You may or may not want to set that up, StarGazer . You want something to drag the reader in. But if it helps to just start somewhere, do that.

I found with several novels that I had to write part of the backstory and then reposition the beginning. Beginnings are so tough because they have to do so many things. But pick a spot and start writing. This is a rough draft, and all rough drafts need editing. The best way to learn to write a novel is to write novels. You can do it!