Steven Ramirez's Blog: Glass Highway, page 27

STRANGE DARKNESS—From the Curious to the Fearful

Danielle DeVor is one of my favorite horror authors. As a writer I need to remind myself every day not to be afraid to go where my muse takes me. Well, folks, this girl isn’t afraid, and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t need to be reminded either. I can almost hear her laughing as she gambols in the direction her muse is pointing.

DeVor’s stories take the reader from the curious to the uncomfortable to the fearful. And she doesn’t limit her imagination to vampires. How about some flesh-eating hermit crabs to start your day? After reading that one, you’ll think twice about taking your family to Red Lobster.

If you’ve never read this author’s work, I suggest you pick up Strange Darkness and get introduced to writing that is as original as it is scary. And pay particular attention to the imagery. Something in these pages just might awaken a dark longing deep in your own unconscious. Something that resembles, I don’t know, hermit crabs?

You can find this review at Amazon US.

Book Blurb

Pull up a spot around the campfire and join us in this collection of 8 spooky short stories.

A deadly, dangerous man is caught between

the paranormal and his evil, hungry dreams.

A study on urban legends becomes all too real

for one student.

Time waits for no man and a horrible vampiric

legacy is in need of an heir.

Puppies are sweet and cute, but this little girl’s

Hellhound is loyal.

There’s nothing like an alien war.

Frog isn’t what he appears. And Boyd?

He’ll be thankful.

Running away will solve all your problems.

Or not. One girl will wish she stayed home.

There’s nothing like a few brain eating

hermit crabs to turn your world on its axis.

Sometimes the one who saves you from the

monsters is one person you’d least expect.

Where to Buy

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

More Reviews

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THE DOLAN GIRLS—Thundering off the Page Like a Cattle Stampede

Though I am not normally a reader of historical fiction, I do enjoy movies about the Old West. Films like ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales,’ ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘True Grit’ (the Coen Brothers’ version, not the original). There’s something very appealing about these desperate, iconic characters struggling to survive in a desolate setting, with the promise of Progress—usually in the form of a new railroad—looming somewhere on the horizon. When I read The Dolan Girls, I found many of the things I love—strong women, villains cut from the cloth of a harsh adherence to tradition, and some other pretty colorful characters, both real and fictional.

The Dolan Girls is western fiction as you’ve never read it. S.R. Mallery’s words thunder off the page like a cattle stampede. And her sharply written characters demonstrate that truly it was women who tamed the American West.

You can find this review at Amazon US.

Book Blurb

The Dolan Girls by S. R. Mallery has it all. Set in Nebraska during the 1800s, whorehouse madams, ladies of the night, a schoolmarm, a Pinkerton detective, a Shakespeare-quoting old coot, brutal outlaws, and a horse-wrangler fill out the cast of characters. Added to the mix are colorful descriptions of an 1856 land rush, Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show, Annie Oakley, bank/train robberies, small town local politics, and of course, romance. Two, in fact!

Where to Buy

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

More Reviews

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THE DARK DOZEN—Buy a Book, Save a Life!

I promise to be brief. A kind gentleman named Al Scarborough is in need of a new heart. When I was asked to participate in this project, I didn’t hesitate, though I’ve never actually met Al. So here’s the deal …

Twelve authors—including me—got together and contributed one short story each to a new horror and sci-fi collection called The Dark Dozen. All proceeds go to Al’s GoFundMe project. If you want to learn more about Al, you can read Maer Wilson’s blog post, “How My Chihuahua Almost Killed Al.”

You can find the book at Amazon. Just do it.

Book Blurb

This fund-raising anthology of Horror and Sci-Fi short stories was created to benefit Altoine Scarborough, a man in desperate need of a heart transplant. The stories, cover art, formatting, editing and compilation were all donated. Every penny of the royalties we receive will go to Al’s GOFUNDME project.

Vampires to ghosts to monsters—and futures we won’t want to see come true—fill this collection of dark stories that are sure to give you chills. This stellar, fan-favorite group, which includes award-winning and best-selling authors, brings a unique voice to some familiar and not-so-familiar creatures. Join Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G, Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson for a trip into the Darkness.

Available now at Amazon.

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THE DEMONOLOGIST—Do Not Pull Back the Curtain!

As a writer, I am always looking to expand my knowledge of things real and unreal, which is why I read on a wide variety of subjects. Also, I like to watch movies and television. When I saw ‘The Conjuring,’ I was introduced to Ed and Lorraine Warren. In real life they were a married couple (Ed has since passed on) who spent the majority of their adult lives helping people plagued by demons. The movie was, in fact, based on one of their cases. After watching it, I decided to read The Demonologist to learn more about their lives and their work.

This book is terrifying. In it, the author interviews the Warrens and provides a sobering, detailed account of what happens when people—knowingly or unknowingly—invite an inhuman spirit, or demonic, into their home. I’ve always believed there are things out there that should not be disturbed. This book has helped me to understand that these dark entities are worse than I ever could have imagined.

If you are someone who is curious about the spirit world, I encourage you to read this book. And if, like me, you are a writer of horror, this title should be on your bookshelf, right next to the Bible. It’s filled with fact-based stories and transcripts about spirits and hauntings, and it compares and contrasts demonology with science and parapsychology. It’s a fascinating read and an invaluable research tool. And remember, “Doors must be opened before spirits can enter.” Do not pull back the curtain—ever!

You can find this review at Amazon US.

Book Blurb

If you think ghosts are only responsible for hauntings, think again. The Demonologist reveals the grave religious process behind supernatural events and how it can happen to you. Used as a text in seminaries and classrooms, this is one book you can’t put down. Illustrated with photos of phenomena in progress from the Warrens’ private collection.

For over five decades Ed and Lorraine Warren have been known as the world’s most renowned paranormal investigators. Lorraine is a gifted clairvoyant, while Ed is the only non-ordained demonologist recognized by the Catholic Church. Together they have investigated thousands of hauntings in their career.

Where to Buy

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

More Reviews

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Danielle DeVor Interviews Me

Author extraordinaire Danielle DeVor has decided it would be a good idea to interview me. Go figure. My brain is pretty nonstandard, and I tend to run off at the mouth after too many espressos. Nevertheless, she is a brave woman and likes a challenge, I guess.

1. What drew you to the horror genre?

Like many, I grew up watching monsters in movies and on television. Also, I loved reading fairy tales as a child—still do. As you know, those can get pretty gruesome. I must have a pretty healthy dark side, because I am truly drawn to this genre.

2. Do you think monsters are the scary ones or are humans scarier?

I am really attracted to the misunderstood monster. One of my favorite stories is “Beauty and the Beast.” I remember in college watching the Cocteau film at one of those art house theaters late at night. If I think about humans and their dark sides, I definitely believe they are scarier. If you watch the news, you’ll see more monstrous behavior from people than the awful things we write about, supposedly perpetrated by monsters.

3. Do you think slasher films should make a comeback?

I like slasher films and, if they did make a comeback, I would really like to see a fresh take. Other than Michael Meyers, I can’t really think of a killer who was simply driven by pure Evil. Most of these types are motivated by some past trauma which, for me, is a little boring.

To read the rest of the interview, please visit Danielle’s blog.

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STRANGE DARKNESS—Enjoy the Ride!

By Danielle DeVor

Why does horror lend itself to the short story format so easily? I think it really does because, with horror, you can jump in right at the moment of action. Through setting, smell, visuals, and sound, you can put someone right into a situation where their heart pounds and they are waiting for the monster to strike.

That’s why I decided to put out a collection of stories. While I like drawing a reader into a world and leading them up to the impact, I like the instantaneous shock too. The moment the werewolf’s teeth bite into your leg. The moment when you know you might die. So, welcome to Strange Darkness. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Book Blurb

Pull up a spot around the campfire and join us in this collection of 8 spooky short stories.

A deadly, dangerous man is caught between

the paranormal and his evil, hungry dreams.

A study on urban legends becomes all too real

for one student.

Time waits for no man and a horrible vampiric

legacy is in need of an heir.

Puppies are sweet and cute, but this little girl’s

Hellhound is loyal.

There’s nothing like an alien war.

Frog isn’t what he appears. And Boyd?

He’ll be thankful.

Running away will solve all your problems.

Or not. One girl will wish she stayed home.

There’s nothing like a few brain eating

hermit crabs to turn your world on its axis.

Sometimes the one who saves you from the

monsters is one person you’d least expect.

Where to Buy

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

About the Author

Named one of the Examiner’s 2014 Women in Horror: 93 Horror Authors you Need to Read Right Now, Danielle DeVor has been spinning the spider webs, or rather, the keyboard for more frights and oddities. She spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a Mocha Frappuccino.

You can find Danielle on Twitter, on Facebook and on her blog, danielledevor.wordpress.com, as well as on her Amazon author page.

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KU—Taking a Chance on Amazon

Photo Courtesy of Randi Deuro via Creative Commons

In my previous post I announced that I planned to make my horror thriller series TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD available in Kindle Unlimited. Well, I did it! This means that if you are a subscriber, you can now read all three books as part of your subscription, instead of paying for each one. That and the fact that there are well over a million Kindle titles makes the subscription a pretty good deal. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not here to sell you on Amazon’s subscription model. What I am doing is reaching out to those who already signed up or who have seriously contemplated doing so.

This was not an easy decision for me, because when you enroll your book in KDP Select (the program that enables authors to participate in Kindle Unlimited), you must be exclusive to Amazon. A lot of authors reject this kind of arrangement. They prefer having their books available in multiple distribution channels, hoping to increase sales by reaching readers everywhere, regardless of platform. And who doesn’t want more sales?

Reality 101

A harsh reality in the bookselling business—and one even detractors must accept—is that Amazon is the biggest fish in the pond. They sell more books than anyone else—even Wal-Mart—mostly due to low prices. Take a look at this recent eBook sales chart, courtesy of AuthorEarnings.

Overall Market Share of US Ebook Unit Sales Held by Each RetailerAnd books aren’t the only category where they win. Take a look at this recent New York Times article where, regarding Wal-Mart, they write, “Amazon’s prices were lower on every item, in some cases substantially ($150 less for the dishwasher, $7 less for the Grisham book).” And what about convenience? Free two-day shipping for Prime customers? Hellz yeah! I never have to set foot in a store.

Now, you can love Amazon or hate them, but that’s the reality I am living in. So why not embrace it?

Free Books!

Here’s another benefit of being in the KDP Select program—I can run free book promotions. Granted, I may only do this for a maximum of five days out of every ninety, but free sometimes is better than free never, I always say. So why not let readers share the good times?

Reaching More Readers

I’ll admit, this is where things get tricky. Just because my books are available to KU subscribers to read “for free” doesn’t mean they will. As I mentioned before, there are well over a million titles to choose from, so how will anyone even discover me, let alone download my books? Well, that’s where some serious marketing comes in.

Nothing Is Forever

So, what if my little experiment doesn’t work out? I can always go back to the way things were—publishing my books at Barnes and Noble, iBookStore and Kobo, as well as at Amazon. The contract period lasts ninety days, and I can always choose not to renew.

For those who are not authors, you are probably wondering how in the world I get paid under this arrangement. Great question! Amazon has come up with a formula based on Kindle Edition Normalized Pages (KENP). Essentially, the more pages of my book readers actually read, the more I get paid. As far as I can tell, Amazon is gaming the system, because there are stats floating around out there demonstrating that just because a person starts your book doesn’t mean they will finish it. Also, if you’re like me, I may have two or three books going at the same time. So I may not finish a particular book for a while. Some authors, like Joe Konrath, insist they are making money with Kindle Unlimited. Of course, I should mention that Joe has a humungous backlist. You can check out his post here.

How long do I plan to try this? Honestly, I have no idea. But, at a minimum, I am in the program for ninety days. Personally, I don’t think that’s enough time to measure success, so I will most likely stay in for at least two rounds. Either way, I will keep you posted. In the meantime, if you are a KU subscriber and you love horror thrillers, check out TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD. And don’t forget to read to the end!

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Big News—TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD Is Coming to KU!

Just a quick note to let you know that my horror thriller series TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD is coming to Kindle Unlimited. I’ll be talking more about this development in a future post.

What does this mean for readers now? Well, the main thing is, the books will now be exclusive to Amazon. No need to fret, though! If you are a KU subscriber, you can read all three books as part of your subscription. And if you aren’t, I will be offering occasional discounts on the series.

You can check out the series here. Looking forward to connecting with more readers.

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Urban Friday Facebook Event—November 6, 2015

Check out this Facebook event, which is happening on Friday, November 6, 2015. This is just one incredible day in the week-long Virtual FantasyCon, which runs November 1—8. Why am I excited about Urban Friday? Because I will be there, chatting with authors, artists and fans about edgy, urban horror thrillers. Oh, and I will be giving away copies of Books One, Two and Three of TELL ME WHEN I’M DEAD.

Event Description

Come meet all the fantasy authors who write Urban Fantasy as well as the bloggers and artists who take part in this genre. Participants include …

Alexandra Engellmann

Arie Farnam

D.L. Colon

Danielle Annett

Emma Adams

Hannah Gordon

Ismael Manzano

J.P. Sloan

Jaq D Hawkins

Jason P Crawford

Jay Norry

Jen Leigh – Fantasyworks Publishing

Jena Baxter

Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson

K.N. Lee

Kara Ashley Dey

Kia Carrington-Russell

Kindra Sowder

Lauren Dawes

Lesley Donaldson

Lu J Whitley

Maer Wilson

Michelle Irwin

Nadja Losbohm

Nessie Strange

Pavarti Tyler

Rachel Tsoumbakos

Rissa Blakeley

Sarah Buhrman

Shannon Dearing

Shea MacLeod

Sherry Robinson

Steven Ramirez

Thais Lopes

Tommy Hancock

Victoria Foster – Artist

And if you can’t make it Friday, there are still two more days of fun!

November 7—Steampunk Saturday | November 8—YA Fantasy Sunday

Hope to see you there.

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THE GHOST FILES—Taking on the Dead with Style

I can see why this book is popular—and why it’s headed for the big screen. (Supposedly, it went into production this past summer.) I’m sure with the right cast, the movie could be a lot of fun. Oh, how I wish Roddy McDowall were still alive to play Dr. Olivet! Never mind. Maybe Brian Cox is available.

I only had a couple of quibbles with the story. Mattie sure has a lot of guys in her life who she thinks are “the one.” Hey, maybe that’s sixteen-year-old girls. Who am I to judge? That, and the ending is a little convoluted. No spoilers here, but I thought the reveal was a bit messy. These are minor points, though, so please don’t let them stop you from reading this very entertaining book.

Book Blurb

Cherry blossom lipstick: check

Smokey eyes: check

Skinny jeans: check

Dead kid in the mirror: check

For sixteen year old Mattie Hathaway, this is her normal everyday routine. She’s been able to see ghosts since her mother tried to murder her when she was five years old. No way does she want anyone to know she can talk to spooks. Being a foster kid is hard enough without being labeled a freak too.

Normally, she just ignores the ghosts and they go away. That is until she see’s the ghost of her foster sister … Sally.

Everyone thinks Sally’s just another runaway, but Mattie knows the truth—she’s dead. Murdered. Mattie feels like she has to help Sally, but she can’t do it alone. Against her better judgment, she teams up with a young policeman, Officer Dan, and together they set out to discover the real truth behind Sally’s disappearance.

Only to find out she’s dealing with a much bigger problem, a serial killer, and she may be the next victim …

Will Mattie be able to find out the truth before the killer finds her?

Where to Buy

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

More Reviews

Did you enjoy this review? Check out my other Amazon reviews here.

Link to this post!