Mike Befeler's Blog, page 38
June 28, 2018
Relearning an Old Skill
The saying goes that you never forget how to ride a bicycle. Not so for all skills. I’ve had two experiences in the last six months with relearning old skills.
The first case: tennis. I played competitive tennis as a kid and in college. As I aged and my joints began to suffer from arthritis, I gave up tennis to play similar sports on smaller courts, first platform tennis and most recently pickleball. I learned to play these sports, but I didn’t return to tennis. Recently, I went out to hit some tennis balls with a neighbor. The court seemed huge and the longer racquet presented problems for me. I improved a little over an hour’s time, but realized my skill level was abysmal. To regain a reasonable skill level I would have to really practice.
The second example: juggling. Thirty-five years ago I taught myself to juggle. I got fairly proficient, but then life intervened, and I didn’t continue. Recently, I decided to see if I could still juggle. The answer was a swift, no. Since then I have been practicing. I have been making very slow progress. The muscle memory isn’t there, and I have to revive it. With aging, my timing isn’t what it used to be and I get tired. Still, I’m going to stick with it. I have to see if I can get good enough to entertain my almost three-year-old grandson.
The first case: tennis. I played competitive tennis as a kid and in college. As I aged and my joints began to suffer from arthritis, I gave up tennis to play similar sports on smaller courts, first platform tennis and most recently pickleball. I learned to play these sports, but I didn’t return to tennis. Recently, I went out to hit some tennis balls with a neighbor. The court seemed huge and the longer racquet presented problems for me. I improved a little over an hour’s time, but realized my skill level was abysmal. To regain a reasonable skill level I would have to really practice.
The second example: juggling. Thirty-five years ago I taught myself to juggle. I got fairly proficient, but then life intervened, and I didn’t continue. Recently, I decided to see if I could still juggle. The answer was a swift, no. Since then I have been practicing. I have been making very slow progress. The muscle memory isn’t there, and I have to revive it. With aging, my timing isn’t what it used to be and I get tired. Still, I’m going to stick with it. I have to see if I can get good enough to entertain my almost three-year-old grandson.
June 21, 2018
Author Presentations
Having now been a published novelist for eleven years, I enjoy giving presentations about writing and mystery novels. This wasn’t always the case. As a child, I was shy and even as an adult always placed on the introvert side of the introvert/extrovert scale.
Now I welcome the opportunity to interact with audiences. My presentations include humor as do my books. The question and answer section at the end of the talk is always enjoyable to find what’s on people’s minds and to craft meaningful answers.
I develop a new presentation whenever one of my books is released. My current presentation discusses starting to write late in life and writing about older characters, in conjunction with my latest mystery novel, Death of a Scam Artist.
I’m already collecting ideas for my next presentation, which I will give after my next mystery about a professional organizer, Unstuff Your Stuff, is published in October, 2018.
Now I welcome the opportunity to interact with audiences. My presentations include humor as do my books. The question and answer section at the end of the talk is always enjoyable to find what’s on people’s minds and to craft meaningful answers.
I develop a new presentation whenever one of my books is released. My current presentation discusses starting to write late in life and writing about older characters, in conjunction with my latest mystery novel, Death of a Scam Artist.
I’m already collecting ideas for my next presentation, which I will give after my next mystery about a professional organizer, Unstuff Your Stuff, is published in October, 2018.
June 14, 2018
Writing Short Stories
When I began writing in 2001, I started with short stories. Then I bridged into novels, but I still occasionally write short stories. I’ve had a few published in anthologies along the way, but my main focus has been longer manuscripts.
For a mystery writer there are a number of excellent sources for publishing short stories. These include magazines such as Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Other good sources are anthologies including those published by Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
For a mystery writer there are a number of excellent sources for publishing short stories. These include magazines such as Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Other good sources are anthologies including those published by Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
June 7, 2018
Voting in California’s Open Primary
I had an opportunity to vote for the first time since returning to California in an open primary. In this process, you vote for a candidate in a particular race, and candidates from all parties are lumped together. The top two then go on to the general election in November. The implication is that it’s possible that in November you could be deciding between two Democrats or two Republicans rather than one from each party as results from more traditional primaries.
The other implication in this particular primary was the large number of candidates to decide between. Twenty-seven candidates ran for Governor and thirty-two for US Senator.
It was an interesting experience, but I haven’t decided if this is better or worse than the more traditional approach. What do you think?
The other implication in this particular primary was the large number of candidates to decide between. Twenty-seven candidates ran for Governor and thirty-two for US Senator.
It was an interesting experience, but I haven’t decided if this is better or worse than the more traditional approach. What do you think?
May 31, 2018
Get Out and Vote (or Stay in and Do It Via Mail)
Where I live, it is primary season. I greatly appreciate that I can vote by mail. This gives me a chance to peruse candidate information, do research with the actual ballot in front of me and have the time to fill it in on my schedule.
There are many candidates and many races. I can’t imagine someone going to a voting place unprepared and having to spend the amount of time in front of a voting machine to make these decisions.
Wherever you are and whatever your political persuasion, get out and vote (or stay in and do it via mail).
There are many candidates and many races. I can’t imagine someone going to a voting place unprepared and having to spend the amount of time in front of a voting machine to make these decisions.
Wherever you are and whatever your political persuasion, get out and vote (or stay in and do it via mail).
May 24, 2018
Reading Royalty Statements
One of the constant complaints I hear from fellow authors is how difficult it is to read royalty statements from publishers. I concur.
I have been with one of my publishers for eleven years, and I think I finally can decipher the royalty statement. I think. And this will soon become academic since they are exiting the mystery line so I won’t be publishing any further books with them.
Here are some of the challenges. First, there are up to three different editions for each book (hardcover, large print and e-book), and these are differentiated by a cryptic code. Second, not all of the editions for one book are grouped together on the royalty statement. Third, there is nothing on the statement that allows one to verify royalties earned. You have to know the retail price of the edition and then do the calculation. Fourth, there is a category called unspecified. After much study, I determined this included prior returns.
Over the years, I have caught a number of errors. The publisher did correct these. One time there was an error in my favor, but I never would have found this since it represented an erroneous sales figure, higher than actual. My concern: if this occurred, what’s to say that underreported sales didn’t occur as well? Without invoking an audit provision in the contract, I will never know.
I’m finding that some small publishers are addressing this to make things easier for an author. This is a simple as showing the number of units sold (or returned) by edition, the basis for royalty calculation, percentage paid to author and amount paid to author. The author can then quickly calculate if the royalty is correct.
I have been with one of my publishers for eleven years, and I think I finally can decipher the royalty statement. I think. And this will soon become academic since they are exiting the mystery line so I won’t be publishing any further books with them.
Here are some of the challenges. First, there are up to three different editions for each book (hardcover, large print and e-book), and these are differentiated by a cryptic code. Second, not all of the editions for one book are grouped together on the royalty statement. Third, there is nothing on the statement that allows one to verify royalties earned. You have to know the retail price of the edition and then do the calculation. Fourth, there is a category called unspecified. After much study, I determined this included prior returns.
Over the years, I have caught a number of errors. The publisher did correct these. One time there was an error in my favor, but I never would have found this since it represented an erroneous sales figure, higher than actual. My concern: if this occurred, what’s to say that underreported sales didn’t occur as well? Without invoking an audit provision in the contract, I will never know.
I’m finding that some small publishers are addressing this to make things easier for an author. This is a simple as showing the number of units sold (or returned) by edition, the basis for royalty calculation, percentage paid to author and amount paid to author. The author can then quickly calculate if the royalty is correct.
May 17, 2018
Single Issue Voters
In today’s polarized political environment, I’ve been thinking about single issue voters. These are people who feel so passionate about one issue, that they ignore all other stands taken by candidates and only focus on voting for people who support that one issue.
Some of the topics that seem to drive the single focus include abortion, guns and immigration. Clearly, voters can chose any reason to vote for who they choose. Unfortunately, the world is not black and white, and there are many issues that need to be addressed.
What do you think?
Some of the topics that seem to drive the single focus include abortion, guns and immigration. Clearly, voters can chose any reason to vote for who they choose. Unfortunately, the world is not black and white, and there are many issues that need to be addressed.
What do you think?
May 10, 2018
Author Presentations
I enjoy opportunities to present to groups of readers. Upcoming, I have scheduled two library events, a church group and the Men of Mystery program, in addition to attending The Left Coast Crime Conference next year.
Whenever one of my books comes out, I develop a new presentation so people who have heard me speak before won’t have to listen to a repeat. I currently have a speech I give in conjunction with my most recent mystery novel, Death of a Scam Artist. My next novel, Unstuff Your Stuff, an amateur sleuth mystery, featuring a professional organizer, will be published in October so I will have a new talk then.
Whenever one of my books comes out, I develop a new presentation so people who have heard me speak before won’t have to listen to a repeat. I currently have a speech I give in conjunction with my most recent mystery novel, Death of a Scam Artist. My next novel, Unstuff Your Stuff, an amateur sleuth mystery, featuring a professional organizer, will be published in October so I will have a new talk then.
May 3, 2018
Tribalism in US Politics
There have been several books written lately and a lot of discussion about tribalism in US politics. The symptoms are that many people solidify their positions and then only listen to others with the same viewpoint. I think this is a sad situation. I feel it’s important to share my opinions but to also listen to opposing opinions as well.
We face serious issues including immigration, gun control, climate change, jobs, the economy, education and human rights to name a few. To improve things we must seek positive change. Dialogue and exchange of views without name calling is needed.
We face serious issues including immigration, gun control, climate change, jobs, the economy, education and human rights to name a few. To improve things we must seek positive change. Dialogue and exchange of views without name calling is needed.
April 26, 2018
An Author Expressing Political. Views
I’m on Facebook and often express my political views, as well as posting about writing, my grandkids and walks I take. I follow people who also share their political views. As an author, this can be a two-edged sword. Some authors find that they lose Facebook “friends” who disagree with their views. I had this one response recently that I will share here: “I really like your books. I had wanted to follow you on Facebook, but was kind of worried when I saw you live in California, then I saw your posts. You can keep Nancy Pelosi and we will keep Trump! I do like your books, just wish I could like you.”
I “liked” this post because I enjoyed the comment but to set the record straight also responded with this reply: “I like people of different political persuasions, just ask my son-in-law who often posts opposing opinions. That's the great thing about our country: we have different views. It would be too dull if we all thought the same way. I'm glad you enjoy my books.”
I then sent a friend request to this person. I don’t know if it will be accepted, but what I stated is how I feel.
I “liked” this post because I enjoyed the comment but to set the record straight also responded with this reply: “I like people of different political persuasions, just ask my son-in-law who often posts opposing opinions. That's the great thing about our country: we have different views. It would be too dull if we all thought the same way. I'm glad you enjoy my books.”
I then sent a friend request to this person. I don’t know if it will be accepted, but what I stated is how I feel.
