Steven Ramirez's Blog: Glass Highway, page 5

November 2021 Highlights and Free Fiction

Greetings. So, here’s a fun fact to amaze your friends and colleagues on your next Zoom call. Apparently, spiders can suffer from arachnophobia, too. Researchers did a study using jumping spiders and found they had an innate ability to avoid other predator spiders—even if they’ve never encountered them before. The original Spidey-Sense, I guess.

How do you deal with spiders? I trap them and escort them outside. So far, I haven’t run into anything like this.

Courtesy of Epic Pictures GroupFree Fiction

In honor of Thanksgiving here in the US, I thought I’d share with you a food-related short story. If you’re thinking there’s some horror angle, forget it. There is, however, some sweet revenge. Enjoy.

THE FINAL SOUP

Marta Gutiérrez de Alma had been cooking soup for days. She told her friend Teresa that this was going to be the best soup she ever made. What she didn’t say is that it would be her last.

To be honest, she hadn’t been right since her husband Cinto went off with “that woman.” Making soup, people felt, was her way of keeping herself occupied. And they had approved at first.

Marta’s mother Juanita became alarmed when she discovered that the children hadn’t been bathed in days. The house was filthy, and there was no food in the kitchen—except for the damned soup ingredients.

Something needed to be done.

So Juanita moved in with Marta, explaining to her own husband that it was the only way to save her grandchildren from turning into criminals. They were five and seven.

Juanita cleaned the house, bathed the children, and did the dishes while Marta went out shopping for only the freshest ingredients to make her amazing soup.

Marta bought ranch-fresh chickens and slaughtered them for their necks and gizzards. She chopped, diced, peeled, minced, and sautéed until her hands were swollen and bloody. The town felt that, even if Marta was well on her way to the loony bin, she would leave behind a soup never to be forgotten.

Finally, after seven days Marta said, “Está lista, mamá.”

With tears in her eyes, Juanita watched her poor daughter go off to the bathroom to have a bath. As soon as she heard the sound of water running and Marta singing a lively canción, she found a spoon and tasted the soup. It was magnificent.

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Books to Enjoy

Ready for some new mysteries and thrillers? Check out the Twisted Mysteries & Fast-Paced Thrillers promotion going on until November 21, 2021.

And don’t forget to try these Fall/Winter Thriller Freebies, available until November 23, 2021.

Recommended Viewing

If you’re an Amazon Prime member and need a horror fix, check out Exorcist: The Beginning, starring the talented Stellan Skarsgård and directed by Renny Harlin. This is Father Merrin’s origin story—and wow.

Logline. Years before Father Lankester Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he first encounters the demon Pazuzu in East Africa. This is the tale of Father Merrin’s initial battle with Pazuzu and the rediscovery of his faith.

Okay, I’m outta here. See you next month when I see how much Christmas candy I can stuff into my gob. Peace and love.

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Book Review—Sins of the Father

 

Sins of the Father is a crime thriller worthy of Walter White. There, I said it. I’ll also add that Evan Buckley is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He’s tone-deaf when it comes to women. And often, the investigator lets his emotions get in the way instead of doing the sensible thing. Good thing he has that cop, Kate Guillory, to keep him in line.

Despite his shortcomings, Evan is dogged when it comes to solving a mystery. And he has a big heart. Sure, he takes risks. But isn’t that what literary PIs are supposed to do? Sometimes, though, I wish he’d think first before leaping into the festering maw of the unknown. I mean, seriously. You could poke your eye out.

All of the characters in this book are well defined. And their motives are clear. But, though the story’s driving force is a direct path, there’s nothing straight about it when it comes to the twists and turns Evan must navigate to get to the truth. And as they say, the truth ain’t pretty.

If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat thrillers with an outstanding cast of characters, check out Sins of the Father. You won’t be sorry.

Book Description

Fifty years ago, pharmaceuticals magnate Frank Hanna got a girl pregnant. Then she disappeared. Now he’s dying with nobody to inherit his fortune – apart from his weak-willed daughter and her bullying lover, a gambler in over his head with the Russian mob, willing to do anything to save his own skin. Desperate to atone for his sins, Hanna hires maverick PI Evan Buckley to investigate, to find answers to the questions that haunt him. Did she have the baby? And if so, what happened to it?

As Evan searches for somebody who might never have existed, peeling back fifty years of lies and betrayal to uncover the tragic story hidden underneath, he faces a terrible dilemma: the closer he gets to the truth, the more he puts his quarry in danger. How can he stop himself from becoming an unwilling pawn, his dogged tenacity turned against him as he leads the ruthless mobsters to the one person who stands between them and Hanna’s fortune?

To make matters worse, Evan’s own troubled past is back with a vengeance as his nemesis, the degenerate child-killer Carl Hendricks, feeds his festering hatred from his prison cell, sending a killer intent on Old Testament-style retribution after Evan and his family.

Where to Buy

Amazon

More Reviews

Did you enjoy this review? Check out my other reviews here. And don’t forget to follow me at BookBub.

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October 2021 Highlights and Some Cat Horror

Greetings. Well, just in time for Halloween, our cat had a mishap that turned into a bloodletting—for me. Somehow, she got herself tangled up in a Trader Joe’s wine bag. You know, the kind with the cloth dividers inside? Early in the morning, she tore around the house, caterwauling and hissing, trying to get the thing off. Long story short, I had to hold her while cutting the bag off her legs with a pair of snub-nosed scissors. And here’s what I looked like after. Yeah.

Do you have any crazy pet stories you’d like to share? Honestly, it would make me feel better knowing I’m not the only person who’s experienced the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished effect.

Anyway, on with the show.

Book News

All this month, you can download a copy of The Girl in the Mirror for free. And I’ve reduced the price on Books 2 and 3, as well as the box set.

Shop Now

That’s not all. I’m also offering free shipping when you buy a signed paperback from my Etsy shop. So, if you’re looking for a gift for friends who love thriller, supernatural, and horror fiction, now’s the time to grab some books and save.

Books to Enjoy

Check out the Haunted Paranormal & Urban Fantasy promotion going on now. You’ll find some fun, creepy titles.

And finally, here are some free Fan Favorite Thrillers and Suspense titles to enjoy.

Recommended Viewing

If you’re an Amazon Prime member and enjoy psychological thrillers, watch The Mad Women’s Ball. It’s in French with subtitles, and it will blow you away with powerful performances and a gorgeous Paris setting.

Logline. A woman who is unfairly institutionalized at Paris asylum plots to escape with the help of one of its nurses. Based on the novel Le bal des folles by Victoria Mas.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month when, once again, I ignore NaNoWriMo and do whatever I damn well please. Peace and love.

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The Darkness Trilogy Box Set and More

HALLOWEEN CAN’T COME TOO SOON

Greetings. If you like supernatural horror, check out my new Sarah Greene box set. “The Darkness Trilogy” includes Sarah Greene Mysteries Books 1–3. The regular price is $11.99. But for a limited time, you can pick it up for a cool $4.99. That’s a 40 percent savings.

Book Description

For Sarah, The Darkness is real. And it knows her name.

Sarah Greene is a successful realtor who sees ghosts–and sometimes wishes she didn’t. While renovating an old house with her ex-husband, she finds a mirror haunted by a teenager’s tortured spirit. But, as she sets out to discover the victim’s identity, Sarah stumbles onto something even more chilling. An insidious evil known as The Darkness is infesting the town of Dos Santos.

Things escalate with a series of disturbing accidents at a women’s shelter. The horrific events center on a recent arrival—a young Guatemalan woman who might be possessed. Meanwhile, the streets are plagued by a wave of senseless violence at the hands of soulless strangers. Despite the danger, Sarah decides to use her psychic ability to stop The Darkness from destroying the town.

Box Set Contents

The Girl in the Mirror
House of the Shrieking Woman
The Blood She Wore

Amazon Deals

And there’s more. Check out these Mystery & Thriller, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy deals over at Amazon. But hurry. This promo ends September 30, 2021.

Learn More

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Three Things I Learned from Movie Adaptations

Here’s a guest post I did over at the Kill Zone. Writing an original screenplay is hard enough. But adapting one from a novella is a whole new kind of crazy. Read an excerpt here.

Recently, I took a break from writing fiction to focus on screenwriting. Currently, I’m adapting my latest novella, Brandon’s Last Words, as a feature screenplay.

If you’re wondering why anyone in their right mind would take on something like this, it’s simple—I live in LA. Trust me, you can’t swing a dead cat at Starbucks without hitting a screenwriter huddled at a corner table, determined to crank out the next Black Widow.

Okay, that’s partly it. The other reason is, I wanted to see if I could do it.

The novella is a prequel to a new thriller series. It takes place in the same universe as another of my series—only this time, with new characters. For those who have written a screenplay, you already know you need a log line. Here’s what I originally wrote for the novella:

Brandon Wheegar has just joined a secretive government-funded lab as a security guard. Why did no one warn him about the murderous test subjects?

That’s not bad. The question is, does it work for a movie? We’ll see. Of course, there’s plenty of other stuff to worry about. For this post, I’ll focus on three lessons learned.

The Beats, They Are Different

As fiction writers, we are keenly aware of story beats. They’re hammered into us starting in the womb. I’m tempted to joke that our friend James Scott Bell has beat that concept to death, but it would be low-hanging fruit, so.

The point is, screenplays need beats, too. But these are different and immutable. And without them, you effectively have something that is not a screenplay.

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September 2021 Highlights and Bob Ross

Greetings. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you and those you love are safe. So far, 2021 has been a rollercoaster, hasn’t it? But amid the chaos of extreme weather, there are some bright spots. Recently in the UK, a photographer spotted a couple in the middle of a marriage proposal. Instead of minding his own business, he decided to take a series of photos that turned out to be stunning. You can check out the story here.

Speaking of screenplays, my wife and I found this while going through some old boxes. I wrote Killers for the boys at The Asylum in the late nineties. Of all the things I’ve done, working with these gentlemen is still the best experience of my professional life. Thanks, fellas.

And now, on to less sentimental topics…

Book News

Last time, I mentioned I was writing a screenplay. Well, I finished it. Yay, me. Now, to the real work of making the thing not suck. For those who have never tried it, screenwriting is the hardest writing there is. In fiction, you’re advised to kill your darlings. Screenplays are different. You pretty much have to take out the whole family. Never mind. When I’m finished, it’ll read like “buttah.” At least, that’s what my muse told me.

I’ve got one other piece of news. I finally published Sarah Greene Mysteries Books 1–3 as a box set called The Darkness Trilogy. If you’re new to this series and enjoy supernatural horror, be sure to check it out.

Recommended Reading

What happens when you combine a sci-fi thriller with human cloning? You get Constance by Matthew Fitzsimmons. This book had me from the opening pages and didn’t let go. It’s fast and smart, with enough bad guys to satisfy your dark side. You can read my review here.

Book Blurb

A breakthrough in human cloning becomes one woman’s waking nightmare in a mind-bending thriller by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Gibson Vaughn series.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Recommended Viewing

How many of you remember this guy? I do. And now, there’s a film on the tragedy behind the kind face and mellow voice. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, be sure to stream this outstanding documentary. Even after his death, he continues to inspire.

Logline. Bob Ross brought joy to millions as the world’s most famous art instructor. But a battle for his business empire cast a shadow over his happy trees.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month when I begin my candy-eating training in advance of Halloween. Peace and love.

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Book Review—Constance

My introduction to the story of a person attempting to solve their own murder came when I saw the outstanding 1949 noir classic D.O.A., starring Edmond O’Brien. The idea of a character hunting their killer is powerful. And when you wrap it in a sci-fi thriller about human clones, it sings.

In Constance by Matthew Fitzsimmons, human cloning exists, although it comes with a few glitches. In classic whodunnit form, Con D’Arcy’s clone awakens because her original is dead. That’s the rule. And like the first Constance, she’s independent and fearless. Despite missing eighteen months of memories, she goes in search of answers. Besides the excellent writing, it’s the research that makes this novel enjoyable. The world-building is solid and believable. And the questions cloning raises are numerous and troubling.

There was one idea that stood out for me. If a person commits murder, can their clone be held responsible after the original dies? That, my friends, would make for some interesting dinner conversation. And here’s another one. Should clones enjoy the same rights as their originals? Are they even people?

If you love well-researched thrillers where, at times, the bad guys outnumber the good, then I suggest you grab Constance. And when you’ve finished reading it, ask yourself one question. Do I want to live forever?

Book Description

A breakthrough in human cloning becomes one woman’s waking nightmare in a mind-bending thriller by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Gibson Vaughn series.

In the near future, advances in medicine and quantum computing make human cloning a reality. For the wealthy, cheating death is the ultimate luxury. To anticloning militants, it’s an abomination against nature. For young Constance “Con” D’Arcy, who was gifted her own clone by her late aunt, it’s terrifying.

After a routine monthly upload of her consciousness—stored for that inevitable transition—something goes wrong. When Con wakes up in the clinic, it’s eighteen months later. Her recent memories are missing. Her original, she’s told, is dead. If that’s true, what does that make her?

The secrets of Con’s disorienting new life are buried deep. So are those of how and why she died. To uncover the truth, Con is retracing the last days she can recall, crossing paths with a detective who’s just as curious. On the run, she needs someone she can trust. Because only one thing has become clear: Con is being marked for murder—all over again.

Where to Buy

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

More Reviews

Did you enjoy this review? Check out my other reviews here. And don’t forget to follow me at BookBub.

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August 2021 Highlights and Screenplay News

Greetings. I hope you’re enjoying your summer. Me, I’ve been doing house-related stuff, including hanging a hummingbird feeder for my daughters. So far, no birds, though. I’m told they like the color red. Maybe if I dangle some Christmas ribbon?

By the way, did you know hummingbirds are the only birds who can fly backward? Also, they have no sense of smell.

Screenplay News

You heard right. I’ve taken a break from writing novels to focus on a feature screenplay. It’s a sci-fi thriller based in the present starring a hapless security guard named Brandon. For now, I’ll just say that it’s a pretty wild ride.

After polishing the script, I plan to send it around to see if there’s any interest. I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Keep in mind that everyone in LA is writing a screenplay. So, I don’t expect this to be an easy slog. Keep a good thought for me.

Books to Enjoy

And now for something completely different. Check out these thrillers—all yours for the taking. But hurry. This promotion ends on August 15, 2021.

SHOP NOW

Recommended Viewing

If you’re a Netflix subscriber and enjoy sci-fi thrillers, check out ‘Revolt,’ starring Lee Pace. You might remember this actor from the outstanding drama series ‘Halt and Catch Fire.’

Logline. In the war-ravaged Kenyan countryside, a U.S. soldier and a French foreign aid worker team up to survive an alien onslaught.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month when I attempt to learn how baseball works. See you on the first down line. Peace and love.

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Faithless Summer Sale—July 22-28

YOUR NEXT THRILLER IS WAITING

Today through July 28, you can grab Faithless and save a cool five bucks. Come on. That will buy you a Venti Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks. With change to spare. So, what are you waiting for?

Book Description

It all began in a strange, dark place. When I woke up, I was alone. Immersed in a tank with wires and tubes. The other test subjects are goners—drowned in black water.

My only memory is dying from my wounds during a night raid in Afghanistan. Something brought me back. When I opened my eyes, I was uninjured. Crazy, right?

Men in gray suits are after me. If they shoot me, I heal. How is that possible? I need to find out who these men are and why they want to end me.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. There’s this fever—I get it bad. And without the experimental drug I was on, I’ll flame out.

My name is Jane. And I will stop them.

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July 2021 Highlights and a Scary New Cover

Greetings. Things are quiet on the home front. Which is a good thing, considering the elephant who busted through a Thai woman’s kitchen looking for some grub.

Speaking of this magnificent creature, did you know the elephant is Thailand’s national animal? That’s not all. Back in the day, they were used as war animals. As you can see, I admire elephants.

Book News

Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo

A few months ago, I mentioned that I was putting together a Sarah Greene Mysteries box set containing Books 1–3. That’s on hold for now. In the meantime, I decided to update the cover for The Girl in the Mirror. If this doesn’t get your heart racing, you might already be dead.

Recommended Reading

Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play

If you enjoy wickedly clever psychological thrillers, I suggest you take a look at The Darkest Flower by Kristin Wright. As I said in my review, Reading this book is the most fun I’ve had in a long time without getting arrested.

Book Description
You’ll never believe the terrible things being said about the perfect president of the PTA.

Attempted murder? Inexplicable accident? Either way, a PTA mom struggled for her life in an elementary school cafeteria, poisoned by a wolfsbane-laced smoothie at the fifth-grade graduation party. Now all eyes are on the accused, the victim, and a woman hired to look deeper.

Ambitious defense attorney and single mother Allison Barton is anxious to escape the shadow of the low-down dog of a marquee partner carrying their renowned Virginia law firm. A win for her high-profile new client will give Allison the career she deserves. And PTA president Kira Grant certainly appears innocent—except for the toxic bloom in her backyard and perhaps a bit of a malicious streak. But no one said the innocent had to be likable—or entirely honest. Besides, with an image as carefully cultivated as her garden, Kira would be insane to risk everything on something as outrageous as the attempted murder of one of her closest friends.

What about those in Kira’s orbit, a sunny suburb of moms behaving badly? What do they really know about Kira? What does Kira know about them? For Allison, the answers are getting darker every day.

Other Books to Enjoy

And here are more suggestions guaranteed to give you thrills and chills.

Recommended Viewing

When it comes to police procedurals, I’m late to the game with Lynda La Plante’s Prime Suspect. I missed out on the original series starring the incomparable Helen Mirren. But my stupidity has been rewarded. A new prequel is now showing on Amazon Prime. It’s called Prime Suspect: Tennison and takes place in 1970s London. Stefanie Martini is outstanding in the role of Jane Tennison, a young cop trying to learn the ropes in a male-dominated boys club of a police department. Check it out.

TV Show Description. A prequel to the Helen Mirren police drama, and adapted from the Lynda La Plante novel Tennison, the Prime Suspect: Tennison TV show airs on ITV in UK as Prime Suspect: 1973. The series centers on Jane Tennison in the early days of her career.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month, when I enjoy the dog days of summer by howling at the moon. Peace and love.

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