Book Blog- HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire
Forgive me. I am going to gloat. Not gloat exactly. More like celebrate one of those moments where writing leads you to something really cool that you never expected. And for me one of those moments involved discovering both HOURGLASS and it's lovely author Myra McEntire.
It started in November 2010, on a trip that I never even knew enough to dream of back when I was plugging away on the initial draft of my manuscript. I got to travel to New York to meet my agent (agent!) and publisher (publisher!) at Egmont. This was a thrill in and of itself, but while at the Egmont offices, Elizabeth Law got out a bag (it says Egmont!) and helped me select some new ARCs to take home with me. In the midst of gobbling up Bree Despain's follow up to THE DARK DIVINE and Allen Zadoff's second book, I stumbled upon a a gorgeous book called HOURGLASS.
I started reading it on the plane ride home. And I was hooked.
When I got home, I looked up Myra McEntire online, and discovered an author who was approachable, kind and gracious. We exchanged a few tweets as I finished her novel, and by the end, I couldn't decide who I liked more, HOURGLASS or Myra.*
Here's the summary from Amazon:
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.
I've been dying to talk about HOURGLASS, and finally can now that it's coming out next month. It starts with a paranormal feel, but quickly veers in an unexpected and welcome direction. HOURGLASS is part paranormal, part science fiction, part time travel, and part contemporary romance with a wicked sense of humor. Emerson is a kick ass heroine (literally and figuratively) who is also emotionally vulnerable, still recovering from a severe depression following her parents' death. At first, I wasn't sure if Em was crazy or if crazy things were really happening to her, but then Micheal comes along and helps Emerson figure out what's really going on. I loved that the reader doesn't have too wait long to find out. Did I mention that Michael also happens to be majorly hot? He. Is.
If you follow me on Twitter, you might also know that while I think that Michael is a fine love interest for Emerson, I am crazy for another character in the book, Kaleb. Kaleb is so well drawn, with humor, emotional depth and just the right amount of bad boy tendencies, that I fell in love with him from almost the moment he appeared on the page. This is one of those books where the characters feel so alive, you miss them when the book is over.
There is time travel and related problems with the space-time continuum. I love that Emerson must face the past in more ways than one, adding a layer of meaning to the story. HOURGLASS resolves its central conflict, but leaves you thinking, contemplating what the changes in the past might mean for the characters' futures. Thank goodness there's a sequel in the works. And, if we're lucky, more Kaleb!
* Seriously, Myra might be one of the nicest people you'll ever encounter in social media. You can follow her blog or
touch base with her on Twitter
Finally, don't forget to enter the PREP YOUR PAGES contest. We want to read your sample pages!
It started in November 2010, on a trip that I never even knew enough to dream of back when I was plugging away on the initial draft of my manuscript. I got to travel to New York to meet my agent (agent!) and publisher (publisher!) at Egmont. This was a thrill in and of itself, but while at the Egmont offices, Elizabeth Law got out a bag (it says Egmont!) and helped me select some new ARCs to take home with me. In the midst of gobbling up Bree Despain's follow up to THE DARK DIVINE and Allen Zadoff's second book, I stumbled upon a a gorgeous book called HOURGLASS.
I started reading it on the plane ride home. And I was hooked.
When I got home, I looked up Myra McEntire online, and discovered an author who was approachable, kind and gracious. We exchanged a few tweets as I finished her novel, and by the end, I couldn't decide who I liked more, HOURGLASS or Myra.*
Here's the summary from Amazon:
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.
I've been dying to talk about HOURGLASS, and finally can now that it's coming out next month. It starts with a paranormal feel, but quickly veers in an unexpected and welcome direction. HOURGLASS is part paranormal, part science fiction, part time travel, and part contemporary romance with a wicked sense of humor. Emerson is a kick ass heroine (literally and figuratively) who is also emotionally vulnerable, still recovering from a severe depression following her parents' death. At first, I wasn't sure if Em was crazy or if crazy things were really happening to her, but then Micheal comes along and helps Emerson figure out what's really going on. I loved that the reader doesn't have too wait long to find out. Did I mention that Michael also happens to be majorly hot? He. Is.
If you follow me on Twitter, you might also know that while I think that Michael is a fine love interest for Emerson, I am crazy for another character in the book, Kaleb. Kaleb is so well drawn, with humor, emotional depth and just the right amount of bad boy tendencies, that I fell in love with him from almost the moment he appeared on the page. This is one of those books where the characters feel so alive, you miss them when the book is over.
There is time travel and related problems with the space-time continuum. I love that Emerson must face the past in more ways than one, adding a layer of meaning to the story. HOURGLASS resolves its central conflict, but leaves you thinking, contemplating what the changes in the past might mean for the characters' futures. Thank goodness there's a sequel in the works. And, if we're lucky, more Kaleb!
* Seriously, Myra might be one of the nicest people you'll ever encounter in social media. You can follow her blog or
touch base with her on Twitter
Finally, don't forget to enter the PREP YOUR PAGES contest. We want to read your sample pages!
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4 comments
Ok, you've convinced me! I can't wait to read it. I love that you were given books to take home. Hope the Egmont bag is doing well!
This book is on my TBR list!
THIS BROUGHT ME A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF JOY.
(((HUGS)))
Can't wait to read your book babies!
I've had this book on pre-order since it went up on Amazon!!! Can't wait for it! Thanks for making me more excited :-)
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