THE
STAR RIDER UNIVERSE SERIES
by
Heidi Skarie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
Science Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The
Star Rider Universe Book Series Blurb:
Can a
small band of heroes save their world from a ruthless interplanetary conqueror?
The
Star Rider series is an exciting space opera series that takes place in a
distant galaxy during an intergalactic war. The first three books are about two
undercover operatives, Toemeka and Erling, and their friends, lovers, and
enemies as they fight for the freedom of their world.
The
next three books are about Toemeka and Erling’s young adult children as the war
continues and a new generation is pulled into the struggle for peace.
You'll
love this thrilling series if you like stories that take place in other worlds
with feisty heroines, brave heroes, space battles, and starships.
*****
Book
One: Star Rider on the Razor’s Edge
He
wanted to rule the stars. He shouldn’t have murdered her family…
Toemeka
Ganti won’t rest until the universe is rid of the sinister sorcerer-deity who
killed her parents. Working undercover to liberate a peaceful people from his
ruthless usurper, she attempts to develop a weapon that can break through the
tyrant’s shields. But she’s barely begun her work when she’s captured by the
despot’s dark agents.
Rescued
by a mysterious and handsome warrior-priest, Toemeka and her team join forces
with the planetary resistance. But without her device to knock out the enemy
defenses, their budding rebellion could swiftly be crushed. And her time to
complete it has almost run out…
Can
Toemeka free an oppressed planet and light a spark of hope throughout the
galaxy?
Star
Rider on the Razor’s Edge is the electrifying first book in the Star Rider
space opera series. If you like feisty heroines, high-tech weapons, and
courageous crews, then you’ll love Heidi Skarie’s thrilling saga.
*****
Book
Two: Star Rider and the Golden Threads
Toemeka
Kimes doesn’t sit back when her loved ones are in trouble . . . she jumps in to
save them.
While
Toemeka is living in a secret dome-city for refugees, an urgent message arrives
for her husband, Michio. It’s a plea for help from Queen Koriann of Jaipar.
Planetary-conqueror and sorcerer, Samrat Condor, is threatening to attack
unless they surrender.
Michio
has left the dome-city for specialized training to stop Condor’s spread of dark
power, so Toemeka goes to Jaipar on planet Borko in his stead. There she is
reunited with Agent Erling Fenian, her former Coalition partner.
Complications
arise including old feelings between Erling and Queen Koriann, personal
betrayal, dark sorcery, spiritual tests and hostile alien
Will
they be able to save Jaipar?
*****
Book
Three: Star Rider and Bonds of Love
Toemeka
wants peace . . . but Condor, the universe’s most powerful world-conqueror,
wants her dead.
Toemeka
resigns as a Coalition operative during an interplanetary war, to live
peacefully with her warrior-priest husband, Michio. Her plans are shattered
when she’s abducted by one of Condor’s sorcerers, who’s interested in twisting
her unique abilities to increase his own dark powers.
Michio
is devastated and searches the galaxy to find her. But time is running out for
them—as well as the free world they’ve dedicated their lives to protecting.
After
the sorcerer-conqueror Condor destroys Coalition headquarters, he turns to
annihilating Toemeka and Michio’s home planet.
Will
Michio rescue Toemeka in time for both of them to use their mystical powers to
save their world? Or will their attempts ultimately lead to their deaths?
*****
Book
4: Call of the Wind
Will
a young pilot shot down in occupied territory be executed or overcome
impossible odds and survive?
Living
under the shadow of an interplanetary war, Baymond Kimes’ life is shattered
when his father is shot at a spiritual gathering. He turns to his childhood
friend, Princess Fawniteen, for comfort. Their innocent love blossoms, but when
Fawn’s parents reveal she was betrothed at birth to another, the young couple
is devastated.
Fawn
dutifully accepts her fate, and Baymond escapes at sixteen by joining the
Interplanetary air fleet.
Trained
as a fighter pilot against the forces of a powerful sorcerer-deity, Baymond
grows up fast. Eventually, his aircraft is shot down and he’s captured.
Can
Baymond escape to see Fawniteen again and use his special gifts to save the
galaxy?
If
you like brave heroes, true love, exciting adventures and space battles you’ll love
Call of the Wind.
*****
Book
5: Call of the Eagle
One
reckless decision and now he must face a sinister world conqueror in battle . .
.
During
a time of interplanetary war, Baymond escaped heartbreak by joining the
galactic air fleet. Now he faces death daily while living on a military space
station far from his home planet. His latest assignment is to travel to a
war-torn planet on a reconnaissance mission.
Meanwhile,
Princess Fawniteen is expected to marry Prince Radcliff to form a political
alliance between their countries. But when Radcliff’s father dies, she realizes
she’s still in love with Baymond and wants control over her life.
Fawniteen
breaks off her engagement and travels across the galaxy to be with Baymond. She
joins him on what’s proposed to be a peaceful mission. Instead, they find
themselves cut off from the space station and war erupts.
When
Baymond and Fawniteen become separated, he must face his hardest trial yet when
he’s captured by the enemy when searching for her.
Will
Fawn and Baymond survive their separation by war? Can Baymond draw on his
unique gifts and defeat a powerful sorcerer-deity to save the galaxy?
*****
Book
6: Golden Cord of Light
When
darkness descends can a few courageous heroes save their planet?
Princess
Morisa’s world is turned upside down. She planned to be a priestess living at a
monastery for the rest of her life. But now she’s being sent to a foreign
country and is expected to use her special powers to entice the prince to marry
her. How can she seduce him when it goes against everything she’s been taught?
Prince
Everette is embroiled in the world of politics and rebellion. With his father
leaving for war and his mother ill, he’s the regent ruler and head of the
military. As if that isn’t enough, he’s expected to be polite to the feisty
Princess Morisa, who is staying at the palace for the summer.
Everette
and Morisa’s stormy relationship intensifies as the warring world around them
erupts. Can they put aside their differences long enough to keep the most
dangerous sorcerer in the galaxy from destroying their planet? Or will the
galaxy plunge into darkness?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
ONE:
From
Book 1 Star Rider on the Razor’s Edge, A Space Opera Adventure
Toemeka
raced through the dense, ominous forest, pursued by Talon soldiers and their
vicious hounds. More hounds rushed out from behind trees. Saliva and blood
dripped from their fangs as they growled and stalked her from all directions.
Toemeka
jerked awake, her heart pounding and body shaking. Only a nightmare, she
reassured herself, drawing a deep breath to control the anxiety. She felt awful
- hung over and thickheaded. Not knowing where she was, Toemeka shoved a damp
lock of hair off her aching forehead and sat up. In a nearby berth less than
five feet away lay Michio, sleeping soundly.
Distorted
memories of the previous evening sprung to mind. Hammering music. A snake
slithering around a man’s neck. Rochambeau shot. The smell of a ship burning.
She wasn’t sure what was real and what was an illusion caused by the drug.
Monitors
along one wall dimly lit the room. The low drone of engines and a distinct
vibration suggested she was on a starship or perhaps a space station. Stars and
planets shone as dots of light in the blackness of space when she looked out
the porthole. Most likely a space station with simulated gravity, she decided.
She
pushed the silver space blanket off her clammy body and slid off the berth. Her
bare feet hit the cool floor. She took a soft step, swayed unsteadily and threw
out a hand, pressing it against the wall to regain her balance. Michio’s brown
leather jacket hung from a hook on the wall. She crept quietly towards it in
hopes of finding his energy gun.
Michio
rolled over; she froze. once his breathing became regular again, she thrust her
hand into the jacket pocket. empty, but something heavy clunked against the
wall. Underneath the jacket hung his gun belt. Her hand closed around the solid
handle of a Juggernaut 50, a powerful energy gun; she pulled it from its
holster.
The
berth creaked. She swung around and aimed the Jug 50 at Michio as he leaped out
of the berth. He coiled before her like a huka panther ready to spring,
radiating self-confidence. He had the muscular body of a warrior and seemed
taller and more dangerous than he’d appeared when asleep. He wore nothing but
loose-fitting silk sleeping pants that hugged his taut stomach.
Blast
it! Why did she feel vulnerable when she was the one holding the Jug 50? Then
it hit her. The weapon was of little use because she would never shoot someone
who might be an ally. “Stay where you are!” she exclaimed.
He
studied her with piercing eyes. “I see you’re finally awake.”
She
held out her free hand. “Give me the Viper’s keyless remote.”
He
scowled. “Are you crazy? Do you think I’m just going to let you steal my ship
and leave me stranded in space?”
“I’m
sure you know someone who will come get you. Now give me the remote or I’ll
blast a hole in your thigh.” Feeling weak and nauseated, she locked her knees,
afraid her strength would give out.
“So
this is what I get for risking my life to rescue you.” His stance remained
guarded.
“If
you were rescuing me, you won’t mind taking me back to my apartment.”
He
shook his head. “It’s no longer safe for you there.”
“I’ll
decide what’s safe and what isn’t.”
“Fine,”
he snapped, “but I need to get dressed before we go anywhere.” He reached for
his clothes hanging on the hook behind her.
“Stay
back. I’ll hand them to you.”
“Don’t
push me. And put the Jug 50 away before one of us gets hurt.”
“Not
likely.” She kept the gun trained on him, then turned to snatch his clothes off
the hook.
He
sprang, knocking her backwards, slamming her right arm against the wall. The
gun discharged with a flare of light as it flew out of her hand and onto a
berth. She pushed against his unyielding chest.
He
pinned her against the wall. “Now will you listen to reason?” His eyes flared
with fury.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUEST
POST:
The
Craziest Thing I’ve Done in the Name of Research
When
writing Star Rider on the Razor’s Edge, the first book in my Star Rider Series,
I wrote a scene where the main character, Toemeka, an undercover operative, had
to parachute out of an aircraft into enemy territory. I wanted to write the
scene authentically, so when my daughter gave me the gift of a parachute jump,
I went for it.
My
daughter, her husband, and I arrived at a small airport and we all received
instructions on how to parachute. I chose to do a tandem jump. That means a
skilled jumper is strapped in back of you, so it requires less training.
I
changed into one-piece flight suit and put on a helmet and goggles, then we
took off in a small plane. I sat next to the door on the floor where the roar
of the engines made it hard to talk. When we were over the jump spot, the
instructor asked if I wanted to do a flip. I said, “Yes!” We jumped out and did
a couple of rolls, then floated down peacefully. The free fall felt wonderfully
like flying.
Finally,
I pulled the cord and we jerked to a slower speed as the parachute opened.
Rocking beneath the chute, we glided down to the landing stop, using the shroud
lines to guide us. After successfully landing, I turned to watch my daughter
and her husband sail down. I had to laugh when I saw the plastered-back skin on
their faces. Mine probably looked the same.
When
I wrote the scene in the book, I decided to make it more exciting by adding
dangerous elements. Such as making it a high-altitude night jump and making one
of the four jumpers less experienced. And despite the darkness, Toemeka and her
friends could be spotted and shot down or attacked by vicious dragon-like
creatures.
To
make it even more of a challenge, Toemeka’s shroud lines get crossed and the
parachute can’t open correctly. She has to cut that chute free and pull the
ripcord of the emergency chute. She lands roughly in a meadow. The last team member
out of the aircraft misses the landing site and gets hung up in the trees. Her
chute has to be cut down.
When
writing action scenes, I don’t just consider the action but the character’s
feelings and reactions to the situation. So to make the scene even more tense,
two of the characters get into an argument after they landed.
One
parachute jump was enough for me though I was happy to have had the experience.
More than that, I was thrilled to be able to write the scene more accurately.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR
BIO:
Heidi
Skarie is the author of the Sci-Fi, Space Opera series The Star Rider Universe.
The sixth book in the series, Golden Cord of Light is a new release and the
seventh is coming out in 2024. She was inspired to write Star Rider on the
Razor’s Edge after having a series of six dreams that was like watching a
movie.
Heidi
Skarie loves writing and creating stories. She especially enjoys writing
science fiction and fantasy because it allows for creativity, imagination, and
freedom of ideas. All inventions come from a feeling or dream of possibilities
that can later manifest like computers, cell phones, zoom calls, and
self-driving cars. She vividly remembers
the amazing day when Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon and the
possibility of space travel became a reality.
Skarie
teaches classes on writing and has spoken on podcasts, radio, and television.
She
lives in Minnetonka, MN with her husband, Jim, and their cat, Lucky. To find out more about her journey as a
writer visit her website and blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONNECT
WITH HEIDI:
Website/Blog:
http://www.heidiskarieauthor.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/heidi.skarie
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/HeidiSkarie
Pinterest:
http://www.pinterest.com/heidiskarie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
INFO:
Heidi will be awarding a $20
Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
**This
post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may
receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just
helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome
giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored
by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish
Promotions. Prizes are given away by the
sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish
Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
