‘Mastermind’ by Andrew Mayne will be released on September 7, 2021. Photo: amazon
Andrew Mayne is the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of “The Girl Beneath the Sea” and “Black Coral” in his Underwater Investigation Unit series; “The Naturalist,” “Looking Glass,” “Murder Theory,” and “Dark Pattern” in his Naturalist series; “Angel Killer,” “Fire in the Sky,” “Name of the Devil,” and the Edgar Award–nominated “Black Fall” in his Jessica Blackwood series; and the Station Breaker novels. The star of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week special Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver and A&E’s Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne, he is also a magician who started his first world tour as an illusionist when he was a teenager and went on to work behind the scenes for Penn & Teller, David Blaine, and David Copperfield. Ranked as the fifth-bestselling independent author of the year by Amazon UK, he currently works with OpenAI on applied artificial intelligence. In his upcoming new novel, “Mastermind: A Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood thriller,” Dr. Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood confront a cataclysmic conspiracy. It will be released on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. (amazon, 2021)
“Mastermind” – A mysterious electrical storm plunges Manhattan into darkness. As a strange, smothering fog rolls in, all communication crashes. In the blink of an eye, the island seems to vanish into a void. FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and brilliant scientist Dr. Theo Cray know this is not a freak accident. It is a sinister sleight of hand. Their greatest adversary, a serial killer and cultist known as the Warlock, has escaped during a prison transfer in New York. A depraved master of manipulation, he promised the end of days. He is making good on it. One by one, cities across the globe are erupting in chaos as they disappear into the same black holes. Even for two ingenious trackers like Jessica and Theo, there is still so much to learn about the pattern to the Warlock’s madness. The voids are just a warm-up for something bigger. To discover it―to stop it―Jessica and Theo must descend into the darkest of shadows―and minds.
La sabanía del peñasco blanco, Huásabas, 2012 Digital photograph on photographic paper. Photo: Werner Segarra, used with permission. Part of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo, fall exhibit at the Briscoe.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum will transport everyone to the birthplace of the modern cowboy during its fall exhibition, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. Making its United States debut at the Briscoe, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo features celebrated photographer Werner Segarra inviting audiences to peer into the world of the Norteño Cowboys from Sonora, Mexico – not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. A series of opening events that includes a documentary, artist’s lecture, and tours spans September 23-26. Following a preview party on September 24, the exhibition opens to the public September 25,2021 – January 24, 2022. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)
With almost sixty images that span more than twenty years of the lives of the vaqueros, Segarra showcases the expansive landscape, their daily work, and the intimacy of their homes, not merely documenting the vaquero, but bringing forward through his images both meaning and a celebration of his subjects and their way of life. Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo takes you into the little-known culture of the cowboys of Sonora, Mexico, sharing aspects of their daily lives through the eyes and lens of Segarra. The photographs share the unique, passionate and strenuous life that these vaqueros lead. The exhibition is accompanied by Norteño music especially created by Leo Lopez. Video clips woven throughout the exhibition further illustrate the stories.
A professional photographer for more than thirty years, Segarra has participated in numerous group and individual exhibitions in various international galleries and museums. Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo showcases the lives and people Segarra has encountered by immersing himself in the Mexican cowboy world. Inspiration for Segarra’s work comes from personal experience after living in various countries around the world during his childhood and adolescence. Knowledge acquired throughout those years cultivated Segarra’s artistic sensitivity and respect for native cultures. The most significant encounter and inspiration for this exhibition was a student exchange that took him to northern Mexico. That experience captivated and motivated him to transmit his love and respect for this culture and share it with the rest of the world.
Exhibition opening events include:
“The Making Of” Vaqueros – Documentary Screening with Werner Segarra and Ellen Riojas Clark Thursday, September 23 from 6p.m to 8p.m. Instituto Cultural de Mexico.
Join the Briscoe at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico for a documentary screening and conversation with distinguished guest Ellen Riojas Clark, Ph. D., Professor Emerita in the Department of Bicultural Studies at University of Texas at San Antonio, and Werner Segarra, photographer of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. A highly respected scholar, Dr. Clark’s received three National Endowment for the Humanities grants focused on Mexican American and Latino literature and culture research examines ethnic and cultural identity and cultural studies topics and is executive producer for the “Latino Artist Speaks: Exploring Who I Am” series. The event is free and open to the public.
Exclusive Preview Party: Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo Friday, September 24, from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. The Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Western Art Museum
Join photographer Werner Segarra and Briscoe CEO and President Michael Duchemin, Ph.D., for the first look at Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. The event includes complimentary valet, beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and light bites. Free for Briscoe members and $25 for future members, RSVP or purchase tickets by September 20. Tickets are also available by calling 210.299.4499.
Artist Lecture: Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo with Werner Segarra and John Philip Santos Briscoe Western Art Museum Saturday, September 25, from 1p.m. to 3p.m.
Listen in as Werner Segarra and guest moderator John Philip Santos take a closer look at how the videos and photographs of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo were created and what inspired Segarra to pursue the subject. Following the lecture, Segarra will sign copies of his book, “Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo,” available at the Museum Store. The lecture and signing are free with museum admission.
A member of the board of directors of the Briscoe Western Art Museum, John Philip Santos serves as a University Distinguished Scholar in Mestizo Cultural Studies to the Honors College at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is the author of the acclaimed book, “Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation,” as well as “The Farthest Home Is in an Empire of Fire.” Santos has created an international forum for exploring mestizo cultural identity, or mestizaje, at UTSA and As an Emmy-nominated television producer, he has produced more than forty broadcast documentaries and news programs on cultural themes in sixteen countries for CBS and PBS.
Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo Artist Tour with Werner Segarra Briscoe Western Art Museum Sunday, September 26, from 1p.m. to 3p.m.
Join photographer Werner Segarra for a guided tour through Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo. Peer into the world of the Northern Mexican vaquero as an intimate observer and discover how Segarra was able to capture the life of the vaquero and a way of life that is on the brink of disappearing. Free with museum admission.
Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo is supported in part by the Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992, the Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation, and the Texas Commission on the Arts, with special consideration to the Wyatt Family Foundation.
Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden.
Labor Day weekend activities include a Wine Weekend Extravaganza and live music. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, used with permission.
Labor Day Weekend is right around the corner, and JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa is offering an exciting Wine Weekend Extravaganza alongside family-friendly activities for the whole family to enjoy as we say goodbye to summer. From a live concert to special wine tasting and dining options, the 5-day event will close out summer on a high note. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)
Across the resort’s 13,000 sprawling acres in the heart of Texas Hill Country, guests will be able to take part in—
Wine Down Weekend: The three-night wine event centers around Jackson Family Wines, featuring exclusive tastings of the Cardinale, Lokoya, and Spire Collections in addition to meet and greets with the Jackson Family. Seasoned winemaker Chris Carpenter will be onsite to lead wine pairings with JL Bar’s exclusive dinners.
Music & Memories: On Saturday, September 4, rising Country/Americana artist William Beckmann will perform a private live concert at JL Bar’s Private FBO Hangar for the resort’s overnight guests.
Firework Food: JL Bar’s Chef Sergio has curated special menus for the weekend to pair seamlessly with select vintages of the Jackson Family Wines.
Make it an Extra-Long Weekend: The stunning Hill Country resort is offering an exclusive Labor Day package rate for couples ($4,995+) and individuals (3,295+), which allows visitors to take advantage of the resort’s fourth night free offer for those who would like to extend and arrive on Wednesday, September 1. Pricing includes all meals, pre-scheduled wine events, and a table for the William Beckmann concert. Holiday stays can be booked by calling 855-414-3337 or visiting JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa.
Hill Country Adventures: On top of all the holiday activities, the resort will be offering outdoor experiences including horseback riding and a horse psychology experience, off-road ATV adventures, a Putting/Chipping Green, and swimming. Guests can also partake in the resort’s Labor Day Weekend clay pigeon shooting contest for a chance to win a prize.
Hopdoddy’s Labor Day deals are available for a limited time only. Photo: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, used with permission.
This Labor Day weekend, the nationally recognized burger joint, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, has several special deals for guests. From Thursday, September 2 through Monday, September 6, you can order Hopdoddy’s DIY Burger Kit and get one free 12-ounce bottle of Hop Sauce when using the code BOTTLED at checkout. The Hop Sauce is available in five flavors, like the Chipotle Aioli, Doddy Mayo and more. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2021)
If instead you are looking for a drink to celebrate on Labor Day, try Hopdoddy’s Roadie — a half-gallon bag of frozen house margarita made with fresh, hand-squeezed juice — so you can enjoy and easily celebrate with friends. All Hopdoddy orders can be placed in-person at any Hopdoddy location or online for pickup.
In 2010, four friends had a goal: to set a new standard for burger bars. Hopdoddy pushed the boundaries of what is expected by bringing together craft beer and unique burger concoctions – all with high-quality ingredients and even higher standards. With every purchase of a Goodnight Good Cause burger, a portion of the proceeds give back to Hopdoddy’s favorite community charitable organizations.
Acclaimed Chef Steve McHugh welcomes special guest Chef Todd Pulsinelli to support South Texas’ culinary community. Photo: google
Texas food lovers will have the opportunity to be entertained by some of the nation’s most acclaimed chefs as the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance (SAFWA) launches its celebrated Wine & Dine dinner series. James Beard Award nominee Steve McHugh will host special guest Chef Todd Pulsinelli for an Oktoberfest feast paying homage to San Antonio’s German heritage. Money raised will benefit the Alliance’s Culinary Grant Program in South Texas. (San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, 2021)
“We are extremely excited and honored by the support of such an incredible Texas chef. With a lauded Louisiana chef added to the lineup, we are sure to have a memorable Wine & Dine dinner.” – Gina Burchenal, interim executive director of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.
In the unique dinner format, attendees get an up-close-and-personal opportunity to understand each chef’s inspiration and culinary philosophy through specially designed menus expertly paired with top-tier wines and spirits. Previous Wine & Dine dinners held in Austin have featured culinary legends Jacques Pépin, Lidia Bastianich, Emeril Lagasse, and nationally acclaimed chefs Hugh Acheson, Aaron Franklin, Matthew Jennings, Alon Shaya, and more.
The exclusive dinner will take place on Sunday, September 19 at Cured, McHugh’s acclaimed restaurant located at the historic Pearl. Five-time James Beard-nominated Chef McHugh will collaborate with Chef Pulsinelli on five delectable courses.
Recognized by his peers as one of the Best Chefs America, Pulsinelli is a fixture of New Orleans’ hospitality community, with stints at Warbucks, The American Sector at the National World War II Museum, and August. His fresh take on classic Creole cooking is currently wowing guests at buzzy boutique hotel The Chloe.
Tickets are available now at San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance’s (SAFWA) for $225 and include wine and beer pairings by acclaimed sommelier and TFWA board member Paula Rester-Salinas. The experience will kick off with a cocktail hour at 5:30p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30p.m.
Guests can also support the Alliance from September 18-October 3, two weeks of activations celebrating German culture at the historic Pearl. Lick Honest Ice Creams, Park Bar, and Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery will offer special treats or flights with a portion of the proceeds benefiting SAFWA.
All funds raised will benefit the host city’s culinary communities through SAFWA’s programming, including the Culinary Arts Career Conference for high school students and a unique grant program supporting culinary innovation and community giveback. As a continuation of its dynamic decade of success in supporting and cultivating Austin’s culinary businesses and nonprofits, the Austin Food & Wine Alliance (AFWA) expanded statewide in September 2020 to replicate its mission in Texas’ major cities, a move that will support pandemic recovery over the next several years. The newly formed Texas Food & Wine Alliance is the umbrella organization overseeing the AFWA, SAFWA, the Dallas Food & Wine Alliance, and the Houston Food & Wine Alliance.
The San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in the South Texas culinary community through grants, educational programming, and events. Guided by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees made up of culinary- and community-minded professionals, the Alliance’s commitment is to support, inspire, and showcase Texas and beyond through the power of our diverse culinary communities.
‘Tunnel 29’ is the new book by Helena Merriman. Photo: google
Helena Merriman is an award-winning journalist, author and documentary-maker. Helena wrote, produced and presented Tunnel 29 – the BBC podcast series about a group of students who dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall in 1962. The podcast has had over 6m downloads and was listed by The New Yorker as one of their top five podcasts of 2019. It won the Foreign Press Association’s Podcast of the Year, Rose D’Or Best Audio Entertainment and Best Radio Podcast and Moment of the Year at the British Podcast Awards. Helena has worked as a reporter all over the world, with long stints in Jerusalem, Egypt and Washington DC. She has spent time with resistance fighters on the frontline in Libya, reported on the Egyptian uprising from Cairo, interviewed protesters in Yemen, investigated illegal fishing in Sierra Leone and covered Obama’s re-election campaign. Her new book “Tunnel 29: The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall” is the true story of the most remarkable Cold War rescue mission. (amazon, 2021)
“Tunnel 29” – He escaped from one of the world’s most brutal regimes. Then, he decided to tunnel back in. In the summer of 1962, a young student named Joachim Rudolph dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall. Waiting on the other side in East Berlin were dozens of men, women, and children—all willing to risk everything to escape. Drawing on interviews with the survivors and Stasi files, Helena Merriman brilliantly reveals the stranger-than-fiction story of the ingenious group of student-diggers, the glamorous red-haired messenger, the Stasi spy who threatened the whole enterprise, and the love story that became its surprising epilogue. “Tunnel 29” was also the first made-for-TV event of its kind; it was funded by NBC, who wanted to film an escape in real time. Their documentary—which was nearly blocked from airing by the Kennedy administration, which wanted to control the media during the Cold War—revolutionized TV journalism. “Tunnel 29” is a success story about freedom: the valiant citizens risking everything to win it back, and the larger world rooting for them to triumph.
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ opens today at the Woodlawn Theatre. Photo: google
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ is the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical. It opens today at the Woodlawn Theatre and will run until Sunday September 19, 2021. Performance times are Friday and Saturdays at 7:30p.m. and Sundays at 3p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $30 and are available online. Due to COVID seating restrictions, all tickets are general admission and must be purchased in advance, online only. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The Woodlawn Theatre Box Office is not currently conducting in-person or phone purchases. For assistance, please email Woodlawn Theatre. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2021)
‘Cinderella’ is a contemporary take on the classic tale and features Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beloved songs including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” alongside a hilarious and romantic libretto by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane as well as some new characters, and surprising twists. Cinderella is sponsored by the Jefferson Woodlawn Lake Community Development Corporation.
Director: Chris Rodriguez Choreographer: Kahlee Moore Music Director: Jane Haas Cast includes Ella-Jimmi Nelson-Reid, Topher-Joshua Cook, Madame-Beth Erwin, Sebastian-Christopher Steinmetz, Marie-Amanda Golden, Gabrielle-Rebekah Williams, Jean-Michel-Lorenzo Mireles, Charlotte-Morgan Clyde, and Lord Pinkelton-Myles Harris.
During the ‘Cinderella’ run, the Woodlawn Theatre is partnering with Special Olympics Texas and will be collecting in-kind donations on their behalf.
There is a special 2p.m performance on Saturday September 11 and a 7p.m. performance on Thursday September 16.
‘Cinderella’ community appreciation nights: Pride Appreciation Night: August 28 with the San Antonio AIDS Foundation ASL Night: September 10
‘Red Deception’ by Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller is book two in the Red Hotel series. Photo: amazon
Gary Grossman’s first novel “Executive Actions” propelled him into the world of geopolitical thrillers. “Executive Treason,” “Executive Command,” and “Executive Force” further tapped Grossman’s experience as a journalist, newspaper columnist, documentary television producer, reporter, and media historian. In addition to the bestselling Executive series, Grossman wrote the international award-winning “Old Earth,” a geological thriller that spans all of time. With “Red Hotel” and “Red Deception,” his collaborations with Ed Fuller, Grossman entered a new realm of globe-hopping thriller writing. Ed Fuller is a hospitality industry leader, educator, and bestselling author. He is also director of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA). The plots for “Red Hotel” and “Red Deception” draw heavily on his experience and exploits. “Red Deception” is the second book in The Red Hotel series and the newest novel by Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller – when terrorists bomb bridges across the country and threaten the Hoover Dam, the vulnerability of America’s infrastructure becomes a matter of national security.
“Red Deception” begins with real world news headlines such as North Korean spies, Russia looking to get its former nations back, and other news-worthy world events. The Prologue consists of three separate foreign insurgents slipping into the country, one through the US/Canadian border in Maine (an eyewitness eventually calls in to a radio show (page 125), one in the Los Angeles International Airport, and the other fifteen nautical miles East of Fort Lauderdale, Florida with more to come. The rest of the novel is divided into three parts, Part One: The Long Fuse, Part Two: Trip Wire, and Part Three: Shock Waves.
Dan Reilly is a former Army intelligence officer who is on a taxi on his way to a meeting when an explosion rocks the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C. He survives only because his taxi was behind an armored car and he immediately goes into crisis mode and tries to help as many people as he can. Years earlier, he predicted similar attacks in a top secret State Department report. It is practically a virtual blueprint for disaster and now that the report has been leaked and in the hands of foreign operatives, the events taking place eerily mirror this report. With Washington and the nation distracted by domestic crises, (bridges and tunnels being bombed) Russian President Nicolai Gorshkov sends troops to the borders of Ukraine and Latvia, ready to reclaim what he feels is Russia’s rightful territory. Tensions in Europe threaten to boil over as the American president balances multiple crises that threaten to upend the geopolitical order. With the US at the mercy of an egomaniacal leader, who takes over after the president ends up in the hospital after an assassination attempt, and reporters and covert agents on his tail, Reilly may be the one man who can connect the dots before an even bigger catastrophe unfolds.
If current world events are not enough drama, “Red Deception” makes for an excellent read for fans of espionage thrillers. It is the second book in the Red Hotel series but stands well on its own. Ed Fuller has a background in the hospitality industry and that gives the writing an authentic voice when Reilly, who owns hotels around the world, has to deal with hotel business. This is especially true during the heart-pounding action that begins in Chapter 63 as guests in his Kiev hotel have to be evacuated as war is breaking out. The long list of principal characters in the beginning seems irrelevant at first but it serves its purpose when trying to keep up with the different plotlines. The action is mostly dialogue driven and flows effortlessly from page to page and it is hard not to finish reading it in one sitting. Some of the best books are those that teach readers something along the way and this time it is interesting to learn about North Korean spies, who have to obey every command or they will bring shame to their families or worse, their families will be killed. They are always under suicide orders if caught by the ‘enemy.’ The highlight has to be when a quick thinking housekeeper in a Virginia motel, who actually read the employee manual about what to watch out for, calls the FBI to report that she found a significant amount of battery packaging in the trash in one of the rooms. While it is true that there are multiple storylines, it serves to prove that everything that happens is interconnected, even if it is halfway around the world. Hopefully there will be more books in this exciting series. With relatable characters and intriguing, fast paced action, “Red Deception” is a must-read thriller. It is recommended for fans of spy thrillers similar to the Robert Ludlum novels and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series.
“Now, as President of Kensington Royal Hotels’ international division and the force behind the creation of the company’s global threat assessment program known as Red Hotel, Reilly relied on instinct. He was, after all, Army-trained and State Department-tempered. Experience drove the dark-haired, six foot, 180-pound corporate executive in this new moment of crisis.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
On the golden anniversary of Steve Reifman’s adventure, the authors created a weekly podcast series to commemorate his year-long adventure. Photo: amazon
Author F.T. Burke is a lifelong resident of the state of Michigan. He enjoyed a prior career in the high-tech sector, serving as a systems engineer and project manager. Burke’s debut novel, “The Bohemian Adventure,” traces the journey of one who meets up with devoted “deadheads” who followed the psychedelic rock group, the Grateful Dead. “Wanderer – The Ultimate Hippy Trail Journey” by F.T. Burke and Steve Reifman is a book that tells the remarkable story of a young man’s year-long journey of discovery wandering across the globe in 1970-71. Steven W. Reifman is a practicing lawyer, activist and businessman. He took a journey similar in time and place to that of Wanderer’s main character, Woodstock. (F.T. Burke, 2021)
During the height of the pandemic while in quarantine, Steve Reifman, on whose travel the book is based, recorded the fictional book for posterity in his own home on a podcast type recorder. Then as the 50-year anniversary of the travel approached, Steve was inspired to commemorate his incredible journey of a lifetime by recording and publishing a week-by-week video relying heavily on his handwritten travel journals and readings from the book. Steve and co-author, F.T. Burke, enlisted the services of their media arts specialist, Xavier Vance, and they were “off to the races.” Each week, without fail, the trio have published, all the way to week 42 with the end in sight. As the authors issued their weeklies, the concept of a mini-series or other serial took shape with a chapter based on each week’s adventure.
Steve’s adventures, the inspiration for the book “Wanderer,” co-written with F.T. Burke, took him across four continents through 26 countries in 1970-71. Now on the Golden Anniversary of his own real-life adventure, Attorney Steve Reifman—or “Stevie Wander” as he likes to be called—-tells the true tales behind the story, as the weeks roll by towards his homecoming. The weekly adventures kicked off on September 30, 2020, and now they are in the 42nd week, closing in on the exciting homecoming of this prodigal son on his year-long adventure. The Weekly Wanderer series is available on YouTube.
“Wanderer: The Ultimate Hippy Trail Journey” – During the crazy latter days of the Vietnam War, many young travelers wandered about doing drugs, having sex, sleeping out, and back-packing through Europe, North Africa, and Asia. As a young man coming of age, just out of college, with no clear future and unable to pay rent, the bushy-red-haired Woodstock joins these revelers to wander the world, searching for his soul. Upon beating the Draft, he crosses the Atlantic to the Old World in October 1970 without any particular itinerary, no set time to come “home” and not much money. He finds God everywhere no matter how hard he tries to hide and look away. During his year-long journey, his spontaneous, free-wheeling adventures of raucous, hilarious incidents all weigh heavily against his need to come home and grow up. Come along for this unforgettable adventure of a lifetime. (amazon, 2021)
‘Getaway’ is the new thriller by Zoje Stage. Photo: amazon
Zoje Stage’s debut novel, “Baby Teeth,” was a USA Today and international bestseller. It was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel, and was optioned for film by Village Roadshow/Valparaiso Pictures. Her second “mind-bending” (NY Times) novel, “Wonderland,” was one of Book Riot’s Best Horror Books of 2020, and one of Overdrive’s Best Audio Books of 2020. Her third novel, “Getaway,” described as “stunning” in a starred review from Booklist, was released this month. In “Getaway,” three friends set off on a hike into the Grand Canyon—only to discover it is not so easy to leave the world behind. A former filmmaker with a penchant for the dark and suspenseful, Zoje Stage lives in Pittsburgh. (amazon, 2021)
“Getaway” – It was supposed to be the perfect week away. Imogen and Beck, two sisters who could not be more different, have been friends with Tilda since high school. Once inseparable, over two decades the women have grown apart. But after Imogen survives a traumatic attack, Beck suggests they all reunite to hike deep into the Grand Canyon’s backcountry. A week away, secluded in nature. Surely it is just what they need. But as the terrain grows tougher, tensions from their shared past bubble up. And when supplies begin to disappear, it becomes clear secrets are not the only thing they are being stalked by. As friendship and survival collide with an unspeakable evil, Getaway becomes another riveting thriller from a growing master of suspense and a “literary horror writer on the rise.” (BookPage)
SA Examiner 