P. J. Hoover - Editor

Growing up, I wanted to be a Jedi. After all, who wouldn't want to be able to travel in space, use telekinesis, and do cool mind tricks? But seeing as how that wasn't going to happen, instead I spent my summers reading science fiction and fantasy books and teaching myself to program in BASIC on my Commodore 64. I loved losing myself in the worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, and Isaac Asimov. And I fell in love with mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton.

Off in college, I pursued my engineering master’s degree, but I always had a love for storytelling and mysteries of the unknown. Somewhere along the line, I decided I wanted to be an archaeologist, so in addition to engineering, I also received a degree in history.

Why did I want to be an archaeologist? Because ancient history is all about stories. I first visited the King Tut treasures back in 1977. They’d stayed hidden for thousands of years, back from the time of myths. Humans didn't record everything and records had been lost. We didn't know everything that happened in ancient history, and that totally piqued my interest. There were stories wrapped up like the mummies tucked away in those tombs, and I wanted to unwrap and discover those stories. So after 15 years as an electrical engineer, I decided to pursue storytelling full-time. I’ve been writing since 2004 and I plan to continue writing forever.

Now I’m the author of over 30 books for kids, teens, and adults, and there is no greater joy than sharing my love of storytelling with the world. In addition to writing my own books, I have a passion for helping others. I would love the opportunity to work with you!

Your stories will always be your own. Editing isn’t about me taking everything you love in a story and changing it. But I can help you breathe life into your stories. I can help them become wondrous tales that will resonate with readers long after they put your book down.

I can’t wait to share my love of craft and storytelling with you and help you achieve all your dreams! Now let’s get your stories in the hands of readers!

PRAISE FOR MY EDITORIAL WORK

"P. J.'s involvement was a big boost for my writing. She identified the urgency of my main character's story and pushed me to bring that forward. Helped me to think about what my characters should be feeling so readers could connect more with their emotions. I highly recommend her." -- Jonathan Sayer, young adult author

"Inspiration and style are necessary to writing but aren't the whole story. Stories have structures. They have antagonists. They need more 'show' than 'tell'. They must engage the reader. P. J. has opened my eyes to the craft and business of writing for children. Always positive and supportive, her guidance has been the force that's made my stories come alive!" -- Kathy Sutphin, chapter book author


PRAISE FOR HOMER’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (Cbay Books, 2020, MG novel)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: "An origin story for the ages takes readers on an epically hilarious adventure . . . snappy, anachronistic humor make this an entertaining, laugh-out-loud adventure . . . Recommend to fans of Percy Jackson, epic stories, and mythology looking for new fodder with a twist." —School Library Journal

"...a wild string of encounters with drug-dealing lotus-eaters, cannibal Laestrygonians, dead spirits, vicious storms, and, of course, monsters galore . . . Awesome reading" —Kirkus

PRAISE FOR TUT: THE STORY OF MY IMMORTAL LIFE (Starscape/Macmillan, 2014, MG novel)

"A pyramid history buffs and fantasy fans will delight in excavating." —Kirkus

"The entertaining premise and fast pace keep this adventure on track, while the way P.J. reimagines the Egyptian pantheon ... is pleasantly reminiscent of Rick Riordan's work." —Publishers Weekly

"...a fast-moving adventure with surprising twists... Fans of Rick Riordan's will surely enjoy this title. A fine purchase for libraries where historically based adventures are in demand." —School Library Journal

"Cleverly funny, rich in Egyptian history, and intriguingly fast-paced, Tut brilliantly blends fantasy with thoughtfully constructed characterization to create a story that will beguile fans of modern-day mythology." —VOYA

"J.P.'s fun interpretations of Egyptian gods and goddesses, frenetic pace, and appropriately modern snark propel this highly entertaining adventure." —Booklist

PRAISE FOR SOLSTICE (Tor/Macmillan, 2013, YA novel)

"Solstice is one red-hot read—it intrigues, sizzles, and satisfies." —Cynthia Leitich Smith, New York Times bestselling author

"[P.J.'s] confident deployment of myth is impressive . . . readers will be happy to immerse themselves in Piper's struggles with adulthood, love, and fate." —Publishers Weekly

"The story's many twists and details about the Underworld and its denizens make Solstice a real page-turner that is hard to put down." —School Library Journal

"...a debut novel that consistently delivers..." —Booklist

"Sure to be a fan favorite, Solstice is not a book readers will be able to easily put down." —VOYA

"P.J. utilizes her unique writing style to create a beautiful world of disaster and chaos" —School Library Journal Teen Review