Mike Befeler's Blog, page 15
December 22, 2022
Contract for Historical Mystery Novel
I’m pleased to announce that I’ve signed a contract with Mystic Publishers for my historical mystery novel, Murder in the Museo Kircheriano (working title).
Strange circumstances surrounding a dead body found in Father Athanasius Kircher’s museum of unusual artifacts in Rome in 1656 lead to a web of intrigue involving a mysterious nephews circle. Using his eclectic and eccentric skills, Athanasius Kircher, known as “the last man to know everything,” teams up with Queen Christina of Sweden, one of the most powerful women in Europe, to solve the mysterious death.
December 19, 2022
Tenth Anniversary of Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder
Today is the tenth anniversary of the release of the fourth book in my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder. Cantankerous octogenarian Paul Jacobson becomes involved in a series of crimes while struggling with the problems of his short-term memory loss. On an Alaskan cruise, he must deal with mayhem, missing people and murder and use all his geezer resources to solve a case of international intrigue.
What others say about Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder:
“Befeler's fourth series entry is enjoyable for the scenery, the observations about cruise ship operations, and the Agatha Christie-like summation.”—Library Journal
“The murder keeps you guessing, and the subject of memory loss is sensitively treated.”—Kirkus Review
“Lively fourth mystery featuring octogenarian Paul Jacobson. The story’s endearing zaniness keeps boredom at bay.”—Publishers Weekly
“Take a geezer on an Alaskan honeymoon cruise, stir in a few dead bodies, sprinkle with icebergs, and you have the makings for a fabulous mystery romp in Mike Befeler's Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder. Laugh out loud funny with quirky characters galore.”—Joan Johnston New York Times and USA TODAYBestselling author
Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder was a finalist for The Lefty Award for best humorous mystery of 2012.
Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder is available in print, e-book and audio book editions:
e-book box set first four books of Paul Jacobson series: Box Set: Retirement Homes Are Murder, Living with Your Kids Is Murder, Senior Moments Are Murder, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder (Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series Book 1) - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
December 15, 2022
Christmas story for the whole family: The Jolly Effect
This is a reminder about my daughter's Christmas book, The Jolly Effect.
‘Twas twenty days before Christmas, when all through the house everything was stirring, including a computer mouse. Even though nobody was home!
Something jolly and magical is causing Christmas decorations to spring to life. Which is nothing unusual for them until they discover a decoration from another holiday. Suddenly, everything is in question. What exactly is it that powers the decorations to awaken? Do they themselves have this power? Can they even stay awake until Christmas? Will the crotchety old nutcracker ruin the fun? Will Ugly Sweater ever stop singing her holiday opera?
This book is a whimsical journey into the heart, soul and magic of that elusive holiday spirit. Get ready to share the Jolly Effect.
The Jolly Effect is available in a print edition https://amzn.to/33npmQ0 and an e-book edition https://amzn.to/3meWmBt.For more information go to https://lbefeler9.wixsite.com/author
About the Author:
When not putting up or taking down holiday decorations with her son, Laura Befeler can be found dreaming up new book ideas and working at one ad agency or another. Originally from Boulder, CO, she misses the chance to wake up to a white Christmas. She now lives in a festive little house in Southern California, which currently has decorations up from two holidays ago.
About the Illustrators:
Asher and Kasey Befeler were both born and raised in Iowa, where Christmas is at least cold, if not white. Kasey works as a graphic artist and Asher has been a natural artist for as long as his aunt can remember. In addition to drawing, Asher loves fishing (and going on family trips to Southern California). He is currently in the 10th grade.
December 8, 2022
Kids and Jokes
I have several books and a calendar with a joke-a-day with what I call dumb dad jokes. These are jokes we dads tell to our kids and grandkids to make them groan. Recently, our seven-year-old grandson picked up the calendar and started reading the jokes to us. This is an extension of my last post that he has begun reading things to us. In addition to the reading, he has a good sense of humor and gets most of the jokes.
December 1, 2022
Young Readers
Our seven-year-old grandson has become excited about reading. We’ve read to him for years, but now he is reading his favorite books to me. He’s currently reading Dogman books that have humorous names of classic books such as Fetch 22, Brawl of the Wild and Mothering Heights. These are kids’ graphic novels with lots of humor. Not only is he reading, but he is reading with expression appropriate for what the characters are saying. I can identify. I was a reluctant reader as a boy. One day I was messing around in the school library, and the librarian asked what I was interested in. I replied, “Baseball.” She led me to a section with baseball stories, and I got hooked on reading.
November 24, 2022
Geezer Jokes
In the fifth book of the Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, Care Homes Are Murder, Paul and his twelve-year-old granddaughter Jennifer tell each other politically incorrect geezer jokes. Paul’s daughter-in-law (Jennifer’s mom) disapproves of this activity so Paul and Jennifer sneak off to tell these jokes to each other. Here’s a sample of these very sophisticated jokes:
- Why didn’t the geezer cross the road? Because he was no longer a spring chicken.
- A doctor, a lawyer and a geezer take a walk together. They start talking about the most important things they could do. The doctor said, “I’d like to cure cancer.” The lawyer nodded and added, “That’s important. I’d like to prove the innocence of all people wrongly jailed.” The geezer looked at the other two and said, “I’d like to find a restroom.”
- What’s the difference between a leprechaun and a geezer? One has a pot of gold and the other is a pot of old.
- What’s the difference between a geezer and the Easter bunny? A geezer has fuzzier ears.
- Why didn’t the geezer vampire bite the young woman’s throat? Because he forgot his false fangs.
- How old do you have to be to be a geezer? You’re a geezer when you’re too old to take advice but still young enough to give it.
- You know you’re a geezer when you spend more time trimming hair from your nose and your ears than the top of your head.
- You know you’re a geezer when you wake up in the morning and something hurts but you have no clue what caused it.
- You know you’re a geezer when you keep telling the same story over and over again, but people your age don’t notice any difference.
- You know you’re a geezer when the highlight of your day is taking a nap.
- And you know you’re a geezer when the small print really is.
- You know you’re a geezer when it’s easier to pop your joints than a pop top.
- You know you’re a geezer if the mortician offers you a senior discount.
November 18, 2022
Anniversary of My First Novel Contract
Seventeen years ago, I signed a contract for my first published novel, Retirement Homes Are Murder. After many rejections, I became an author. This novel was published in 2007, the first of my nineteen published books.
November 10, 2022
Mystery Conferences
Mystery conferences are gatherings of mystery readers and mystery authors. Last Saturday, I attended Men of Mystery, a one-day event with several hundred attendees including over 30 mystery authors. It was an enjoyable day of chatting with old friends and new. I’ve attended this event since 2009. In March, I’ll be going to the Left Coast Crime Conference in Tucson. This typically has 300 to 500 attendees over a four-day period. I first went to this conference in 2007. Then the biggest one of them all: Bouchercon. I’ll be in San Diego for this at the end of August, my fourth Bouchercon. This can have as many as 1500 to 2000 attendees. It’s good to be back to in-person events again.
November 3, 2022
Halloween
We had a busy Halloween night. Our grandson and daughter came over for dinner, and then then went to a carnival at the park near us. Our grandson trick-or-treated in his Minecraft costume and then returned to give out candy at our house (he enjoys doing this). Given our proximity to the park carnival, we had 282 trick-or-treaters. We had just enough candy to get through the evening.
October 27, 2022
SinC into Great Writing
I’ll be on a Sisters in Crime zoom panel along with Rae James and moderator Michelle Richter on Saturday, October 29, at 10:30 AM Pacific time. I’m a sibling in crime and have been a member of SinC for over ten years. Our panel will be discussing alternative ways to make money from our published mystery novels. Specifically, I’ll be speaking about audio books in addition to print and e-book editions.
Date: Saturday, October 29
Whole Event Time: Noon-4pm ET/ 9am-1pm PT
Panel Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm ET/ 10:30am-11:30am PT
Panel Name: Get Paid: Try Different Ways of Making Money
You can register here: https://www.sistersincrime.org/events...
