I’m getting to the fun time of year (he winks sarcastically!) when I sit down and do our taxes. This is where I see how much money I’ve spent to get my books in front of readers. A dollar amount that increases each year. The ROI (return on investment) has been low these last two years, which has been frustrating. This is where I will seriously look at other options to sell more books. Honestly, it’s a matter of getting all my books out there and in the hands of readers. Once people read my stories, I get good follow-through with them wanting to read more. The biggest problem is there are so many great books out there, and some not so great, to compete with. Trying to stand out in the crowd is challenging. But I plan on making a full-court press this year to bring more readers to my mystery, crime, and thriller stories.

This newsletter is a great way to keep in touch with readers. I’m working on ways to expand it as well, to get more people looking at my books. Doing marketing and promotions of various kinds. This will include paying email marketers to promote my books and Amazon Ads to place my books higher in their search engines. This will take time but needs to be done to make my business profitable and be able to make a full-time living as an author.

One other avenue for readers to find me is through the Kindle Unlimited Book Program. This is a great deal for readers, who pay a monthly or yearly fee, to read unlimited books, though only those available under the Kindle Unlimited Program. For authors to put their eBooks into the program, they can only be available on Amazon and nowhere else. Authors are then paid for the page reads, the amount which changes each month depending on many factors. Generally .003 to .004 per page. The money author’s receive isn’t as good as when someone buys the ebook. But it still adds up. All of my books are on Kindle Unlimited and available to those who subscribe. So if you’re on the Kindle Unlimited Program, please check out any of my books and read all the pages, including the front and back matter.

I’m pleased to announce I’ve set a release date for my new book, Justice for the Forgotten. It will be released on March 3rd. You can pre-order the eBook for the low price of 99 cents. A great discount on the regular price of $5.99. Order it now via this link and it will automatically download to your Kindle on March 3rd. Starting today you can order a signed paperback copy through my website for $15 plus $4 shipping (US Only). Orders through my website will be shipped once I receive author copies which should be in 2-3 weeks.

Here is the blurb for the book.

Justice for the Forgotten: A Steel Wheels Cold Mystery
For widower Donnie Steel
Grief is a powerful emotion and a dynamic motivator
The retired police officer crafting an online blog
Therapy to ease the anguish of his lost soulmate
Readers reaching out, requesting his help

While traveling in his RV, with his faithful K-9 companion, Kogel
He learns of a three-year-old cold case in Southern Colorado
The victim’s parents in search of answers to their son’s death
Upon further investigation, he discovers the case was purposely botched
Those in power doing all they can for the solution to remain buried

With relentless determination to go the extra mile
Heart and soul worn on his sleeve
And his highly trained K-9, fighting by his side
Donnie digs deep to go beyond his emotional and physical pain
To find Justice For The Forgotten

You can read three chapter previews for Justice for the Forgotten on my website. The Prologue, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. And for the first time exclusively for my newsletter readers, here is the cover for the new book.

While working on new marketing tactics, I’m busy writing my next book. It will be book 11 in the Jarvis Mann PI series. This one takes place in Nashville Tennesse, as Jarvis is hired to help a friend who’s providing bodyguard services for a Country Music husband and wife duo. So far I’ve written about 25k of the book, which puts me on track for it to be released later in 2025. I’m excited about this new book and I’m already forming in my mind book two in the Steel Wheels Cold Mystery series.

And don’t forget about my award-winning Divine Devils series. All four books are available on Amazon in eBook, paperback or on Kindle Unlimited. Or you can order signed paperbacks through my website.

I have more author interviews on my Bringing Life to Characters video podcast. First was award-winning and best-selling author Barbara Nickless talking about her recently released best-seller The Drowning Game. Next I interviewed aspiring author and criminal lawyer Phillip Kushner. Next I’ll be interviewing the sister author team of Blythe Hudson and Carter Fielding on Feb 3rd at 8 PM Mountain time. Next will be best-selling author Elizabeth Crowens on Feb 10th at 6 PM Mountain time. And I have several more guests including Sara Paretsky, and Manual Ramos, both Guests of Honor at Left Coast Crime which is being held in Denver March 13th-16th. You can find all my interviews on my YouTube Channel.

This month’s author feature is Linda Rawlins. If you love reading about mystery at the NJ Shore, you’ll love reading books by Linda Rawlins. Linda’s affinity for the quality of shore life run through her Misty Point Mystery series, in which protagonist Megan Stanford and Officer Nick Taylor probe skullduggery in the coastal town of Misty Point, NJ. She also writes about famous author Cassie Ashcroft who travels to England to help DCI Alexander Knight solve a mystery and her paranormal stand alone involves a doctor who has help solving mysteries from some of her “dead” patients. She is currently writing a new Academic Mystery series titled Murder Academy.

Linda is an American writer of mystery fiction best known for her Misty Point Mystery Series, including Misty Manor, Misty Point, Misty Winter, Misty Treasure, Misty Revenge, and Misty Retreat. She is also known for her Rocky Meadow Mystery Series, including The Bench, Fatal Breach, Sacred Gold as well as two independent novels, Midnight Shift and Mystery of Heather House.
Linda loved to read as a child and started writing her first mystery novel in fifth grade. She then went on to study science, medicine, and literature, eventually graduating from medical school and establishing her career in medicine. Linda lives in New Jersey with her husband, her family and spoiled dog. She loves spending time at the beach as well as visiting the mountains of Vermont. She is an active member of Mystery Writers of America. As a member of Sisters in Crime, Linda was the President of the Central Jersey Chapter for 2022, 2020, 2019 and the VP in 2018, 2025
You can visit Linda on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Ticktok, Goodreads, and Threads.

My next newsletter will be on release day for Justice for the Forgotten where I’ll give you more information on this new series and how this new story and characters were brought to life. Make sure you get your eBook copy ordered today for 99 cents before the price goes up to $5.99 on March 9th. If you’d like a signed copy, order it on my website.

Thanks for reading and sharing this newsletter. Stay safe and warm.

All the best!!

R Weir