Mike Befeler's Blog, page 3
April 10, 2025
Library Events
I enjoy library events and will be speaking at twolibraries in May: the Agoura Hills Library on Saturday May 17 at 1 PM and theVilla Park Library at 2 PM on Saturday May 24.
April 3, 2025
Rereading My Published Books
I have a reading project. I decided to reread some of myoriginally published books beginning with the six books in the Paul JacobsonGeezer-lit Mystery Series. So far, I’ve read eight books out of my 23 publishedbooks. It was an enjoyable exercise to reacquaint myself with characters fromthese earlier books.
March 27, 2025
An Enjoyable Left Coast Crime Conference
Last Wednesday through Sunday I participated in theLeft Coast Crime Conference in Denver. On Thursday I pitched to 18 tables ofreaders about my 3 most recent mystery novels: Murder in the MuseoKircheriano, A Mystery Yarn and The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes.On Friday I moderated the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, introducing 15 debutmystery authors. On Saturday I was on the Senior Sleuth panel.
It was greatcatching up with old friends and making new ones. Here are fellow authors published through Encircle Publications: Curt Wendelboe, Cathy Dilts and B.J. Magnani.
March 13, 2025
Left Coast Crime Conference
I will be participating in Author Speed Dating todayat the Left Coast Crime Conference in Denver. I’ll be teaming with fellowauthor Tom Farrell for each of us to give two-minute pitches as we move fromtable to table.
March 6, 2025
Left Coast Crime Conference
I’ll be attending the Left Coast Crime Conference inDenver and will be on the Senior Sleuth Panel. Here’s info about it:
February 27, 2025
Writing Characters of Different Ages
Many of my mystery novels feature older characters andare affectionately called geezer-lit mysteries. Even in these, I often havegrandkids who play a role in the story. My latest book, The Adventures of SureLuck Holmes, features a fifth-grade amateur detective with many of the SherlockHolmes tropes.
February 20, 2025
Senior Sleuth Panel at the Left Coast Crime Conference
I will be on the Senior Sleuth Panel at the Left CoastCrime Conference in Denver.
Day & time: Saturday March 15, 10:15 AM -11:00 AM
Moderator: Elizabeth Crowens
Panelists:
Mike Befeler
JanetFinsilver
Julie A.Hennrikus
EllenKirschman
February 13, 2025
Speaking at Libraries
I enjoy participating in library events. I willbe on a panel at the Agoura Hills Library on Saturday May 17 at 1 PM, and Iwill be speaking at the Villa Park Library in Orange County, CA, at 2 PM onSaturday May 24.
February 6, 2025
Pickleball and Mystery Novels
It’s often said to write about what you know. It’salso important to write about something that interests you. I playedcompetitive tennis as a boy and in college, but over time with aging joints Iconverted over to pickleball with its smaller court. The combination of myinterest in racquet/paddle sports and mystery novels led me to the publicationof my pickleball mystery, Paradise Court. It is set in Maui where theprotagonist makes two discoveries: a pickleball court and a dead body. Thingsgo down hill from there.
January 30, 2025
Eighteenth Anniversary of My First Published Novel, Retirement Homes Are Murder
This month is the eighteenth anniversary of therelease of my first published mystery novel, Retirement Homes Are Murder. Imagine yourself wakingup in a retirement home, not remembering anything from the day before and beingaccused of murder. Or consider a maleMiss Marple enmeshed in a light-hearted Memento.
When crotchety octogenarian Paul Jacobsondiscovers a body wedged in a retirement home trash chute, he must become anamateur sleuth to clear himself as a murder suspect while struggling with theproblems of his short-term memory loss and being stuck living with a bunch ofold people. As Paul’s snooping gets himin trouble with the local police and the retirement home administration, hemeets eccentric residents, develops a new friendship, experiences the quirks ofold age romance and must face his biggest fear in order to escape from amurderer intent upon a repeat performance.
I’m available to give presentations to serviceorganizations, libraries and book groups.
Retirement Homes Are Murder is available in print, e-book and audio book editions:
e-book box set first four books of PaulJacobson series: BoxSet: Retirement Homes Are Murder, Living with Your Kids Is Murder, SeniorMoments Are Murder, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder (Paul JacobsonGeezer-lit Mystery Series Book 1) - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Mystery,Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
