Red Willow’s Quest, new cover

Action, romance, and adventure set the tone for this uplifting story about a Shoshoni maiden on a spiritual journey to become a medicine woman. Red Willow sets out on a quest into the rugged Rocky Mountains. She must face tribal opposition, wild animals, enemy warriors, and dangerous white trappers. Wind Chaser, a wolf-dog, is her only companion until Masheka, a Kootenai warrior, is guided to protect her.

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RAVE REVIEWS

“A powerful spiritually invocative story about a woman taking her power”

~Lynn V. Andrews, best selling author of Medicine Woman and Love and Power

The Monthy Aspectarian

If  you’re looking for a yarn that keeps you guessing, Red Willow’s Quest, a story of an Indian maiden who was anything but tractable, provides adventure, romance and food for thought in striking settings throughout the early West. . . . As a mark of a fine craftsman, Heidi Skarie’s telling of the story keeps readers engaged. . . . Red Willow’s Quest not only is a good story but a primer in learning to follow your dreams and listen to your heart.

~June Rouse

The Bloomsbury Review

Red Willow is a 16-year-old Shoshoni girl who lives with her tribe in the Rocky Mountains near what is now the Missouri River, in Montana. She is not a typical Shoshoni maiden: She knows how to use weapons and is very outspoken. Red Willow often hears the call of her Spirit Guide and believes that her destiny is to be a powerful medicine woman who will serve her people.

The novel begins in the season of melting snow, or the beginning of spring 1807. Red Willow is drawn to the The Sacred Mountains where her grandfather, a respected shaman, insists she must go to fulfill her quest (consisting of four days of no sleep, food, drink, or speaking: it is supposed to allow a clear vision of an event in the future). Many members of her tribe believe that only warriors of the Shoshoni — not girls or women — go on spirit quests. But Red Willow is determined not to be stopped and sets off on her journey with Wind Chaser, her dog, and her strong and faithful stallion, Good Thunder.

In Red Willow’s Quest, Heidi Skarie displays a talent for mystical and spiritual writing. She explains the meaning and symbolism for each tradition mentioned, then adds action, adventure, and romance, bringing them all together into one powerful epic. Ultimately, Red Willow must make a challenging decision that will considerably change her life and conclude this intense novel. I enjoyed Red Willow’ Quest from beginning to end.

~Kristen Woodruff

Colorado Libraries, Vol. 27 No. 3

This Native American story . . .  is well written and rings true. Ms. Skarie has a wonderful voice for the character and obviously has extensive knowledge about the life and customs of the Shoshoni tribe.

Young teenage girls would enjoy reading this book because of Red Willow’s strong character and the nature of the challenges she faces, and boys would enjoy it because of the dangerous adventures of both Red Willow and Masheka.

Adults who enjoy historical fiction that contains spirituality and mysticism would also find it interesting. There is a short bibliography that includes material for children and adults. This is Ms. Scarie’s first book. In a recent interview she said she is at work on another historical adventure story. I will look forward to its appearance.

~Sandra Avery, Reference Librarian, Jefferson County Public Library

The Edge Magazine

Author Heidi Skarie possesses that rare power I find so inspiring in a writer, the power to return to us the deepest, most authentic parts of ourselves. This dramatic past-life adventure and surprising triumph of Red Willow, a rare Shoshoni Indian Shaman who is a woman, helps all those striving to be true to themselves!

Red Willow struggles against the pressures from her suitor, Masheka, and those of her tribe to conform to the traditional ways of an Indian squaw make her character come to life. Red Willow inspires us when she faces Masheka and says, “I was taught that the more obstacles a person encounters the closer they are to truth.”

Skarie’s gift of re-living her past life delights the reader with new insights of the Shoshoni Indians and their lives in the breathtaking beauty of the great American Northwest. Following her inner voice, Red Willow journeys to a sacred Indian cave where her life’s mission is revealed to her. Red Willow then finds the courage to face wild animals, hostile tribes and enemy warriors in order to fulfill her Quest. Skarie is a welcome addition to the arena of visionary authors. I look forward to reading more from this fresh new talent.

~Paul Baker, author of  “What Do Chinese Dream About

Midwest MUSE, August 2000

The world of the Plains Indians has always been a powerful draw for me. When the movie Dances with Wolves came out I went to see it three times. So, when I found out Heidi Skarie’s book, Red Willow’s Quest, was set in the early 1800s in the Rocky Mountains I was eager to visit that world again.

Red Willow’s Quest is the story of a young Shoshoni girl beginning her spiritual journey to become a medicine woman. The descriptive narration reads much like the passages of her diary giving the reader an intimate look inside Red Willow’s mind, heart, and soul.

Red Willow struggles to step free of the confining boundary society had, and still does, set for a woman. Everything, including the rugged landscape becomes an obstacle, attempting to stop her from achieving her goal. Red Willow’s greatest obstacle, however, was her awakening feelings of love for a Kootenai warrior. That love interfered with the path she thought her life should take.

Thank you, Heidi, for a chance to go back to that time and learn about a heroine whose spiritual culture graced every facet of life.

~Chris Lashinski

Mpls. St. Paul Magazine

I highly recommend Red Willow’s Quest by Heidi Skarie of Minnetonka, Minnesota. The story is about a sixteen-year-old Shoshoni girl who doesn’t fit in with the women in her tribe. She likes to go on vision quests, three-to four-day solo trips in which Red Willow connects with the spirit world through fasting and other rituals. She believes the quests will lead her in the right direction in life.

On one of her quests, she meets Masheka, a man from another tribe. Red Willow and Masheka become friends and, before she knows it, he wants to take her back to the tribe to be his wife. But this clashes with everything she’s ever seen in her visions about her future. As the story unfolds, Red Willow faces many problems before she comes to realize what matters most in life.

~Hannah Olson

“Spiritual adventure, physical adventure, love and honor fill this book and lead the reader into secret caves of mystical awareness. I loved the feeling that I was with Red Willow every step of her journey. I never wanted it to end!

“I applaud Ms. Skarie in skillfully and sensitively building new bridges of understanding about the sad and terrible time when the white man destroyed the Native American culture, land and spirit. The spiritual awareness of the author comes through clearly to help the reader discover a greater view, the whole view from the higher worlds of spirit, where we are not white, red or black; where we are not even human, but where we are completely soul.

“I highly recommend this book for anyone with a love for the Native American culture and a thirst for more depth and knowledge of it in a very pure form.”

~Debbie Johnson, best-selling author of Think Yourself Thin and Think Yourself Loved

“I honestly loved your novel and am so grateful to have read it, especially at this time of my life as it addressed some issues I’ve been dealing with. In the name of all the lucky readers I thank you for writing such a beautiful story! There’s a big power in it I feel.”

~Iva Kenaz, author of The witch Within and My Melancholic Diary

“An authentic, gritty tale of survival and spiritual triumph set in the wild splendor of the early American west. A sensitive, unromanticized portrayal of Native American life that offers timeless lessons for infusing everyday life with Divine guidance.”

~Jan Whiteley, author of The Shimsara

“Exquisitely stretches the spirit as the reader travels along on Red Willow’s sacred, heartfelt Vision Quest to find her unique gift. Constantly challenged, she must find how to give her gift at the right time, place and to the right people. The rich imagery engages mind, body and spirit to experience soul’s search for true fulfillment by following its highest wisdom to embrace the freedom of divinely human love. Heidi Skarie is a welcomed addition to the arena of visionary authors. Looking forward to reading more from this fresh new talent.”

~Alamaia Will, author of Wind Dancing in the Light and Sound

“I just want to thank you for writing this Native American story from a female point of view and making it as realistic as possible. It must have taken lots of research. Amazingly, several days after reading it, I am still glowing with Red Willow’s story and the lessons she imparted to me. I identified with her in many ways, because of my own experiences. I believe Red Willow has given me deeper respect for myself and other women.

“It’s not easily put in words, but I feel awakened to the sacred inherent awareness of purpose I felt as a child. She reinforced or validated ways I used to look inwardly for guidance. And she valued her inner guidance enough to follow it.. Red Willow reminded me of the strength and love of aloneness, and that respect for self (and my inner worlds) is part of Soul awareness. I stand straighter, believe in myself and take my own quest more seriously. I’m sure many women, young and old, will be lifted by your telling her tale in Red Willow’s Quest.”

~Valerie M., TX

I could not put this book down. The action, suspense and awesome detail of life as a native American of that time period totally absorbed me. From the first page I was enthralled. Red Willow’s courage (as a 16 year old!) to hold to her visions and implement her dreams despite enormous resistance and danger gave me an entirely new insight into the depth of commitment that is possible in this physical life. It’s a story about living truly on the edge and being faithful in every respect to one’s principles and spiritual mission as revealed through visions and the counseling of one’s spiritual guides.

I can say that Ms Skarie’s story deeply inspired me. There was no room for compromise nor weakness, nor even for what might appear to be pragmatic. Always there was the decision made to follow the star of spiritual vision and the goal of accomplishing one’s mission in life. No quarter was given to personal attachment or ease. That kind of vision clarity is so rare. It was a delight to see it so clearly illustrated in this novel.

It would seem to me that this story would be recommended reading for any young person seeking to discover her/his own spiritual purpose in life or to build confidence and courage in living through the challenges of the modern world. Finding one’s core and staying true to it despite all objections of family and tradition is a worthy goal for anyone serious about their life’s purpose.

As I became increasingly captivated by the spiritual strength of the main character, Red Willow, I found myself identifying with her and literally absorbing her strength and centeredness. Something in me shifted to a greater acceptance of and commitment to my own mission. My guess is that if you read this book with a desire to know yourself better and be true to your own visions you will come away a changed person.

~Review on Amazon

I am very glad I read this book as I found it to be an enlightening, positive read set in a time, landscape and history I knew little about. The descriptions are strong and I could fully picture Red Willow and follow her on her goal to becoming a medicine woman and share in the ups and downs along the way. I found the spiritual side very inspirational and personally I took something very positive away from this book. I implore others to give it a try as Heidi Skarie is a very talented writer and this is a beautiful book in many aspects.

~Mike Diack

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