Fractured by Karen Hoover

There was absolutely no way a black dragon hovered outside of Newtimber. Sianna rubbed her eyes, but the dragon was still there, clutching a round object that looked like a spotted egg. And then the egg fell, hitting the ground like an atomic bomb, sending out waves of a slow-moving fog that distorted everything it touched.

The citizens of Newtimber change. The old man down the street stretches into a screaming tree. Sianna’s skateboarding friend, Matt, transforms into a giant green dragon. Pegasus. Sirens. Griffins. Vampires. Zombies. Creatures from the myths of every culture come to life through the people.

Even Sianna changes, her skin becoming stone hard, and she gains the ability to travel from the human realm into the dimension of the fae, using it to free her father from prison and enlist his aid in battling the evil bent on taking over the world. 

One person to heal a family, a town, and save the world. It seems an impossible task, but with the help of her new friends, it could happen. 

Right?

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS

Karen E. Hoover has loved the written word for as long as she can remember. Her favorite memory of her dad is the time he spent with Karen on his lap, telling her stories for hours on end. Her dad promised he would have Karen reading on her own by the time she was four years old … and he very nearly did. Karen took the gift of words her dad gave her and ran with it. Since then, she’s written two novels and reams of poetry. Her head is fairly popping with ideas, so she plans to write until she’s ninety-four or maybe even a hundred and four. Inspiration is found everywhere, but Karen’s heart is fueled by her husband and two sons, the Rocky Mountains, her chronic addiction to pens and paper, and the smell of her laser printer in the morning.

The first book in Karen's The Wolfchild Saga, The Sapphire Flute is free right now! Amazon and B&N.

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Book Review - Two Souls Are Better Than One

Two Souls Are Better Than One (The Misadventures of a Teenage Wizard) is a hoot!

From the back of the book:

Barely thirteen, Jeremy James Johansen has had more than his share of trouble. His father disappeared without a trace and the police believe he murdered his lab assistant, though his son knows it isn’t true. His dad can’t even handle a knife, let alone a bow and arrow.

A year later Jeremy stumbles across a portal to another world and gets pulled through—but not as himself. Somehow he swaps bodies with the man on the other side before the portal disappears.

Captured by a dragon and a man in black who insists on calling him father, he tries to escape, only to plummet to his death. He awakens in his own bed, believing it was all a bad dream. The problem is there are holes in his memory he can’t fill.

In time, he discovers that the portal holds the answers not only to his forgotten memories, but most importantly, points him down the path to finding his father. 

Poor JJ. He's already having a tough time. His father went missing after his lab assistant was murdered (shot by an arrow, no less). How's that for your social standing in school? JJ's mother is grieving while trying to cope. His twin sister is as irritating as ever while dealing with her own issues. And then the school bullies beat JJ up and when he fights back he gets suspended. Yet this is nothing compared to begin sucked through a portal and into the body of really old guy with a really long beard who has problems of his own. Like people trying to kill him.

And that's just the start.

Karen Hoover does a wonderful job with JJ's youthful sense of humor and wonder when faced with the unbelievable. I felt his grief over his father and his sympathy for his mother. He moans and groans just like a boy his age would but he also finds himself having to stretch, to do more than just look out for himself. JJ learns rather quickly that his problems could have a devastating impact on our world and things seem to spiral out of control.


The book must be the beginning of a series because things are not quite right in the world at the end.

Have you read any good middle grade or early YA books lately? What would be your favorite this year?

Grammar Friday - Commas (and a game)

I've had a special request to touch on this subject. Commas can be a bit Harry. For one thing, there are different styles of grammar. Example. When I was in elementary school we were taught that a comma takes the place of the word "and" in a list of three or more items.

I would like soup, salad and bread.

No comma after the word "salad". A comma would be unnecessary because it's not substituting for "and" since "and" is used. Are we as clear as mud yet?

However, there are many who support what's called the Oxford Comma. In this case you would go ahead and add the comma after "salad".

I would like soup, salad, and bread.

Modern business writing appears to be moving more in support of the Oxford Comma. However, either way is correct. Just pick one style and stick with it. Be consistent.

Now to get on with answering the grammar question. Siriusly, I can get so distracted.

Some people aren't clear when to use a comma and when not to. Commas are used to connect two independent clauses.

I like ice cream. It makes my head hurt.

But these are really Dick and Jane sentences. Most writers (unless it's for effect or pacing) would use a more complex structure.

I like ice cream, but it makes my head hurt.

You can connect two independent clauses by using conjunctions such as:

and
but
for
nor
yet
so

Use a comma with these. But just so you know, the use of commas is a bit more complicated than just these two examples. Siriusly. But more to come later. Best to take commas in doses.

Now. With the grammar lesson over it's time for the Game. 

It's a case of What Goes Around, Comes Around, and it's Alleged Author's turn to tag me.

She tagged me in a game where I'm supposed to share 10 things about myself that won't frighten off my followers. I thought just my posting would do that. Hmmm ....

1.  I gave you two clues about one of my obsessions with pictures and word hints.

2. I have four sons and two daughters (yours, mine, and ours--but I birthed five of them), and they have given hubby and I 7 1/2 grandchildren. 

Siriusly (another hint) though. The saying that your grandchildren are your reward for not having killed your children is true!

3. I've been to Hawaii seven times, but I didn't get to stay the night until the fourth visit when I spent the summer I was sixteen on Pearl Harbor with some family friends. 

4. I've taken college classes in every community I've lived in since I got out of the Army a bazillion years ago.

5. I was a devil child when I was little and a straight arrow by the time I was a teen

6. I donate blood regularly because I was an RH baby and had to be completely transfused.

7. I did my own dental work when I was in third grade by trying to throw a ball at the same time I spun in a circle. I ended up on the ground with my top front teeth through my bottom lip.

8. I had lasik a year ago, and I love it.

9. I come from a family of tall men and women. One grandmother was 5' 9" as I am. I have an aunt who's 6', a sister who's 5' 11", another sister who's 6' 1". My daughter did not inherit the height. My father was 6' 3", my brother is 6' 4", and my sons are 6', 6' 2", 6' 4", and 6' 5 1/2". (Did you notice my subtle use of the Oxford Comma there?)

10. I was almost run over by a mob of people rushing to see President Eisenhower when he visited South Post Army base in Seoul, South Korea.

So, who to pass this on to? Be sure to check out these awesome people.

Karen Hoover

Shelly at SeeShelWrites

Yvonne at Welcome to My World
Laila at Untroubled Kingdom of Laila Knight
Suzie F.

I have a super sized weekend, and since I've finished my critique group edits on WIP #1 my goal for September is to finish (as in really finish) the dang thing. I've got an editor lined up, so I may actually have to write a query letter.

Or not.

What are your plans for the long weekend?