I grew up watching captains like Kirk, Picard, Janeway, Sisko, and Adama.

Were they perfect? No.

They made mistakes. They carried scars. They doubted themselves. But when everything fell apart, they stood up and took responsibility. They protected people. They led.

Somewhere along the way, that kind of hero became surprisingly rare.

Today, many stories seem more interested in tearing heroes down than building them up. Leadership is often treated as a flaw. Competence is mistaken for arrogance. Self-sacrifice is met with cynicism. In fact, cynicism and deconstruction seem to be goal of modern storytelling.

I miss captains who inspired people. I miss captains who made me want to be better. I miss captains who carried impossible burdens because nobody else could.

That’s one of the reasons I created Captain Leo Ananda.

The Kind of Hero I Wanted to Read About

Leo isn’t perfect. He’s far too stubborn and emotionally guarded. Comically terrible at talking about any kind of feelings.

When life hurts him, his first instinct is to build another wall around his heart and ensure it never happens again.

But he never stops trying to do the right thing.

When danger comes, he meets it with excitement. When responsibility arrives, he accepts it. When his crew needs him, he shows up. Every time.

Even when he’s afraid of losing everything. Even when he has to face his demons.

To me, courage has never meant being fearless. Courage is making the difficult choice when you’re terrified.

It’s standing between danger and the people you love. It’s carrying burdens nobody sees because someone has to. That’s the kind of captain Leo tries to be.

He loves his ship, and he loves his crew, whether or not he admits it.

Leadership Isn’t About Power

One of my favorite things about classic science fiction captains is that they rarely led through force.

They led through trust.

People followed Picard because he earned their respect. They followed Janeway because she never asked others to bear a burden she wouldn’t carry herself. They followed Adama because they knew he would never abandon them. Kirk is just too ‘Kirk” not to follow.

The same is true aboard the Pegasus.

Leo’s crew isn’t loyal because of rank insignia. They’re loyal because he gave the galaxy’s misfits a second chance. He expects more from them. And he gets it and more. He gets the family he lost.

Because the greatest danger Leo faces isn’t the alien invasion threatening the galaxy.

It’s the belief that everyone he loves will be taken away in fire.

The Heroes We Need

I don’t think people are tired of heroes. I think they’re hungry for them.

We want human heroes with struggle and flaws who fail occasionally, yes, but we CRAVE heroes that get back up anyway.

The kind who protect others when it would be easier not to. The kind who teach us to hold on a little longer because it will be worth it in the end.

This is the captain’s vow.

And it’s why I still love captains. Because at their best, they remind us who we want to be.

I love writing Leo. This is why.

He’s brave enough to charge into danger. Loyal enough to sacrifice everything for his crew. And wounded enough to believe the role of hero and leader is always a lonely one.

At least until a certain first officer starts challenging that belief.

If You Miss Great Captains Too...

The Starship Pegasus Adventures was written for readers who still believe in courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and hope.

For readers who miss the feeling of standing on a starship bridge beside people they trust.

For readers who love heroes who inspire rather than cynically deconstruct.

For readers who, like me, still get a little emotional when they think about the captains who came before.

If that sounds like you, I’d love to invite you aboard.

Sign up below, and I’ll send you the first four chapters of Captain’s Vow free.

The Pegasus is waiting.

Get 4 Chapters Free

Learn more…

The Starship Pegasus Reading Guide

Meet the Crew of the Pegasus

You know what is completely irresistible?

Two people pretending to be in love. Two people insisting it means absolutely nothing. Two people who are obviously fooling everyone except themselves.

Now add a starship. Add an interstellar war.

And strange horrors lurking between the stars.

Suddenly, things get very interesting.

I’ve loved fake marriage stories for years because they force emotionally guarded people into exactly the situation they’re least prepared to handle: intimacy.

Not physical intimacy. Emotional intimacy. The kind that sneaks up on you.

The kind that arrives disguised as shared responsibilities, private jokes, late-night conversations, and a growing awareness that one particular person matters far more than they should.

Space opera makes that dynamic even better because everything is bigger in space. The missions are bigger. The dangers are bigger. The sacrifices are bigger. And the emotions feel bigger too.

A political marriage isn’t just awkward; it might determine the fate of entire worlds.

A shared cabin isn’t merely inconvenient. It means spending every day beside the one person you’re trying very hard not to think about.

A fake kiss isn’t just a fake kiss. It’s a problem. A very large problem. Especially when you start wanting another one.

That’s why I had so much fun writing Captain Leo Ananda and Commander Alice Chateau in Captain’s Vow.

Leo is a brave starship captain who buried his past trauma beneath duty.

Alice is a brilliant first officer carrying secrets she believes could hurt everyone she loves.

Neither of them wants a relationship. Neither of them is looking for romance. Both of them have far more important things to worry about.

Naturally, the galaxy decides they should get married. For political reasons, of course.

The best fake marriage stories are never really about pretending. They’re about watching two people slowly become important to each other before either one realizes what’s happening.

One act of trust at a time. One sacrifice at a time. One impossible mission at a time.

That’s the part that gets me every single time. Beneath all the tension and banter, fake marriage stories are surprisingly hopeful.

They’re about lonely people finding connection. They’re about trust. They’re about discovering home in another person.

If two stubborn people can find each other while dodging alien invasions, navigating political disasters, and trying not to get eaten by cosmic space sharks, then maybe there’s hope for the rest of us too.

That’s the emotional heart of the Starship Pegasus Adventures.

Fake marriage. Found family. Slow-burn romance. Dangerous missions. Heroic captains. Haunted commanders. A galaxy that seems determined to make everything as complicated as possible.

If that sounds like your kind of adventure, I’d love to invite you aboard.

You can grab the first four chapters of Captain’s Vow free below and decide for yourself whether fake marriage was a terrible idea.

Spoiler alert: It absolutely was. For Leo and Alice, anyway.

Get 4 Chapters Free

I love starships but not because of the engines. Not because of the technology. Not even because of the adventures, though they are all great.

I love starships because of the people.

My favorite science fiction stories have never really been about exploring strange new worlds. They’ve been about strangers becoming family.

A captain who would do anything for their crew. An engineer who pretends not to care but always shows up when it matters. A doctor who keeps everyone stitched together. A scientist who becomes the crew’s grandfather.

The young officer trying to find his place. The security chief everyone trusts when things go wrong.

Different backgrounds. Different species. Different histories.

One family.

That’s the magic.

I think that’s why starship crew stories resonate so deeply.

Life doesn’t always give us the people we need. Sometimes we find them. Sometimes they find us.

Sometimes they arrive disguised as coworkers, neighbors, teammates, or complete strangers.

Then one day you realize you would do almost anything for them. The crew of the Pegasus started that way.

Captain Leo Ananda certainly never intended to build a family. After losing his own when he was young, he convinced himself that duty was safer than attachment.

Responsibilities couldn’t die. Missions couldn’t leave. Starships couldn’t break your heart.

Only people do that.

So Leo did what many wounded people do. He built walls. Then he accidentally surrounded himself with the galaxy’s most lovable collection of misfits.

A rebellious alien engineer with a talent for trouble. A brilliant first officer who carries secret abilities and burdens. A security chief who believes protecting people is the highest calling. A scientist who keeps proving that heroism has no expiration date.

A bold teenager who refuses to be ignored. A crew that somehow becomes stronger because none of them quite fit anywhere else.

That’s the beautiful thing about found family. Nobody earns membership by being perfect. They belong because they show up.

A family isn’t built during celebrations. It’s built during crises. It’s built when someone chooses to stand up, or stay present.

One of my favorite things about writing the Starship Pegasus Adventures is watching those bonds form.

Watching people who begin as colleagues become something more. Watching trust grow. Watching sacrifice become second nature. Watching lonely people slowly realize they aren’t alone anymore.

Beneath the starship battles, alien invasions, political conspiracies, and cosmic mysteries, that’s what this series is really about.

Finding your people and holding onto them.

Discovering that family isn’t always the one you’re born into. Sometimes it’s the one you choose.

Or perhaps the one that chooses you.

If you love found family crews, heroic captains, slow-burn relationships, and characters who would cross a galaxy for each other, I’d love to invite you aboard the Pegasus.

You can grab the first four chapters of Captain’s Vow free below.

The crew is waiting.

Get 4 Chapters Free

Learn more…

The Starship Pegasus Reading Guide

Meet the Crew of the Pegasus

The missions, battles, mysteries, and explosions may get us aboard a story, but it’s the characters who convince us to stay. It’s the characters that make us flip pages past the troop movements and political intrigue to get to the next “will he kiss her?” scene.

So if you’re wondering whether the Starship Pegasus Adventures might be for you, let me introduce you to the crew.

Captain Leo Ananda

Leo is the kind of captain you’d follow into a black hole. Brave. Decisive. Loyal to a fault.

He’s also completely incapable of putting himself first.

After losing his family when he was young, Leo built walls around his heart and buried himself in duty. Protect the crew. Complete the mission. Never get too close.

It’s a strategy that works beautifully, until he meets Commander Alice Chateau.

Leo is the steady center of the Pegasus. The person everyone trusts when things go wrong.

The problem is that he never extends that same kindness to himself.

If you love heroic captains, wounded protectors, and men who would sacrifice everything for their people, Leo might become your favorite character.

Commander Alice Chateau

Alice is the smartest person in almost every room she enters. She hates that people notice.

Quiet, observant, and fiercely compassionate, Alice carries burdens she never intended to share with anyone. She spends much of her life protecting other people from dangers they can’t see and secrets they don’t know she carries. Including the strange powers that make her one of the most dangerous people in the galaxy.

Alice believes distance keeps people safe. Unfortunately, the universe keeps putting her in situations that require connection. Especially with one stubborn captain who refuses to stop caring about her.

If you love capable heroines, hidden depths, and characters who quietly carry the weight of the world, Alice is for you.

Chief Engineer Revvic Orn

Ah yes. Revvic. The rebel. Every crew needs one.

Revvic Orn is brilliant, sarcastic, rebellious, and has a long history of making authority figures regret speaking to him.

His engineering skills keep the Pegasus flying. His decision-making skills occasionally make everyone else question their life choices.

Underneath the attitude, however, is one of the most loyal people aboard the ship.

The problem? Causal acquaintances never get close enough to discover that.

Then he falls in love with the one person who sees through every defense he has.

Which brings us to...

Doctor Sira Bellis

Sira Bellis is sunshine wrapped in a lab coat.

Her kindness and compassion are matched by her intelligent.

She sees the best in people even when they don’t see it themselves. Especially when they don’t see it themselves.

While Revvic tries to convince the galaxy he doesn’t care about anyone, Sira quietly recognizes the man hiding behind the reputation.

Their relationship became one of my favorite parts of the series to write.

If you enjoy Beauty and the Beast romances, these two may steal your heart.

Security Marshal Max Attar

Every ship needs someone who keeps everyone alive.

That’s Max.

A decorated war hero, security chief, husband, and father, Max approaches danger with calm professionalism and unwavering courage.

When things go wrong, Max doesn’t panic. He gets to work. His greatest strength isn’t his combat ability. It’s his conviction that people are worth protecting.

Professor Alfred “Duster” James

Duster is proof that heroes don’t come with expiration dates.

A scientist, professor, grandfather, and occasional source of chaos, he often finds himself underestimated by those around him. Sometimes, he even surprises himself.

Beneath the absent-minded humor is a brilliant mind and a surprising amount of courage.

Some of my favorite scenes in the series belong to him.

Why Readers Stay

The Starship Pegasus Adventures has alien invasions, ancient mysteries, starship battles, fake marriages, and galaxy-spanning threats.

But at its heart, it’s about people.

A crew that becomes family. A captain learning how to let people in. A commander learning she doesn’t have to carry everything alone. A rebel engineer discovering love.

A group of imperfect heroes who refuse to quit when the odds say they should.

If that sounds like your kind of adventure, I’d love to invite you aboard.

Sign up below and I’ll send you the first four chapters of Captain’s Vow for free.

The Pegasus always has room for one more crew member.

Get 4 Chapters Free

If you love starships, impossible choices, found family crews, and romances that take their sweet time, you’re in the right place.

Welcome aboard the Starship Pegasus.

The Starship Pegasus Adventures is a five-book space opera series filled with interstellar war, ancient mysteries, alien worlds, and characters who discover that saving the galaxy is sometimes easier than opening their hearts.

At the center of the story is Captain Leo Ananda, a decorated officer with a simple plan: protect his crew, win the war, and never get emotionally attached to anyone.

Unfortunately for him, the galaxy has other ideas.

When political tensions force him into a fake marriage with his brilliant first officer, Commander Alice Chateau, life takes an unexpected turn.

Fake vows. Real feelings. Galactic consequences.

What You’ll Find in This Series

🚀 Fake Marriage in Space

A political alliance requires Leo and Alice to present themselves as a happily married couple.

The problem?

Neither of them is good at sharing their feelings. Or their secrets. Or their thoughts.

Alice is hiding a dangerous truth even she doesn’t fully understand. Truths that could change everything.

❤️ Slow Burn Romance

If you enjoy romances that develop over multiple books, where every glance, sacrifice, and moment of trust matters, this series was written for you.

No insta-love or rushed relationships here. Just good ol’ fashioned stubborn people slowly realizing they matter far more to each other than either is willing to admit.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family Starship Crew

The Pegasus isn’t just a ship. It’s a home.

Its crew includes grumpy engineers, cheerful doctors, scientists, security officers, diplomats, and misfits from across the galaxy who become something stronger than a military unit.

They become family.

And families are worth fighting for.

🌹👸 Beauty and the Beast Romance

While Leo and Alice navigate fake vows and growing feelings, another romance blooms aboard ship.

Chief Engineer Revvic Orn is a rebellious alien mechanic with gray skin, scales, a permanent disciplinary record, and absolutely no talent for following rules.

Dr. Sira Bellis is kind, optimistic, compassionate, and far too good for him.

Naturally, he falls in love with her.

Watching those two figure it out may be one of my favorite parts of the series.

🌌 Cosmic Mystery and Alien Horror

Beyond the romance lies a growing threat.

The parasitic alien force known as the Crell is spreading across the galaxy, infecting minds and twisting entire civilizations to its will.

Something even darker lurks in the cosmos. Something ancient that only Alice can see.

As the danger grows, the crew of the Pegasus will discover that some mysteries are older than time itself.

And some wars can only be fought inside the mind.

Where Should You Start?

Start with Book One: Captain’s Vow.

That’s where you’ll meet Leo, Alice, Revvic, Sira, and the crew of the Pegasus as they stumble into a conspiracy that will change the fate of the galaxy.

You’ll find fake marriage tension, found family adventures, dangerous missions, alien politics, slow-burn romance, and plenty of starship action.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll soon find yourself wondering what happens next.

Ready to Come Aboard?

I’ve made the first four chapters of Captain’s Vow available free for new readers.

Click the link below, and I’ll send them directly to your inbox.

Your journey aboard the Pegasus starts here.

Get 4 Chapters Free

Every great space adventure needs a crew worth rooting for. From a captain carrying too much responsibility to an alien engineer who insists people in love are idiots, the Pegasus is filled with heroes, misfits, and found family.

Meet the Crew of the Pegasus.

To celebrate the upcoming release of Infection Zone on June 16, both Book One, Captain’s Vow, and Book Two are available right now for just $0.99.

If you’ve been waiting to start the Starship Pegasus Adventures, this is the perfect time to jump aboard.

In Infection Zone, everything is about to escalate.

The mysterious Crell infection is spreading across the galaxy. Entire populations may already be compromised. Captain Leo Ananda and Commander Alice Chateau are pulled deeper into a conspiracy that threatens the alliance itself. Every time Alice uses her telepathic abilities, something hunts her from the darkness between dimensions.

Every mind is a battlefield. Hers may destroy them all.

Inside find more:
• Found family space opera
• Slow-burn romance/more fake marriage fun
• Creeping psychological horror
• Ancient cosmic mysteries
• Action, humor, and galactic stakes

📖 Captain’s Vow — $0.99

Get Captain's Vow

📖 Infection Zone preorder — $0.99 for a limited time

Get Infection Zone

After preorder ends, Infection Zone will return to its regular price of $3.99.

Thank you so much for supporting this series and helping the Pegasus crew continue their journey. I can’t wait for you to see what’s coming next.

Nikki Root

—INCOMING TRANSMISSION—

SOURCE: MAP Command
CLASSIFICATION: Questionably Stable

MAP command has authorized you to receive confidential intel. Stand by. The signal is weak. Compensating for spatial inference. Recalibrating telemetry. Scanning for Crell contamination. Results: unknown.

Signal acquired.
Patching through now…

—END TRANSMISSION—

I have been informed (firmly and with increasing concern) that this book MUST launch in June.

Failure to comply will result in:

• Immediate loss of MAP commission

• Revocation of access to cryogenically frozen med-lab ice cream

• And permanent “definitely not important” waste dispeller cleaning duty

Which, to be fair, isn’t the worst outcome.

Chief Engineer Revvic Orn says it’s not so bad once you get used to the smell.
And by used to, he means you start to develop a flexible definition of ‘air quality.’

So yes. Stakes are high. But it’s okay. The intrepid crew of the Pegasus will not disappoint.

👋 New Crew Members

Welcome aboard to the new subscribers who have joined through the Book Funnel and Substack bryll drop points.

You’ve been officially added to the crew manifest. Get ready for a mission involving:

✅ An adventurous and competent captain with the perfect amount of galactic luck
✅A telepath who absolutely did not sign up for any of this
✅An alien threat that doesn’t just spread… it learns
✅And, of course, a fake marriage that is definitely just for political reasons and will not spiral in any way whatsoever

You’re in the right place.

If all goes according to plan, Infection Zone lands in June.

If not… you’ll find me cleaning waste dispellers and handing Revvic tools while pretending I know what I’m doing.

Keep dreaming. Keep exploring. Never stop looking up. 🌠

Nikki Root
Call sign: Plot Weaver

While normal humans have been spring cleaning, I’ve been aggressively rearranging fictional space debris. Book Two of the Starship Pegasus Adventures has officially hit the halfway turning point, which means the emotional damage is about to escalate.

I’m ridiculously excited about this one. I originally planned a later release, but with the progress I’ve been making, there’s a real chance the timeline gets… light speeded. (MAP Command refuses to confirm or deny until further edits are complete.)

As a small preview, here’s a glimpse of concept art for Infection Zone. Let’s just say, the battle is heating up, alliances are shifting, and certain characters are not having a calm, restful time.

New jobs are…”character building”

In other news, real life continues to exist.

The new job is going. In this wild job market, I’m genuinely grateful to have something that pays the bills and funds the writing habit. It does, however, subscribe to the ancient life rule:

You either have the means but not the time or the time but not the means.

Still, no matter how chaotic things get on Earth, the crew of the Pegasus isn’t going anywhere. Their story matters too much to me (and to many of you) not to see it through. So, while I “build character” I’ll use it as fuel to destroy some fictional ones. 😂😂

In the meantime…

While I finish editing and lightly torment Leo and Alice (for plot reasons, obviously), I’ve joined another curated promo full of free sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal reads.

I plan to download a few myself because one of the perks of being an author is having an ever-growing TBR pile that threatens structural integrity.

If you’re in the mood to discover a new world or two, you can browse the collection here: 👉 Free Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Paranormal Reads

As always, thank you for being here. Watching this little corner of the galaxy grow toward 300 (and beyond!) has been incredibly encouraging.

Happy reading, fellow space opera fans.

From a quiet nook on Mars Colony,
Nikki Root
Call Sign: Plot Weaver

Since most of you are already part of the Pegasus crew, I wanted to share with you more books in the same niche.

I’m part of a FREE sci-fi & fantasy giveaway called Destined Journeys: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Adventures with a Touch of Romance, and while Captain’s Vow is included, that’s honestly not the reason I’m excited about it.

This is one of those collections where I’ve already flagged several books to download myself.

The theme leans into the kinds of stories many of us love:

• long journeys that change the characters

• found family and complicated loyalties

• a touch of romance that deepens the stakes

• PG-13 vibes — emotional connection without explicit content

If you’re in the mood this February for discovering new worlds and a bit of romance without committing to a full-price buy, this is a lovely place to browse.

You can explore the full giveaway here:
👉 Browse the Destined Journeys free reads

Just good stories and a chance to find your next favorite author. Plus, if you don’t have Captain’s Vow yet, this a great way to grab it for free.

Happy Valentines Day,
Nikki Root
Call Sign: Plot Weaver

P.S. If you grab anything and end up loving it, hit reply and tell me. I’m always curious what resonates with you.

The most wonderful time of the year is here again.

Yes, that’s right, the Based Book Black Friday Extravaganza is back!

Go to Based Book Sale

🌠I love this sale more than any other in the galaxy🌠

These are the best indie books out there, for the best price you will ever get them at. I’ve picked up so many gems in this sale, and I can’t wait to browse the inventory this year.

This sale makes me embody the lyric “shopper rushing home with treasures,” or, in this case, curling up with my Kindle and some hot chocolate ☕︎

You can pick up Captain’s Vow, my new release, for .99¢. Spend some time with heroic Captain Leo Ananda and haunted telepath Commander Alice Chateau as they hunt shadow monsters, navigate intergalactic politics, and banter with their misfit crew on an adventure through the stars.

This is what happens when their journey takes them to Santa’s Workshop 👇👇👇

Go to Based Book Sale

Captain’s Vow is bryll-dropping in for just .99 cents, and the Pegasus isn’t flying solo!

I’ve teamed up with a fleet of talented space opera authors for a special gathering of instersteller stories. Your mission: explore the list and find your next great space saga (or ten!).

Get My Next Great Read!

The Starship Pegasus has officially launched—and now only YOU can help with the next phase of the mission.

If you enjoyed Captain’s Vow, would you take one minute to leave a quick review on Amazon? ⭐ Even just “I liked this book!” makes a huge difference, especially for us indie authors. Reviews are how new readers discover the Pegasus, and they keep the engines running for the next four adventures. 🚀

No long essays needed, just your honest thoughts.

Leave Your Review

To thank you, here’s a personal salute to you from Captain Leo and Commander Alice:

Your words help more than you know. Together, we’ll make sure Pegasus keeps flying high.

With Gratitude from the Galaxy,
Nikki Root
Plot Weaver aboard the Pegasus

Based Book Sale!

Trust me, Trad pub aren’t the books you’ve been looking for… based books are!

Wait, wait, I’m not done yet. If you click the link to the sale…

That’s good…

May the force be with your TBR as your Kindle is stuffed with wonder and magic!

Before we get to that, a reminder that you still have a few more days to get the ebook for just .99₵. As of today, you can also grab it in glorious hardback or paperback.

Get Captain's Vow

The Trifecta

As many of you know, I’m an avid collector of comic book trading cards. I have huge binders full of them (including a special Batman “hologram” card I’m particularly fond of). That makes the trifecta of my nerdy obsessions: starships, the 1950s, and trading cards. You’re officially part of the collection now.

I present to you the crew of Captain’s Vow re-imaged as 1950s pin-up poster trading cards, retro sci-fi vibes and all.

Get to Know the Crew

Captain Ananda - Space diplomacy? Later. Kicking plasma weasels off his ship. Now. Favorite quote: “I heard you might be in need of a cup of sarcastic sunshine, so here I am.”

Commander Chateau - A born diplomat. Calm, restrained, and terrible at picking boyfriends.
Favorite quote: “When this goes wrong, I’m haunting the med lab first.”

Chief Revvic - Loves engines. Hates rules. Chronic discipline problem? He doesn’t think so.
Favorite quote: “Maybe if you stopped making stupid decisions, I wouldn’t have to point them out.”

Dr. Bellis - Doesn’t understand how ‘mad scientist’ is not a compliment. Loves a good conga line.
Favorite quote: “Should I leave you two alone with the microscope?”

Together, they’re one fake marriage away from saving—or dooming—the galaxy.

Begin the adventure today!

Get Captain's Vow

I’m over the intergalactic space station to share with you… Captain’s Vow is now up for ebook pre-order for just .99¢! This is my thank you for all your encouragement, excitement, and friendship along the way.

Grab Captain's Vow for .99¢

When the proof copies arrived this week, I geeked out hard. The hardback, especially, turned out great. KDP nailed it. Holding these books in my hands for the first time felt like flying at extra-luminal speed through the stars.

Captain’s Vow is the result of long hours, late nights, and a lot of love. Best part? It’s just the beginning. Four more action-packed, romance-filled adventures are on the way.

A Few “Firsts” I’m Excited About

💬My first early ARC review for Captain’s Vow:

🖋First editorial review from the amazing folks at Periapsis Press.

They reviewed my first novel, Taming of the Fire Sword, with thoughtful insight that made my day. I’m so honored to be featured alongside their other stellar recommendations. Thank you, Periapsis Press and Katie!

What’s Next

Captain’s Vow launches Sept 1 in ebook, paperback, and hardback.

Until then, tell me how your summer went! Hit reply or leave a comment. I love hearing from you.

Captain’s Vow is a slow-burn sci-fi space opera set against the backdrop of a galaxy on fire. Think Battlestar Galactica meets the fake marriage trope with telepaths, trauma, and a reluctant hero you just might fall for. (Cover reveal below)

He’s a guarded Fleet captain with ghosts in his past.
She’s a powerful telepath hunted by creatures no one else can see.
They enter a fake marriage to save the galaxy—what could possibly go wrong?

Captain Leo Ananda lives by his vows: protect the crew, win the war, never get too close. But when Command forces him into a fake marriage with his haunted first officer, everything begins to unravel.

Commander Alice Chateau has no patience for fake vows or emotional entanglements, not when her mind is under siege by alien monsters no one else can sense.

Thrown together on a high-stakes mission, Leo and Alice must fake their way through a marriage neither of them wants… and a connection neither of them can ignore.

Cosmic battles. Telepathic secrets. One unforgettable fake kiss.

Captain’s Vow is the first book in a five-part space opera series full of war, wit, loyalty, and longing. Clean but intense. Emotional but action-packed.

🔹 I’m looking for early reviewers who love:

• Slow-burn, emotionally rich sci-fi

• Found family on starships

• Broken characters who can’t stop saving each other

• Romance without spice but plenty of tension

• Star Trek vibes with a modern voice

If that’s you, reply to this email or sign up below to get your free advance copy and help me bring this galaxy to life.

But in all their edgy glory they miss the key element – the feeling of wonder.

For example, those new post-fun books that follow unlikable characters through endless descriptions of unpleasant worlds.

What’s more, you are paying top dollar for these isolating and soul-crushing fantasy realities.

After all, why should they care if you are left depressed and annoyed so long as they are trendy, edgy and winning awards.

What if you’re tired of trendy and edgy and instead need that feeling of wonder so rare in today’s sci-fi/fantasy world?

Book Your Ticket

Here is your dreamer’s ticket: a space opera I spent eight years writing just for the purpose of inspiring wonder.

In a minute, I’ll give you the link to the $2.99 ebook, so you can try it for yourself without paying top dollar just to be depressed.

I promise if you read Taming of the Fire Sword you will feel delighted and uplifted and not miserable and gloomy.

Okay. Now, I have to geek out a little. I don’t mind. And it’s necessary – so you know that my ebook…which is only $2.99… is going to feed your imagination.

I got one of my biggest “awe” moments from David Farland. He wrote bestselling Ruinlords and the iconic, Courtship of Princess Leia, and I was lucky enough to have him review one of my short stories. Not only that, he signed my copy of Leia, and it is enshrined on my bookshelf.

It happened again, when Starry Eyed Press announced their open call for Star Trekish stories. I was filled with delight, but when they decided to publish mine in their collection, well, let’s say my ticket on that starship of wonderment was booked!

There is no greater feeling than that of wonder except maybe the feeling that comes from being able to give wonder to a reader.

The Five Senses of Imagination

Can you “see” the night sky?

Something vast and beautiful full of ancient mysteries. When your sense of self shrinks in comparison so do your worries.

Can you “touch” a little bit of magic?

I’ve had more than my share of encounters with magical books (and ones with wizards too). There is something about the whimsy of the fantastical that increases our drive for creativity and innovation.

Can you “smell” the freshness of the jungle?

I love Sci-Fi stories with one climate planets. We are surrounded by so much beauty here on Earth. Stories with one climate planets new appreciation for the virtues of desert, sea and jungle.

Can you “hear” the call of courage?

Building character comes choice by choice. True heroes give us a sense of wonder through their courage and sacrifice. You hear and answer that same call everyday.

Can you “taste” the nectar of forgiveness?

To save a soul by forgiving is awe inspiring.

Taming of the Fire Sword is filled with starry skies, deserts and jungles, courage and redemption. All to send you on a journey toward that sense of wonder.

So - What Do You Need?

An imagination and love of the genre (I know some non Sci-Fi readers who love it too).

You’ll see for yourself – it’s ALL true…

Everything you know reading a book should be.

It will feed your imagination.

I say that because it happened to me while I was writing it. Eight years ago…

One of the first lines I couldn’t wait to share…

“…you have to seek the greatest treasure in the universe…”

And then after a few more years of revisions…

“…She inhaled the salt in the air and basked in the presence of the ancient trees of Ragora as they swayed to greet her. She imagined living in the arms of the jungle. Endless possibilities danced in her child imagination…”

And when I neared the end of the story…

“…The transmission shot his image across hundreds of channels and into a future he felt worthy to claim…”

An extremely well-read Sci-Fi fan I know once told me: “Most Sci Fi is too busy being edgy to inspire that feeling of wonder.”

So, I set out to correct this discrepancy by writing a novel filled with all the things that delight and enchant. Bring back your childhood, feel inspired, and grow your imagination.

Book your ticket and come on this thrilling new adventure with me.

Buy now for $2.99

Until next time, my heroic readers!

Nikki Root

The last novel in my 5 book space opera series FINALLY has a complete draft. The last stretch felt like climbing up the sheer cliff of Mt. Doom with a thousand-pound weight around my neck. The first four books sailed by like a breeze but I stumbled at the end. However, the detours and roadblocks helped make it better than I originally planned. Worth it!

A Breakthrough in Quantum Mechanics

I hit that breakthrough moment when I watched this video. Mind you, to even understand a fraction of quantum physics I had to watch this at least six times. What is science fiction without taking scientific concepts and turning them into pure fantasy?! I got a lot of inspiration from the video, especially regarding wave entanglement and faster-than-light communication. So interesting!

With a completed draft of all five books, I can now move onto the revision stage. I needed to know how it was all going to end before I could go back to the beginning. I think my OCD might be kicking in. I wonder if JK Rowling or Tolkien knew how their epics would end from the very first page? They must be better outliners than I am!

Queens Are Killers

In other news, I’ve almost finished the first revision of my second murder mystery novel. Title reveal time!

Queens Are Killers.

Muwahaha! I love this one so much. I had such a blast writing it. My cousin once told me that I have an obsession with stories about evil matriarchs. She’s not wrong.

The cover art is just about completed. I can’t wait to share it with you. The setting of the story very much looks like this 👇👇

I’ll be lost in the forest of revision for a while, but it’s better than climbing Mt. Doom.

Happy Spring to you! I hope you get to enjoy the real forest too!

Nikki Root

Hordes of robots marched across the Earth—their apocalyptic wasteland. John climbed onto the debris from his toppled city. He pointed his broadsword skyward. The sun, power source of the enchantress, shone on him. His to wield.

“Behold my power and face your demise!” He shouted.

“Behold?” Emma asked with a lifted brow.

“It’s how the enchantress talked,” John explained to his first officer.

“What? Was she from medieval times?” Emma deadpanned.

John tilted his head.

“Actually, I think she was,” he replied. “You complaining?”

“Nope.”

“Good.”

John roared and charged the hordes. With his power, they won the war.

I’m nearing completion of my second 1950s mystery novel and for my January Newsletter I decided to share some of the trivia I’ve learned from my research.

Hotel Del Coronado

The awesome hotel was built in 1888 and has fairy tale castle qualities with its towers and turrets. One of the last of its kind! Located in San Diego, it makes a perfect reference for anyone writing a novel about a mysterious hotel.

There is even a rumor that this hotel gave L. Frank Baum inspiration for the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz.

Although the hotel in my novel is on a much smaller scale, both the exterior and interior of this magnificent building gave me lots of great ideas too.

Eastern Airlines Flight 605

One of the first major airline crashes happened on Memorial Day in 1947. Fifty-three people were killed in the crash but, like many crashes we see today, the cause was unknown. The leading theory was that the tail section had a faulty hinge bolt which prevented the plane from being able to control pitch.

Searching through old documents is super interesting. Here is a link to the CAB accident report. This accident is the basis for a major plot event in my mystery novel, and in the story, the crash also happened in 1947.

Getting the Job Done

Advances in hydraulic technology boosted the construction industry in the late 1940s and early 1950s. We started seeing the first loaders and backhoes with the first duel loader/backhoe being invented and sold in 1948.

A company called Wain-Roy was the first to add the attachment to a regular tractor. We have certainly come a long way since then! One of the main characters in my novel works in the construction industry so I decided I better get my facts straight when I had to describe a construction site in 1959.

When you’re writing a story you never know what crazy thing you might have to research next. For this story, I’ve learned everything from when band-aids were invented (1920) to the difference between shell cases in pistols and revolvers. Pistols automatically discharge their casings but they stay inside revolvers. Good thing for a murderer to know so they don’t leave behind a clue, wouldn’t you say?

Also, when I type these thing into a search bar I sometimes wonder if I end up on a watch list somewhere. The dangers of being a writer.

On a related note, check out what I got for Christmas:

Judging by the image, I think it’s time for some ironing.

I can’t wait to share my latest mystery with you! My goal is to have it ready to publish within the next couple of months.

In the meantime, may your new year be filled with more learning opportunities and a visit to an amazing hotel or two.

Happy reading,
Nikki Root