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The new year is upon us, and I have hope it will be better than 2020, though it has started out rocky on many fronts. The virus continues to rage on, making it challenging to go out beyond our home. We had a death in the family, my wife Kim’s grandmother passing away. She was 94 and in declining health, so she had a good life. We were able to attend her funeral despite the COVID restrictions. She was a big fan of my books, wanting them all and reading many up until the end when her eyesight failed her. Our daughter spent time with us at Christmas, which was nice, but other holiday gatherings were limited to video chat, as many in the family are older with health issues. With the vaccinee I hope come this summer we’ll be able to gather again without fear of getting sick. Patience is difficult in these trying times, but we persevere with hopes life will return to a more normal.

I’ve been working hard on the next Divine Devils book Fallen Star, winding down to the conclusion with 149k words written. This has been a more challenging story to write, with plot struggles to get the story correct. As I’ve mentioned here before I’m generally a seat-of-the-pants author, letting the story write itself in many ways. This plot started strongly, but then became more challenging the further I got into it. I hit a wall I normally haven’t experienced when writing deciding where the plot was headed leading up to the finale. I do believe I got the story back on track but will have some rewriting to do after I finish the first draft, which I hope will be in the next few weeks. This book will delve in depth into the backgrounds of all of the main characters. And we’ll get deeper into the mystery that cost Hunter Divine his job as a US Marshal.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already be sure to read book one, The Divine Devils which introduces Hunter Divine and his team of devils trying to prevent the kidnapping of a lost love’s children. It’s available on Amazon in eBook, Paperback and via Kindle Unlimited. Or you can buy the paperback direct from me and I’ll sign it. Send me an email if you’re interested in autographed copy.

If you’d read The Divine Devils, please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads if you frequent that sight. Reviews for many authors are becoming more difficult to get, so a review is critical, especially for Indie Authors. They help me in many ways with the Amazon algorithm and I enjoy reading all of them. Here are a couple new reviews:

A Gold Medal Editorial 5-Star review from Readers Favorite.
Author R. Weir has crafted a highly suspenseful work of thriller fiction with this unusual presentation of crimefighting and all-out action against a twisted, evil foe. One of the things which impressed me most of all was the characterization of Hunter Divine, who goes beyond the simplistic stereotype of a damaged former hero and offers us a deeply empathetic soul and a powerful psychological profile of a man with something to hope for. The plot unfurls with fantastic pacing, delivering plenty of cinematic action scenes with vivid descriptions, but perfectly balancing these out with intelligent exposition and tense moments of calm before the storm. Overall, I would highly recommend The Divine Devils for fans of slick action novels with sharp edges, as well as those who appreciate an intelligent plot and a well-crafted hero with plenty of highs and lows.

I’ve always been a fan of Weir but this was by far my favorite! I’m looking forward to a long future with this new series of kick-ass heroes! Well done! – PurpleHaze

Trying to figure out who the guilty party is while Hunter and his team place their lives on the line – will have you eagerly turning the pages. An exhilarating and at times humorous read, it is by far a novel you can’t put down. Loved it – Amazon Customer

Recently I received an email from a reader of the newsletter mentioning she was interested in The Divine Devils, but was worried the book delved into the Supernatural, a genre she didn’t enjoy. I responded telling her the book is a Mystery/Suspense/Crime/Thriller and didn’t have any Supernatural elements to it. Something to be aware of if you’re on the fence about purchasing this book. If you ever have any questions about my books or writing in general don’t hesitate to email me. I love hearing from everyone.

Each month I’ve been highlighting the characters of the Divine Devils team. This month it’s Keoki Palakiko, a former Navy technician who has an aversion to technology. Not trusting since he worked using tech while in the Navy, knowing the cyber trail you leave behind. He doesn’t own a cell phone, landline or computer of any kind, while living in Maui. His wife, Malina his whole life, though he leaves from time to time to help Hunter with cases. Another tough team member the others can trust to do what is necessary for their clients.

With the new year still up in the air on events, right now I have only one scheduled, that being in Deadwood South Dakota in the middle of June. We got our RV reservations set and we intend to take the trip even if the event is cancelled. Hopefully more events will get scheduled and I suspect many will be held outside this year which I’m prepared for. Seeing everyone’s smiling faces will be a joy after a year or so of smiles being hidden behind masks.

There are more Prolific Works free books you can check out. The free service you can join, designed to get indie authors works in the hands of readers in hopes you’ll buy more of their books. Here are three you can check out:

Dial M for Murder – Mystery & Crime Giveaway includes 23 free eBooks available until April 1st. Click here to find those great reads.

Mysteries Your Mother Never Told… includes 55 free eBooks, available indefinately. Click this link to check them out.

Middle Grade and Young Adult Jubilee giveway has some great Young Adult reading, with 34 books available until February 16th. Click here to find good stories for younger minds.

I’ll make a quick pitch about my Jarvis Mann book series. There are 8 books in all, the first, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, always free to download on Amazon. The rest of 7 books also available on Amazon in eBook, paperback and via Kindle Unlimited. And anyone signing up for my newsletter will receive a free eBook version of the second book Tracking A Shadow. If you signed up and didn’t get the eBook from me, be sure to email me and I’ll get it sent over right away.

It’s time I get back to writing Fallen Star: The Divine Devils Book 2. I’m hoping to have a few small previews of the book in the coming months when I feel confident it’s nearing completion. I maybe looking for additional beta readers to provide feedback. If you’re interested be certain to email me.

Thanks again for reading and being a fan of my work. Stay safe, happy and healthy in this joyous New Year.

R Weir

I’m late getting out the newsletter this month since I was working an Information Technology temp job to make a little extra money for this holiday season. It’s been a rough year, since a chunk of my sales are for paperbacks, sales happening at holiday season craft fairs and events. And I normally see an uptick in sales of eBooks after those events which I’ve lost out on this year. Since nearly all of them were cancelled, my sales have been slow to say the least. Disappointing but certainly understandable with the virus running rampant throughout the country, affecting all of us both financially and mentally.

With the holiday season upon us, I would like to plug books being a wonderful gift for those you’re shopping for. Whether it be physical books or eBooks, reading has been popular with all the lockdowns many of us are experiencing. Whether it be fiction or non-fiction, reading can take our minds off current events, sending us to worlds outside our own. If you have a voracious reader friend or in your family, be certain to check out books, especially the books in my Jarvis Mann series and the new Hunter Divine book.

Speaking of Hunter Divine, if you haven’t already be sure to check out The Divine Devils which I released in October. This latest action, suspense, thriller features former US Marshal Hunter Divine and a team he puts together to prevent the kidnapping of two teenage children of a past love. It’s full of intrigue, mystery and touch of lust—a book I hope you won’t want to put down. Below are a couple of new 5-Star reviews.

This book in particular, took me on an intense adventure and one that I very much enjoyed. The story is so complex, yet it’s easy to follow right along side our hero. There’s so much suspense and action, so I thoroughly enjoyed that. The story flows so well and kept me on the edge of my seat – Brandi

The Divine Devils has clever twists and turns and more than just a few surprises. The story’s execution is so well scripted, the reader will feel as though you are watching a movie play out in front of your eyes as R. Weir unveils the unexpected and doesn’t hold back. A definite well written and fully entertaining novel. The Divine Devils—read it! – Lindie

You can pick-up The Divine Devils on Amazon, in either eBook or Paperback. And it’s available on Kindle Unlimited. Or you can purchase the paperback direct from me and I’ll sign it. Just reach out to me via email and I’ll work with you on the cost. This would be true as well for all the Jarvis Mann PI books. All available on Amazon in eBook, Paperback or via Kindle Unlimited. If you’re looking for a signed paperback drop me a line.

I’m still hard at work on the second book in the Divine Devils series, the tentative title: Fallen Star: The Divine Devils Book Two. Not certain if I’m sold on the title yet, but we’ll see what other options come to me as I continue to develop the storyline of the latest adventure of Hunter and his team. I’m planning on adding a couple of teaser’s to the new book in future newsletters.

With this month, I’ll feature other character from the new book. Shen Lewison in another member of the Divine Devils team, who had met Hunter years earlier while working a case for the US Marshals. The two not hitting it off at first, leading to a short physical confrontation, eventually leading to a professional association. Shen is a martial arts expert, running his own training studio out of Phoenix Arizona. Though small in stature, he is tough, using his martial arts skills and weapons with precision. Preferring them instead of using a gun. He is a diverse character, like the others on the team, who won’t back down from a challenge, even from those who hold his size, ethic background and sexual orientation against him, Shen being a gay man.

The last event I was able to do this year was at a church in Lakewood Colorado and outside under my canopy. Though traffic was light, the pandemic shutdowns keeping many at home, I did enjoy getting outside on a warm day, especially for early November. A great time smelling the fresh air and talking with people about books and life in general. Let’s hope 2021 allows us all to enjoy the outdoors and life as we’re used to.

It’s a quiet month in December for Prolific Works book giveaways. There is only one and it starts next week. Super Sleuth – Mystery and Thriller GG begins December 22nd and currently features 57 free eBooks for you to check out. You can access them via this link beginning the 22nd and ending Jan 5th.

I’ll wrap up this month by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. I hope you all finish out the year with family and friends, even if only via Zoom or Skype. Stay safe, healthy and happy!!

R Weir

As I’ve mentioned in the last couple of newsletters, WordPress my website company changed the editor for my newsletters. I create the newsletter on my website, then use Mailchimp to send it to all on my subscriber list. With this new format I’ve been getting odd results. At times the text is really small and the graphic pictures I use are huge when viewed. While other times it displays with no issue. It seems to depend on the application you use for reading your email. I personally use Thunderbird on my desktop computer and Bluemail on my Android phone and tablet. Results between those two have been mixed. At times displaying properly and other times being hard to read. I’m now working with the new default setting WordPress has provided to see if it displays better across the various platforms people use for reading their email. My testing has shown that the problem has now been corrected, or so I hope. Yippee!! If you’re still having issues be sure to let me know by sending me an email and include what email client or application you use to read your email in. I certainly don’t want to make reading my newsletter a chore. And I don’t want to send them without some graphics in them, which I believe makes for a boring newsletter. Below is a graphic for my new book, The Divine Devils, which should now display in the proper size.

With the release of The Divine Devils I’ve been monitoring my sales. To this point they’ve been a little disappointing, not living up the sales on my last couple of Jarvis Mann PI books. I’m not certain why, as I’ve been pushing it hard via various social media. If you’ve been on the fence about my new book, I’d love to hear why you’ve not purchased it yet. Is it the cost? The content? The current state of the world we’re living in? Maybe the previews I’ve provided didn’t convince you to buy. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as I’d love to get this book onto as many Kindles as possible.

With the release I’ve received several early reviews, all of them wonderful being 4 and 5 stars. Here are parts of a couple of them which might help you decide if you’re on the fence:

This book is full of intrigue, suspense that had me trying to figure out why someone was trying to get the kids and if they were going to be successful. It is a very intense read. I was completely hooked from page one until the very end – Tina

As the story progress it will keep you in the dark on who the abductor is and what their agenda is. The characters from the bad to the good are multi dimensional and all interesting and different. When I read suspense/mystery I want to be kept guessing and this book did a great job. The team trying to abduct the children will stop at nothing and this kept the story interesting. A read that is intense, full of action and suspense. I was holding my breath through many of the chapters – Shelly

This book is a very good, nope it is just plain awesome and I really do recommend you get your copy today as I don’t want to spoil this phenomenal plot for you – B.K. Maxwell

The Divine Devils is available on Amazon in eBook ($6.99), paperback ($15.99) or free via Kindle Unlimited. Or you can purchase the paperback direct from me for $12 plus shipping (US only please). And I’ll be certain to sign it and leave a personal note for you. All you have to do is send me an email and I’ll work on getting it to you ASAP.

Last month I mentioned I would highlight a character in one of my books each month. This month will be Athena Nasso, an integral part of The Divine Devils team. A woman Hunter met while still a US Marshal, the two sharing an intimate relationship which didn’t end well. Still they work together, Athena often with sharp tongue pointing out Hunter’s weakness for women and unwillingness to commit to any type of long-term relationship. I created her to be a strong, independent woman, working with high testosterone males she could hold her own with. A free thinker willing to take charge when called upon. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy what I believe is a well-rounded character.

Two other events, one in October, the other in November have been cancelled. To date I still have three others I’m keeping my fingers crossed will be held. Though with the rising COVID cases in the state of Colorado, I’m beginning to believe they won’t happen. One will be outside in November at a church in Lakewood Colorado. I’m hoping the weather will be good for that time of year, though cold air and snow struck the state this past weekend. Though it was a godsend for the fires ranging in the state. You can always find the latest events I’ll be doing on the bottom right of the newsletter or on my website via this link.

I have another month of Profilic Works eBook giveaways you can check out.

October Action, Crime, and Thriller GREATEST EVER giveaway runs until October 31st and features 37 free eBooks to check out via this link.

Dark Places – Mystery and Thriller GG giveaway runs until November 3rd with 47 free eBooks you can find via this link.

Trick-Or-Read – All Genre GG giveaway runs until November 6th with 83 free eBooks you can access via this link.

Criminally Good Reads – Mystery & Crime Giveaway runs until December 1st with 11 free eBooks you can check out via this link.

I’ll wrap up today with a reminder to those of you in the US to be certain to vote by November 3rd. It doesn’t matter to me your political leanings, just be certain to participate and vote. Especially your local elections which in reality are even more important than the national elections.

Thanks again for reading and sharing my newsletter. As we go into the upcoming holiday season I hope everyone stays safe, healthy and happy.

R Weir

As I mentioned in my last newsletter, WordPress changed the editor I use to send out the newsletter. I had a couple people mention this new format was hard for them to read in their email. I’ve modified the format of this newsletter, hoping it displays better. If those of you who had issues and are still experiencing problems with this version let me know by emailing me. You can always read all of my newsletters on my website via the blog link.

Today is release day for The Divine Devils. Creating this story has been a long process taking about a year to complete. I’m thrilled with how it turned out, creating a new set of interesting settings and characters, especially the lead, Hunter Divine. Stepping outside the comfort zone of my previous work in the Jarvis Mann PI series, this story is written in third person, a totally different style than the first person of my snarky private eye. With third person you get to see all aspects and angles of the story lending to a different type of storytelling. It was great to stretch my writing skills and I hope I’ve accomplished what I was searching for in this book.

For those who’ve not been following along as I’ve hyped this new book, Hunter Divine is a former US Marshal trying to get by in life taking crappy jobs after losing his federal career thanks to the death of the son of a US Senator who was killed on his watch. Drowning himself in a world of booze, drugs and one-night stands, he receives a call from a past love, wanting to hire him to protect her two kids from being kidnapped. With a chance to redeem himself Hunter jumps at the job, putting together a team to protect the kids and the parents from an unknown evil trying to snag them. Diving him deep into the clutches of a brutal man with a vengeful agenda. The mystery suspense thriller exciting and tense to the very end.

Besides Hunter, there is his team of Devils, willing to do what it takes to protect these kids. With Athena, Cameryn, Shen, and Keoki, the group forming a bond to get the job done. I plan in future newsletters to highlight each of these characters, my thought process how I came up with them and each of their unique characteristics. And I will go back and pick characters from my Jarvis Mann PI books to cover in detail as well.

You can still get the $3.99 pre-order price of The Divine Devils through the weekend, as I extended the sale. After Sunday the price will be $6.99. This will be the best time to get the eBook. If you’re still on the fence you can check out the first three chapters on my website via these links: Chapter One, Two & Three.

Last week I did a small craft fair in Loveland Colorado. Though traffic was lighter than I hoped, the virus concerns keeping people home, I did sell a few books, including three copies of The Divine Devils. While my wife sold a bunch of her face masks. Thankfully I’ve been able to schedule three other events coming up in November & December, with one other possibly in October. Be sure to check out the sidebar of the newsletter for dates and times. Here is a look at our table at last weekend’s event.

At these events besides books we also sell handmade bookmarks and soaps my daughter makes, along with masks and t-shirts. Anyone interested can email me and we can work out the costs. I plan on adding pages to my website in the future to promote and sell these items. Here are a couple of examples:

For those who signed up for my newsletter I do giveaway a free eBook version of my Jarvis Mann PI  novel Tracking A Shadow. If you didn’t get this eBook send me an email and I’ll get it sent out right away.

There is one new Prolific Works eBook giveaway I’ll share with you. Action Thrillers and Crime runs until October 15th and features 10 free eBooks for you to check out via this link.

That is all for now. One last plug to pickup The Divine Devils, the eBook only $3.99 through Sunday. Or you can purchase the paperback via Amazon or directly from me. If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read it there as well starting today. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Thanks again for reading. Stay safe, healthy and happy!!

R Weir

Winter rolled in early last week a day after record heat, leading to a couple of wild days. After a temperature of 101 on Saturday and highs in the nineties on Sunday and Monday, all three records, we had snow on Tuesday with highs in the low thirties. Crazy weather even for us. We had to cover up our plants and hoped they pulled through, with a hard freeze Tuesday night. We were lucky and most everything survived.

Our harvest was good, the cucumbers, carrots, raspberries, and sweet corn were all excellent. It was our first year of crops at our new house and it was a big success. We had so many cucumbers and carrots we gave some to our neighbors.

I’m a little slow getting out this newsletter for a couple of reasons. One is that my WordPress website changed the editor for the newsletter, the new design confusing to use, making it challenging to create with many added features I don’t need. When you’ve worked with software for many years and you’re used to how it works and they radically change it, it can be quite frustrating. Plus it needs to integrate properly with my Mailchimp service, which handles the sending and final formatting. There are times when I believe software designers don’t truly understand the pain they cause when they make radical changes in their design. They always explain the changes are for the better, but honestly most of the times they only cause heartburn for users.

The second reason is I’ve been doing final touchup on the new book, The Divine Devils. Getting the final product ready for the October 1st release. Be sure to take advantage of the pre-order price via this link of $3.99 for the eBook, a 3 dollar savings over the price of $6.99 it will become after release. The eBook also will be available on Kindle Unlimited via this link, so be certain to add it to your reading list. And finally, the paperback is also available at $15.99 through Amazon via this link. If you’re interested in a signed copy they will be $12 plus shipping in the US only if you purchase directly from me. I only have a few copies right now but will have more coming to me by October 1st. If you’re interested just reply to this email address.

Though I have no full-fledged reviews yet for The Divine Devils, I’ve heard from a couple of my early readers and have received positive feedback. One was halfway through the book and was “Loving It!” Another just started reading, and was only 4 chapters in, but told me she was “Hooked already!” All positive signs for the new book.

With the release of my new book, I’ve got new t-shirts which I’ll be selling and giving away when someone orders 5 or more of my books. This will have the new Divine Devils logo on it. I will have these at future events and can be purchased for $12 plus shipping here in the US only. I have large and x-large sizes in various colors. If you’re interested let me know. Here is a look at them.

As for events I have one this Saturday (9/26) in Loveland Colorado. It is the SEPTEMBER’S SIDE-WALK SALE (Wellness, Handcrafted Items) in Loveland Colorado from 10 to 3. There will be vendors outside and some inside the Majestic Gathering Place (314 E 4th Street) where I’ll be setup. We’ll be wearing masks, have hand sanitizer, and staying 6 feet apart wherever possible. If you live in the area be certain to stop by. I will have a limited number of copies of The Divine Devils, as well as all 7 paperbacks of the Jarvis Mann PI series. We’ll also have t-shirts, masks, and soaps for sale.

This month there are 4 more Prolific Works free eBook giveaways. All featuring The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, as well as many other Mystery/Crime/Suspense books. Be sure to check them out.

Dial M for Murder – Mystery & Crime Giveaway features 18 ebooks to check out, all available until October 10th. You can find them via this link.

Mysteries Your Mother Never Told… runs until December 31st and features 59 free eBooks. Check them out here via this link.

Running Out of Time – Mystery and Thriller GG runs until October 6th and features 52 eBooks. You can find it here via this link.

LIES, DANGER AND BETRAYAL – Crime and Suspense GG begins September 25th and runs until October 16th featuring 51 free eBooks to look at. You can find them via this link.

With the first book in the Divine Devils series completed, I’m hard at work on book 2, with 78k words written. This book will take the team to Reno Nevada to help a famous Hollywood television starlet who is being blackmailed. As the team goes undercover at a Reno Casino, they come up against a ruthless casino owner willing to do anything to protect his business. With any luck, I should have the first draft completed by end of year. I will be reaching out to Alpha Readers who want an early rough peek at the book. If you’re interested let me know. It will be best if you’ve read the first book, as there are events that tie the two stories together. And to top it off, I already have a rough idea of what book three will be about, with a teaser to it coming at the end of book 2.

With that, I’ll wrap up this newsletter with a final plug to pre-order The Divine Devils for the low price of $3.99 for the eBook. You can get a sneak peek at the book on my website, with Chapters 1, 2 and 3 posted. And don’t forget about the Jarvis Mann PI series, of which there are 8 books, all of which have made Amazon bestseller status. You can find them all here.

Stay safe, healthy and happy!!

R Weir

I’m sending out a second newsletter this month, as I received back the final changes from my editor on The Divine Devils, all of which were minor. The book is now ready to go and I’ve set the release date for October 1st. You can pre-order the eBook for the low price of $3.99. After release day the price will go up to $6.99. This is a 440 page book full of action, thrills, and suspense. I hope everyone interested will take advantage of this great offer through Amazon via this link. The book will also be available on Kindle Unlimited.

Here is the synopsis for the book:

Two teenage siblings in peril.
A mysterious group with an agenda to abduct them.
The mother Paige Hawkins reaching into her past seeking divine intervention.

The call going out to former US Marshal, Hunter Divine. An erstwhile lover who broke Paige’s heart. A man whose current existence is leaping from job to job and bed to bed. Hunter taking the case hoping for salvation in his futile life.

Can Hunter and his team prevent the kidnapping by an enemy with vast resources? The foe’s endgame to leverage these kids for their own vengeful desires. Hunter and his team toeing the line between virtue and vile. Drawing on wit, brawn, halos and pitchforks the ‘Divine Devils’ will scorch the earth to protect these kids. Even if it costs them…their eternal souls!

Emails have gone out to my reviewers and I’m hoping to get some early feedback from them before release. The beta readers were universally pleased with the book, as was my editor. I now have the first three chapters on my website for you to get a feel for what the book is like before buying. Check them out here: Chapter 1, 2, & 3.

Normally I do a sneak peek of the cover for a new book release, but I’m so excited I thought I’d post it in all its glory. My cover artist Mia did a wonderful job creating what I was looking for. It’s simple and straight forward. Let me know what you think.

We’re still working on the paperback version, as the cover requires a special design. Once it’s completed, I will get a proof of the book to approve. From there I will then order copies to sell myself or they can be ordered through Amazon. Right now I’m not certain what the price will be. Since it’s a big book, purchasing through Amazon will be in the $16.99 or so range. Buying direct from me I’m hoping to keep the price similar to my other books at around the $10 mark. But I may need to go higher depending on the cost to me from Amazon.

One other big holiday event has been canceled, and I suspect here in Colorado that will be true of most of them. Still, I’m happy I will be doing the Downtown Laramie Farmer’s Market on Sept 11th from 3-7 PM being held in Laramie Wyoming. There are some strict protocols I must follow to do this event, including wearing masks and gloves. But it’s outside which is going to be more common for events going forward to mitigate the risks. The University of Wyoming will be back in session so I’m hoping for a large turnout. If you’re in the area or have a student going to school have them stop by and say hello.

That is all for now. I hope everyone will check out The Divine Devils and take advantage of the pre-order price of $3.99. Sales overall have been down this year because of all the virus issues, but I hope this book will provide entertainment to those who read it and sells well.

Thanks. Stay safe, healthy, and happy!!

R Weir

Hot weather and the scorching sun have returned here to Colorado this past week, after a slight break of a week of rain and cooler air. Our water bill was huge last month, doing our best to keep the grass and our garden green during the baking sunshine. The flowers continue to bloom, the vegetables growing. We have cucumbers, carrots, lettuce and cabbage in our garden. And being an Iowa boy, we have sweet corn growing, the stalks nearly 7 foot high right now, with peaches and cream corn on the cob getting bigger every day. We’re looking forward to a decent harvest of food as summer winds down, with a few cucumbers and lettuce already picked for good eating. Here are a couple of pictures.

Besides the garden I continue to work on the front yard, doing my best to eliminate sections of the grass and plant water-wise flowers and shrubs, with weed barrier and mulch to keep the weeds at bay. I expanded this one section, with another planned once the weather gets a little bit cooler. Digging out this sod rooted in the hard clay soil we have here in Colorado is exhaustive work, especially in the heat of the day.

The editing continues on The Divine Devils. I sent the file back to my editor after the first round of changes. I’m now waiting for her final suggestions, hopefully getting them by the end of August. I must say editing is challenging. When writing the words flow out of me, the creation quick and painless. Whereas editing is harder work. Editing a story can be similar to disciplining a child. It can be challenging and heartbreaking at times, but necessary to get the end result. And I do think of these books I write as children I’ve helped create and molded for everyone to enjoy. From my initial drafts, to Alpha and Beta Reading, to rewrites, before sending it to the editor for a couple of rounds of cleanup and finetuning. All of it taking endless hours to complete in hopes readers will be immersed in the story.

Unfortunately because of COVID, I’ve not been able to have as active of a year getting out and meeting people at Craft Fairs and Author events. With fall coming there were two other events canceled, and I’m waiting to hear about the holiday events and if they’ll be held. But that hasn’t stopped us from working on items to tie into the next book. I’ve previously shared in the newsletter the new logo for The Divine Devils. This logo will be added to t-shirts and my daughter will be making soaps we’ll be selling as well. Here is one we’ve already made that we’ll have on hand once events begin again. They will come in various color combos and fragrances. This one is a peppermint which we hope will be popular.

If you haven’t already, be certain to check out the first two chapters of The Divine Devils on my website. You can read it via these links for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. I’m excited about this book and hope to have a release date set soon, targetting the end of September or early October if all goes well. I’ve already contacted my early review readers and hope to be sending out the nearly final version for their feedback and reviews in the coming weeks.

This month we have five new Prolific Works giveaways, featuring the short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, the first in the Jarvis Mann PI series. Along with other free eBooks from great Indie Authors. Here is the information:

Magnificent Summer Middle Grade/Tween/Teen Book Giveaway features 7 books for Teen and Young Adult readers running until August 30th. Check the book out via this link.

Just Desserts – Cozy Mystery GG features 14 books of Cozy Mystery reading and runs until August 23rd. Check out all those books via this link.

Dial M for Murder – Mystery & Crime Giveaway features 19 mystery crime books for you to check out and runs until October 10th. Check them out via this link.

Awesome August Action, Crime, and Thriller FREE giveaway begins August 15th and runs until August 31st. Featuring 26 Action Crime books. Check them out via this link.

Justice Is Served – Mystery, Crime, Thriller GG begins August 18th and runs until September 1st. Featuring 38 mystery crime thriller books. Check it out via this link.

I been thinking about running a contest for readers of my newsletter, racking my brain about what to do. With all the talk of my yard and garden, I’d love to see what others out there have done in their yards. Whether it’s vegetables, landscaping, bird sanctuaries, and other hard work you’ve sweated over. Send me the pictures of your hard work and brag while you’re at it. I will share some of them in future newsletters. And if I get enough responses I’ll give away a eBook of your choice to a few random submissions. Just email the photos with your comments to me at this address.

Lastly this month I’ll do a quick plug to check out all of the books in the Jarvis Mann PI series if you haven’t read them all. There are 8 books in all, each getting consistent 4 and 5-star reviews. And all but the first short story are available on Kindle Unlimited for those who pay for that subscription service. Be certain to add them all to your bookshelf or eBook reader. They can be accessed via this link.

Thanks again for reading my monthly newsletter. Be sure to share with any friends who love to read. Those that sign-up get a free eBook version of the first novel Tracking A Shadow. And if you signed up and didn’t get the free eBook, email me and I will send it to you ASAP.

Time to get back to writing and editing. Stay safe, healthy, and happy!!

R Weir

It’s been a busy month of June for us here in Colorado. We had a chance to get our motorhome out for a few days of RV’ing at a local state campground. Camping is great for social distancing, especially at Colorado State Campgrounds. They are nicely spread out, with lots of room between you and the next RV or tent. We went to St. Vrain State Park, which has many ponds and tons of birds. If you’re a birder it’s a wonderful place to visit. We went on a long walk around the park seeing dozens of different birds enjoying all the trees and water. Here are a few pictures. Any bird experts out there can probably identify them.

Even though it turned hot in June, I continued to work in the yard of our new home. One item we wanted to change was the amount of grass I need to mow each week. Our old home was mostly xeriscaped, with only a small grass area for our dog. This yard is on a large corner lot, the front all grass. We began to change that by putting in some drought-resistant shrubs, which will grow from 6 to 10 ten high, with some other plants. I removed the grass in chunks, which was hard work, using that sod to fix some bare patches in the back. This will be a gradual process where we plan to remove much of the grass on the side of the house, replacing with shrubs and flowers. Here is a shot of what we’ve done so far.

I’m often asked where my story ideas originate. I can be sitting around reading, watching TV or a movie, working in the yard, or doing absolutely nothing and an idea can pop into my head. It can be for a new book for an existing character, or a new group of characters like in the forthcoming first book in The Divine Devils series. Many ideas get tossed away or forgotten, while others can bloom into a story or be added to an existing one. For instance, Twice As Fatal came out of an idea of two cases for Jarvis to work on at the same time, with them both coming together to a climatic finish. I had no idea what the two cases would be when I first started, but it grew into a full-blown 80k word book as concepts came to me while writing. Blood Brothers would be a flashback book of Jarvis growing up, born from going back home to Iowa to help his brother out of a jam. Again I wasn’t sure what trouble Jarvis’ brother Flynn would get into when I first started writing. The simple story notion grew from there, essentially writing itself as I went along. The twists and turns flowing out of me while I typed. It’s hard to explain, but that is the way I’ve always written, even going back to my teenage days. When inspiration hits I write. The process works for me, though at times when I go back to edit, I say to myself “What was I thinking!” 🙂

One item I’ve added since December was a sit to stand type of setup at my desk. I actually enjoy standing while I’m writing, as sitting at times is harder on my body, especially my surgically repaired knee. Standing allows me to move my feet and legs more, as I can stretch and move while writing. It also helps to keep my mind sharper, as falling asleep in my chair has become easier with age. Here is a shot of the setup, the platform easily able to move up and down. If you do a lot of work at home I would suggest looking for an option like this. I absolutely love it.

My editor this week returned my latest book, The Divine Devils. Work has begun sharpening the story and content, with lots of labor ahead of me, a process that can be painful and time-consuming. My editor does a great job of helping me get my stories where they need to be. I will be digging in deep over the next several weeks getting it ready to send to her for another final polish. I was hoping I’d have the book ready by now, but it will likely be later in the year before it’s done. In the meantime, you can check out the first two chapters via my website, both with updated edits (Chapter 1 & Chapter 2). As well as checking out the new logo for the series below. Once a release date is set, I’ll be sure to keep everyone informed.

I was able to do one craft fair this month in Berthoud Colorado. Lots of rules needed to be followed, including limiting people inside and the wearing of masks. It was great to get out again and talk with people about my books. And we used a section of the table to sell my wife’s face masks. She did quite well, both of us selling about the same amount of product. My next events aren’t until September. Hopefully, the virus will have calmed down by then and they can be held safely. If you have a need for a mask, send me an email. They are $5 each plus shipping. And they come in several styles and sizes.

Need something to read to get you through the summer months. If you haven’t already check out the entire Jarvis Mann PI series. All the books are available on Amazon, the first The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card being free. The rest are available to purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. And anyone who signs up for my newsletter, I give them the novel, Tracking A Shadow in eBook format for free. If you signed up and didn’t get it, email me and I’ll send you a copy right away,

This month there are two more Prolific Works free eBooks you can download, including The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. Be sure to check them out.

Criminally Good Reads giveaway runs until July 15th featuring 19 free ebooks to read for free. Find them via this link.

Buried Secrets – Mystery and Thriller giveaway runs until July 15th featuring 70 free ebooks to enjoy. Find them via this link.

That is all for this month, as I need to get back to editing. One task authors don’t enjoy. I plan on covering the process in detail in a future newsletter. Thanks again for reading my work. Be sure to share with friends who love to read.

Stay safe, healthy, happy, and cool. The summer heat has arrived!!

R Weir

With the virus still in the news and with the Safer at Home rules here in Colorado, I’ve been spending much of my spare time when not writing, working around the house. Much of this has been taking place outside. Those who are new to the newsletter may not know my wife Kim and I moved to a new home in August of last year. The first move we’ve done in 22 years. Where our old house was mostly xeriscaped, with only a small area to mow, this house came with a large front and backyard with grass to mow and maintain. Along with the grass, there are several garden areas, with flowers and vegetables. All requiring upkeep to keep them growing and the weeds at bay. You’ll see examples below.

Though it’s hard work, I’ve found I’m enjoying getting outside nearly every day and working. Finding the exercise therapeutic in these chaotic times. I did similar work at our previous home after my motorcycle accident. Part of my rehab to get my mind and body back to where it needed to be. Therapy we all need to discover to get us by in these trying times. Here are a couple more photos. What are you doing to fill the void during isolation?

For my wife Kim, she has been busy making face masks. Many she’s donated to a local Nursing Home in need. The rest she’s been selling locally for $5 each, while shipping out others to friends. She had a great deal of extra cloth material she’d accumulated over the years to use. Plus the skill set and sewing machines to put them together. Creating sizes for adults and children. Here are a few examples of what she has made. If you’re in need of masks, reach out via my email and we can discuss options.

As I mentioned over the last couple of newsletters, I have a new book coming out later this year, The Divine Devils. This is a new series featuring former US Marshal Hunter Divine. As part of the series I’ve had a new logo designed, which I’ll be revealing today. Let me know what you think of it.

This will be the logo for the new series and will be on most of the merchandise I’ll be offering, including t-shirts. Book one in the series is still in the hands of my editor. She recently told me she is loving the book, but I do have work ahead of me to get it ready for release. If you haven’t already you can check out the first two chapters of the book and let me know what you think. Here are the links for Chapter One and Two. I plan on having more previews of the book in the future. Even a few teasers on the book cover and the final synosis to wet your appetiite as I get closer to release.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already, check out all the books in my Jarvis Mann PI series. Many of them have been best sellers on Amazon. You can try out the first short story in the series, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, for free via this link on Amazon. Jarvis is tough, snarky and not always the best boyfriend to the women in his life. You can check out the rest of the series via my Amazon Author Page. And those who sign-up for my newsletter receive a free eBook version of Tracking A Shadow. If you signed up but never received this book, email me and I’ll send it over to you right away.

I’m sorry to say that the Wild Deadwood Reads author event in June has been canceled. Though it’s no surprise, I was looking forward to attending this event for the fourth year in a row. Right now all large events have been canceled due to the social distancing rules. Though I still have one other in June that still is tentatively on, I suspect it won’t be held. I’m sad I won’t get the chance to get out and talk with people about writing and my books. Events like these are the one I cherish the most. But I certainly understand considering the circumstances.

This month there are several more Prolific Works eBook giveaways I’ll be promoting. All of them including the short story The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. Be sure to check out these free eBooks from many amazing authors.

Criminally Good Reads giveaway runs until July 15th featuring 19 eBooks. Check it out via this link.

On The Run giveaway runs until June 2nd featuring 89 free eBooks. Check it out via this link.

Online Learning giveaway runs until June 4th featuring 52 free eBooks. Check it out via this link.

Mysteries Your Mother Never Told giveaway continues to run until December 31st featuring 62 free eBooks. Check it out via this link.

MAY was “Get Caught Reading Month” and fellow author Dennis Koller has been posting pictures on his Facebook page of authors and readers getting caught reading a book. He asked me to participate, which I did via the picture below where I’m reading my latest book Mann in the Crossfire to my dog, Abby. Showing even dogs need entertainment in these times of isolation. Though I’m not certain by Abby’s reaction if she was enjoying me reading to her.

I will wrap up this newsletter with a quick thank you to all that are reading my work. I appreciate the time and feedback you’ve given me through the years. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions, would like to chat or just want to vent about anything, without judgment. There is plenty of that in the world right now.

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy. Life will be back to normal before we know it!!

R Weir

With the virus matching on, we’re still on Stay at Home here in Colorado, though they are transitioning to Safer At Home rules next week. My wife was getting stir crazy, leading us to take a drive to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge here in Colorado. A trip where we didn’t need to leave the car. The Arsenal was constructed by the U.S. Army in 1942 to develop chemical weapons as a deterrent against the Axis Powers. After extensive work to clean up the area, it’s now an 11-mile loop with a modern visitor center (though it was closed), where you drive and enjoy many wild animals running free. Managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service the land is home to more than 330 species of wildlife. Including raptors, deer, raccoons, coyotes, white pelicans, black-footed ferrets, black-tailed prairie dogs, and bison. On our drive, we saw deer and bison enjoying the warm weather of spring.

If you enjoy birds they are out there as well. Here you’ll see burrowing owls and a meadowlark enjoying the sun on a signpost.

With streaming entertainment being heavily used to pass the time, I thought I’d talk about the shows I’ve been enjoying. Each morning I get up at around 6 a.m to let the dog out and get my wife up for work. Once both are up and moving, I do my workout which normally lasts about 45 minutes while streaming on the TV. I recently went through the entire Seinfeld series, then moved onto the humorous detective series, Psych. I’m currently watching the American version of The Office. Humor for me makes exercising more enjoyable. It’s always fun to laugh when pushing my body to stay in shape.

In the evening after enjoying dinner, I’ve been watching the Amazon Prime show, Bosch. Based on the books by crime novelist Michael Connelly, it’s a gripping show to watch. If you enjoy gritty, police detective entertainment, you need to check this show out. It’s very much a procedural type of show, with sprinkles of action and violence. Titus Welliver plays Harry Bosch with a simmering calm, a man about to explode at any minute. Hated by other cops for his brutal honesty and by those he’s trying to catch for his fearless pursuit of justice, makes for an intelligent cop drama of the likes I’ve not seen in many years. Be sure to check it out if you have a chance.

Another pastime we’ve been enjoying at home is doing puzzles. Something we’ve not done in quite a while. A great recreation to keep the mind stimulated. Finding and connecting those pieces challenging, for many have only subtle differences. Each one a bigger test than the next. Here are two of the four we’ve already finished, with another started.

After my morning workout and before evening dinner, I’ve been spending my time writing. My newest book, The Divine Devils has gone off to my editor after rewrites spurn by my beta reader’s feedback. This process generally takes a couple of months to get the book polished and ready for release. I’m excited about this new book, written in a slightly darker tone than my Jarvis Mann PI books. Hunter Divine being a hard-nosed and tough former US Marshal. A womanizer and drinker with a past that haunts him. As a tease, you can check out the first chapter preview here. And I’ve added chapter two to read via this link. Be warned there is a little bit of adult content in the second chapter. I would love to hear what you think of both.

While I’m waiting for my editor to get back to me, I’ve begun the second book in The Divine Devils series. I’m still forming the direction of the plot, but I’ve written 22k worth of words which will take Hunter and his team to Reno Nevada and Lake Tahoe. As I continue to write I will be looking for Alpha Readers to get early feedback on the story. If you’re interested let me know.

I already have a cover designed for the new book, along with a logo for the series. I will be sharing the logo in next month’s newsletter. I plan on having t-shirts made with the logo and I’m even considering getting a tattoo with the logo added to my right arm. Once all the Stay at Home rules are relaxed.

In the meantime, you can still enjoy all of the Jarvis Mann PI books. The first short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card, is free to download, and the rest in the series available to purchase on Amazon or can be read via Kindle Unlimited. And I do giveaway the first novel, Tracking A Shadow, as a free eBook for anyone who register’s for this newsletter. If you didn’t get this free book, send me an email and I’ll get it to you right away.

From time to time I get questions on the order of the Jarvis Mann series. Though the books don’t need to be read in order, it does help, since you see the evolution of the main character and others who return throughout the series. Here is the list of books in order.

The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card: Free on Amazon and other eBook retailers.

Tracking A Shadow: eBook $3.99, Paperback $9.99 on Amazon

Twice As Fatal: eBook $3.99, Paperback $9.99 on Amazon

Blood Brothers: eBook $3.99, Paperback $9.99 on Amazon

Dead Man Code: eBook $4.99, Paperback $10.99 on Amazon

The Case of the Invisible Souls: eBook $2.99, Paperback $6.99 on Amazon

The Front Range Butcher: eBook $5.99, Paperback $15.99 on Amazon

Mann in the Crossfire: eBook $5.99, Paperback $16.99 on Amazon

If you’re interested in a signed paperback copy of any of the books, contact me via my email and we can work out the details.

In the last couple of days, I received a 5-Star review for The Case of the Invisible Souls via Readers Favorite. Here is the review:

Reviewed By Alyssa Elmore for Readers’ Favorite

A private investigator risks his life to find a group of missing homeless people in the holiday sleuth novella, The Case of The Invisible Souls (A Jarvis Mann Detective Novella) by R Weir. It’s a couple of weeks to Christmas and Jarvis Mann is eager for a new case. A knock at his door heralds an unusual visitor; a homeless veteran, Parker. Troubled by some strange activity going on within his community, Parker requests that Jarvis investigate the matter. According to the former soldier, the unusual circumstances began with some teens terrorizing the homeless in an old abandoned building where he temporarily lives. A few days later, a couple of men in a dark SUV visited, waving large sums of money around and offering a steady job to all those who came with them. Only, those who have gone with the men haven’t been seen or heard from since. As he operates within the homeless community, shelter, and churches, Jarvis prepares to go undercover in some of the most unrelenting conditions he’s yet experienced. Shortly, he finds himself embroiled in a sinister plot including a suspected mobster, hired assassin, and careless and uncooperative police. When Parker is attacked and left injured in a hospital, Jarvis must make a risky choice. Searching for Parker’s only friend that has since disappeared leads Jarvis to hit the snowy streets. Can Jarvis find the lost homeless? Or will he die trying?

The Case of The Invisible Souls by R Weir takes the reader into the cold underbelly of Denver, Colorado, exposing the disrespect, trials, and endless anxiety of those living on the streets, while keeping the story surprisingly upbeat. I enjoyed the noir-like feeling of this novella, finding the contrast of our troubled hero’s distaste of caffeine to be humorous – unlike most like most noir P.I.s who seem to have an obligation to remain liquored up. I appreciated how fleshed out the characters are, each with their unique traits and personalities that are sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader. With vibrant settings, a story that flows smoothly, and a diverse cast of characters, Mr. Weir expertly brings the story together, creating a dynamic short mystery. The tension is sure to draw the reader in from page one, holding their attention to a surprising conclusion that will be certain to leave them wondering what will happen in the next Jarvis Mann Detective Novella. This book will delight fans of whodunit and noir mysteries.

Thanks to Alyssa for this wonderful editorial review. If you haven’t already read this Jarvis Mann PI novella be certain to check it out.

There are more Prolific Works giveaways this month to check out. All including my free eBook short story, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card.

Message In A Bottle is the first giveaway that runs until May 5th, with 73 free eBooks for you to check out via this link.

How To Raise A Reader giveaway runs until May 7th, with 48 free eBook for you to read via this link.

Mysteries Your Mother Never Told Me is still running until December 31st, with 62 free eBooks to look over via this link.

I will wrap up this month’s newsletter with a quick plug about my audiobook, The Case of the Missing Bubble Gum Card. I still have Audible US and UK codes for this book. If you’re interested send me an email and I’ll get the codes to you right away.

Thanks again for reading. I hope all of you are doing well and are staying healthy. 

R Weir