Steven Ramirez's Blog: Glass Highway, page 6

Reading The Darkest Flower is the most fun I’ve had in a long time without getting arrested. Allison Barton has a lot on her plate. Divorced, she does her best to be a good mom, all the while putting up with the narcissistic, condescending head of a successful law firm as he takes every opportunity to criticize her work. He advises her how to dress and tosses out the occasional back-handed compliment. But Allison tolerates the abuse because she dreams of a life outside the firm. And the price of her wish?

Kira Grant.

A woman of beauty and privilege, Kira can kill with a word. Her impromptu insults and pointed observations would bring Cruella de Vil to tears. But just because she’s intolerable and insensitive, does that make her a murderer? We shall see. Whatever the truth, Allison must defend her client in a high-profile case that will set her free. But in doing so, she questions her own motives and, indeed, her very profession.

For me, the best thing about reading this novel was discovering the internal thoughts women have about men, authority figures—and other women. Listening in on Kira’s ravings is like being escorted through hell by Virgil. You might make it back in one piece, but you’ll be left with burn marks.

If you enjoy legal thrillers with shifting loyalties, dark passageways, and razor-sharp humor, I recommend grabbing this outstanding book.

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.

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Greetings. Last time, I told you about our new cat, ZuZu. She’s doing well and, like any adorable animal, has won our hearts. Well, a few days ago, we had a visitor—a young crow. He first got my attention when he hopped onto the skylight above my office. Cawing and pecking, he wouldn’t let me work. Then, he hid in our jasmine for the rest of the day.

At first, I thought the poor thing was sick or injured. Taking a friend’s advice, I left him some raw chicken and a bowl of water. Later on, I discovered his parents hovering nearby, cawing frantically. Turns out the little guy can’t fly yet. Anyway, in the afternoon, he crawled under our gate and vanished. He’s still wandering around the complex and should be in the air soon.

A lot of you have downloaded Brandon’s Last Words, the prequel to the thriller Faithless. If you want a copy, all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter. Oh, and another piece of news. After years of focusing on fiction, I’ve decided to take up screenwriting again. Currently, I’m adapting this novella. Wish me luck.

Book Description
Brandon Wheegar has just joined Baseborn Identity Research as a security guard. But no one told him how bad things can get when a secretive employer has deep pockets and no conscience. He should’ve quit the night his supervisor went off on him. Now, alphas, murderous mutant test subjects, are loose in the facility. And then there are the hypers, genetically modified superhumans. They lie asleep in specially designed tanks—all except for one. Her name is Jane. A deadly soldier with skills, she’s virtually unkillable. Better not to cross her. Ever. Someone should probably warn Brandon.

Speaking of Faithless, if you’re interested in some behind-the-scenes info on things I discovered while writing the novel, check out the guest post I did for “Self-Publishing Review.”

Recently, I finished The Time Machine Did It by by John Swartzwelder, a television writer. If you like detective novels that are preposterous and hilarious, I suggest you give this one a look. To say the main character, Frank Burly, is slow witted is an understatement. You can read my review here.

Book Description
One of a series of comedy science-fiction novels featuring slow-witted detective Frank Burly. By John Swartzwelder, the writer of 59 episodes of ‘The Simpsons.’

If you love thrilling adventure, check out these free books. But hurry. This giveaway ends on June 30,2021.

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

‘Collateral’ is a 2004 thriller directed by Michael Mann. If you haven’t seen it, you can watch it now on Amazon Prime. In my opinion, this is one of Tom Cruise’s finest performances. Here, he plays a hitman named Vincent. The film also stars Jamie Foxx and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Log Line. A cab driver finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month, when I celebrate the Fourth by attaching sparklers to my head and running in circles. Peace and love.

The post June 2021 Highlights and a Crow appeared first on Steven Ramirez.

Like the cover says, The Time Machine Did It was written by John Swartzwelder. He was responsible for fifty-nine episodes of the long-running animated series, The Simpsons. As you can imagine, the zaniness in that show has spilled onto the pages of a sort-of detective novel featuring the “slow-witted” Frank Burly.

Slow witted is a vast understatement. Burly makes Springfield’s Chief Wiggum look like Lennie Briscoe. The point is, this detective is a dufus. Time traveling doesn’t help. He’s just as stupid in the past. What’s worse—he doesn’t care. I will say one thing for him, though. He can take a beating. And he does. Often.

If you’re looking for the kinds of twists and turns you’d find in a Raymond Chandler novel, this book isn’t for you. But if you want some laugh-out-loud humor to brighten your day, I’d advise you to check out The Time Machine Did It. And if you need some convincing, I’m happy to give you the old Burly Shove.

You can find this review at Goodreads.

One of a series of comedy science-fiction novels featuring slow-witted detective Frank Burly. By John Swartzwelder, the writer of 59 episodes of The Simpsons.

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Greetings. Okay, there’s a reason I’m showing you kittens. Can you guess? That’s right. The Ramirez family has a new member. Her name is ZuZu, and what a story. I’ll give you the short version.

Six weeks ago, my daughter and her boyfriend rescued a kitten stuck in a bush. She was barely a week old, so her eyes and ears were closed. Her incessant crying got their attention—and good thing. When they walked in the front door, my daughter said, “Don’t be mad.”

Well, it’s been a long time since we owned a cat. But we welcomed the little thing with open arms. My wife and daughter have been bottle-feeding her, and currently, they’re attempting to transition her to kitten food. So far, no success. We suspect she might be a vegetarian. And here she is at six weeks. Adorable, right?

Just a reminder that Faithless is available for preorder at 99 cents. The publication date is May 16. At that time, the price goes up to $4.99. Here are a couple of pull quotes to whet your appetite:

“The mystery of Jane’s death and her subsequent revival is at the dark heart of an unfolding biological experiment that will leave readers reeling, and the final reveal is a shocker.” —The Prairies Book Review

“Raul and Jane’s mutual respect and a desire to protect each other are the book’s emotional backbone. Its action scenes are punctuated by the complications of their soft, sad love.” —Forward Clarion Reviews

If you like women’s crime fiction, check out Set You Free by Steven Moore.

Book Description

They thought they ruled the city.

Kayla Stone will bring them to their knees…

In a bid to get away from the violence and trauma of the last few months, Kayla Stone returns to her hometown of Sydney. But she’s barely off the plane when the ghosts of her past fight back.

When she stumbles upon an underground trafficking ring dealing in the sale of children, turning the other cheek is not an option. Kayla’s risked her life on shadowy streets before. This time it’s personal.

This time she’s alone…

Determined to crush these vile criminals once and for all, Kayla will do whatever it takes to save the innocent. How far will she go in the name of justice?

What happens when she finally crosses the line?

So, have you seen ‘Nomadland’ yet? This year, it received Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. And the brilliant Frances McDormand won for Best Actress. It’s sad, funny, and sweet and currently showing on Amazon Prime. Check it out.

Log Line. A woman in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month, when I attempt to sneak off to New York to watch the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Peace and love.

The post May 2021 Highlights and a Kitten appeared first on Steven Ramirez.

Hey, check out the post I wrote for “Self-Publishing Review.” It’s directed at authors, and I discuss what it was like expanding my Tell Me When I’m Dead universe to include a new character. She makes her appearance in Faithless: A Jane Doe Thriller. Enjoy.

In 2013, I published the first novel in a new horror thriller series. The book is Tell Me When I’m Dead, and as I wrote it, I hadn’t thought about a sequel. By the time I got to the end, though, I began picturing scenes for the next book. When I finished Book Two, I was well down the path of writing a trilogy.

Overall, the reviews have been positive. By Book Three, I’d had enough of zombies and wrote a supernatural horror series. But I never stopped thinking about the universe I’d created the first time around. After publishing the third supernatural novel, I got to work on a story that takes place in the same universe as Tell Me When I’m Dead—but with a new character. Taking this on created some challenges—the most important being that I had to reacquaint myself with what I’d done previously.

I wanted the new series to begin with events that occurred at the end of the zombie trilogy. My main character, Jane, wakes up from an induced coma at Baseborn Identity Research, a sinister government-funded lab. Dave and his friends (from TMWID) are there, conducting a raid. Expanding the universe in this way was exhilarating. And I learned some valuable lessons along the way.

1. Don’t Assume You Know

As a writer, it’s tempting to think you remember everything about your previous books. Sure, you might recall the names, storyline, and plot twists. But I’ll bet there are details in the settings and locales that are relegated to those obscure corners of your brain where old baseball statistics languish.

Being a card-carrying pantser, I began writing Faithless without referring to the old series at all. It wasn’t until I got absolutely stuck that I went back and reread key chapters. Wow, there was so much I’d missed. And what made things worse was that scenes in the new story take place on the same night—and in the same location—as the other one. The lesson? Always go back and reread what you wrote.

2. Changing Genres Leads to Consequences

Unlike the zombie series, Faithless is pure thriller with an eclectic mix of sci-fi and techno. The main character, Jane, has been genetically altered to heal quickly when injured. So if someone shoots her, she recovers. Moreover, the Marines trained her to be deadly. Though she has a strong sense of right and wrong, make no mistake—she’ll kill to protect herself.

The dynamics of the new novel represent a departure from the other series. The biggest difference is in the main character. In TMWID, Dave Pulaski is a regular guy who must learn to fight when he’s thrown into an impossible situation. And his enemies, aside from corrupt officials, are the zombies—soulless carnivores who go after humans like cannibals at a barbeque. Jane is someone who Dave would kill if given a chance. She’s not “normal” and might even be too dangerous to live.

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Like the California Gold Rush, gold mining in Western Australia began in the late nineteenth century. Unlike California, that first discovery in the Kimberley region evolved into a massive industry. But with it came the inevitable greed, corruption, and abuse of indigenous people.

GOLD! by Thomas Greenbank doesn’t start in the 1800s, though. It begins in the late twentieth century and focuses on the Kincaid family—specifically, Malcolm Kincaid. When a person is described as a “self-made man,” it usually means he’s ruthless. And Malcolm doesn’t disappoint. In his quest for success, he destroys everything around him—especially his family. Gold mining is a dangerous enterprise. Malcolm Kincaid makes it more treacherous.

The author’s treatment of this sprawling story is impressive. Each character is unique, and no one gets lost in the vast landscape of perilous mines and toxic water. If you enjoy tales of family history, high drama, and pathos, I recommend GOLD!

You can find this review at Goodreads.

GOLD! is a tale of greed, betrayal, family conflict, rape, and murder. It is also, however, a story of love and loyalty—and of how one man’s pride and prejudice can lead to terrible retribution.

Malcolm Kincaid is a self-made man. He is also a ruthless businessman and opportunist. He knows what it takes to build and maintain a business empire, but how far will he be prepared to go to achieve his goals—and what will he sacrifice along the way?

Over three decades, Malcolm Kincaid uses, abuses, and dominates associates and family alike, crushing all opposition in his pursuit of wealth and power.

When he allows the pollution of an Aboriginal settlement’s water supply, however, he faces justice of a kind he could never imagine.

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Buy Faithless now and save a cool four bucks. Come on. That will buy you a Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks. Or a big ol’ bag of assorted candy at Walmart.

Anyway, Faithless is the first book in the new Jane Doe Cycle series. The publication date is May 16, 2021. At that time, the book will sell at a list price of $4.99. So, hurry up and save.

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The post Faithless Is Available for Preorder appeared first on Steven Ramirez.

I’ve never been in prison, but I imagine that upon getting out, I’d do anything to avoid the thing that got me thrown in there. The Drowning Bay opens with Allison leaving prison. Though she doesn’t intend to tempt fate, she’s inevitably drawn into a mystery of a missing woman and a dead body. Passionate and committed to her beliefs, she embarks on a torturous trail that leads to evidence of further assaults on the environment and people’s lives.

This story is well written and suspenseful. I came to care about the things Allison treasures—especially the young African boy trying to find his place in the world. And, frankly, I learned a lot about how those in power continue to pollute our precious planet.

Allison is a well-drawn character with a big heart and, sometimes, not a lot of sense. At the risk of returning to prison, she carries on. Considering her dark path, I might have done the same thing. If you enjoy stories of characters struggling to cope with forces they can’t control, then you’ll enjoy The Drowning Bay. In fighting for what’s right, the human spirit has never been stronger.

You can find this review at Goodreads.

On parole, Allison, now an ex-con trying to survive her freedom, comes to the aid of an adopted African refugee boy. He’s lost his activist mother to a mounting ecological crisis and to a corrupt town in the pocket of developers.

The hacking skills that got her into trouble help her discover the activist’s unpublished blog. In violation of her parole she cannot risk her freedom by telling the shocking truth to her parole officer, or the boy, or anyone—not after she sees the body in the fishkill.

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Greetings, and let it be spring already. Okay, in California, where I live, we’re pretty much there. Warmer days and blue skies—yippee!

Speaking of insects, did you know ladybugs are actually beetles—not bugs? Fine, you knew that. But I’ll bet you didn’t realize ladybugs smell with their feet and antennae. Moving on…

Faithless goes up for presale later this month at 99 cents. I’ll post an announcement.

Book Description
In a secret lab, a woman awakens from a bizarre dream. She’s alone, immersed in a tank with wires and tubes. The other test subjects are dead—drowned in black water. Her only memory is dying from her wounds during a night raid in Afghanistan. Something brought her back, uninjured. Men in gray suits try to end Jane. Each time they shoot her, she heals. Leaving a trail of bodies, she runs. Now, she must discover who these men are and why they want her dead. But a debilitating fever rages inside Jane. In the lab, she was on an experimental drug. And without it, she will die.

In related news, I’ve completed a prequel called Brandon’s Last Words. It’ll be available to everyone who signs up for my newsletter. But don’t worry. If you’re currently a subscriber, I’ll let you know how you can grab a copy, too.

Book Description
Brandon Wheegar has just joined Baseborn Identity Research as a security guard. But no one told him how bad things can get when a secretive employer has deep pockets and no conscience. He should’ve quit the night his supervisor went off on him. Now, alphas, murderous mutant test subjects, are loose in the facility. And then there are the hypers, genetically modified superhumans. They lie asleep in specially designed tanks—all except for one. Her name is Jane. A deadly soldier with skills, she’s virtually unkillable. Better not to cross her. Ever. Someone should probably warn Brandon.

For those of you who enjoy medical thrillers, check out The Plague Walker by Michael Angel. You can grab it for free over at StoryOrigin.

Book Description
Epidemiologist Leigh Austen stumbles into a nightmare as the medical relief mission she’s been sent on goes horribly awry. The African country of Malindi is in turmoil, there’s been an outbreak of Black Nile virus, and Austen is put into a position where she may be the only person who can turn the tide!

And if you’re a fan of crime fiction, check out Say You’re Sorry by Melinda Leigh. You can read my review over at Goodreads.

Book Description
After the devastating loss of her husband in Iraq, Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls, seeking the comfort of her hometown. Now, surrounded by family, she’s finally found peace and a promising career opportunity—until her babysitter is killed and her neighbor asks her to defend his son, Nick, who stands accused of the murder.

Many of you are familiar with the French director, Luc Besson. He’s famous for movies such as ‘The Fifth Element,’ ‘Nikita,’ and ‘Lucy.’ Recently, I caught another of his films on Amazon Prime—something I wasn’t familiar with. It’s called ‘Angel-A,’ and stars a very tall Rie Rasmussen. In fact, it’s now my favorite of his.

The log line is pretty simple: A beautiful woman helps an inept scam artist get his game together. It’s showing now on Amazon Prime. Check it out.

Okay, that’s a wrap. See you next month, when I celebrate Cinco de Mayo by consuming an entire bag of pork rinds. Peace and love.

The post April 2021 Highlights and a Killer Movie Recommendation appeared first on Steven Ramirez.

The best crime thrillers have main characters who are tough, action-oriented, and vulnerable. Morgan Dane is no exception. The daughter of a cop, she’s tough when she needs to be. She’s comfortable with weapons and doesn’t have a problem physically defending herself. But inside, she’s hurting. Bad. And that’s what made me follow her to the end.

Losing your life partner is bad enough. But when a young girl she cares about is found brutally murdered, well. Your average person might go off the rails. Not Morgan. She’s committed to truth and justice, even if it means throwing away a chance at a high-profile career.

Lance, a trusted friend, helps to ground Morgan. He stays with her as she navigates a web of lies and bad intent in a small town. Everyone there wishes the kid arrested for the murder were guilty already so they can mourn the victim and move on. But Morgan isn’t having any of it. She’s convinced Nick is innocent.

Like Morgan, Say You’re Sorry is tough when it needs to be. But it’s also soft and afraid. Morgan might be flawed. But on her worst day, she’s a hero worth rooting for.

You can find this review at Goodreads.

After the devastating loss of her husband in Iraq, Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls, seeking the comfort of her hometown. Now, surrounded by family, she’s finally found peace and a promising career opportunity—until her babysitter is killed and her neighbor asks her to defend his son, Nick, who stands accused of the murder.

Tessa was the ultimate girl next door, and the community is outraged by her death. But Morgan has known Nick for years and can’t believe he’s guilty, despite the damning evidence stacked against him. She asks her friend Lance Kruger, an ex-cop turned private eye, for help. Taking on the town, the police, and a zealous DA, Morgan and Lance plunge into the investigation, determined to find the real killer. But as they uncover secrets that rock the community, they become targets for the madman hiding in plain sight.

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