I spent the last couple of weeks on projects that need to be completed before the cold and hopefully wet fall and winter arrive. To this point, summer is still hanging on here in Colorado, even though the calendar says it’s fall. One of those projects was completing the ramps to the Spyder Shed we added, so my daughter Dakota can park her Spyder motorcycle inside. The ramps we initially constructed needed reinforcing. Here are a couple of pictures of Dakota, Kim, and me getting this completed over a weekend.
The next project was treating our back porch wood deck, which I hadn’t done in a few years. For this, Kim and Dakota had to take the dogs to Kim’s family cabin in Frisco, Colorado. The Rosewood Oil treatment takes a couple of days to cure into the wood, and I didn’t need the dogs tracking their paws on it. After power-washing as much dirt off as possible and filling the gaps between the deck and the house with spray foam insulation, I rolled and brushed on the oil. The final result turned out great. Below are before and after pictures.
That same day, I removed old carpeting on the ramp to the storage shed on the side of the house. It was moldy and needed to be replaced with higher-quality outdoor green Astroturf, which should hold up much better in our harsh Colorado elements.
While Kim and Dakota were in Frisco, they took a few pictures of the fall colors, which are still blooming.
Thankfully, the last month wasn’t all work. Kim, Dakota, and I went to the huge Broomfield Days outdoor event. We got to see the parade, shop at tents of crafters and vendors, watch some of the DockDogs diving competition, and walk among many cool classic cars. It was a fun morning with great weather.
I also had a wonderful time meeting with a Castle Rock Book Club. Denise, who I met at the Bear Creek HS Craft Fair in 2025, invited Kim and me to attend. The book club read my book, Justice For The Forgotten. I talked with them about my life as an author, how the book came to fruition, and answered their questions. Thanks to everyone who joined me for this fun discussion.
If you have a book club, I’d love to attend one of your meetings. If you’re local along the Colorado Front Range, I can come by in person. If you live outside the area, I can always join you via video call. Send me an email, and we can work out the details.
To kick off the fall craft fair season, I spent three days in Loveland, Colorado, for the Goodguys Car Show. I met and talked with lots of people, sold books, and got to view more classic cars. I’ve always enjoyed this event, and the weather was fantastic. Here are a few pictures.
Kogel got loose at the Goodguys event and apparently is a fan of Corvettes and tractors. As you can see in the earlier picture, he got to go home with an excited young man.
I’ve posted more videos and photos on the Events and Fun Stuff pages on my website for your enjoyment.
The busy holiday craft fair season goes full speed ahead this Saturday (10/10), with shows nearly every weekend through mid-December. I’m always excited about these shows, even when some are successful, while others can be a bit of a bust. Even when I sell very little, I get to talk with lots of people about books and other topics. The human interaction puts a smile on my face. My list of shows has expanded from the list I shared last month. The updated list is below, and you can always find the most up-to-date information on the Events page of my website.
My new book, Justice For The Accused, continues to get wonderful feedback from readers and their reviews. Here are a couple more:
Reviewed by Tina: Justice for the Accused is the 2nd Book in the Steel Wheels Series. We are following along with Donnie and his partner Kogel as they travel to the family resort in Minnesota. He’s not thrilled that his mom has volunteered his services to help out a local lawyer who is representing Von Oliver who’s being accused of his girlfriend’s murder. Though he doesn’t get much free time to reconnect/visit and fish with his grandfather, whom prefers to be called Don. The time spent with him Don has some good insight on the situations Donnie finds himself in due to his experience from being a law enforcement officer himself. He has a famous line “Steel Them Fishes”. When Donnie’s family find themselves caught in the crossfire Don kicks butt. What I really liked about this story is there was two stories in one plus Donnie’s continued stalker on his Musings Blog. It kept me spellbound with the suspense and intrigue. Donnie “Idea Man” as nicknamed by his daughter outdid himself. I read this book within a day as I was so caught up in it that I couldn’t put the book down. I also like that we get to read Donnie’s blog as he posts it. The Musings on Multitasking was an especially good one for me. It made me do some thinking about myself. Do I think you can read this book as a standalone-yes. But I think you’d get better appreciation for the series as a whole if you read the books in order .
Reviewed by Shelly: In this book we follow Donnie and Kogel as they travel home. But this trip home won’t be time to relax and spend time with family, because his mother gets Donnie involved in working for a lawyer whose client has been accused of murdering his girlfriend. From the beginning this book is nonstop suspense, mystery, action, and some nail-biting moments. Not only is Donnie involved in solving this case but gets involved in a few other situations. The past of the murder victim comes back to haunt Donnie as he begins to solve who the murder is. The constant suspense and action kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of times that I felt the dread of what was going to happen and when Donnie faces the murders you will not be able to put the book down. I went through plenty of emotions with this read. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for Donnie in the next book. “Even in your darkest hour, strive for goodness, for it will be your salvation.” Donnie Steel
Signed paperbacks for Justice For The Accused can be purchased for $15, which is a $5 savings compared to purchasing them at my events or online through Amazon. You can get that lower price by purchasing through my website and picking it up at one of my events. Just choose that option when checking out via my Online Store. If you prefer eBooks, you can buy Justice For The Accused via this link on Amazon. And it’s available to read for free, like all my other books, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited.
If you have an interest in a signed paperback of any of my books, they can be ordered via my Online Store. They can be shipped for a $7 fee, or picked up from my home in Westminster, Colorado, or at a future event for free.
If you enjoy audiobooks, I have 5 available on Audible, Amazon, and Apple Music, with a sixth in production. You can scan the QR code below each book, and it will take you to the book on Amazon. I do have free promo codes for all my audiobooks if you use Audible. All I ask, is for you to post an honest review of the audiobook. Send me an email with the book you’re interested in listening to, and I’ll get back to you with the promo code.
I continue to host fantastic guests on my podcast, Bringing Life To Characters. I learn a lot talking with these wonderful artists. All 82 and counting episodes can be watched and listened to on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Apple Podcasts.
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by author Red O’Laughlin on his vodcast, The Corner Bookstore. He had some great questions for me to answer. I hope you take the time to watch the episode on YouTube.
Lots of you have taken advantage of the free, discounted, and Kindle Unlimited books available through Book Funnel. I’m pleased you’ve found these great authors and their books. Here are this month’s Book Funnel reads.
MYSTERY, SUSPENSE & THRILLS has 46 fantastic books for you to check out until Oct 31st via this link.
KDP: Dark & Twisty Fall Reads: Psychological Thrillers, Mysteries & Suspense has 10 Kindle Unlimited reads for you until Oct 29th via this link.
Crime Thrillers – October has 30 great books for you to peruse through until Oct 31st via this link.
Free Crime and Mystery has 113 free eBooks to search through until Oct 31st via this link.
Crime Stories has 49 wonderful books to check out until Oct 31st via this link.
Detective Fiction – October has 34 thrilling books for you to search until Oct 31st via this link.
MAYHEM & MOTIVES: Mystery, Thriller, & Suspense Reads – October Edition has 108 exciting books to check out until Oct 31st via this link.
I need to get back to writing and preparing for the Holiday Craft Fair Season ahead. Looking forward to seeing lots of smiling faces searching for their next thrilling read or locating that perfect gift for family and friends.
All the best!!
R. Weir