Mike Befeler's Blog, page 11

Men of Mystery

One of my favorite eventsis the annual Men of Mystery one-day conference. This year 31 authors will giveone-minute presentations along with guest speakers, lunch and a book signing.It will take place on Saturday, November 4, at the Grand in Long Beach, CA.

Readers Panel at Bouchercon

Being an author, one ofmy favorite panels at the Bouchercon mystery conference is the Readers Panel.Most of the panels feature authors, but I like hearing readers’ experiences,likes, dislikes and recommendations. This panel featured Kat Tromp, John ThomasBychowski, Grace Kashida, Nikki Bonanni and Dru Ann Love. Some of the panelistsread hundreds of books a year.

Senior Sleuth Panel at Bouchercon

We had a great turnout for the SeniorSleuth panel at Bouchercon in San Diego. In preparation I tried an experiment:I went on ChatGPT and typed in “senior sleuth jokes.” The AI search enginereturned with nine jokes. I used two of them on the panel:

1.    Why did the retired detective become agardener? Because they wanted to keep digging up the truth, one plot at a time!

2.    Why did the old detective prefer solvingcrimes during the winter? Because they could always rely on cold cases to keepthem busy!

Two observations:

1.    ChatGPT wants to be gender neutral.

2.    It likes explanation points.

Here’s a picture of me with the panel members Steph Broadribb, Ellen Kirschman, Lisa Q.Mathews and Anna St. John. 

Mystery Conferences

I have regularly been going to Left CoastCrime, a conference for mystery authors and mystery fans. I have also attendedMalice Domestic several times and Bouchercon a few times. Bouchercon is thelargest of the mystery conferences and is going on in San Diego right now. It typicallyhas over a thousand attendees.

Historical Mystery Novel

I’m now in the editingphase with Mystic Publishers for my historical mystery novel, Murder in theMuseo Kircheriano. It’s scheduled to be published March 5, 2024.

 

Strange circumstances surrounding a dead body found inFather Athanasius Kircher’s museum of unusual artifacts in Rome in 1656 lead toa web of intrigue involving a mysterious nephews circle. Using his eclectic andeccentric skills, Athanasius Kircher, known as “thelast man to know everything,” teams up with Queen Christina of Sweden, one ofthe most powerful women in Europe, to solve the mysterious death.

Mystery Ink Bookstore Presentation and Signing

I’ll begiving a presentation about the gift of being an author at the Mystery InkBookstore this coming Saturday, August 19, at 1 PM (Fernhill Clubhouse 5472Diamond Dr, Huntington Beach, CA). I will also be signing the second book in the Ominipodge Trilogy, Last Gasp Motel. 

 

Presentations

Whenever oneof my books is published, I develop a new presentation to give at book events.This way people who have asked me to speak or who have listened to me speak beforewill hear new material. With the recent release of Last Gasp Motel, mynew presentation is about the gift of being an author: my experience writingabout quirky characters and meeting interesting people at mystery conferencesand book events.

Author Speed Dating at Bouchercon 2023

As I’vementioned before, I’ll be participating in Author Speed Dating at Bouchercon2023 in San Diego on Friday, Sept. 1 at 11:35 AM. For those of you not familiarwith this event, I tag team with another author and we go table-to-table eachgiving a two-minute pitch about our latest books. We take turns giving thepresentations and then move on to the next table. By the end of the session, wecould give each other’s talks. I always give out postcards about my books aswell. It’s a good way to expose readers to our books.

More about Bouchercon 2023

I will bemoderating the panel: Senior Sleuths: Never Too Old for a Mystery on WednesdayAugust 30 at 4:30 pm. Panelists include Anna St John with a retired crimereporter sleuth, Ellen Kirschman with a psychologist sleuth, Steph Broadribb witha retired detective club and Lisa Q. Mathews with senior living community sleuthDorothy Westin and her young sidekick Summer Smyth.

Bouchercon 2023

I’ll be attending the Bouchercon mysteryconference Aug. 30 – Sept. 3 in San Diego. I’ll be moderating the Senior Sleuthpanel at 4:30 pm on Wednesday Sept. 30 and participating in Author Speed datingon Friday Sept 1 at 11:35 am.