Author: R.Weir

I’m back!! Did you miss me? 🙂

I’m happy to announce that we are all moved into our new home. Most of the boxes are unpacked and the house is organized. Kim and I are thrilled with the house and the neighborhood. And best of all we sold our old abode for the asking price we wanted, in two days. Now it’s a matter of getting back to my writing which I’m working towards now that I’ve got my office setup and functional, as you see by the picture below.

This past weekend we visited our daughter up in Laramie for Parent’s Weekend. She is enjoying her new apartment and adjusting to life as a sophomore at the University Of Wyoming. Her second year is a little tougher, with more classes to challenge her as she works towards her Computer Engineering degree. We enjoyed breakfast she made on Saturday morning at her kitchen dining room table and went to the Wyoming football game which the Pokes won 53-17. All in all a fun weekend with our soon to be twenty-year-old.

In my previous newsletters, I’ve been discussing each of my book covers, with this month being one of my favorites for the novel The Front Range Butcher. As I’ve mentioned previously writing this book was a challenge mentally, with all the research I did relating to serial killers. For the cover I had a general idea of what I wanted, providing my cover designer Mia a short summary of the storyline, with the feel of a newspaper type of headline being what I envisioned. Here is what she sent me to start with:

Though the black and white feel was not bad, I wasn’t sure it would stand out in this bright color world we live in, especially on the web. I then came up with the idea of putting a picture of the Denver Front Range skyline, with the photo cut down the middle by a scalpel. This led to the final cover which you see here:

The Front Range Butcher was released on March 27th, 2018 on Amazon in eBook, paperback and available via Kindle Unlimited. The positive reviews came in quickly, to this date averaging 4.8 stars on Amazon, and 4.75 on Goodreads. Here are two of the most recent 5-Star reviews:

This was my first read from this author and it what a wild ride it was! I dont think I can give this book a review that will do it justice and without giving spoilers. This is one of those kind of books that you will have to read for yourself to get what I am talking about. I see me reading more from R. Weir. I think I’m in love with Jarvis Mann!! – La Gina

Dark, gritty, twisty psychological suspense with multifaceted characters to grab your mind and hold it captive. This is a must-read read for nail-biting suspense fans. – KBRC NetG

To add to the excitement about The Front Range Butcher, it recently won a prestigious award from Readers’ Favorite, winning the Gold Medal for best FICTION – THRILLER – PSYCHOLOGICAL book of 2019. This is a wonderful honor, with Readers’ Favorite holding a large awards ceremony in November in Miami. Though I’d love to go, the cost right now for the trip is too high for us to absorb, after our recent home purchase. But they mailed me my Gold Medal, which you can see below, which I will display proudly in my office. It really is quite an honor that I will enjoy for some time.

With all the moving I still was busy in August, especially with the three day Comic-Con in Colorado Springs. Though I didn’t sell as many books as I’d have hoped, it still was fun being there, talking with everyone attending and seeing all the great costumes people wore. I’ve included a couple of samples, and there are more on my website via this link.

I have numerous events coming up, starting in October with the Eastridge Rec Center Craft Fair in Highlands Ranch on October 12th & 13th from 9AM to 5PM both days. And then I’ll be at Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton on October 19th from 9AM-5PM. You can always find the latest events I’m attending in the side panel of my newsletter or on my website via this link.

This month I have many more Prolific Works free eBook giveaways to share, all including my short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. Here is a quick list of all 8 of them with links included. Just click on the title of the giveaway. I’m sure you’ll find some great books to add to your eReader.

Teenage Dream which runs until Oct 10th with 44 YA and children’s books.

Finding Yourself which runs until Oct 14th with 11 YA books.

Elementary which runs until Oct 14th with 12 mystery books.

Don’t Go In Alone which runs until Oct 8th with 44 mystery books.

Thrillers, Mysteries, and Suspense that Keep the Pages Turning… which runs until Oct 14th with 29 mystery/thriller books.

The Usual Suspects which runs until Oct 14th with 26 mystery/thriller books.

Fall’s First in Series Mystery Books which runs until Oct 15th with 33 mystery books.

Discover New Mystery which runs until Dec 31st with 48 mystery books.

This will wrap up my newsletter for this month. I should be back to releasing monthly newsletters going forward, with an occasional extra one when something exciting is happening. Be sure to check out all of my books via Amazon or on my website. Any new readers who sign-up for my newsletter will receive an email with an offer of a free eBook version of my novel, Tracking A Shadow. So be sure to share it with all your friends.

Thanks again for reading. I hope fall is filled with beautiful colors and happy thoughts. Take Care!!

R Weir

In between packing and doing the first of three closings for our new home, I typed up a quick newsletter to plug my book Mann in the Crossfire, to solicit votes for the Raven Book Awards. Crossfire is a finalist for Best Mystery/Suspense book of 2019. If you’ve read and enjoyed the lastest Jarvis Mann PI adventure, then please click this link and place your vote for it. While you’re there you can check out the other categories and vote for any other books you may have read this past year. If you recall last years release, The Front Range Butcher, was a Raven Book Award runner-up in the same category. And Mann in the Crossfire carries over one of the major storylines from Butcher as Jarvis tracks down the killer of his associate Rocky. It’s an exciting story with lots of mystery, suspense, and action, as you’ll read in the synopsis below.

If you haven’t read Mann in the Crossfire yet, then check it out on Amazon. It’s available in eBook, Paperback and on Kindle Unlimited. Here are a few of the wonderful reviews the book has received:

Mann in the Crossfire is everything you want to read when it comes to Jarvis Mann. With every book of this series, things just keep getting better and better. I was completely sucked into the world of mystery, and as always, I felt I was tagging right along with Jarvis throughout the entire book – Brandi Reeves-Pearson (Saints and Sinners Books)

Mann in the Crossfire . . . is a book that excites the senses and challenges assumptions about law and order. At times nasty, at times endearing, this book will not let down readers in search of adventure into the underworld, a place where normalcy stands on its head and danger lurks around every corner – Shelby

The story flows smoothly to culminate in an explosive climax that also ties up all the loose ends. It is recommended for fans of mystery, action and sleuth tales – Debjani Ghosh with Readers Favorite

I will quickly go over some new Prolific Works giveaways that started this month. The first is August Mysteries featuring 38 free books you can check out. Go to this link and download new reading material for your eReader or computer. Hurry as this giveaway ends August 15th.

The next two are books fall in the Y/A category, though some of the books are great reads for adults as well, including my short story The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. The first is Children and Teen Stories featuring 21 books you can check out via this link, good until August 31st.

And then finally Childrens Teen Adventures features 11 books for you to check out until September 6th. Find the books via this link.

Another quick reminder I will be in Castle Rock, Colorado this Saturday (8/17) for the Local Author Showcase from 2PM to 4PM along with several other local authors.  And I will be in Colorado Springs from August 23rd to August 25th for the Colorado Springs Comic Con. More information on the Comic Con can be found here. If you live in either of those areas stop in and say hello.

That’s all for this quick newsletter, as I need to get back to packing. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week.

R Weir

For the last 22 years, life has been for the most part stable and simple. Kim and I were married in a small ceremony and moved into our house the next day. A home we’ve been living in ever since. One we’ve raised a daughter in, who is in college, soon to begin her sophomore year. It’s been a wonderful home and neighborhood to live in.

Within the last couple of months, Kim has been searching for a new job, one which not only pays better but takes advantage of her skill set. She was able to find that position, one she believes she can grow into, which wasn’t happening where she was working. That job, though still in the Denver metro area, was further northwest in the city. A drive on good days which takes about 45 minutes, but one on those horrible traffic days, which is frequent around here, can be up to 90 minutes. Not wanting to deal with the traffic, we have decided to move closer to her new job. This means gathering 22 years worth of stuff, paring down what to take and not take with us, while getting our current home ready to sell, along with finding a new place to live. I’m relieved and thrilled to say we’ve found that house, a picture of the front below, with plans to move towards the end of August. And have our current home under contract with a buyer.

What this means is I’ve had little time to work on my latest writing project. This novel with new characters, the genre Suspense/Thriller, is roughly halfway written with the plan to get back to it once our move, getting settled, closing on our previous house and getting our daughter off to college is completed. A long laundry list of tasks we need to accomplish over the next month. All of this will affect future newsletters. I will continue to send them, but content might be shorter than normal and only cover upcoming events, of which I have many. And my look back on my cover designs, the next one for The Front Range Butcher, will also be pushed back for a month or so. But I’ll let everyone know our progress as we deal with this life change, though one we are excited about.

I have two events coming up in August I’m looking forward to. The first is the Local Authors Showcase at the Castle Rock Library in Castle Rock Colorado. This event includes 15 authors, including myself. A chance to meet interested readers and tell them all about the literary works created and sell a few copies. The event is Saturday August 17th and starts at 2 PM. Here is a list of everyone attending and a little about them and their books.

D.L. Blade – The Dark Awakening: The Chosen Coven Book 1. Paranormal Romance. East Greenwich may be a small town, but it is riddled with secrets. Mercy knows this more than most – she still suffers from the scars. Unbeknownst to her; the past is weaving its dark web, waiting to strike. Upon a startling car accident, Mercy is shocked to find that her enigmatic mystery man, Caleb, is real – and she belongs to him. He reveals that Mercy’s family is strongly linked to an ancient coven; the roots slowly dragging her back to Salem again.

Angie Felts – Prognosis Hope. Memoir/Lessons. In a world where human disconnection is so prevalent, Prognosis HOPE restores humanity to healthcare and brings hope back to both caregivers and care-seekers. Patients don’t always get the care they deserve and it’s time for both caregivers and care-seekers to stand up and demand that change. Before becoming a registered nurse, Angie Felts was hit by a drunk driver. She sustained a traumatic brain injury that put her life on hold for nearly twenty years and provides a unique perspective on the dehumanization present in healthcare today. Prognosis HOPE uses a four-step method that is simple and easy to implement, puts patients back in the driver’s seat and enables medical professionals to return to their true callings as healers by celebrating human connection instead of getting bogged down by a diagnosis or complicated care plan.

Diane DiCarlo – And God Shows Up. Memoir/Lessons. The story starts in D.C. when Mike and Diane meet and continues over the next ten years as they go through life together. The author recounts her personal journey and examines the surprise and wonder of seeing God in the ordinary experiences of life.

S. Lynn Helton and illustrator Vickie K. Write – Bye-Bye Magpie. Children’s Picture Book. A group of neighborhood kids gather to play together. Throughout the day, they meet some of the native creatures that live nearby and share their neighborhood. Haiku-style verse and appealing, original illustrations introduce children to native animals common in the western United States.

Rhonda Bolich-Lampo – God Winks and Miracles Happen: A Story of Love, Faith and Hope. Memoir/Lessons. When Rhonda’s husband Steve was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a life-threatening brain tumor, their lives turned upside down. Suddenly facing brain surgery, they had to re-evaluate every aspect of their lives and re-establish priorities. Who would have guessed that things would go seriously wrong and Steve would end up in a coma with only a two percent chance of survival? Rhonda shares her story of caring and advocating for her husband while doing battle with the health care system. Using this experience, Rhonda offers insight into how to protect all your assets: financially, legally, and health-wise.

Cara Brzezicki – Jazzie Beans Saves the Planet. Children’s Picture Book. Go on a journey with a spunky little dog named Jazzie Beans as she travels from her home in Colorado down south. On her journey she meets many different animals with trash problems. She teaches them about plastic pollution and how to recycle.

Diana Curran – OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA. Novel. They were Best Friends 4-Ever back when all they needed was love, but Life Goes On and they drifted apart. Now these high school classmates are turning sixty and in need of second chances, and each other, more than ever. Margaret must find courage to leave her abusive husband; Linda struggles with addictions; Kathy put her romance on hold in order to reconnect with her alcoholic father; Susan’s search for authentic self threatens her humdrum world. Will a little help from friends be enough for them to begin again?

J.G. Matheny – The Princess in My Head. Children’s Picture Book. In a two-part (novel and screenplay), Renaissance Princess Aqualine the Wise and modern-day Princess Allison the Benevolent communicate magically through their dreams to influence each other’s worlds. Aqualine inks proclamations to her realm to inspire and lead, while Allison holds webcasts with her audience of neighborhood and school kids to help them be noble and better citizens. When they face problems, the princesses learn just how valuable this magical connection can be.

R. Weir – Mann in the Crossfire: A Jarvis Mann Hardboiled Detective. Novel. Is this the end for PI Jarvis Mann? A surprising murder of an associate sends Jarvis on a trip to San Diego to investigate. A trail of clues direct him to a gang member who wants him eliminated, while a local detective agency is hot on his tail with nefarious plans of their own. Battered and beaten, Jarvis battles to forge on, tracking the evidence directing him to a dangerous discovery. Desperate for backup, with nowhere else to turn, he enlists lethal foes to render essential aid. Will these illicit associations spell the end of his career and possibly his life?

Don Forst – What Could Go Wrong? Novel. On TV, architect Brett Stewart watches coverage of a minor earthquake which causes the sudden collapse of a ten-story building in Lisbon, a building he designed. This tragedy leads Brett and his engineers to face a trial of negligence in Lisbon. Brett’s daughter Lt. Detective Kate Stewart joins forces with CIA Agent Scott Martin to search for the truth. Along the way there are more dangerous secrets, and bodies. Can they find the truth without losing their humanity?

Stephanie Sikora – Simplified: A Real-Life Guide to Organizing Your Space and Saving You Sanity. How-To book. Like most moms, Stephanie Sikora felt like she was always just trying to keep up with the chaos of her home and life. When her daughter said, “Mommy, you never sit and play with me,” a light bulb came on. Stephanie was always so preoccupied picking up and doing what needed to be done each day, she never got around to living being present for the moments that mattered the most. Motivated by her toddler’s honesty, she immersed herself in creating a life that was simpler and didn’t leave her exhausted at the end of each day. Owner of Life Made Simple LLC, Stephanie turn chaos into calm by offering compassionate organizing solutions and systems for clients’ homes, businesses, and lives. In simplified. A Real-Life Guide to Organizing Your Space and Saving Your Sanity, Stephanie shares her fifteen years of experience and company’s trade secrets for the very first time.

Jodi Burnett – Run for The Hills: Book I in the Flint River Series. Novel. When a violent ex-patient threatens her life, equine therapist Joscelyn Turner, narrowly escapes to Montana. Seeking refuge and anonymity in a small town while Colorado police hunt down her stalker, Joscelyn plans to lie low and make a new start. But fate has other plans. Joscelyn finds herself caught between two brothers, Trent, the good-looking town charmer, and Cade, a handsome Marine veteran who is running from his own demons. She must choose one. But, just as she settles in to follow her heart, her past catches up with her. Will Joscelyn reveal what she knows in time to save those she’s come to love?

Kimberlee Gard – The Day the Punctuation Came to Town. Part of the Language is Fun! Series children’s picture book. There’s a new family in town: the Punctuations! When Exclamation Point, Question Mark, Period, and Comma join the letters at school, they form words like Wow! and Why? and Yes. But Comma isn’t sure where he belongs. He just seems to get in the way. Is he really important? Kids, parents, and teachers will enjoy this latest installment in the Language Is Fun series. First in the series was The Little i Who Lost His Dot which won the 2018 Colorado Book Award for Children’s Literature.

John Turley – The Hole Truth. Crime Thriller. Petroleum engineering professor Tony Zanatelli signs a summer-job contract to manage the drilling of a 20,000-foot-deep exploration well in the Gulf of Mexico. Energy-company MillPet owns the lease and the well and pays all the bills. After millions have been spent to drill into the deep seismic target, confidential geologic data will reveal to Tony and MillPet a hidden treasure of oil and gas, or that the well is a dry hole. Either way, professor Tony will go back to his soulmate wife and his academic life, and MillPet will continue to thrive. Well, maybe. Because the truth, the whole truth, about what resides deep in the hole is targeted by conspirators who will kill to prove neither life nor truth is bulletproof.

If you live in the area, stop by the library and support other local authors. It should be a fun time for all.

The next event should be a blast. I will be at the Colorado Springs Comic Con starting August 23rd thru the 25th. This long three-day event will get me exposure to over 17 thousand people, which is the number who attended last year, with hopes of even more this year. I will be in Artist’s Alley with a table talking to people and selling my books. And I will have extra goodies to giveaway for those stopping by. There’s a wonderful line-up of celebrities, artists and authors coming, including William Shatner, Brent Spiner and Robert Englund. Here is a link to the event to get all the details.

Another month and another round of Prolific Works eBook giveaways. The Kiss Kiss Bang – Crime & Mystery Giveaway features 13 free books to download. Access the giveaway via this link until August 10th, with my short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card included.

A reminder to check out all of my books in the Jarvis Mann PI series. There are 8 stories in all, including the latest highly acclaimed release, Mann in the Crossfire. All are available on Amazon in eBook, paperback and via Kindle Unlimited. You can go to my Amazon Author Page to see them all. Or you can purchase the paperback directly from me by reaching out via email. A way to get a signed copy of any of my books. Who knows one day it could be a collector’s item!!

I will wrap up this newsletter for now. Not sure when the next will come out, but I will try to have something sent around the first of September if we get moved in and settled. Thanks again for reading and sharing my works. Enjoy the heat of summer and read a good book on your outdoor deck!

R Weir

As we were driving back from Deadwood in our motorhome, doing our best to dodge the endless deer that enjoyed roaming the highways of South Dakota, my wife and I were talking about how much we have enjoyed the Wild Deadwood Reads Book Event. This was the third year we attended, working in a family vacation, as well as participating in as many of the author events as we could. From the Author-Reader Meet and Greet, the breakfast before the signing, to the signing event and the book excerpt reading at Wild Bill Bar; the weekend was wall to wall fun. Mix in the family adventures we went on, with my inlaws along for the trip, and we were rarely bored.  Below are a few pictures, including one of all of the authors participating. Next years event is already in the planning, though the dates are up in the air right now. If you’re an author or a reader, I suggest checking out this event. You’ll have a great time.

During the event, there was a raffle for baskets and gifts provided by the authors, with all the proceeds to the tickets purchased for the raffle going to the Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. Instead of a basket, I went a different route, providing a wooden train bird feeder built by my father-in-law, which was stuffed with three of my books, a Jarvis Mann t-shirt, some fedora shaped soaps and a bookmark my daughter made. It turned out being the top prize sought after, having the most raffle tickets placed in the drawing. The winner as you see below was Kiri, posing with model/actor Michael Wayne Foster, who announced all the winners. Thanks to her and everyone else at the event for participating, as we raised $1200 for the sanctuary.

From Deadwood we move onto the cover for Dead Man Code. The story of a murdered computer engineer led to a simple cover design I had in mind from the beginning. Being a computer tech myself, this book took some of my knowledge of the information sharing world we live in and turned it into a murder mystery. Complete with a fictional Silicon Valley tech company, Russian mobsters and Chinese government agents, facing off with my PI Jarvis Mann. My previous designer was out on maternity leave when it was time to create the cover. After an extensive search, I found a new graphic artist, who has been my cover designer ever since, as well as designing my rweir.net website. Mia with Happi Anarky took what I was looking for and created it with little effort. I wanted computer binary code in green, with a magnifying glass, a little blood, and a handgun. This was actually one of the simplest cover designs we did, with only a small tweak needed, as she nailed it. Here is the final cover:

Dead Man Code was released October 18, 2016 to excellent reviews, many of them 5-Star:

I fell in love with Jarvis with the first book that I read and now I am anxious to get into his next adventures. I love that he will go to no ends to find out “who did it” and he covers all of his bases. Randy hit a grand slam with this! – Peggy Clayton

Jarvis is hired by a widow who suspects that her husband was murdered. Not wanting to step on any police toes, brings his to the attention of the Russian mob and Chinese government. This is a well written story which is filled with action, twists, and is a thrilling read – Wendy Livingstone

This is the fifth book in the Jarvis Mann Detective series and I firmly believe that each one keeps getting better. This book shows how an author takes an awesome main character, adds in plenty of thrills, danger, and enough suspense that you will find yourself lost in the book until the final word is read – Laura Furuta

Be sure to check out Dead Man Code on Amazon. It’s available as an eBook, in Paperback or on Kindle Unlimited. If you want a signed paperback, reach out to me directly and we can work out getting you a copy to add to your reading collection.

This week I’m headed to Georgetown Colorado, for GeoCon. This is the third year of the event, held in this former silver mining camp, now a lively historical summer tourist center west of Denver. I will be selling my books, along with several other authors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 28th, 29th, and 30th) at the Georgetown Heritage Center in the Northeast Classroom. Then Saturday evening I will be attending a Networking Dinner at Coopers on the Creek in Georgetown from 5:30 to 8:00PM. If you’re in the area be sure to stop by my table and say hello. I’ll be the author in the Jarvis Mann t-shirt!!

One more new Prolific Works giveaway for you to check out this month.  Into the Woods Mystery & Crime Group Giveaway has 39 mystery/crime books free to download, including my short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. To check it out, use this link.

After a busy month of June, my life will be quieter in July (maybe!), allowing me to get back to the next book I’m working on. I’m still keeping the details secret for now, but I’m excited about this new project, so be sure to keep reading future newsletters for more information I’ll be doling out.

That is all for this month. Next month I’ll have more news and talk about the cover design of The Front Range Butcher, and include a few covers that didn’t make the cut. If you enjoy my work be sure to share with other friends and family. If they sign-up for the newsletter I will send them a free eBook of Tracking A Shadow as a bonus. Thanks again and have a wonderful rest of your week!

R Weir

After what we wish was a final blast of winter in late May here in Colorado, we are hoping spring sticks around for good, as the flowers and trees are blooming, though they took a beating from this last wet snowstorm. One of the wonderful flowers in our yard we enjoy is the Rocky Mountain Columbine, which was in full-color last week, as you can see by this picture. They are a hardy plant, so we hope they bounce back after getting squashed by four inches of damp snow.

I’m going to jump ahead one book this month when reminiscing about books covers, as I have exciting news, which I will outline later. The cover for The Case of the Invisible Souls was one of the less challenging covers we designed. Souls was a holiday story about a homeless veteran coming to Jarvis for help about an issue with other homeless in the area disappearing for an unknown reason. I gave my daughter, Dakota a quick outline of my thoughts on the cover and she drew a basic idea which we sent off to my cover designer. Though it’s faint, hopefully you can make out what she drew:

A simple basic drawing which my designer worked with. From this came a series of covers, two of which I decided against.

I liked both of these, making it a tough choice. But in the end I decided on this cover:

The Christmas tree in the background and the homeless man lying at the foot of the steps made for the right image I wanted to convey. The Case of the Invisible Souls was released June 24th, 2017 to excellent reviews and eventually reached #1 on one of Amazon’s Bestseller lists. Here are a few of the 5-Star Reviews.

I love the fact that this author brings to light the plight of our forgotten hero’s that gave for us only to be forgotten and cast aside like garbage. It brings to mind that instead of sticking your nose in the air and thinking that the homeless brought it on themselves that there may be more to the story than meets the eye – Charleann Davis

Wasn’t sure what to expect with this being a shorter book than Mr. Weir has been producing, but wow shouldn’t of had doubt as this book packed an eye-opener punch I didn’t see coming. This book sheds light on homelessness and soldiers struggles when they return home from war. Definitely recommend for all those who need a reality check – Soph

This story is a powerful short story that you will fall in love with. The author’s writing style and attention to detail with Jarvis Mann makes this story what it is. The secondary characters are true to life and connectable. They help make the story flow together and it wouldn’t be the same without them. This story will pull you in from the first word until the very last. The journey that Jarvis will take you on, will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. You won’t want to miss this journey with him! – Bobbi Jo Wagner

A little background on this book. I had just begun writing the story when I was in a motorcycle accident, which laid me up for several months. After the release of the previous book, Dead Man Code (the book I skipped and will talk about next month) I wanted to get something out quickly since I’d lost a fair amount of time recovering from my injuries. I rushed out Souls for release, as it had been 8 months between books. Though I was proud of the story, I went back earlier this year and did a rewrite. The story grew from 16k to 23k words in length, with two new chapters. I also ran it through my newest editor/proofreader, fixing some of the issues, while adding more depth to the story. This I believe improved the book greatly, making it a novella now, instead of a short story. If you have read the book in the past, I’d suggest reading it again as I feel it has improved, with even more emotion and action added to the plot. If you haven’t read it, I’d be thrilled if you add it to your reading list. The Case of the Invisible Souls is available on eBook, Kindle Unlimited and now for the first time in Paperback. With the paperback being only $6.99 on Amazon. Or a signed copy can be purchased directly from me for $5.00, plus shipping in the US. And I will have this book at all future events I attend. As a bonus, the paperback also includes the first Jarvis Mann short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card also available in paperback for the first time. Both Amazon Bestselling #1 stories available for one low price, in a 100-page book.

For those who already own the ebook version of Souls, once again I can’t get Amazon to push out the new version automatically, for they say the changes were minor, which has been a source of frustration for me. Plus they don’t make requesting the new version easy for my readers. To get the new version you must go through these steps:

Go to this web address:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/manage
In the Search Your Content Field, Type in the book title
Under Actions for the book click the button to reveal options
On Deliver To click Others
Click the drop-down on selected Devices and check the box of all the Kindle devices you want to update
Note there is a limit of 5 at one time you can check
Then click Deliver. You should shortly get the updated version on your Kindle device or app

The way you can tell you have the newest version is the title of the book now says, The Case of the Invisible Souls, A Jarvis Mann Detective Novella. There are also 12 chapters now instead of 10. If you have any issues getting the new version don’t hesitate to reach out to me and I’ll do my best to assist.

In June I have a big author signing I will be attending. The Wild Deadwood Reads event will have over 50 authors and is being held in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel. This will be the third year I’ve attended, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of my author friends and meeting voracious readers looking for new books. If you’re in the area join us for the author book sale and signing on June 8th from 10AM-3PM. Cost for readers is free. There are lots of other events over the three days, so be sure to check them out via the Wild Deadwood Reads website via this link.

If you have a few minutes check out an article I wrote during the research and writing of The Front Range Butcher. Getting into the Head of a Serial Killer covers the humorous and serious emotions I went through when developing my psychological thriller. It was published on the San Fransisco Book Review website, which you can check out via this link.

No new Prolific Words giveaways this month, but one is still running until the end of the year. Discover New Mystery Series has 50 books in all, including The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. Check it out via this link.

Another plug for the latest book in the Jarvis Mann PI series, Mann in the Crossfire. Here are a couple of wonderful new reviews recently posted:

The book was freaking amazing. This book will definitely keep you at the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. The twist and turns in this book just wow. I would love to read a follow up story after the dust settles for Mr. Mann and his his crew – Adrianne L Adams

Mann in the Crossfire . . . is a book that excites the senses and challenges assumptions about law and order. At times nasty, at times endearing, this book will not let down readers in search of adventure into the underworld, a place where normalcy stands on its head and danger lurks around every corner – Surfs Up Writers’ Bookshelves

Enjoy this latest Jarvis Mann PI adventure. Available on Amazon, in ebook, Kindle Unlimited, or in paperback. Or it can be purchased directly from me. Just contact me via my email address and we can work out the details.

This will wrap up my newsletter for this month. Be sure to stop by my website to find my books, and lists of my events. If you read one of my books, please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads, as it helps out the book when it comes to rankings, especially on Amazon. I hope everyone enjoys the warmer days ahead and have a wonderful rest of your week.

R Weir

April 10th was National Siblings Day here in the US. Anyone with a sibling knows of the complicated bond you can have. To say it can be a love/hate relationship in many cases can’t be overstated. This was the basis of my book Blood Brothers, as Jarvis goes back to his hometown to help his brother Flynn out of a serious jam, one he doesn’t want his help with in the beginning. While writing the book I had a clear vision of what I wanted for the cover, desiring to capture the range of emotions born from this sibling rivalry. During the process, we had several designs, a few of which didn’t make the cut. Here are two of them:

These covers didn’t jump out at me, the faces older than I wanted. They appeared to me to be twenty-something men. And the way that they were looking at each other didn’t work as well. I wanted a happy picture of two boys, with another element added to break the happiness feel. From there we got these cover proofs:

The picture of the boys I liked, they were the right age. But each of these covers had an element I didn’t like. The first picture I didn’t care for the font used on the author name. And the placement of the word Brothers didn’t work. The second picture, again I didn’t like the picture frame and the bullet hole many didn’t like as well for an odd reason, which I won’t detail here. The third picture, again the bullet hole and the fonts didn’t work, not popping out from the page. From here I decided to take elements from all three, which got me to the final cover.

Here is where I was truly satisfied. The picture of a happy time of two brothers, with the glass cracked, suggesting a rift in the relationship. The handgun lying next to it, smoke rising as if it had been shot, implying the danger both would encounter. The imagery was spot on for what I wanted to convey about the book and the story told. Blood Brothers was released December 29, 2015, to excellent reviews. Jarvis going back home to help his brother, and the backstory of Jarvis growing up, providing answers of how he became the man he was. Pick it up on Amazon, either in eBook, Paperback or read it on Kindle Unlimited. Here are a couple of those 5-Star reviews:

In this book you truly see the difference in Mr Weir’s writing from when he started. Although I enjoyed all the other books, this one had me on the edge of my seat. I love seeing writers develop and hone their skills.
Like the others you won’t be able to guess all the twists and turns. You will be cursing Jarvis though – Soph

I just love all of the Jarvis Mann books that I have read and that includes this one. At times I find myself gripping the arm of the chair while I am reading as I don’t want anything to happen to the main character. He really walks into your life and you would love to have him as a good friend as he would always have your back. R. Weir hit this one out of the park! – Peggy C

With last months release of Mann in the Crossfire, more fabulous reviews continue to come in which I will share:

I love the Jarvis Mann series because they are full of suspense, danger, mystery, action and adventure. Mr. Weir does a great job of creating a world of mystery that makes you feel like you are dropped right in the middle of the suspense and action. He also writes characters that are realistic – Shelly

Mann heads to San Diego on an investigation, and he faces more collective danger than he ever has before at the hands of a seedy criminal element. When he’s beaten down, is he truly out? This is a must read to see if Jarvis Mann can survive this ultimate challenge against a collective criminal evil. This is another 5-star suspenseful nail-biter from R.Weir – K-BRC

During these periods of recuperation, Jarvis’ existential angst is front and center. If I was a detective, his meaning of life ponderings should have clued me into what was coming, but I completely shocked by the surprising, albeit apropos, ending! I am looking forward to how this twist will affect Jarvis’s future and what author R. Weir has in store for his readers – Julie with A Book Junkie Reviews

Mann in the Crossfire, the 8th in the Jarvis Mann Detective series is now available on Amazon, in either eBook, Paperback or via Kindle Unlimited. Be sure to pick it up today to add to your hardboiled book collection.

This Saturday (April 27th) at 2PM I will be at the recently renovated Highlands Ranch Library for the Local Author Showcase, with 13 other local authors in the upstairs event hall. Each author gets 5 minutes to introduce themselves and talk about their book. Afterward, we will be selling our books for anyone interested in purchasing copies. Light refreshments will also be provided. This will be a wonderful time to meet new voracious readers and expose them to our work. If you’re in the area stop by and join the festivities.

I was able to squeeze in an extra event on April 12th & 13th, one my wife found online. This one was the Copperleaf Craft Fair in Centennial Colorado. It was a smaller event, but well attended, especially on Friday night when they were serving free food, wine and beer. I got to talk to lots of people, sell some books and get a few sign-ups. If you’re new to the newsletter, welcome. You can always read all my other newsletters via the blog tab on my website or go directly to it via this link.

There are more Prolific Works giveaways this month. The first was the Thrillers & Mystery Giveaway, with 51 total books including The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. All free to download here thru April 30th.

Next is Mysterious Crimes, with 49 books free to download. This giveaway runs until May 12th and can be found via this link.

And finally the Discover New Mystery Series! giveaway was extended, this one now running until December 31st. You’ll find 50 free books in all, which you can download via this link.

I will wrap up my newsletter this month, with a final plug. Be sure to check out the new release, Mann in the Crossfire, as well as all the other books in the Jarvis Mann Detective series. You can find them here on Amazon or you email me and we can work out sending the books directly to you. Have a wonderful rest of your week. Turn off the TV and find a great book to read.

R Weir

Spring is here, with warm temperatures sprouting the buds on the trees and flowers in our yard. I know for many in the Midwest, the sudden warm-up came too quickly, causing the massive amount of snow they’ve received this last couple of months to melt, leading to horrible flooding. Being an Iowa native, I know flooding has become an all too common occurrence. I hope everyone recovers quickly and can enjoy the warmer weather without having a river running down their street or through their farmland.

With spring came Spring Break for my daughter, as she spent the last week at home with us. As you see by the picture below she joined me and my wife in Highlands Ranch for the Spring Bazaar at the Recreation Center in Eastridge on Saturday, helping with selling books, which I will talk about later in the newsletter. She made some cute bookmarks we were selling for the event, which were popular with the book buyers. She headed back on Sunday to begin the last two months of her first year in college, with summer plans around the corner.

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since The Front Range Butcher was released. And the scintillating follow-up, Mann in the Crossfire is finally available to download onto your Kindle’s and read. It has been a long journey to get this 8th book in the Jarvis Mann PI series finished. Mostly because it’s a lengthy plot, tying up several story-lines that have built up through the years. Looking back when I started Tracking A Shadow, I never envisioned having eight books written in 5 years. Nor the journey I would take this tough, snarky, private eye on. It’s been a long, at times challenging but still satisfying adventure. Though it may not be the end for Jarvis, I will be putting him to rest for now, as I’ve started writing a new book, with new characters, which might also turn into a series, details of which I will slowly reveal in time. For now, I hope you enjoy this new book, as well as the others in the series, as much as I did envisioning this hard-boiled noir world Jarvis lived in.

More reviews are in for Mann in the Crossfire, and so far they have all been fabulous. I’ve included a few below to check out:

This was another excellent Mann story. Each of these books we learn to love Jarvis a little more. He’s tough, real, and brave as he swims the waters of gangs and criminals. This story was an action-packed, edge of your seat read. I loved it. I have been honored to read the whole Jarvis Mann P.I. series. And each book is better than the last. This one was packed with danger, conspiracies, and action around every corner. It was a truly awesome story.  P.S. For fans of this series…The ending was amazing!!! – Stormi with Boundless Book Reviews

An on-the-edge of your seat read, a definite page-turner, until the very end – Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews

This book is action packed, suspense filled, lots of intrigue and had a couple of moments that I thought Jarvis wasn’t going to make it out alive. There was even an “OMG” shout out loud from me when someone got shot that was just unbelievable to me. I was totally invested in this book. Totally awesome book! – Tina Todd Shobe

Pre-order pricing is over, the eBook now back to the regular price of $5.99. You can pick up the eBook or Paperback on Amazon. And if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited be sure to add it to your reading list, for Mann in the Crossfire is available, as are all the other books in the series via the Amazon book subscription service, other than The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card.

As I mentioned, I was at the Spring Bazaar last Saturday, a busy 8-hour event where I got to meet some new readers, along with a few old friends who stopped by. For those of you who signed up for the newsletter, welcome!! You should have received an email about getting your free eBook. If you don’t see the email check your spam folder. And you can email me directly via this email address and I’ll make arrangement to get the book sent to you. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to talk and buy books. It was an enjoyable day.

One new Prolific works giveaway has begun, with The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card featured along with 38 other books you can download for free. The Thrillers & Mystery Giveaway has 38 books to check out via this link, the giveaway running thru April 8th.

One of the thrilling aspects of being an author is being recognized for your work. I recently received a cool Poison Cup trophy from the Crime Masters of America in recognition for my Jarvis Mann PI series. Thanks to them for shipping it to me, as it’s sitting in my home office where I write as a reminder to keep plugging away.

A final plug to pick up a copy of my latest book, Mann in the Crossfire. And if you haven’t read all the books in the series, be sure to check them out via my Amazon Author Page or on my website. If you’re a fan of Mystery, Detective, Suspense and Thriller books, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I will be back again next month continuing my cover design series, this time going over the process in creating Blood Brothers. And I’ll have more news about the new book and author events coming this summer. Thanks again and be sure to curl up with a good book to brighten your day!

R Weir

An extra email this month, reminding you that the release date of the eBook version of the latest Jarvis Mann PI book, Mann in the Crossfire, is less than two weeks away (3/25). And you can get the eBook for the special price of $2.99 until after release day, when it will be sold for $5.99. A half-price deal on a 417-page mystery thriller which will keep you guessing, as you’ll see by some early reviews I’ve posted below. Order your copy today via this link.

This follow-up to The Front Range Butcher, finds Jarvis flying back and forth between Southern California and Denver, working a couple of cases fraught with excitement and danger. A former associate is murdered leading to a discovery putting Jarvis in constant jeopardy. You can check out the first chapter of the book via this link.

Mann in the Crossfire is the first book I’ve written, where I’m telling people it’s important to read another book first, in this case, The Front Range Butcher. One of the major story-lines in Butcher, which went unresolved, continues in Crossfire and will leave some readers confused if they haven’t read Butcher. For those of you who haven’t read it, you can check out The Front Range Butcher via this link and read a preview at this link. Reviews have been fabulous, averaging 4.7 stars on Amazon and Goodreads. Here are a couple of 5-star examples:

The Front Range Butcher by R. Weir a five-star read that will keep you up front. This is another installment in the Jarvis Mann detective series and what a great character the detective is. – Sara Oxton

Wow this book certainly made up for the shortness of the previous one. It was packed to the brim full of action and drama. By the middle of the book I thought I had solved it, boy was I wrong and I loved that. This book has so many twists and turns you won’t see coming, and features many of the characters I’ve fallen in love with. – Sophie Ruthven

There is so much danger in this story, and twists while enjoying the wittiness and snarkiness of Jarvis … Pick up a copy and join the chase … – Jana

Speaking of reviews, Mann in the Crossfire went out to several advance reviewers and the reaction has been universally wonderful. Here are some snippets from those early 5-star reviews:

This latest installment of the Jarvis Mann Series is heart-pounding, gut-wrenching, and riveting from beginning to end. If you like detective novels with noir elements in a contemporary setting, this is a must-have! – Charity with On My Kindle Reviews

R Weir always keeps us in suspense and at the edge of our seats with this series! I can never put this series down and this was the best one yet! – Chrissy Dyer

If you prefer physical books as opposed to ebooks, Mann in the Crossfire is already available to purchase on paperback through Amazon via this link for $16.99. Here is the full paperback book cover:

You can also purchase the book direct and get it signed by me, for $12 plus the cost of shipping. Most shipping in the US via USPS costs around $4. Contact me at this email address if you’re interested and we can handle the payment via Paypal. This is for US based people only, unless you want to pay the exorbitant cost of me shipping it to another country. If you do, don’t hesitate to contact me and we can work out the details.

I had a wonderful time at the Smoky Hill Spring Craft Fair. It was a busy 6 hours with a lot of people checking out my books. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to talk and purchase books. I had numerous new sign-ups for this newsletter from the event, so welcome to all of you.

A reminder my next event is March 23rd at the Recreation Center at Eastridge in Highlands Ranch Colorado for their Spring Bazaar. The event runs from 9AM-5PM. If you’re in the area be sure to stop by and say hello. I will have all of my books for sale, including the new release Mann in the Crossfire, with some other free goodies to giveaway including some handmade soaps made by my wife and daughter in the shape of fedora’s and baseball caps, each with various natural oils added. A little something extra for those who stop by and say hello.

A couple more Prolific Works giveaways to announce, both of which had The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card as a free ebook to download. The first Longing for Spring includes 66 total books covering various genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Crime, Romance, Historical, Young/New Adult, Woman’s & Humor. Hurry as it ends March 15th. You can check it out via this link.

Next is the Crime Fitted for March giveaway, with 77 total books in the Crime, Mystery and Thriller genres. It runs until March 31st and you can access the books via this link.

Speaking of The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, here is a YouTube video by Tin Minute Book Reviews where Tineil reviews the short story, commenting Jarvis Mann PI would make an interesting TV show. The review starts at around the 7:30 mark in the video. You can access it via this link on their YouTube Channel.

Thanks again for reading my newsletter and passing it on to anyone interested in learning more about my books. Be sure to get your eBook pre-order in for Mann in the Crossfire before release day (3/25) for that special low price of $2.99. My next newsletter will be out on or shortly after release day, with more information about the book and reviews to share. Thanks and have a wonderful and healthy week.

R Weir

It’s hard to believe another month has passed, as I’ve been busy gearing up for the release of the next Jarvis Mann PI book, which I will talk about later in the newsletter. For an indie author, there is so much prep work involved. Not only getting the text of the book correct but formatting for both eBook and paperback, which is challenging especially on the paperback side with Amazon taking over Createspace. Then you have to plan on how to market to get the word out. This is the 8th book in the series, so I’ve had a lot of experience, but there is still much to remember getting everything lined up for the release. Both exciting and stressful at the same time.

After the release of Tracking A Shadow, I began working on my next book. As I’ve detailed previously, this new adventure for PI Jarvis Mann, had several titles through the writing process, where I finally settled on, Twice As Fatal. Like the title, the book went through several covers at first, as I wasn’t exactly certain what I wanted. Using the same designer as I did with Tracking A Shadow, many of the initial cover drafts were met with unhappiness from those I asked. My first round of covers was too cluttered in many people’s eyes. Here are a couple of examples:

These covers were from rounds one and two in the process. Part of the issue might have been I wasn’t conveying what I wanted properly. There were two cases, one of which involving a college football player, the other a cheating husband leading to a murder. Grasping at straws we went into a third and fourth round. I was starting to think I wasn’t going to come up with something that worked, as you can see by these covers.

Still I wasn’t happy. And then a friend of mine, who was a graphic designer stepped in with some ideas. She found some pictures on the web, and through those pieces came about several more covers until I finally settled on the final one.

In this cover, I was conveying a simple image; the football field with a cracked helmet and blood drops on a football under the stadium lights, with the bullet holes and smoke in the word “Fatal”. It was a tough process but finally the cover was complete and Twice As Fatal was released on May 29th, 2015, reaching Amazon Top 10 Bestseller status. The reviews were great, as I upped the suspense, weaving the two cases Jarvis was working into one explosive conclusion. Here are three of the 5-Star reviews it received:

“Best Detective Novel of the Year!!

“Both of the cases that Jarvis accepts have unexpected twists and turns that will keep you guessing”

“This story is so fast and furious that you have to remember to tell yourself to breath”

Twice As Fatal, the third story in the Jarvis Mann PI series, is available on Amazon in eBook, Paperback and via Kindle Unlimited.

As promised the eBook cover for the 8th book in the series, Mann in the Crossfire was revealed on my website, Facebook and Twitter. If you missed out here it is:

Mann in the Crossfire is available right now for the low pre-order price of $2.99 via Amazon for the ebook. This price is good until the release date of March 25th, when it will go to the regular price of $5.99. Here is the synopsis of the story:

Is this the end for PI Jarvis Mann?
A surprising murder of an associate
Sends Jarvis on a trip to San Diego to investigate
A trail of clues direct him to a gang member who wants him eliminated
While a local detective agency is hot on his tail with nefarious plans of their own
Battered and beaten, Jarvis battles to forge on, tracking the evidence
Directing him to a dangerous discovery that he may not be able to fight his way out of
Desperate for backup, with nowhere else to turn
He enlists lethal foes to render essential aid
Will these illicit associations spell the end of his career and possibly his life…
For Jarvis is truly a Mann in the Crossfire.

Mann in the Crossfire is also available on Paperback and via Kindle Unlimited. If you read The Front Range Butcher, this book is a must read, as the two stories are closely tied together, continuing one of the major story-lines in Butcher. If you prefer a paperback, it is available to purchase now on Amazon for $16.99. If you live in the Denver area or would like a signed paperback copy shipped to you, contact me directly via email and we can work out pricing as I’ll have copies to sell in about a week.

As I promised I have the first chapter for Mann in the Crossfire for you to check out. It’s too large to put in the newsletter, so here is a link to it on my website for you to get a taste of what this latest book is about. I believe I’ve set the proper mood for this exciting 417-page book. Let me know what you think.

I have two events in March I will be attending. The first is the Smoky Hill Spring Craft Fair, at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora from 9AM-3PM on March 9th. This is a busy event, with lots of other crafters selling their wares. Be sure to stop on by as I’ll be in the West Gym. I hope to have paperback copies of Mann in the Crossfire, as well as the other 5 paperback books in the series on sale.

And I will be at the Spring Craft Bazaar in Highlands Ranch Colorado on March 23rd from 9AM-5PM. This is being held at the Eastridge Rec Center with 125 different crafters selling their products. This will be the first year I’ve done this event, so I’m looking forward to meeting new book reading fans and introducing them to PI Jarvis Mann.

I had a great time at the Elizabeth Public Library in early February, Thanks to Chelsea for arranging the event. I got to meet some wonderful people there, talking about books and reading in general, while selling a few books to some new fans.

Prolific Works time again, where you can discover new authors and download for free eBooks in the Mystery/Thriller genre, with each one featuring my short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. First is the Private Investigator ~ Thriller / Mystery / Crime giveaway, with 33 books in all, running until March 21st. Check it out via this link.

It’s cold out–download a Mystery giveaway runs until February 28th, and includes 37 books to check out via this link.

And then finally there is the Discover New Mystery Series! giveaway with 51 total books to choose from running until March 30th. Access this giveaway via this link.

I will wrap up this newsletter with a final plug for the new book, Mann in the Crossfire. Be sure to order the eBook now at the lower pre-order price of $2.99. On the release date the book rises to $5.99. Thanks so much for reading and sharing my newsletter with other friends and family who enjoy a good mystery/detective story. And don’t forget to leave a review for any books you read. Indie Authors love when you take a few minutes to do this. Everyone have a wonderful week!!

R Weir

Winter finally came a knocking here in Colorado, after a warm and dry last couple of months. Chilly temps and snow have made January feel like…January normally does. We even had our first decent sized snowstorm of the year, with about 8 inches, though it was more of the wet spring like the snow we normally get in March and April.

After six weeks of winter break, our daughter Dakota is back hard at work at the University of Wyoming. While at home she learned she made the Freshman Honor Roll after the first semester, which they say only a small percentage of freshman accomplish. We are proud of her, though she knows this next semester she’ll be challenged even more, with Calculus on her schedule! Though she does love math and is looking forward to it.

Last month I talked about being unhappy with the original Bubble Gum cover, recently updating it, with a much more dynamic cover that is getting lots of positive feedback. For the next book in the Jarvis Mann PI series, Tracking A Shadow, I had strong ideas of how I wanted it to look. Since the cover is what people see first, I wanted to provide an eye-catching first impression for the first novel in the series. After some research, I came up with a book designer who I worked with for this project, Victoria Robinson. I knew I wanted a somewhat menacing cover, keeping with the storyline of a woman being stalked, but leaving the culprit in the shadows since we don’t know who the stalker is until late in the story. Going through the process, she created several options off of the idea I provided of what I was looking for and we worked from there. I will share a couple of covers that didn’t make the grade, but actually, I thought weren’t bad. Here they are:

There were a couple different versions of the first one, most of which I liked quite a bit. The second one had a black & white noir feel to it, which also was appealing. Tough choices on both, but not quite as good as the final cover.

Then there were some that I didn’t like at all. Here are two of them:

As you can see both of these were too graphic for what I was looking for. This wasn’t a horror book, but a mystery/private detective novel in the classic sense. Which lead me to the cover I have today:

The sultry client, with the shadowy figure in the background looking menacing. A little bit Hitchcockian in the style. Feedback was positive on the cover and the book. Being the first full novel in the series, Tracking A Shadow hit the top ten on a couple of Amazon’s bestseller lists. And is available on Amazon in ebook, paperback and on Kindle Unlimited. Check it out and find out why reviewers proclaimed:

“Tracking a Shadow is part classic private investigator novel and part contemporary mystery”

“This was a humorous suspenseful tale about sex, money, power and greed”

“A remarkable plot sidelined with superlative characters contribute to the ambiguous shadow”

I’ve been hard at work finishing the editing of the next Jarvis Mann PI book, Mann in the Crossfire. Over the next week, I’ll be slowly revealing the new cover for the book on my website, Facebook and Twitter. Below you’ll see the first reveal. Not sure if you can make out much, but we’ll unblur sections at a time. Be sure to watch for it and let me know what you think. I’m pretty jazzed about this cover!

Continuing to talk about covers, I’ve heard from Amazon KDP support that they don’t consider my newly designed cover change of The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, as being significant enough for the update to be pushed out automatically. I argued with them that a cover change is as big a change as you can have for a book, but they won’t budge. So if you received Bubble Gum before the release of the new cover, you have to manually request this update through your Amazon Account. Here are the instructions  they sent me on how to do this:

Go to this link on your Amazon page. In the search window type the same of the book, in this situation The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. Under Action click the box with the ellipsis. Next to “Deliver To” click “Others”. Click the drop-down under “Devices Selected” and check the box of all the Kindle devices you want updated, and then click Deliver.

To be honest I’ve had varying success in getting this to work. Sometimes I’ve had to delete the book first from the device and then do these steps. Even then it hasn’t always worked. Unfortunately, according to Amazon, this is the only way to get the newer version, which is a bit aggravating. I’ll continue to pester their support to correct the problem. Hopefully, they will make this process easier for future updates.

On Monday, February 4th I will be at the Elizabeth Library in Elizabeth Colorado for an Author Talks At Your Library session, where I will talk with guests about myself, my books, Jarvis and answer questions. Afterward, I will be meeting with people interested in buying any of my paperbacks. This will run from 6PM to 8PM. With any luck, we’ll have good weather for this event and a large turnout. If you live in the area be sure to stop on in.

There are several more Prolific Works giveaways this month, with The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card and other Mystery/Thriller/Suspense books free to download. The Cozy-est Mysteries runs until January 31st and includes 37 books in all. Click this link. Next, there’s the Criminally Good Reads Giveaway with 38 books running until February 6th. Check it out via this link. Then the Discover New Mystery Series which runs until March 30th, with all 51 books being the first book in a series. Try this link to see all the books available for free. Then there’s the Winter Giveaway with 18 books available until January 31st via this link. And then finally the Thriller & Mystery Giveaway which also ends on January 31st and features 82 books. Use this link to access them. Hurry up and check out all of these free books to add to your eReaders, as several expire soon.

I will wrap up this newsletter for now. Next month I will again talk about covers, this time for Twice As Fatal and share some that didn’t make the final cut. And I will have more news about the next Jarvis Mann PI book, including a preview of this exciting new Detective Mystery Thriller. Thanks again for reading and be sure to share the newsletter with your friends. Have a wonderful rest of your week!

R Weir