By Starlight
by M James Ryan
Step into a story of wonder, sacrifice, brotherhood, and the journey that changed everything
The Book
Meet Micah
Meet Micah, a young street drummer from ancient Persia whose journey through loss, survival, and unexpected purpose begins with the rise of a mysterious star.
How you can help
I need your help to get this book written. Find out how you can get involved!
The Author
Get to know the author and the calling that sparked By Starlight
Click below to read some of my Biblically based poetry
Poetry
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The Book
By Starlight is a sweeping reimagining of the song "The Little Drummer Boy", told through the eyes of Micah, a gifted young street drummer surviving alone in the ancient city of Sippar. Orphaned, cunning, and spiritually adrift, Micah carves out a living with his drum, navigating shifting city districts and dodging the watchful eyes of guards who view him as a vagrant. Though he's hardened by loss, Micah still clings to a daily prayer, a fragile tether to a faith he barely understands. When he crosses paths with a visiting Magus named Navid—part of a caravan from Babylon investigating a mysterious star—Micah finds himself unexpectedly drawn into something much bigger than himself.Meanwhile, in Babylon, Dastur Ashkan and his order of Zoroastrian priests are thrown into a flurry of prophecy, scrolls, and divine signs as they investigate a new star that has suddenly appeared in the western sky. Their discovery leads them deep into ancient Jewish texts that point to the birth of a long-awaited King in Israel. When priests from Susa and Pasargadae arrive claiming they’ve already begun following the star, the Magi unite and prepare to journey west, determined to honor the child with sacred gifts.As the star rises in the sky, Micah experiences a mysterious vision and hears a call that stirs something deep within. Wrestling with loyalty to the city that raised him and the ache of something greater calling him forward, he ultimately joins Navid and the Magi on their pilgrimage. By Starlight blends historical realism with spiritual wonder, inviting readers into a richly imagined ancient world where prophecy, pain, and hope collide beneath the light of a star.Find out how you can be a part of getting this book published by tapping the button below.
The Author
M James Ryan is a multidisciplinary writer and artist whose work explores the intersection of faith, imagination, and storytelling. For many years, he has been captivated by the idea that The Little Drummer Boy, a song he has long loved, held the potential to become a powerful, immersive story. The idea never left him, growing stronger over time and eventually becoming By Starlight, a novel he believes was placed on his heart by God.He is currently developing an ambitious multi-volume series of narrative poems that chronicle the entire biblical story—from Genesis to Revelation. The project seeks to capture the emotional and theological gravity of Scripture through lyrical verse, offering a fresh yet reverent lens on the most foundational stories ever told. Drawing inspiration from classic poetry and sacred texts, the series invites both believers and seekers to engage with the Bible in a new and powerful way.Outside of writing, Ryan has worn many creative hats, including graphic designer, video editor, and web developer. He is also a husband, father, and committed follower of Christ. Whether through story, poetry, or art, his work is united by a single goal: to reflect the beauty of truth and the truth of beauty in a world hungry for both.Find out how you can be a part of getting this book published by tapping the button below.
How you can help
I believe stories have the power to stir hearts, point people to truth, and remind us of beauty in a world that often forgets it. By Starlight is one of those stories. It's not just a novel, it's a calling I've felt for years. At its heart, it’s about giving what you have, even if you think you have nothing, and also reminder that we were never meant to walk this life alone. Even when we feel forgotten or unseen, God is still present, and sometimes He brings the right people beside us at just the right time.That’s why I’m stepping out in faith and asking for help. With your support, I’ll be able to leave full-time work for a season and give this project the time it truly deserves. The funds will go toward covering basic living expenses for my family, as well as editing, printing, and everything needed to release the book with excellence. Self publishing isn't cheap. But you'll get something too. There are rewards for those who give: signed books, handwritten poems, even the chance to name a character. But more than that, you’ll be part of something that, Lord willing, will bless others long after it’s finished.If you feel led, I’d be deeply grateful for your support. You can donate to my GiveSendGo campaign where you can also read more details about the project and the rewards you can get for participating. Use the button below to go to my GiveSendGo campaign. If you can't donate right now, I would also appreciate you sharing the campaign with others. Even more importantly, I would love if you would pray for me, even once.Thank you so much!
Meet Micah
Micah is a twelve-year-old orphan surviving on the streets of ancient Sippar, a city shaped by its divisions of culture, power, and faith. Gifted with a natural rhythm and a battered hand drum, he makes a humble living performing in market squares and festivals, always alert for danger and constantly on the move. Though he has lost nearly everything, including his parents, his home, and even much of his faith, Micah clings to a small daily prayer, a quiet ritual that anchors him in a world that too often overlooks the vulnerable. He is street-smart, brave, and emotionally scarred, having learned to trust no one and to depend only on his own instincts.Everything begins to change when a mysterious star appears in the western sky and a caravan of Magi arrives in Sippar. When Micah meets Navid, a priest unlike any he has encountered, he is offered more than silver. He is offered purpose. As he struggles with the weight of his past and the mystery of the star’s pull, Micah finds himself standing at the edge of something greater than mere survival. A quiet hope begins to stir in his heart, the sense that he may have been made for more than the streets he knows so well.Find out how you can be a part of getting this book published by tapping the button below.
Poetry
Stifling is the day,
But cold comes the wind,
Refreshing, revealing,
The promise ne'er rescind.A gift to all,
For those who ask,
For all who knock,
The promise e’er unmasked.But those who stray where fear abides,
Their eyes in darkness veiled,
They slip away from the light unseen,
Their hearts in darkness nailed,
But piercing is the Word,
That breaks all chains,
And frees those who receive,
The promise e’er sustains.Then stands the one who speaks the Word,
For those who would hear,
Truth burning with holy fire,
The promise e’er is near.And when the Word ignites the soul,
The heart refined in fire,
The conscience laid bare,
The promise e’er empyre.Hear this now.
This breath, this beat of the heart—this is the moment. Right now.
The Word stands at the door, as e’er He has.
I, being the poet, have only these words,
But you, the pilgrim, can open the door.
Will you open it?
The promise e’er for all.
The promise e’er your call.
There is more room in His heart
Than sorrow can overcome.
More space for the broken, the weary,
The lost and the numb.His love lifts the forgotten,
The discarded and the used.
It covers the bitter, the empty,
The ashamed and the accused.His grace restores the angry,
The wounded, and the burned.
It renews the hollow, the restless,
And hearts astray, not yet returned.Arms never crossed in judgment,
Nor condemning shake of head.
But His arms open wide,
And face filled with joy instead.No matter the wrongs we’ve done,
Nor dark cloak we assume.
Beyond imagining’s infinite horizon,
His heart hath more room.