Mike Befeler's Blog, page 9

Meet the New Author Breakfast at LCC2024

I have the honor of moderating the Meet the New AuthorBreakfast at the Left Coast Crime Conference this April in the Seattle area. Newauthors will give one-minute pitches on the most important thing readers shouldknow about their debut mystery novel. So far, we have twenty-two new authorswho will be presenting on Friday, April 12. This is an event that has takenplace at each Left Coast Crime Conference beginning in 2008 in Denver,Colorado.

Cover Reveal for A Mystery Yarn

Hereis the cover for my novel, A Mystery Yarn, the third book in theOmnipodge Trilogy, following Old Detectives Home and Last Gasp Motel.It will be published by Encircle Publications in April. Pru Pendergastbecomes entangled in more than yarn when her obnoxious landlord shows up deadin her driftwood creations shop. Pru must escape attacks on her own life andthe threat of being arrested while trying to solve the crime and catch the eyeof her new sort of boyfriend.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

I have participated in book signings a number of yearsat the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. On Sunday, April 21, I‘ll be at theSisters in Crime booth and will probably be at the Mystery Writers of Americabooth as well. The festival is April 20 and 21.

Advice from Publicist

I recently attended a Zoom call with a presentation bypublicist Joe Marich. He had some excellent comments for authors. Starting withyour story, ask yourself if this is a story worth telling. Second, why shouldreaders care, in other words, what makes your story stand out. Third, whichspecific people will be interested in your book. Your story won’t appeal toeveryone, so find your target audience. Fourth, prepare a five-minute segmentthat you can present to tell your story and why readers will be interested. Hehad other useful comments, but these where the core messages.

Giving Presentations

Over the next month I’m scheduled to give one zoom andtwo in-person presentations to book clubs. I haven’t given presentations for amonth, so I’m a little rusty. I’ll be speaking about lessons learned as anauthor. I need to review my notes and practice to get back in shape. I alwaysenjoy meeting with book clubs.

Family Gatherings

Over the last two weeks, we’ve had the opportunity toget together with our three kids and four of our grandkids. That has been thehighlight of the holiday season. Next week will be getting back to normal withthe grandkids back in school.

The New Year

I have a lot happening in the first half of the newyear on the book front. In March my historical mystery novel, Murder in theMuseo Kircheriano, will be published by Mystic Publishers, and in April thethird book in the Omnipodge Trilogy, A Mystery Yarn, will be publishedby Encircle Publications. I have two presentations to book clubs in January andwill attend the Left Coast Crime Conference in the Seattle area in April.

Violin Concert

Our 8-year-old grandson participated in his firstthird-grade violin concert this week. Every Tuesday the kids practice on theviolin, and this was the first time to show their families the results.

The Snowball Effect

One of the things I like about doing author events isthe snowball effect. A recent example is that I attended Men of Mystery inNovember in Long Beach, CA. As a result, I’ve been invited to two book clubs togive presentations in January, one of which selected one of my books for theirmonthly read.

Christmas Tree Decorated

This week we got out Christmas tree decorated with the able assistance of our grandson. We listened to Christmas music and put ornamentson the tree. A fun project.