Award-winning author R. Barri Flowers is one of the most multitalented writers on the scene today with nearly forty published books of fiction and nonfiction, two dozen short stories, a handful of poems, numerous articles, and seemingly endless ideas for more.
Born in Detroit, Michigan as the second of five children, Barri was always an avid reader and writer of short stories with dreams of becoming a published author someday. The dream turned into reality as a young man with the publication of a western mystery short story, “The Hired Gun,” by a small publisher, Inky Trails Press. A number of other short stories followed, along with poems.
A literary criminologist, Barri began his book writing career with criminology and criminal justice textbooks, after receiving a B.A. and M.S. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Many of these books went on to become bestsellers, including THE PROSTITUTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS (McFarland, 2005), MURDER, AT THE END OF THE DAY AND NIGHT (Charles C Thomas, 2002) and THE ADOLESCENT CRIMINAL (McFarland, 1990).
Barri branched out into true crime writing with THE SEX SLAVE MURDERS (St. Martin’s Press, 1996), which became a bestseller. Excerpts of the book appeared in the January 1997 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. He co-wrote the bestselling true crime reference work, MURDERS IN THE UNITED STATES: CRIMES, KILLERS AND VICTIMS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (McFarland, 2004).
Barri expanded to fiction with the critically acclaimed Jack the Ripper historical thriller, IN THE DARK OF NIGHT (iUniverse, 2001). His first commercially published novel was the legal thriller, PERSUASIVE EVIDENCE (Dorchester, 2004) followed by JUSTICE SERVED (Dorchester, 2005) and STATE’S EVIDENCE (Dorchester, 2006).
JUSTICE SERVED was nominated for a Romantic Times Award.
Following in the footsteps of such great male romance writers as Robert Waller and Sidney Sheldon, Barri added mainstream and contemporary romance writing to his repertoire. Under the pseudonym Devon Vaughn Archer, he became one of the first two male authors to write for Arabesque with the romance novel, DARK AND DASHING in the two-novels-in one volume, SLOW MOTION (Harlequin, 2005). The book quickly became a Black Expressions selection and was a Top Pick by Romantic Times.
After this, came LOVE ONCE AGAIN (Harlequin/Kimani Press, 2006), in which he became the first male author to write a solo novel for Arabesque. In the eHarlequin newsletter, the hero of the story placed number three in the Top Ten Heroes We Want to Marry.
Devon Vaughn Archer's holiday tale, CHRISTMAS HEAT (Harlequin/Kimani Press), came out in December 2007. His newest book, DESTINED TO MEET (Harlequin/Kimani Press), will be published in June 2008.
Barri is thrilled to be able to write in different genres as well as fiction and nonfiction, readily taking on the challenge and succeeding beyond his wildest dreams. “I feel so fortunate to have been blessed with the talent to write whatever I choose to pursue and get published,” he says. “I am sure an angel is looking over my shoulder, keeping me on the straight and narrow, while putting my best foot forward in pursing a lifelong passion.”
In October 2006, he received the prestigious Wall of Fame Award from his alma mater Michigan State University and its renowned School of Criminal Justice.
So what’s next for this talented author?
“I never rest on my laurels or take for granted accomplishments,” Barri insists. “I hopefully have many years left in me and want to continue to write books, short stories, and articles for my fans, family, and the readers yet to discover me.”
R. Barri Flowers currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and enjoys spending time in Hawaii, California, and Michigan; with dreams to someday visit Australia and New Zealand, among other places around the world.
Stay tuned for much more news from this one-of-a kind author.
In the meantime, he invites visitors to explore the site and enjoy!
