Karen L West | Updates

Coming In early 2027

Karen L West — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 01:01:25 -0400

Rose and Clive are back.

After the events in the redwoods, search-and-rescue handler Rose Clarke is trying to rebuild something close to normal. Indiana brings school visits, training sessions, family routines, and ordinary SAR calls that end with tired hikers, muddy shoes, and grateful reunions.

Then Turkey Run State Park calls.

A child has vanished among sandstone ravines, narrow trails, creek beds, and shadows where sound carries strangely and footprints disappear too fast. At first, it looks like another lost-child search. But Clive knows better.

The trail is broken. Someone may have planned it that way.

As Rose and Clive follow the scent through dangerous terrain, Rose begins to realize this case is not only about a missing child. Someone is watching search teams, studying how children vanish, and learning how Rose and Clive work.

The child may still be alive.

The man hiding in the ravines does not want to be found.

Lost in Turkey Run is Book 2 in the Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller series, a suspenseful story of courage, loyalty, found family, and the extraordinary bond between a handler and her dog.

Beneath the Kentucky Hills is Book 3 in the Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller series, a suspenseful story of courage, survival, found family, and the determination to keep searching when time is running out.

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Upcoming Projects

Karen L West — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 13:38:29 -0400

Karen L West continues to develop new stories across fantasy, science fiction, and survival fiction. Upcoming projects include Sleepers of Earth, along with additional titles connected to her growing worlds of mystery, courage, and transformation.

COMING 2027 - Sleepers of Earth: A World No Longer Ours

The world didn’t end. Humanity did.

When Commander Ta’lor Davidson awakens from cryosleep deep inside a forgotten military installation, nothing is as it should be.

The systems are dead. Time is missing. And the world outside is … alive.

Centuries have passed. Earth has reclaimed itself—forests choke steel, rivers rewrite continents, and something new watches from the shadows. Humanity is no longer in control. It may not even be relevant.

Worse still … she’s not alone. A new intelligence walks the Earth. Capuchins—once small forest primates—have evolved, organized, and inherited the planet. They’ve been waiting. Watching. Protecting something humanity left behind.

And when Davidson discovers a faint signal from another survivor—one of thousands still trapped in cryosleep across the world—she must make an impossible choice:

Fight to reclaim a world that no longer belongs to her species
Or learn to survive within one that has already moved on.

But something else is out there. Something older than the rewilded Earth. Something that knew humanity would fall. And it may be watching them now.

For fans of The Last of Us, Children of Time, and Project Hail Mary

A sweeping sci‑fi survival epic about extinction, evolution, and what comes after humanity

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5-Star Reader Views Editorial

Karen L West — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Read Full Review
Download

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5-Star Goodreads Review of Box Between Worlds

Karen L West — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Read Full Review
Order

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Songs that stay with us

Karen L West — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Music has a strange way of becoming part of our memories.

Sometimes a song takes us back to a particular place, a particular person, or even a version of ourselves we haven't thought about in years.

The first rock-and-roll song I remember hearing was “Little Red Riding Hood.” I was with my dad in a diner, and somehow that song became attached to that memory forever.

Later, during some of the struggles of my young-adult years, “Dream Weaver” became one of those songs that stayed with me.

Then came “Paperback Writer.” Looking back now, maybe there was a little foreshadowing in that one. 😊

And “I Love Rock 'n Roll” has always been one of those songs that simply makes me feel good.

A couple of years ago, when a very good friend died, Michael Jackson's “Will You Be There” took on an entirely different meaning for me. Suddenly, it wasn't just a song anymore. It became connected to someone I missed and to memories I didn't want to lose.

That's what I love about music.

A song doesn't have to be our favorite song to matter. Sometimes it arrives at exactly the right moment and becomes part of our lives. Years later, we hear the first few notes and we're right back there again.

What songs have stayed with you through your life?

Maybe one reminds you of childhood.

A first love.

A difficult time you survived.

Someone you lost.

A road trip.

A celebration.

Or simply a moment you never want to forget.

What song touches you, and what memory does it bring back?

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Help Me Create a Story

Karen L West — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Imagine one of these images is the cover of a book that doesn’t exist yet.

Which one would make you stop, pick up the book, and want to know more?

I’m always fascinated by the way a single image can start a story. A strange creature standing in a modern city. A dragon hidden deep in a forest. An isolated cabin beneath snowy mountains. A lighthouse at the edge of the sea. An island that may be hiding something. An old wagon wheel with a history no one remembers.

Or maybe the animal photographs suggest an entirely different kind of story.

So today, you get to help create the book.

Pick an image and tell me:

Which picture would you choose?
What kind of story would it be: fantasy, mystery, science fiction, adventure, thriller, romance, or something else?
Who would the main character be?
And if you really want to have fun with it, what would you call the book?

There are no wrong answers. The same photograph might make one person imagine a fantasy adventure and another imagine a murder mystery.

Who knows? One of your ideas might even start something.

If one of these pictures were sitting on a bookstore shelf, which book would you

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AS HONEST AS A HEARTBEAT

Karen L West — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A New 5-Star Review for The Girl in the Redwoods!

I was thrilled to receive this wonderful review from Reader Views.

One part especially stayed with me:

“While her stories have their own cadence, it’s as honest as a heartbeat and appropriate for the story.”

The reviewer, Terri, also described my writing as unusual, enjoyable, and wonderfully different across genres.

As an independent author, those words mean a great deal to me. I’ve never wanted every story to sound like every other book on the shelf. I want the characters, setting, and story itself to determine the way the book unfolds.

Thank you to Reader Views for the thoughtful review and 5 stars for The Girl in the Redwoods.

🌲🐕 Rose and Clive have certainly had quite a journey. Terri Stepek for Reader Views

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Have you ever had a dream that stayed with you for years?

Karen L West — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Not just once, but over and over, as if your mind was trying to tell you something.

What if one memory, one place, or one door kept returning in your dreams? Would you ignore it, or would you finally ask why?

That idea is part of what inspired Door in My Memories. Some dreams fade by morning. Others linger, quietly waiting, asking to be remembered.

I’d love to know: Have you ever had a dream that repeated itself, or one that felt too real to forget?

#DoorInMyMemories #KarenLWest #BookBlog #DreamsAndMemories #AmReading

Preorder here!

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Prefer a paperback? The Girl in the Redwoods is now available in print! 📚

Karen L West — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Because the complete eBook is over 1,000 pages, it was too long to publish as a single paperback through Amazon. So, for readers who love holding a real book in their hands, I created a two-volume paperback edition.

You can now enjoy the complete story across two physical volumes, perfect for your bookshelf or your favorite reading chair.

👉 Find the paperback edition here

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In the Works

Karen L West — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I'm excited to announce that several of my old files and older books are back from the editors and ready to release on Amazon. All of them will be available as Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, Audiobooks, and Paperback.

Books 1 & 1 of the Howloifrea Chronicles Series 8/14/2026
Arena of the Lost Worlds - 8/18/2026
Sleepers of Earth - 9/10/2026
Door in My Memories - 9/30/2026 (or sooner)
Along with the long-awaited book 2 in the Rose and Clive Search and Rescue Thrillers, "LOST IN TURKEY RUN" later this year.

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Reader Views Feature of the Week

Karen L West — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Check it out! Hometown Hero's Last Shot: An Indiana Small-Town Murder Mystery is this week's Reader Views Feature of the Week. Click here to see.

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More exciting news for The Girl in the Redwoods!

Karen L West — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🏆 I’m thrilled to share that The Girl in the Redwoods has received the ACCI Literary Excellence Award for Best Mystery / Thriller / Suspense!

Rose and Clive’s journey through the California redwoods continues to surprise me with the recognition it has received, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has read, reviewed, and supported their story.

Thank you, Authors Connect Community International!

📚 The Girl in the Redwoods

A Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller

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Well It's August and fall is upon us!

Karen L West — Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Thankfully football season is here. Ok pre-season 🤣. Hoping for a better showing from my dolphins and some shocked people for my Indiana Hoosiers!!! 🎉🏈 Don't forget this means basketball is around the corner!

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Earned 5 Star Editorial Review from "Reader Viewers"

Karen L West — Mon, 3 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Jubrozan Dragon Riders - Reader Views Editorial Reviews

Jubrozan Dragon Riders earned an editorial 5-Star rating from Reader Views. Here are a few things they mention.

"I don't remember ever seeing a cover for what is obviously a dragon-rider fantasy that also features a K-9 before. I'll admit it completely grabbed my attention, and when I read the blurb, I knew I was in for this story. I love a good story about damaged war vet and his or her often equally damaged K-9 partner. There are several good ones out there, and I'm pretty sure I've hit them all. But none of others were based on the concept of a 75-year-old veteran dying in the VA hospital only to wake up on a different planet with her former K-9 partner and a race of dragon riders doomed to extinction without her intervention. ...... Fans of fantasies with strong female characters, dragons, former veterans and their K-9 partners, and tales from other worlds will find much here to enjoy in Karen L West's Jubrozan Dragon Riders.

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"The Girl in the Redwoods" is the Featured Book of the Week!!

Karen L West — Sun, 2 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’m honored to have The Girl in the Redwoods featured in this week’s Reader Views Spotlight. Their review recognized the suspense, emotional depth, and unforgettable opening that made this story so special to me.

Download and read your copy today.

Book 2 in the Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller, "Lost in Turkey Run" will be coming early 2027.

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Best Alternative History Booky Award Earned

Karen L West — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Karen L West is an award-winning author. The recipient of several Booky Awards and two ACCI Fiction-Literary Awards.

Her newest book, which is releasing August 1st. "When the Sky Turned Yellow," is recipient of the Booky Award for Best Alternative History.

She writes emotionally rich stories where courage, family, and hope shine through even in the darkest of times.

Author Karen L. West creates immersive fiction shaped by resilience, courage, and the strength of chosen family.

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Exciting, Great News!!

Karen L West — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Exciting news! The Girl in the Redwoods has made the final cut for the Book Fest Awards. Final results will be announced October 24th, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’m so grateful to see Rose and Clive’s first search-and-rescue thriller getting this recognition.

Thank you for supporting Rose and Clive's journey.

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The Girl in the Redwoods Featured in AP News Press Release

Karen L West — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’m excited to share that The Girl in the Redwoods: A Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller has been featured in an AP News press release and shared through major media outlets.

This book marks the beginning of my new Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller series. It follows Rose Clarke, a search-and-rescue handler, and her loyal dog, Clive, as what begins as a quiet trip to California’s redwoods becomes a dangerous fight to save a child and uncover the truth behind a disturbing mystery.

At its heart, The Girl in the Redwoods is about courage, survival, found family, and the extraordinary bond between a handler and her dog. Rose is not a detective chasing a case. She is a woman trying to heal, pulled into danger because Clive refuses to ignore a trail that turns deadly.

The press release highlights the emotional core of the story, the search-and-rescue partnership between Rose and Clive, and the start of a thriller series that will continue with Book 2, Lost in Turkey Run.

The Girl in the Redwoods is now available on Amazon Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and audiobook.

Read or listen today: Amazon Kindle

Thank you to every reader who has followed my stories of survival, transformation, and hope. I’m excited to share this new series with you.

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The Awards just keep Coming!

Karen L West — Sun, 5 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Awards and Recognition

Karen L West’s books have received recognition for vivid settings, emotional resonance, hopeful storytelling, and strong character journeys.

Jubrozan Dragon Riders

Booky Award recognition
ACCI Fiction-Literary Award
Featured through national AP News distribution

Sekoia Shifters

Booky Award for Most Vivid Place
ACCI Fiction-Literary Award

Sekoia Shifters: The Redwoods Remember

Booky Award for Most Believable Future

The Girl in the Redwoods, A Rose and Clive Search & Rescue Thriller Series

Booky Award for Most Tensest Thriller

Say What

Booky Award for Most Sensory World Building

Hawken Wolf: Rise of the Taken

Booky Award for Most Sci-Fi Concept

Crocus Kitchen

Booky Award for Most Cathartic Read

The Lost White Tiger: The Jungle Queen

Booky Award for Most Hopeful Read

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Which would you choose?

Karen L West — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Which creature/animal would you want as a pet or as your inner shifter? Mystical or real? Why?

I'm torn between a dragon and wolf. I'd love to fly, but wolves are my heart and their community is so impactful.

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