Welcome to my world, which I share with my wife and dogs. I grew up in the Bronx, graduated West Point, served in Special Operations and have written over 80 books across a variety of genres.
I’ve written quite a few books. Need help figuring out where to start or what to read next? Download my free readers guide from your favorite platform. Click on the cover to the right to get links.
My latest works are continuations of the 3 million copy selling Area 51 series. I have a new series that’s actually a prequel to my bestselling Green Beret series. The Will Kane books are set in New York City in the last 1970s. The series begins with New York Minute, followed by Lawyers, Guns and Money, then Walk on the Wild Side, Hell of a Town and No Quarter.
I’ve also published two sequels the bestseller, Agnes and the Hitman. Shane and the Hitwoman is followed by Phoebe and the Traitor.
I’ve got several titles in the preparation and survival field. The Green Beret Area Study Workbook is unique, laying out how you would do what we did in Special Forces prior to going into an Area of Operations: evaluating the locale, as well as ourselves, so that we would be prepared. One size does not fit all when it comes to preparation. Then there is the Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide. I’ve designed these books for every day people, not hardcore preppers.
Check out my Freebies page where you can get started on a variety of genres. There are also free audio stories.
There are over 225 free Powerpoint presentations on the free Slideshows page– lots of useful stuff on writing, survival tips, history, etc.
I consult and present workshops on personalized Area Studies for individuals, neighborhoods, organizations and businesses. With everyone facing climate-related incidents and growing unrest, this is more important than ever. Click on the window to the right for more information.
GEAR LINKS
The following are web and app links that appear in The Green Beret Preparation and Survival Guide. First are apps, then survival gear. auto gear. Survival Library. Gladiator and Jeep Links are near the end. Solar is at the end.
For Amazon links, they are affiliate and all profits are donated to the nonprofit Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which educates the children of deceased Special Operators. If you find a link that doesn’t work, or goes to a dead page, please let me know at bob@bobmayer.com
APPS and Web Pages (free unless otherwise noted)
Location Apps Topographic Map. Gaia with 20% discount
https://www.gaiagps.com/discounts/?fp_ref=bob-94
CDC App Center For Disease Control (Apple) (Android) Of limited use, but better to have than not have.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cdc/id487847188
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.cdc.general&feature=search_result#?t=W10
Medical Apps Red Cross First Aid (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/first-aid-by-american-red/id529160691
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.arc.fa&hl=en
Medical Apps CPR and Choking (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/resuscitate-cpr-aed-choking/id363393502
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.heart.microlearning&hl=en_US&gl=US
Location Apps Family Locator-GPS Tracker for Android. GPS Tracker for Android.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.life360.android.safetymapd
Location Apps Emergency Alert System for Apple.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/silent-beacon-emergency-alert/id933730960
Location Apps Road ID eCrumbs App for Apple and Android.
Location Apps Google Earth (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-earth/id293622097
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.earth
Disaster Apps Red Cross Hurricane App (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hurricane-by-american-red/id545689128
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.arc.hfa&hl=en
The Wildfire APP: Apple Android
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fires-wildfire-maps-and-info/id1143862825
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.davidgrossapps.wildfire&hl=en_US&gl=US
Wildfire Status web page: https://www.esri.com/en-us/disaster-response/disasters/wildfires
Disaster Apps Earthquake Alert for Android. Quake feed for Apple.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joshclemm.android.quake&hl=en
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quakefeed-earthquake-map-alerts/id403037266
Disaster Apps Weatherbug (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/app/weatherbug-forecasts-radar/id281940292
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aws.android
Disaster Apps Disaster Alert (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/disaster-alert-pacific-disaster/id381289235
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=disasterAlert.PDC
Disaster Apps FEMA (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fema/id474807486
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android
Miscellaneous Apps Flashlight (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashlight-o/id381471023
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ihandysoft.ledflashlight.mini
Knots 3D ($4.99) (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/knots-3d/id453571750
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nynix.knots3d
Miscellaneous Apps Wild Edibles ($5.99) (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wild-edibles-full/id431504588
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.andromo.dev58263.app71191&hl=en_US&gl=US
Miscellaneous Apps Scanner Radio (Apple) (Android)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scanner-radio-deluxe/id498405045
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scannerradio
FEMA flood map search to determine this by entering your address:
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search
FEMA safe room guidelines web site: https://www.fema.gov/residential-safe-rooms
List of nuclear power plants: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/map-power-reactors.html
National Geographic 1:24,000 maps: http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads
USGS maps: http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/
Home facts: http://www.homefacts.com/
Red Cross on line First Aid Courses: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/first-aid/first-aid-training/first-aid-online
Gaia App (with 20% discount for the PRO version which I recommend): https://www.gaiagps.com/discounts/?fp_ref=bob-94
EQUIPMENT
Pre-packaged Grab-n-Go Bag
EVERLIT Earthquake Emergency Kits Survival Kit 72 Hrs 2 Person Bag with supplies for 2 people for 72 hours: https://amzn.to/2Z2BFRo
Premium Family Emergency Survival Bag/Kit – a basic bag with supplies for 4 people for 72 hours: https://amzn.to/2HeIaFM
Items for building your own Grab-n-Go bag
First aid kit: M2 BASICS 300 Piece: https://amzn.to/2KDaYKg
Curaplex Stop the Bleed Kiy with CAT tourniquet: https://amzn.to/42zGvSq
Quikclot bandage, First Aid bandage, rolled splint: https://amzn.to/2VbgcAb
Recon Tourniquet: https://amzn.to/2Lzt1jt
RunningSnail Solar Crank NOAA Weather Radio for Emergency: https://amzn.to/2Hf3JWX
Licorne Solar Charger 36,800 mAh. https://amzn.to/3wN6uJe
Emergency rations—2 packs from the following:
Grizzly Gear: https://amzn.to/2Lzqk1l
ERbar: https://amzn.to/2SfllW4
DaTrex 3600: https://amzn.to/2LzqtBV
Poncho: https://amzn.to/2CxAY5G
Water Purification Tablets: https://amzn.to/2TJ1AYF
Water 6 bottles (500ml) or Datrex Emergency Survival Water Pouches (24 packs of 125ml): https://amzn.to/2ZdJY88
4 Gallon Portable Water Container with Spigot, Water Storage Camp Water Jug for Camping Outdoor Hiking 15L https://amzn.to/3Lxqabf
Compressible water containers: https://amzn.to/2Lzj1qC
Katadyn Water filter: https://amzn.to/2V7PIjb
Water purifying tablets: https://amzn.to/2LAqndh
Sawyer Products Squeeze Water Filter: https://amzn.to/3Cra9Om
Lifestraw: https://amzn.to/2V8udyM
Bottle Bright Bottle Cleaning and Disinfecting tablets: https://amzn.to/3OOCAhi
550/parachute cord: https://amzn.to/2CxSneD
Stormproof lighters: https://amzn.to/2Cv8yt7
Windproof matches: https://amzn.to/2SkR2x9
Waterproof Lighter USB Plasma with flashlight: https://amzn.to/3iN2luB
Portable stove and fuel: https://amzn.to/2Lzj59Q
OdoLand 6 pcs Cookware mess kit and stove: https://amzn.to/2GxjXh7
Fuel for stove, GasOne Camping Fuel: https://amzn.to/3lykCgP
Mylar survival blanket: https://amzn.to/42zPq6K
Emergency bivy sack: https://amzn.to/2IebWy0
550/parachute cord: https://amzn.to/2CxSneD
Sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest Prolite: https://amzn.to/2VbWKUf
Battery powered headlamp: https://amzn.to/2RdecZk
Survival whistle: https://amzn.to/3ph41p4
Signal Mirror: https://amzn.to/2BGKOAy
VS-17 signal panel: https://amzn.to/2Sqqzyz
Folding Saw: https://amzn.to/2LwcHQF
Fishing Kit: https://amzn.to/2BC36TK
Redneck Convent Versatile Snare Wire: https://amzn.to/2Lwd6Tb
SOG Tomahawk Survival axe, also is a weapon: https://amzn.to/2BDuAbv
SOG SOGFari Machete (per Area Study): https://amzn.to/2CxTgE4
Collapsible Snow Shovel (based on Area Study): https://amzn.to/2rWOKc9
Pocket chainsaw: https://amzn.to/2BI7YqC
Compass: https://amzn.to/2GAOycI
Assorted zip ties along with Handcuff zip ties: https://amzn.to/2Rdar61
Rand McNally Road Atlas. https://amzn.to/36IVqA9
National Geographic Maps: http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads
USGS Maps: http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/
Get a waterproof map case to put your topo maps in, with dummy cord. https://amzn.to/34yYE6N
Katadyn Water Microfilter: https://amzn.to/30UAvGz
Platypus Gravitywork High Capacity Water Filter: https://amzn.to/36N18Bi
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter: https://amzn.to/2V4uUJf
Watch cap: https://amzn.to/2LvL5uX
Boonie Hat: https://amzn.to/2QKgI9X
Poncho: https://amzn.to/2LvsWx8
Blanket and Go Time Life Bivy Emergency Sleeping Bag: https://amzn.to/2IebWy0
Large, Heavy Duty Tarp: https://amzn.to/3nxMZxw
FIRE: starting and protection
Storm proof lighters ( least 1 each home, GnG, car) https://amzn.to/2Cv8yt7
Waterproof Lighter USB Plasma with flashlight: https://amzn.to/3iN2luB
Storm proof matches (GnG, home): https://amzn.to/2V5tEWe
Emergency ladder in all bedrooms above the first floor sufficient to reach the ground from a window.
First Alert 2-Story Escape Ladder: https://amzn.to/2V65M4Z
First Alert 3-Story Escape Ladder: https://amzn.to/2SdhatX
CAR
Pre-packaged Roadside emergency kit (shown below and check the site to see what it holds. This contains some of the items below) https://amzn.to/2CylcaV
Fire extinguisher: https://amzn.to/2V4u8fz
Reflective warning triangles: https://amzn.to/3di51PF
Red Warning Flasher: https://amzn.to/31Y3rfd
Blanket and Emergency bivy sack: https://amzn.to/2IebWy0
Life Hammer: https://amzn.to/2A8HL4r
Collapsible Snow Shovel (based on Area Study): https://amzn.to/2rWOKc9
GoTreads Emergency Traction: https://amzn.to/2ShCnCV
Poncho: https://amzn.to/2LvsWx8
Road side flashing lights: https://amzn.to/2CF8nvt
Battery powered siphon: https://amzn.to/2SegtAI
Multipurpose tool: https://amzn.to/2Lzt3bh
and/or Leatherman Crunch tool: https://amzn.to/2BD3lxR
Emergency Battery Charger/Starter: https://amzn.to/2SGbkDh
Flat tire inflation canister: https://amzn.to/2CvN7s6
Personal Vest:
Blackhawk Omega Crosssdraw Mag Vest: https://amzn.to/2HeET9L
Israeli Battle Dressings: https://amzn.to/2LzJSm6
Survival Knife: https://amzn.to/2LwgGfQ
Compass: https://amzn.to/2GAOycI
Survival and Sustainment Library: Click on title to go to Amazon page.
When Technology Fails: A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability and Surviving the Long Emergency by Matthew Stein. A great resource of information for long term skills.
SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman. Redundant to some information in this book, I have it because of the images of plants and other matter.
Peterson Field Guides put out a series of books about plants. Two keys are:
Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America
Unfortunately those two books aren’t available in eBook and having a plant guide on your cell phone you can easily bring up is very useful. I have:
Wild Edibles: A Practical Guide to Foraging, with Easy Identification of 60 Edible Plants and 67 Recipes by Sergei Boutenko
Basic Fishing: A Beginner’s Guide by Wade Bourne is very useful. Remember, that the Donner Party never even attempted to fish in the nearby lake, even though it had trout in it.
The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signs That Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker is a classic that applies to more than just survival situations.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is a classic story of survival that is great to read with your kids to introduce them to survival situations and information.
The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide by Amy Alton. This is the premier book for survival medicine when a doctor or hospital is not available.
GLADIATOR and JEEP
A JCR half rack on top of the cab https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/JTRK.html
JCR full-bed rack. https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/JTBR.html
Swingcase truck storage. https://amzn.to/3PIHYj1
5 inch vinyl fencepost: https://amzn.to/3zlPVW0
Smittybilt Seat Cover. https://amzn.to/3PCyCWg
Rotopax. https://amzn.to/3IRZOOt
Tyger shovel. https://amzn.to/3cvD6Qa
Battery Booster. https://amzn.to/3v2dbpG
3 inch memory foam camping mattress: https://amzn.to/3aX9omE
46″ hose carriers. https://amzn.to/3PIsYSq
Spot X Satellite Messenger. https://amzn.to/3cvDDl8
Solar:
Licorne Solar Charger 36,800 mAh. https://amzn.to/3wN6uJe
Yeti 500: https://amzn.to/3HEQaQG
Rechargeable deep cycle battery: https://amzn.to/3PAogak
Sign up for my newsletter to get the latest once we find out the publication schedule for these three completed novels.
Lavender’s Blue
Would it kill you to go home and see your mother?
The last place Liz Danger wants to be is back in her insane hometown, Burney, Ohio. She’s been gone fifteen years and that suits her fine. But it’s her mother’s birthday, and Burney is on the way to her next ghostwriting gig, and her family heritage of guilt is gnawing at her, so she decides to make one quick stop in her past, and then beat feet back to a guilt-free future.
After eight years as an Army Ranger and six years in the NYPD, Vince Cooper is looking for some peace in his next job. He picks the small, quiet, Burney police force, and everything seems fine for the first six months he’s there. Right up to the day he pulls Liz Danger over for some missing lug nuts.
The next week finds Liz and Vince dealing with insane relatives (hers), a simple job that’s suddenly complicated (his), thirty-seven t-shirts, great burgers, three-hundred-and-ninety-three teddy bears, a miserable wedding, three one-night stands, murder, and one neurotic dachshund. As the hits keep coming, the only safe place Liz and Vince have is each other. And that’s a danger all in its own.
Lavender’s Blue: You can go home again, you just can’t leave.
Followed by Rest in Pink and One in Vermillion
And we’re now well into working on a new trilogy of books. Think of the movie RED set in the Appalachians where a small community is full of ex-spies and covert operatives. The first is tentatively titled Rocky Start. They’ll feature Rose Malone and Max Reddy in the town of Rocky Start in the midst of the Smoky Mountains. Rose runs Ozzie’s Oddities and Max is through hiking the Appalachian Trail when their paths collide.
Add in a former KGB officer nursing a 30-year-old grievance, stolen treasure, hidden cash, a former CIA case officer now running a group of mercenaries, a fueding and armed married couple who run the competing post office, preparing for a Viking funeral and Rose and Max have their hands full of trouble. And each other.
The bestselling Little Black Book series on a variety of topics that enlighten and entertain. All in Kindle Unlimited
Bob’s Latest Thoughts & Ramblings
Summer Sales and More From Bob Mayer
As usual, the first of the month brings a plethora (Yes, I know what the word means) of free and discounted books. Free today only: The Green Beret Pocket Sized Survival Guide Life’s Little Black Book Free: Atlantis Eyes of the Hammer Duty Discounted: The first two...
How AI Will Cripple Authors’ Livelihood versus the Uncanny Valley Something lost in all the talk of ChapGPT, Bard and the newer programs focused specifically on writing fiction is that they all violate copyright law. AI isn’t generating original work, it’s taking work...
It’s Not The Heat, It’s The Humidity.
Understanding Wet Bulb Temperature and Its Dangerous Implications I saw Wet Bulb temperature used in a science fiction short film and decided to investigate further because we tend to say “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” a lot. Well, how exactly? Climate change...
