear in my hands. Still can't.
Thank'y s'much!
May 8th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I shouldn't of read that preview cuz now i wanna know more!
You are a great composer and if you weren't a writer you'd probably be good at creating soundtracks for other books or movies.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I bet Astara is the little girl that saw Bran's mother get killed.
I love the song!
May 8th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Kaleb, you are so talented, and such an inspiration to me. You, Stephenie Meyer, and J.K. Rowling are the reasons I am writing my own novel. I am learning to create web sites, writing, blogging, and eventually I will be vlogging and getting back into writing music. I owe it all to you. Thanks Kaleb!
Everyone check me out and show your support at http://www.sarahlenorewright.com
May 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am
[...] For those who keep up with my music, I just composed an entirely new song you might enjoy and can download for free. var addthis_pub = ‘kanation1′; var addthis_brand = [...]
May 9th, 2009 at 7:58 am
Aw! You really motivated me to learn how to play t he piano. It took a while to get a teacher that wouldn't cost 55 dollars an hour. But, my determination helped me. I'm also gettting another teacher for the summer. (: . I really think that the song tells a story of it's own. It's the sweetest song ever. More better than Bella's Lullaby (which made me cry). I'm 12 now and am working on a story that I really care about. I've been writing songs since I was about 8 or 9 and it led me to a story purely for entertainment purposes to poems and to my current book. You are deffinetly an inspiration!
May 9th, 2009 at 7:59 am
@Lenka ………………..
if you are reading this then I am Kaleb’s reader and I am living in DUBAI,U.A.E in the middle east, and (yes middle east i guess near egypt too) I am a indian, i am an expatriate. is that interesting?????
@Mich(elle) if you are readin ghtis, AWESOME!!! that is sooooooooooo cool! you are just 12 and that is really awesome! wish you best of luck!
Kaleb, that song is bee-yoo-ti-ful! it is so perfect, that song is just perfect! I agree with Samie. She has described Astara perfectly. Atleast, I thoughy of Astara that way too! lol!
May 9th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Love it! I wish I had some musical talent. Other than my remarkable talent for missed notes, that is.
May 10th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Wow! that is really good. Astara seems like… kind, a little sad, but very tenacious and the kind of person who can survive anything. Also really loyal. Am I right? If I'm not, I'm sure it's my own stupidity!!
anyway can't wait for your book to come out!
May 10th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I think this is your best song. Amazing!
May 10th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
wow…….thats really deep and amazing. I cant wait to read your book kaleb!!!! ps. im dying to know how you create these songs, because i would love to learn!
May 11th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Forget the song, I love the scene! Three paragraphs and I'm starving for more. Is he invisible? Why can't he tell? Can Astara do magic? What's with the black cloth? Does the crooked box have anything to do with the “Box in the Bookstore” song?
Well, I liked your Astara song. She felt deep, but sort of weak. I don't know why, maybe because the whole song was so soft and quiet. She's subtle, but not quick. I'm guessing here. I like the bit of a rise at the end.
120 days is too many.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
wow. you are so talented, Kaleb.
seriously. your music is beautiful! i can't wait to buy the soundtrack…
Astara is probably my favorite.
before listening to all the songs, i was a little wary about reading The Farfield Curse–14 yr old protagonists aren't really my thing anymore. but, now, i can't wait!
if these songs really do imitate the characters, then you've got some pretty amazing ones…
May 15th, 2009 at 2:54 am
wow. you are so talented, Kaleb.
seriously. your music is beautiful! i can't wait to buy the soundtrack…
Astara is probably my favorite.
before listening to all the songs, i was a little wary about reading The Farfield Curse–14 yr old protagonists aren't really my thing anymore. but, now, i can't wait!
if these songs really do imitate the characters, then you've got some pretty amazing ones…