GUNGNIR BOOKS ANNOUNCES THE STARGAZER SOCIETY AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND

PRE ORDER STARGAZER SOCIETY TODAY! https://linktr.ee/TheStargazerSociety

LOS ANGELES, February 16, 2026 – GUNGNIR Books, the publishing house founded by Matthew Medney, former Heavy Metal CEO and creator of projects with The NFL, Live Nation, Disney and more, continues to grow its list of bold, genre-defying fiction with the release of The Stargazer Society, a science fiction mystery novel from Tennessee-based author Eden Lenore Kirby. The project reflects GUNGNIR’s ongoing commitment to championing distinctive voices and building modern mythology through creator-driven storytelling.

Under Medney’s leadership, GUNGNIR Books has focused on discovering and developing stories that merge strong character work with high-concept speculative ideas. The company continues to position itself as a home for emerging and established creators alike, building a catalog designed to connect with readers while also creating opportunities for stories to expand across formats and platforms.

The Stargazer Society follows graduate student Blaire Days as she begins an archival internship with the Greyvern Historical Library. Ira Stone becomes an unexpected and somewhat unwelcome addition to the internship, and soon the pair find themselves investigating a secret society from the late 1940s that believed it was communicating with extraterrestrials. As they work through the archives, unsettling connections emerge between the Stargazer Society and the disappearances of women and girls during that era. Blaire must confront not only the possibility of aliens and a dark small-town conspiracy, but also a disturbing discovery about her late parents that pulls her into a dangerous spiral of obsession. Blending science fiction, mystery, and a subtle dark academia tone, the novel aligns with GUNGNIR’s mission to publish stories that explore big ideas through deeply personal stakes.

Author E.L.K stated “I wrote The Stargazer Society because I saw a gap in the genre. I was obsessed with Mulder and Scully’s on-screen dynamic [in The X Files] and wanted books with that same vibe and character chemistry. I also wanted to blend science fiction and mystery with a slightly dark academia aesthetic. These are all things I really like in books and media. When I could not find exactly what I wanted, I decided to create it. This book is my baby and I have worked on it for the past four years. I am beyond excited to share it with the world. Hopefully all the people I kept telling that I was publishing a book will now believe that I actually wrote one.”

Matthew Medney continued with “This is exactly why GUNGNIR exists. We are building a catalog where big ideas collide with real emotion, where creators can chase the cosmos without losing the human heartbeat at the center of it all. The Stargazer Society is the kind of story that reminds us why we fell in love with speculative fiction in the first place. It feels timeless and immediate all at once, blending mystery, sci-fi, and character chemistry in a way that pulls you forward and refuses to let go.

Eden Lenore Kirby, who writes as E.L.K., is the kind of voice we are always searching for. She brings passion, humor, obsession, and a relentless work ethic to the page, and you can feel every hour she poured into this world. From the moment we read it, we knew this book had that rare spark. At GUNGNIR we want authors who are willing to push boundaries while staying grounded in character and story. E.L.K. does exactly that. She has created a story that feels both intimate and expansive, and we are proud to stand behind it as part of our growing mission to build modern mythology for a new generation of readers.”

The release of The Stargazer Society further reflects GUNGNIR’s commitment to fostering creative teams and supporting authors throughout the publishing process. By working closely with writers and creative collaborators, the company continues to build a slate of titles that resonate with readers and reinforce its long-term vision for the future of genre publishing.

For more information, visit www.gungnirbooks.com

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E.L.K Bio

Eden Lenore Kirby is a Tennessee-based author and definitely not an alien. Seriously, just look at how human she looks. She even likes doing human things, like reading under her heated blanket before bed, planning PowerPoint catch-up nights with friends, (un)ironically watching corny Hallmark movies with her brother, and working on hobbies separately together with her partner. She also likes animals and animals really like her. When have you ever heard of an animal being cool with an alien? It just does not happen.

About GUNGNIR Books

GUNGNIR Books is a publishing house dedicated to bold, genre-defying storytelling across science fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels. Founded by Matthew Medney, the company works with creators from across publishing and entertainment to develop original worlds that resonate with readers and fans worldwide. GUNGNIR seeks to build a new generation of modern mythmaking through stories that challenge convention and explore the boundaries of imagination.

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The Origins of The Stargazer Society 

The “Bellefleur” Team Behind The Stargazer Society

• E.L.K. – Author
• Hannah Escobedo-Jackson – Content Marketing and Social Media Director
• Amberle Phillips – Developmental Editor and Creative Director

“Bellefleur” is where the first episode of The X-Files takes place. When the author was still planning to self-publish, the team decided that Bellefleur would be their publishing house name.

How The Stargazer Society Happened

I started writing this book in 2022 out of pure self-spite. Amberle and my brother had both separately been trying to get me to watch The X-Files for a while. I had dealt with terrible writer’s block for about four years when I finally started the show. The show opened the floodgates and I started working on borderline fanfiction but with original characters. I was about to turn twenty-five and I suffered from a case of the “one days.” One day I will be financially stable. One day I will leave Tennessee. One day I will write a novel. I got so tired of my own habit of doing absolutely none of the things I wanted to do. The truth was that I had to put in work, and I had not ever put in the work.

I think I sat in a Panera for about six hours just working on an outline. It was cathartic. And I believe I might have lost momentum if my buddy Seth had not jokingly said, “Alright, pal, first draft on my desk by Friday.” I thought, you know what, challenge accepted. So I wrote the first chapter and immediately became insufferable to my coworkers because I distributed a printed copy of the first chapter to each of them as well as a survey for them to fill out after with their feedback.

Eventually, I reached out to Amberle, who was my manager at the time, about helping me with a few things like creating a website and making plans for social media. She got just as excited as I was and told me she wanted to bring Hannah into it too. That same day we sat in Amberle’s living room and came up with a plan. Having a small team that believed in me and in my story did wonders for my self-confidence and productivity. I genuinely do not think this book would have happened without their constant support and encouragement.

Writing a novel is easily the most difficult thing I have ever done, and I have done trauma therapy.

PRE ORDER STARGAZER SOCIETY TODAY! https://linktr.ee/TheStargazerSociety