Mike Befeler's Blog, page 2

Summer Activities with Our Grandson

With the school year over, I’m enjoyingactivities with our grandson. He has the role of Uncle Fester in the AdamsFamily play at the Westminster Playhouse with rehearsals Monday through Thursdayafternoons and performances the last weekend in July and the first weekend in August.During the mornings, so far, we’ve played miniature golf and gone to the beachwith plans to go bowling later this week. This picture is a sand dollar hefound at the beach.

Contracts for Two New Books

I have contracts inplace for the publication of two new books through Mystic Publishers. The firstis The Holiday Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes, the second book in themiddle grade mystery series about a fifth grader who is an amateur sleuth in thefictional Southern California town of Londonberry and narrated by his sidekick,Johanna Watson. The second book is Begotten. Grizzly murders ofrapists by a serial killer decades apart test Detective Arlin Jamison’sperseverance to track down the killer as he uncovers the secret of both his andthe murderer’s heredity.

Writing Different Mystery Sub-genres

Most of my mystery novels are geezer-litmysteries­ featuring older characters. This includes the six book Paul JacobsonGeezer-lit Mystery Series, Death of a Scam Artist, Unstuff Your Stuff,Old Detectives Home and Last Gasp Motel. I also have 3 paranormalmysteries: The VV Agency, The Back Wing and The Front Wing.My two historical mysteries are Murder on the Switzerland Trail and Murderin the Museo Kircheriano. A Mystery Yarn is a cozy mystery, and TheTesla Legacy is modern day thriller based on inventions of Nikola Tesla. Also,I have two sports mysteries: Court Trouble and Paradise Court,and a theater mystery, Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse. Finally, thereis a middle grade mystery, The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes. I haveenjoyed branching out into a variety of mystery stories. www.mikebefeler.com

Library Event

Last Saturday I participatedin an event sponsored by the friends of the Villa Park library along withfellow author Duane Swierczynski.Approximately 35 attendees asked excellent questions, and I enjoyed teaming upwith Duane.

School Open House

This week I went to a school open house with my 9-year-oldgrandson. He showed me all the work he had been doing during the year. The projectsand results were very impressive. His teacher gave him kudos on his writing.

Reading or Speaking at Author Events

When I participate in author events, I prefer to speakabout my writing and experiences rather than reading passages of my books. Whatdo you think?

Challenges in the Publishing World

During my writing career, I’ve had books published bya number of publishers. Unfortunately, some of them went out of business.Fortunately, I’ve got book rights back from all of them, so my 23 books remainin print and e-book editions.

Playing Chess

I pick up my grandson from school each weekday, and hecomes to our house until mom or dad picks him up in the late afternoon. Lately,my grandson and I have been playing chess. He’s getting quite good at it. Iusually win, but he also beats me once in a while. It’s enjoyable to watch himdevelop new skills.

Writing Conferences

I’ll be attending a writing conference in Los Angelesin May. I haven’t attended one of this in a number of years. When I lived inColorado, I went annually to the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference. Itwas through this conference and a pitch session that I sold my first book,Retirement Homes Are Murder.

Trend in Modern Mystery Novels

I’ve notice that a number of modern mystery novelshave multiple points of view and bounce back and forth between different timeperiods. What do you think of this?