Mike Befeler's Blog, page 37
September 6, 2018
Upcoming Mystery Novel
My next mystery novel, Unstuff Your Stuff, will be released by Encircle Publications in October, 2018. It’s always an exciting time when a new book comes out. Along with the release of this novel, I will develop a new presentation to give at book stores, service organizations and libraries.
This mystery features a female protagonist. Here’s a snapshot: In Unstuff Your Stuff, 68-year-old Millicent Hargrove must deal with the murder of her husband as she begins her new life as a widow and professional organizer. She escapes attempts on her own life and figures out the mystery of the cryptic messages left by her husband. She discovers how to organize people’s stuff while sorting through the clutter from the secret life her husband led.
This book takes place in Boulder, CO, where my wife and I used to live. In doing research for the book, I had an opportunity to tag along with two professional organizers and experience the needed service they provided.
This mystery features a female protagonist. Here’s a snapshot: In Unstuff Your Stuff, 68-year-old Millicent Hargrove must deal with the murder of her husband as she begins her new life as a widow and professional organizer. She escapes attempts on her own life and figures out the mystery of the cryptic messages left by her husband. She discovers how to organize people’s stuff while sorting through the clutter from the secret life her husband led.
This book takes place in Boulder, CO, where my wife and I used to live. In doing research for the book, I had an opportunity to tag along with two professional organizers and experience the needed service they provided.
August 31, 2018
A New School Year
Some kids hate going back to school and others look forward to it. I remember it being an exciting time to see school friends again, meet new teachers and have an opportunity to learn new things. I also had a feeling of trepidation on entering the unknown.
For us this is a milestone year. Our first grandchild is going off to college.
For us this is a milestone year. Our first grandchild is going off to college.
August 23, 2018
Indoor Playground
In our community, there is an indoor playground facility. On hot days, this is an ideal place for our three-year-old grandson to play. His favorite activity is a ball pit, where he can jump into a mass of plastic balls. They also provide plenty of places for grandparents to sit while the grandkids romp and have fun.
This is an excellent break for me from writing as I can enjoy his excitement as he plays.
This is an excellent break for me from writing as I can enjoy his excitement as he plays.
August 16, 2018
Speaking at Service Organizations
I enjoy speaking at service organizations such as Kiwanis, Optimist and Rotary clubs. These organizations provide needed services in their communities, and the club members are enthusiastic about helping in their cities.
I recently gave two presentations and have two more scheduled within the next few weeks. The typical meeting includes a meal, organizational business and then the guest speaker. I plan a twenty minute talk followed by about ten minutes for questions and answers. My current presentation is titled “Becoming an Author Has No Expiration Date” about my experience starting to write later in life and writing about older characters.
Many members of service organizations are older and appreciate my humorous and entertaining presentation.
Service organizations do have a challenge. Their members are aging, and some clubs have difficulty recruiting younger members. Some of this is understandable since many younger people are consumed with jobs and raising families. With retirement comes more time to dedicate to volunteer activities. But there is another symptom. I read an interesting book a number of years ago called “Bowling Alone.” The premise was that people are doing more things in isolation rather than in community. We can see this also in the obsession with smart phones rather than engaging with other people in person. Declining service clubs membership numbers may also be attributed to this factor.
I hope we see a reversal in this decline. These are excellent organizations, provide needed services and are full of outstanding people.
I recently gave two presentations and have two more scheduled within the next few weeks. The typical meeting includes a meal, organizational business and then the guest speaker. I plan a twenty minute talk followed by about ten minutes for questions and answers. My current presentation is titled “Becoming an Author Has No Expiration Date” about my experience starting to write later in life and writing about older characters.
Many members of service organizations are older and appreciate my humorous and entertaining presentation.
Service organizations do have a challenge. Their members are aging, and some clubs have difficulty recruiting younger members. Some of this is understandable since many younger people are consumed with jobs and raising families. With retirement comes more time to dedicate to volunteer activities. But there is another symptom. I read an interesting book a number of years ago called “Bowling Alone.” The premise was that people are doing more things in isolation rather than in community. We can see this also in the obsession with smart phones rather than engaging with other people in person. Declining service clubs membership numbers may also be attributed to this factor.
I hope we see a reversal in this decline. These are excellent organizations, provide needed services and are full of outstanding people.
August 9, 2018
A New Publishing Contract
I have just signed a contract with Encircle Publications for the publication of the sequel to my sports mystery, Court Trouble. The new book is titled, Paradise Court, A Pickleball Mystery. It features the sport of pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the country. I played competitive tennis as a kid and in college and later in life switched over to platform tennis (the sport featured in Court Trouble) when living in Colorado. When my wife and I moved to Southern California three years ago, I switched once again to pickleball. For those of you not familiar with pickleball, it’s played with a paddle and a wiffle ball on a small court.
Paradise Court takes place on Maui with lots of island intrigue and is scheduled for release in May of 2019.
Paradise Court takes place on Maui with lots of island intrigue and is scheduled for release in May of 2019.
August 2, 2018
A Family Vacation
We just returned from a family vacation. My wife and I, our three kids and their spouses, and our five grandkids ranging from three to eighteen went to Disney’s Aulani on Oahu. It’s like a private water park for hotel guest with water slides, a lazy river, splash pads, pools, hot tubs, a beach, snorkeling, a luau, a Disney character breakfast and many family activities.
My wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary with our close family members. During this trip, I did no writing. Family and relaxing were the whole agenda
My wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary with our close family members. During this trip, I did no writing. Family and relaxing were the whole agenda
July 26, 2018
Location in My Novels
Location plays a key role in my novels. I tend to use real locations (only one of my mystery novels, Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse, has a fictional city although thinly disguised for Boulder, CO).
In my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, books take place in Hawaii, Colorado, California and on an Alaskan cruise. These are all locations I’m familiar with. Since Paul Jacobson is a crime magnet, I move his around to different locations so that he doesn’t decimate the population in any one locale.
In my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, books take place in Hawaii, Colorado, California and on an Alaskan cruise. These are all locations I’m familiar with. Since Paul Jacobson is a crime magnet, I move his around to different locations so that he doesn’t decimate the population in any one locale.
July 19, 2018
Some of My Favorite Characters in My Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series
I’ve been asked which of the characters in my mystery novels I like most. In my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series there are a number.
First of all is the protagonist, octogenarian Paul Jacobson. He comes across as a curmudgeon but underneath has a heart of gold. In spite of short-term memory loss, he becomes an amateur sleuth and even has a romance with a young chick in her seventies.
Second is Paul’s granddaughter, Jennifer. She helps her grandfather solve crimes, and in later books in the series, they tell each other politically incorrect geezer jokes.
Next is Henry Palmer. Henry is on the autism spectrum, lacks social graces, and has a keen sense of observation. Paul and Henry have a running insult fest.
Finally, introduced in book five of the series, we have Madeline Hightower. She is a force of nature and marries Henry.
All of these characters contribute to the story and have their comedic elements.
First of all is the protagonist, octogenarian Paul Jacobson. He comes across as a curmudgeon but underneath has a heart of gold. In spite of short-term memory loss, he becomes an amateur sleuth and even has a romance with a young chick in her seventies.
Second is Paul’s granddaughter, Jennifer. She helps her grandfather solve crimes, and in later books in the series, they tell each other politically incorrect geezer jokes.
Next is Henry Palmer. Henry is on the autism spectrum, lacks social graces, and has a keen sense of observation. Paul and Henry have a running insult fest.
Finally, introduced in book five of the series, we have Madeline Hightower. She is a force of nature and marries Henry.
All of these characters contribute to the story and have their comedic elements.
July 12, 2018
Writing Quirky Characters
One of the things I enjoy in writing mystery novels is to introduce humorous and quirky secondary characters. They can contribute to solving the mystery, get in the way or provide comic relief.
In my first published novel, Retirement Homes Are Murder, I originally planned to kill off one of these secondary characters. My editor, Deni Dietz, intelligently pointed out that I might want to keep this character around for future books in the series. She was right. Instead, he suffered a heart attack but survived for another day to keep up the banter with my protagonist. Readers liked that this character continued to be present in other books in the series.
Quirky characters sometimes have a life of their own. They appear and then start playing more of a role in the story. This is fine just as long as they don’t usurp the position of the protagonist.
In my first published novel, Retirement Homes Are Murder, I originally planned to kill off one of these secondary characters. My editor, Deni Dietz, intelligently pointed out that I might want to keep this character around for future books in the series. She was right. Instead, he suffered a heart attack but survived for another day to keep up the banter with my protagonist. Readers liked that this character continued to be present in other books in the series.
Quirky characters sometimes have a life of their own. They appear and then start playing more of a role in the story. This is fine just as long as they don’t usurp the position of the protagonist.
July 5, 2018
Writing Humor
I enjoy reading humorous books and writing humor in my mystery novels. Humor fits in well in mysteries because good humor surprises the reader, and mysteries are all about surprises anyway.
I’ve been fortunate to be a finalist twice for The Lefty Award for best humorous mystery. These were two books in the Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, Living with Your Kids Is Murder and Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder.
Along my writing journey, I’ve learned several things about writing humor.
First, you can’t force it. It has to be natural and fit into the story.
Second, certain characters cry out to be humorous. Once they get started, you can’t change them into stodgy types.
Finally, as a writer it’s a true joy when something humorous comes out of my keyboard and causes me to laugh. This keeps me going.
I’ve been fortunate to be a finalist twice for The Lefty Award for best humorous mystery. These were two books in the Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, Living with Your Kids Is Murder and Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder.
Along my writing journey, I’ve learned several things about writing humor.
First, you can’t force it. It has to be natural and fit into the story.
Second, certain characters cry out to be humorous. Once they get started, you can’t change them into stodgy types.
Finally, as a writer it’s a true joy when something humorous comes out of my keyboard and causes me to laugh. This keeps me going.
