Author Guest Post with Heidi Skarie: The Star Rider Universe Series

Can a small band of heroes save their world from a ruthless interplanetary conqueror?

Welcome to one of the August 31st stops on the blog tour for The Star Rider Universe Series by Heidi Skarie with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

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.

Author Guest Post

My Writing Space – By Heidi Skarie

My writing space is a gift. I feel fortunate to have an office. I didn’t always and I learned to write any place, such as at my children’s soccer practice or flute lessons. My children have left home now and I have an office where I have a laptop hooked up to a keyboard and large monitor. I also have a laser printer and a colored printer. On a shelf on my desk, I have a three-ringed notebook for each book with all the information on publishing and promotion. I also have a notebook to keep a record of my bi-monthly newsletters.

On the credenza behind my desk, there is a bookshelf with books on marketing and the art and craft of writing. On the top of the credenza, is a shelf that displays all my books with the cover out.

On my wall, is a photo of another writer with a pen in his hand and a painting I did for one of my covers. I also have a vision board with inspirational quotes and symbolic pictures. On my file cabinet I have a quote by Marianne Williamson.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.”

This quote reminds me to believe in myself as a writer and to move beyond my fears.

I usually keep a glass of water or a cup of tea handy, but I never have snacks because I don’t want crumbs messing up my keyboard. I also don’t want to put on pounds mindlessly eating.

My cat likes to join me when I’m writing. It’s a bit of a problem because he stands on the keys, wants to be petted, and drools on my pages. Still, he brings a lot of love.

Here is a picture of my cat, Lucky, sitting on my notebook.

I don’t always work at my desk. Sometimes I write at the kitchen table or in the back bedroom where I have a desk that faces the window. It’s a place where I can just be creative. There aren’t any bills waiting to be paid or business that needs to be done and I can focus on my writing. A change of location is also helpful to see errors when editing.

I’m also blessed to have a cabin in the woods where my husband and I go. It’s not near a lake, so we don’t have any neighbors and it’s very quiet. I need quiet to write and rarely write with music playing. My desk there looks over the woods and I have had the fortune of seeing fawns playing right outside my window.

Below is a photo of my writing place at our cabin.

As you can tell, I like to write in a variety of places. Each place has a benefit and sometimes having a new place helps me come up with unique story ideas. But the most important aspect of writing is not where you write but that you stay consistent and write regularly honing your craft and coming up with new story ideas.

About the Books

Star Rider on the Razor’s Edge
Star Rider Book One
by Heidi Skari

Published 15 December 2014
Blue Star Visions

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 374
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

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.

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Star Rider and the Golden Threads
Star Rider Book Two
by Heidi Skarie

Published 1 September 2018
Blue Star Visions

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 415
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

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?

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Excerpt

They started back down the mountain in silence. At a scenic over-look, Toemeka and Erling walked to the edge of the cliff to enjoy the view of the colorful valley. Heavy-hearted, Koriann watched them from the path, feeling the burden of being a Marsindi.

“Look an eagle,” Toemeka said, pointing to it.

Koriann started to move closer for a look when a shot rang out. Toemeka gasped in pain and lost her balance. As she fell forward, Erling tried to grab her arm, but it slipped from his grasp as she tumbled over the edge of the cliff.

Erling instinctively grabbed Koriann and pulled her behind a boulder, his thoughts on Toemeka. Where was she shot? How far did she fall? He wanted to go after her, but the Queen was his first priority. He hit the call button on his watch transmitter.      

“Major Fenian to Captain Orneil, code one. Agent down.”

“Acknowledged. Location?”

“Blue Ridge lookout point. Over.” He thrust the handle of his blaster into Koriann’s hand. “Stay hidden. I’m going to see what I can do to help Toemeka.”

“Do you think she’s dead?” Her eyes were wide with shock.

“I don’t know.”

He started to move away and she grabbed his arm. “Don’t go out there. You’ll be shot, too.”

“I’ll be careful.” He ran from behind the boulder, expecting to be shot at any moment. When no shots rang out, he suspected the sniper had taken off. Reaching the edge of the cliff, he looked over. Toemeka lay motionless on a ledge about six feet below. Blood seeped from a wound on her left shoulder. His heart hammered in his chest. Let her be alive.

Star Rider and Bonds of Love
Star Rider Book Three
by Heidi Skarie

Published 15 April 2021
Blue Star Visions

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 427
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

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?

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Call of the Wind
Star Rider Book Four
by Heidi Skarie

Published 18 January 2022
Blue Star Visions

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 336
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

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.

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Call of the Eagle
Star Rider Book Five
by Heidi Skarie

Published 1 August 2022
Blue Star Visions

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 338
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

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?

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Golden Cord of Light
Star Rider Book Six
by Heidi Skarie

Published 17 June 2023
Blue Star Visions

Genre: Science Fiction
Page Count: 422
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

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?

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

About the Author

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.

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Giveaway Alert!

The author will award a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

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