Imagine a starheart

Imagine a starheart - that's what the Ptorix call them, the windows of the soul. In my story, they're created on a moon orbiting a gas giant. Geysers spew material from the moon's molten interior onto the frozen surface. The geysers bring with them an alien life form trapped inside molten silica. If it can be collected before the stuff freezes too much the life form stays alive, trapped in its silicon bubble.

That is a starheart.

I've recently discovered that scientists are searching for life in the geysers of Saturn's moon, Enceladus.

I don't think they'll find any starhearts, but I was right chuffed to think I'd come up with something plausible. Read all about it here.

As with any fabulous jewel, many people covet them - both Ptorix and humans and that's the background to this story. 

 

Freighter Captain Jess Sondijk thought she had her life under control until Confederacy Admiral Hudson stops her ship in search of contraband. Although he’s taken with the lovely Jess, Hudson’s after bigger fish than a small-time smuggler; somebody’s trading with the alien Ptorix – and offering them a large enough prize to induce them to part with their beloved starhearts, the jewels they call the windows of the soul.

Hudson’s questions open old wounds for Jess. She decides to investigate the circumstances of her husband’s not-so-accidental death. Soon her life’s headed into an increasingly dangerous spiral – for her, her friends, and her family.

Only Hudson can help. But in this deadly game of political intrigue, murder, and greed, one false step will cause inter-species war. Hudson is forced to make difficult choices – Jess, starhearts, war, and his commission.

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Space Opera/ Science Fiction Romance. Features non-humanoid aliens and some non-specific sex scenes. There’s action adventure and politics.

Snippet:

This is at the beginning of the book, when Jess is taken on board Hudson't battle cruiser for interrogation.

The admiral stopped in front of her, still staring. "What have we here, Lieutenant?"

The look in his eye sent a sexy shimmy down her spine. No prizes for guessing what was on his mind right now. And under different circumstances, she wouldn't mind. No, not at all.

"Captain and First Officer of a suspicious ship, Sir. The Saintly Maid. They're here for interrogation."

Jess widened her eyes. "Suspicious ship? Oh, really, Lieutenant, you must have mistaken the Maid for some other vessel."

The admiral grinned. The transit car the senior commander had summoned arrived with a gentle ping. The captain and the senior commander both had their bodies pointed toward the open door but the admiral lingered, gazing down at her.

"Delightful to meet you, Captain…?"

"Sondijk .And equally delightful to meet you, Admiral…?"

"Hudson. Ullric Hudson."

She gave him a long, hard once-over, her gaze traveling slowly down his body and back up to his eyes. "Welcome to Nordheim, Admiral Hudson."

He chuckled, jerked his head down in a brief nod and followed the two officers into the transit.