R.E. Donald's Blog
March 2, 2024
What a move!
View from the front porch of our new home on moving-in day.Let me first apologize if it’s been so long since I’ve posted that you’ve not only forgotten that you subscribed to my blog, but you may even have forgotten who I am!
Once again, life got in the way of my writing. I was soooo close to finishing the 6th novel in the Highway Mysteries series when we got an offer we couldn’t refuse and signed the papers to sell our ranch in Lone Butte. Suddenly we found ourselves under the gun to find a new home that could accommodate two more-or-less adult human beings, two relatively large farm dogs and a couple of geriatric horses. Then we had to pack up the contents of a big house, move it, and unpack it at a small house. So here we are, if not over the rainbow, at least in close proximity to it. (Notice how I manage to keep at least a little crime fiction in my post?)
The move has been rather traumatic. Imagine how the dogs and horses felt, finding themselves suddenly transported from the freedom and privacy of a 124-acre ranch to a scant 5-acre property with (gasp!) real life visible and audible neighbors that weren’t just squirrels, chickadees and foxes. At least the more-or-less adult humans in the family knew why it was happening and we approved of it. We still have a sea can full of mostly old stuff that we haven’t been able to find a spot in the house for, so we try to do at least a little bit of sorting and rearranging along with our regular chores every day.
So here we are with a view of British Columbia’s beautiful Shuswap Lake and surrounding mountains. Readers with good memories may recall that Shuswap Lake was a featured location in the very first Highway Mystery, Slow Curve on the Coquihalla. In fact, the final scene had Hunter sitting on a cinder block on the shore of Shuswap Lake, watching his daughters swim at his landlord’s cabin, which was just down the road from where I’m sitting now.
Now it’s back to work on my current manuscript, which is only one or two chapters from The End. I apologize for the delay, and I hope you’ll watch for the announcement of number six’s release in the coming months. I’ve abandoned ex-Twitter, but you can find R.E. Donald on Facebook, Linked In, Instagram and CounterSocial. Meanwhile, as Hunter Rayne would say, “Have a great day!”
June 12, 2021
Audiobook of first Highway Mystery released!
Slow Curve on the Coquihalla was expertly narrated and produced by actor John Hanks and is now available for your listening pleasure on (click for link):
Audible and
When a well respected truck driver, the owner of a family trucking business, is found dead in his truck down a steep embankment along the Coquihalla highway that winds through the mountains in British Columbia, his distraught daughter wants to know how and why he died. Not long afterwards, while driving the same highway, her husband’s brakes are tampered with, almost creating another fatal accident on a treacherous incline, This compels Hunter Rayne, a fellow trucker and retired RCMP detective, to help her find answers.
As he uncovers signs of illegal cross border activity originating in a Seattle warehouse, Hunter recruits an old friend, an outlaw biker, to infiltrate what appears to be an international smuggling ring. But while Hunter follows up clues and waits for critical information from his old friend, the wily biker starts to play his own angles.
Finally, putting all the pieces together, there in the dark on the same uphill curve on the Coquihalla highway, Hunter risks it all to confront the murderer.
Slow Curve on the Coquihalla is the first in a traditional mystery series featuring “semi-” professional sleuth, Hunter Rayne. After serving over 20 years in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and becoming a skilled detective, Hunter resigned from the force and took to the road as a long haul trucker. His ex-wife is convinced he is running away from the personal tragedy that made him leave a job he loved. Hunter himself doesn’t know why, he only knows he has to keep following the white lines.
***
A selection of reviews from e-book and print editions:
“Those were the best mysteries I’ve read in a long time!! As soon as I finished the first one I bought the second and felt empty when I finished it! The characters were awesome and so there that I somehow think they are in my life.”
“I think that Hunter Rayne would make a great TV detective, driving around the country in his rig visiting different states and helping to solve crimes. He is that interesting of a character.”
“The Hero to me is the heart of the story …”
“I hope to see the Hunter Rayne series become movies and audio books.” (Note from me: It took a while, but the first one is now in audio book format!)
And even some 5-star reviews from truckers:
“I was a truck driver for over 10 years and can tell you that part of the book is pretty real to me. I enjoy reading about things I know about as a relaxation, but this is a added bonus because it is also a murder mystery a very real passion of mine. The book is well written and a page turner besides a added bonus. So far I have read all of the” Hunter Rayne series ” of books and am waiting for another to come out. Hint! Hint! Please. I think you will love this series also as much as I did.”
“I decided to read this book to see if it was written by someone who knew anything about trucking. Thank goodness I wasn’t disappointed and someone did know a bit about trucking and dispatching.”
If you’ve already read the book, please tell your audiobook listening friends!Note to audiobook reviewers: please contact me about getting a promo code for a review copy.
October 11, 2020
Yellowhead Blues a finalist for the 2020 Whistler Independent Book Award!
I’m delighted to announce that the fifth novel in the Highway Mysteries series, Yellowhead Blues, has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2020 Whistler Independent Book Award in Fiction!
The fourth novel, Sundown on Top of the World, was a finalist for the 2016 Whistler Independent Book Award in Crime Fiction. Since then, there has only been a single fiction category, and it’s an honor to have Yellowhead Blues be selected from among novels of all genres of fiction. (Of course, I’m biased toward mysteries!)
The winners will be announced during the virtual Whistler Writers Festival, October 15–18. Get your tickets to attend the great lineup of online workshops and events on the Festival’s website. For those of you unfamiliar with Whistler, it’s the primary locale for Sea to Sky, the third Hunter Rayne novel, and is best known internationally as the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Meanwhile, I’m at work on the sixth novel in the series. It should be ready for release in the late spring or summer of 2021.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased or reviewed books in the Highway Mysteries series, and especially those who have taken the time to contact me to let me know how and why they’ve enjoyed reading about Hunter Rayne and his fellow travelers. I hope you are all keeping well during this stressful time.
Yellowhead Blues is available in both print and digital formats!
Get your copy at your favorite online e-book or print book retailer, or ask your local bookstore to order (through Ingram).
Barnes & Noble (print edition)
Enjoy!
July 17, 2020
Yellowhead Blues a finalist for the 2020 Whistler Independent Book Award!
I’m delighted to announce that the fifth novel in the Highway Mysteries series, Yellowhead Blues, has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2020 Whistler Independent Book Award in Fiction!
The fourth novel, Sundown on Top of the World, was a finalist for the 2016 Whistler Independent Book Award in Crime Fiction. Since then, there has only been a single fiction category, and it’s an honor to have Yellowhead Blues be selected from among novels of all genres of fiction. (Of course, I’m biased toward mysteries!)
The winners will be announced during the Whistler Writers Festival, October 15–18. I believe it will be a virtual festival this year due to the limitations imposed during COVID-19. For those of you unfamiliar with Whistler, it’s the primary locale for Sea to Sky, the third Hunter Rayne novel, and is best known internationally as the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Meanwhile, I’m at work on the sixth novel in the series. It is overly optimistic to think it could be ready for publication in 2020, but I’m still hopeful that it will be ready early in 2021.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased or reviewed books in the Highway Mysteries series, and especially those who have taken the time to contact me to let me know how and why they’ve enjoyed reading about Hunter Rayne and his fellow travelers. I hope you are all keeping well during this stressful time.
Yellowhead Blues is available in both print and digital formats!
Get your copy at your favorite online e-book retailer:
Enjoy!
January 7, 2020
Who should play Hunter in the movie version of Yellowhead Blues?
Since the Highway Mysteries first came out several years ago, a number of readers have suggested that the stories would make a great television series. I think so, too! A few readers have even suggested actors who could play the role of the former RCMP homicide detective turned long-haul trucker Hunter Rayne.
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As it happens, the latest Highway Mystery Yellowhead Blues is being featured as one of the novels in this week’s TaleFlick Discovery contest. As the TaleFlick website says:
TaleFlick Discovery is a weekly contest that allows the public to vote on which stories they want to see adapted to the screen. Fans can now be involved earlier in the filmmaking process than ever before.
The contest opens for voting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 8th and runs until 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, January 10th.
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Go to http://www.taleflick.com to vote!
And just for fun, feel free to post in the comment section below which actors you would choose to play the role of Hunter Rayne, Dan (Sorry) Sorenson or Elspeth (Big Mother Trucker) Watson in a TV or movie version of the Highway Mysteries.
If you haven’t read Yellowhead Blues yet, here’s where you can find it:
Yellowhead Blues digital edition is available online, including at the following ebook retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and Smashwords.
Print editions are available at Amazon or Chapters/Indigo, or can be ordered through your local bookstore. The ISBN is 978-0-9940762-50
Please share this post or the news about the TaleFlick Discovery contest with your friends!
January 6, 2020
Who should play Hunter in the movie version of Yellowhead Blues?
Since the Highway Mysteries first came out several years ago, a number of readers have suggested that the stories would make a great television series. I think so, too! A few readers have even suggested actors who could play the role of the former RCMP homicide detective turned long-haul trucker Hunter Rayne.
[image error]
As it happens, the latest Highway Mystery Yellowhead Blues is being featured as one of the novels in this week’s TaleFlick Discovery contest. As the TaleFlick website says:
TaleFlick Discovery is a weekly contest that allows the public to vote on which stories they want to see adapted to the screen. Fans can now be involved earlier in the filmmaking process than ever before.
The contest opens for voting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 8th and runs until 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, January 10th.
[image error]
Click on the image to go to the TaleFlick site to vote.
And just for fun, feel free to post in the comment section below which actors you would choose to play the role of Hunter Rayne, Dan (Sorry) Sorenson or Elspeth (Big Mother Trucker) Watson in a TV or movie version of the Highway Mysteries.
If you haven’t read Yellowhead Blues yet, here’s where you can find it:
Yellowhead Blues digital edition is available online, including at the following ebook retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo and Smashwords.
Print editions are available at Amazon or Chapters/Indigo, or can be ordered through your local bookstore. The ISBN is 978-0-9940762-50
Please share this post or the news about the TaleFlick Discovery contest with your friends!
August 5, 2019
Yellowhead Blues
[image error]Yellowhead Blues, the fifth novel in the Highway Mysteries series, is now available in both trade paperback and digital editions.
Just west of the Rocky Mountains, a frightened horse with a bloody saddle is found running loose on the Yellowhead highway. Former RCMP investigator Hunter Rayne is on the road in his eighteen-wheeler when he’s flagged down to help calm the horse and find its missing rider.
The horse with the bloody saddle leads Hunter and a good-natured French Canadian cowboy into a complicated murder mystery. The police are none too happy with his interference, but Hunter strongly believes the RCMP have arrested the wrong man and sets out to uncover who stood to gain from the death of a wealthy ranch owner.
His belief in the suspect’s innocence is shared by a rookie female RCMP constable who joins him in the search for the truth. She befriends the dead man’s young fiancée in an effort to get answers, and discovers that the vulnerable Texas beauty is not who the victim believed her to be.
Get your e-book copy of Yellowhead Blues at one of these major online retailers, or ask your local bookstore to order a copy for you. It’s available through Ingram.
Enjoy!
I hope readers who have enjoyed the first four Hunter Rayne novels will enjoy this one as well. Like most writers, I’m quite nervous about sending my new creation out into the world in case it doesn’t live up to your expectations. I’m looking forward to getting honest feedback from readers, so once the book is out and you’ve had time to read it, please don’t hesitate to leave a review, or send me a note to let me know how you liked it.
June 22, 2019
Yellowhead Blues
[image error]At long last! Yellowhead Blues, the fifth novel in the Highway Mysteries series, is ready for pre-order as an e-book, with a release date of July 21st, 2019. Print edition will hopefully also be ready by the end of July.
Here’s the description:
Just west of the Rocky Mountains, a frightened horse with a bloody saddle is found running loose on the Yellowhead highway. Former RCMP investigator Hunter Rayne is on the road in his eighteen-wheeler when he’s flagged down to help calm the horse and find its missing rider.
The horse with the bloody saddle leads Hunter and a good-natured French Canadian cowboy into a complicated murder mystery. The police are none too happy with his interference, but Hunter strongly believes the RCMP have arrested the wrong man and sets out to uncover who stood to gain from the death of a wealthy ranch owner.
His belief in the suspect’s innocence is shared by a rookie female RCMP constable who joins him in the search for the truth. She befriends the dead man’s young fiancé in an effort to get answers, and discovers that the vulnerable Texas beauty is not who the victim believed her to be.
Pre-ordering of the Yellowhead Blues digitial edition available at the following links:
Or search for it at other on-line e-book retailers.
I hope readers who have enjoyed the first four Hunter Rayne novels will enjoy this one as well. Like most writers, I’m quite nervous about sending my new creation out into the world in case it doesn’t live up to your expectations. I’m looking forward to getting honest feedback from readers, so once the book is out and you’ve had time to read it, please don’t hesitate to let me know what you think.
March 13, 2019
Stuck in Low Gear
At times it has felt like I’m trying to get somewhere in the charming old truck that sits on our ranch.
Yes, I’m still around. No, I haven’t finished the fifth novel in the Highway Mysteries series yet. Yes, I’m currently working on the last chapter and it will be finished soon.
After blowing past several of my self-imposed deadlines, I hesitate to make any promises but The End is certainly in sight. I will soon let the world know when Yellowhead Blues is ready for release.
Just to tease those of you who have been waiting for the next novel in the Highway Mysteries series, here’s a sneak peek at the new cover. Many thanks and a shout-out to my talented cover man, Steve Johnsen, at Hunter|Johnsen for this marvelous graphic.
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If you have been looking forward to more of Hunter Rayne’s semi-professional investigations, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve started to do some research and gather material in preparation for the sixth book in the series as well.
Meanwhile, I hope all of Hunter’s fans have had a great 2019 so far, and are looking forward to Spring.
Left Coast Crime in My Home Town
Just two weeks until Left Coast Crime 2019 A Whale of a Crime in Vancouver, British Columbia. I lived and went to school in West Vancouver, just across the Lions Gate Bridge from Vancouver’s Stanley Park, so being in Vancouver will be almost like coming home. It’s been a long time, though, since I’ve prowled the streets of downtown Vancouver, and I’m looking forward to seeing old familiar sights along with exciting changes in the heart of the city.
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If you’re planning to attend Left Coast Crime, please look for me and say hello. I’ll be taking part in the Author Speed Dating on Thursday morning, March 28th, from 9 to 11 a.m., and will be hosting a table at the Saturday evening Awards Banquet along with fellow BC mystery writer, Debra Purdy-Kong.
I am also taking part in one of the last panels of the conference on Sunday, March 31st at 10:15 a.m. The title of the panel is “Not So Traditional Traditionals” (hmmm — could it be that my trucker hero is considered an unusual detective?) and it will also include authors Becky Clark, Marsali Taylor and Ingrid Thoft, as well as moderator Anne Louise Bannon.
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Lost Lagoon at the entrance to Stanley Park
If anyone attending is interested in an Author Connection with Yours Truly, I’m open to guiding a few people down Georgia Street on Friday afternoon to visit Lost Lagoon at Stanley Park, weather permitting. It’s about 4 miles return including a stroll around the lagoon, so from 4:00 to 6:00 will give us time for a leisurely walk and a return via trendy Robson Street. If it’s raining or otherwise unpleasant for walking, a visit to Notch8 Restaurant & Bar in the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for a Happy Hour cocktail would be fun instead. (Notch O’s will be on me!)
Left Coast Crime is a great conference for both writers and fans of crime fiction. I hope to meet some of Hunter Rayne’s fans in Vancouver this year, or maybe next year at Left Coast Crime 2020 in San Diego for Murder is a Beach.
