This square design has a variegated background of green, yellow, turquoise, and peach, echoing colors in the three book covers (titles noted below) on which the design centers. Above the book covers it says, “The XK9 “Bones” Trilogy.” Below the book covers it says, What’s Bred in the Bone cover art ©2019 by Jody A. Lee. A Bone to Pick cover art ©2020 by Jody A. Lee. Bone of Contention cover art ©2024 by Tom Kidd.”
The XK9 “Bones” Trilogy

The XK9 “Bones” Trilogy

A square image with a variegated background shows the covers of the three books of the XK9 “Bones” Trilogy by Jan S. Gephardt, grouped around the words, “The Trilogy is COMPLETE!” Words next to each cover, L-R top row say, “Book 1: ‘What’s Bred in the Bone,’ cover ©2019 by Jody A. Lee” and “Book 2: ‘A Bone to Pick,’ cover ©2020 by Jody A. Lee.” Below and slightly off-center is “Book 3: ‘Bone of Contention,’ cover art © by Tom Kidd.” By each of the three books is a QR Code that takes readers to the relevant book page on Weird Sisters Publishing. Also next to “Bone of Contention” is a yellow, 7-pointed star on which the words say, “Pre-Order BONE OF CONTENTION in the USA NOW! Available Sept. 24, 2024.”

The XK9 “Bones” Trilogy answers the question:

Can a pack of uplifted police dogs find a home among the stars . . . or will their creators hound them to extinction?

The XK9s are super-smart dogs, bio-engineered and cyber-enhanced to be cutting edge law enforcement tools. But do smart and verbal equal uplifted sapient beings? In the star systems of the Alliance of the Peoples, that’s a legal distinction with potentially deadly consequences for XK9 Rex and his Pack of canine super-sleuths.

When Rex, his Pack, and their human allies on Rana Habitat Space Station tackle a grisly mass-murder case, more than an interstellar pleasure ship blows wide open. Now the people behind the XK9 Project, and their sponsors in the system-dominating Transmondian government, are desperate. They’ll do all they can to erase the evidence of their international conspiracy, before inspectors from the powerful Alliance of the Peoples can investigate.

Will Rex and his Pack run down the perps and defend their sapience claim? Or will their enemies destroy them?

This rectangular header image shows 3D mockups of the “What’s Bred in the Bone” cover. The one on the left shows it as an ebook on a black tablet. On the right, the book appears as a fat trade paperback. Background is an abstract design of turquoise, blue, and gray, echoing the predominant colors in the cover painting. Below the two mockups it says, “Cover art ©2019 by Jody A. Lee.”
Cover art ©2019 by Jody A. Lee.

What’s Bred in the Bone

Why teach a dog to speak if no one will listen to him?

XK9 Rex was bio-engineered and cyber-enhanced to be the most capable police dog money could buy. He even has a collar-mounted vocalizer. But then a catastrophic explosion on a space dock sidelines his human partner . . . Read More

This rectangular header image shows 3D mockups of the “A Bone to Pick” cover. The one on the left shows it as an ebook on a black tablet. On the right, the book appears as a fat trade paperback. Background is an abstract design of turquoise, blue, and gray, complementing the cover painting. Below the two mockups it says, “Cover art ©2020 by Jody A. Lee.”
Cover art ©2020 by Jody A. Lee.

A Bone to Pick

Too valuable to kill? Oh, but that was then.

XK9 Rex was bio-engineered and cyber-enhanced to be the most perfect law enforcement canine ever created. Transmondian spymaster Col. Wisniewski thought he could turn him into the most perfect weapon, but Rex had other plans . . . Read More

On a variegated green background, we see two 3D versions of the book “Bone of Contention.” One is an ebook with a black frame. The other is a fat trade paperback. On each, the words of the cover, from top to bottom, say: “’The XK9s prove irresistible’ – Kirkus Reviews, of “What’s Bred in the Bone.” Bone of Contention. Jan S. Gephardt.” In the upper left corner among the leaves and fruits of an orange tree, a round symbol shows the series “Leaping Star-Dog” logo, with the markings “3” and “XK9s.” The cover painting shows the odd perspective inside a toroid space station’s habitat wheel, with green, terraced hills and a winding river running through the center. In the foreground, under an orange tree, is the entrance to the Orangeboro Police Department, with a golden, 7-pointed star-badge emblem on the portico. Atop and behind the emblem crouches an odd, gray being. Below, XK9s Shady, a black sable, and Rex, pure black, leap down the mosaic-textured steps in their harnesses and panniers, ready to run. Behind them their human partners, wearing police uniforms follow them at a run. Charlie is a tall Black man. Pam is a petite Latina with long dark hair. Below the two books, it says, “Cover art ©2024 by Tom Kidd.
Cover art © 2024 by Tom Kidd.

Bone of Contention

Dogs are people too! . . . Right?

XK9 Rex and his Packmates are bio-engineered and cyber-enhanced dogs, created to be the most perfect law enforcement tools ever made. They’re so smart, Rana Station has officially recognized them as uplifted sapient beings. But the rest of the universe isn’t so sure . . . Read More

A Quick Link to Our Bookshop Page

Find all of our paperbacks on our Bookshop page! (Go to individual book pages for other options).

This long, narrow rectangular banner was designed for the Weird Sisters Publishing Bookshop page. At far left on a white background is the Weird Sisters logo. Next to that, against a mottled blue, turquoise, and white background the words WEIRD SISTERS PUBLISHING run above tiny images of five book covers: those for The Other Side of Fear, What's Bred in the Bone, A Bone to Pick, and Bone of Contention, all by Jan S. Gephardt; and Deep Ellum Duet, by G. S. Norwood.
L-R, Covers are © by Lucy A. Synk, Jody A. Lee, Tom Kidd, and Chaz Kemp. “Nebula” background ©2022 by Chaz Kemp.
This square promotional image shows a happy dog offering a play-bow to the viewer. Across the top of the picture the words say, "Join the Pack!" To the upper right of the dog is an ebook titled "The Other Side of Fear." Across the bottom of that image it says, "FREE prequel novella." in the middle of the design, next to the dog, we see eleven small ebooks. above them the words say, "FREE Monthly Downloads." Below that, it says, "Jan S. Gephardt's Monthly XK9 News," and "First looks at XK9 art." Tucked behind the dog's forepaw is the Facebook logo with the words "Online Fan Forum." In the lower left corner is a QR code labeled "Newsletter" with "Subscribe Today!" next to it.

Want more XK9s?

Subscribe to Jan’s Monthly Newsletter. Each issue offers inside glimpses, art ,and updates, plus FREE Featured Fiction Downloads. Get her highly ranked prequel novella! The Other Side of Fear comes FREE as an ebook when you sign up. As one reviewer put it:

If you aren’t a subscriber, this author has a great mailing list. Worth looking into for a peek at the process of bringing this world and its characters to life.

–Unsolicited Review from a Reader in Canada.

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