Tis the Season

Our grandson helped us decorate our Christmas tree, I put up some outside lights, and we’re ready to send out holiday greetings.

Book Club Reunion

I recently attended a reunion for a book club in Long Beach, CA. It was good to catch up with everyone and talk about books. Here’s the group:

Christmas Tree Lighting

Our grandson participated in a singing group at the Christmas Tree Lighting in Westminster, CA. Here’s a picture of him with his mom.

Book Talks

I enjoy doing presentations and signings for my published books. Whenever I have a new book come out, I develop a new presentation to give at bookstores, book clubs, libraries and service organizations. This way, people who have heard me speak before don’t have to listen to the same presentation again. It also helps me stay fresh with new ideas and experiences to share.

Thanksgiving Coming Up

Thanksgiving is a good time to catch up with family. This year we’re going to celebrate on Friday instead of Thursday because that was the best day to get our local kids together. There will be eight of us, which is a manageable size. Bring on the turkey.

Presentation and Book Signings at Mystery Ink and Book Carnival

I’ll be presenting and signing my middle grade mystery, The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes, at Mystery Ink at The Coffee Tale 7561 Center Ave. Suite 39, Huntington Beach, CA, Sat. Nov. 30 at 10 AM and Book Carnival 348 S. Tustin, Orange, CA, on Sun. Dec. 8 at 2 PM

Fifth-grader Sherman Holmes and his sidekick Johanna Watson solve mysteries surrounding the Baker Street Elementary School in Londonberry, California. Nicknamed Sure Luck, Sherman always cracks the case, but invariably for the wrong reason that only Johanna catches, particularly when it involves Sherman’s nemesis, the school bully Jim Moriarty. Johanna also assists Sure Luck as he prepares for his second level private detective’s exam, involving both a written section and a surprise practical test that will require all of Sure Luck’s skill.

Publication of The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes

Print and electronic editions of my middle grade mystery, The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes, are now available:

Print edition: Amazon.com: The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes: 9781941271711: Befeler, Mike: Books

Electronic edition: The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Fifth-grader Sherman Holmes and his sidekick Johanna Watson solve mysteries surrounding the Baker Street Elementary School in Londonberry, California. Nicknamed Sure Luck, Sherman always cracks the case, but invariably for the wrong reason that only Johanna catches, particularly when it involves Sherman’s nemesis, the school bully Jim Moriarty. Johanna also assists Sure Luck as he prepares for his second level private detective’s exam, involving both a written section and a surprise practical test that will require all of Sure Luck’s skill.

This is my twenty-third published book following the most recent Murder in the Museo Kircheriano and A Mystery Yarn.

www.mikebefeler.com

Standalone or Series?

As readers, do you prefer standalone or series? As a writer, I have written both. My first publication was the six book Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series. I also have several books with sequels: The Back Wing and The Front Wing; Court Trouble and Paradise Court. I also have the Omnipodge Trilogy of Old Detectives Home, Last Gasp Motel, and A Mystery Yarn. My other nine published books are standalones. The reason for standalones are that I get an idea and want to pursue it even though it might not lead to a series. Some examples: Unstuff Your Stuff is a mystery that came about because I got interested in what professional organizers do. Murder in the Museo Kircheriano is a historical mystery based on the fascinating character Athanasius Kircher who was know as the last man to know everything. The Tesla Legacy is a thriller based upon inventions of the brilliant inventor Nikola Tesla. Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse came about because of family members who have been in the theater world. Murder on the Switzerland Trail is a historical mystery set in the mountains of Colorado where I hiked on all the publicly available sections of what had once been a narrow-gauge railroad bed. The Best Chicken Thief is a biography of a World War II veteran I met who was in the infantry in Europe, captured by the Germans and liberated by the Russians. The VV Agency is a paranormal private investigator novel and happened because my then agent suggested that I should explore a paranormal mystery. The idea for Death of a Scam Artist came about when I became intrigued with elder abuse and people who preyed on seniors. My upcoming middle grade mystery, The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes, which will be released in November can become a series.

Speaking Opportunities

I always appreciate being invited to give a presentation to non-profit and service organizations. Earlier this week I spoke to a church group who liked my sense of humor and asked terrific questions.

Critique Groups

I’m in a online critique group with four other writers. We submit up to twenty pages to each other every two weeks and then meet on Zoom to discuss our comments. This is an excellent way to get feedback on a manuscript from fellow writers who are also discerning readers. When I started writing in 2001, I met with a fellow employee to discuss our manuscripts. Then I joined an in-person critique group of mystery writers and another critique group that met in my town. Along the way I also joined an online critique group. Then for a number of years I was not in any critique group. I’m glad to be back in a critique group because this is a way to improve my manuscripts and help others improve theirs.

Taking Care of Grand-cats

I’m currently feeding our daughter’s two cats. They come running when I get there, because they associate me with food. After they gobble their food, I give them a good scritch before leaving.

 

Men of Mystery

Last Saturday I participated in the Men of Mystery one-day mystery conference in Long Beach, CA. Along with the other authors, I gave a brief pitch about my two most recent mystery novels A Mystery Yarn and Murder in the Museo Kircheriano. I enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones.

Fighter Pilot or Bomber Pilot

One over-simplified classification of how people act is to determine if they are like fighter pilots or bomber pilots. Bomber pilots are very single focused on their target. Fighter pilots are scanning the skies around them for threats and targets. Are you a fighter pilot or a bomber pilot?

The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes

The electronic edition of my middle grade mystery, The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes, can now be pre-ordered:

The Adventures of Sure Luck Holmes - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Fifth-grader Sherman Holmes and his sidekick Johanna Watson solve mysteries surrounding the Baker Street Elementary School in Londonberry, California. Nicknamed Sure Luck, Sherman always cracks the case, but invariably for the wrong reason that only Johanna catches, particularly when it involves Sherman’s nemesis, the school bully Jim Moriarty. Johanna also assists Sure Luck as he prepares for his second level private detective’s exam, involving both a written section and a surprise practical test that will require all of Sure Luck’s skill.

Different Writing Approaches During My Writing Career

I began writing in 2001 when I was 56 years old. At the time I was still working, so I adapted a technique from Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist Way, called morning pages. I would review where I had left off the day before and write three handwritten pages first thing every morning. When I got home from work, I’d transcribe these pages into my computer. This is how I wrote my first four published novels. Then when I retired in 2007, I wrote directly into the computer every morning that I wasn’t doing a family activity or book event. This resulted in completed manuscripts for approximately thirty books. Then in 2015 when we moved back to Southern California from Colorado, I shifted into another phase. Since then, I have written a few new manuscripts but have mainly focused on editing my portfolio of completed manuscripts and getting a number of them published.

Wordle

My wife enjoys Sudoku and crossword puzzles, but I like Wordle. The idea of one puzzle a day appeals to me. I look forward to the challenge every morning, but then I’m done with my puzzles for the day.

Mystery Conferences

As of right now, I have one mystery conference scheduled to attend in 2025, the Left Coast Crime Conference in Denver. I have attended this conference almost every year since 2007, missing one because of family plans and another because of knee problems and being unable to fly. My wife and I lived in Colorado from 1977 until 2015, and this Left Coast Crime Conference will be my first return trip to Colorado since we moved back to Southern California in 2015.

Men of Mystery

One of my favorite mystery conferences is coming up on September 28 in Long Beach, CA, Men of Mystery. I’ve been attending this one-day conference since 2009. In addition to being a short commute from my home in Lakewood, it’s an enjoyable time to see old friends and meet new mystery fans. This year there are 27 mystery authors and between 250 and 300 attendees. All the authors give a one-minute pitch, followed by a signing session as well as guest speakers and lunch. During lunch each author is at a table with a host and mystery readers and provides an opportunity to answer readers’ questions.

Outline or Seat-of-the-Pants

Writers fall into two categories in how they approach their manuscripts. On one side are outliners who sketch out an outline of their story. On the other hand are seat-of-the-pantsers who just start writing and see where it will go. I am a basic outliner: I write a simple outline, but once I start writing it always meanders into a direction I wouldn’t have predicted. As a mystery writer, I often don’t know who the bad guy is until about two-thirds of the way through writing. This keeps me engaged because I’m trying to figure out who done it as I write. I am currently experimenting with a manuscript with no outline. I work on it for a while and then take a break. I’m not a natural seat-of-the-pantser. I’ll keep working on it to see where it goes, but I find this much more difficult than starting with an outline. The beauty of writing is that there is no one way of doing it.

Writing Different Genres

I primarily write mystery novels. I have also written a thriller, a non-fiction biography of a World War II veteran and a middle grade novella. Of the mystery novels, three are paranormal mysteries and two are historical mysteries. Upcoming in November is a middle grade mystery novel featuring a fifth grade Sherlock Holmes lookalike who solves mysteries in a fictional California town. Stay tuned for more information about this book.

Apps for Sending Emails

I used to use Mailchimp to send emails to my list. Now I’m using Beehiiv. I send out emails to my list when there is new information about my books. For example, I have a middle grade mystery that will be published in November. I’ll send out notification about this as it approaches. I also send out emails about anniversary dates for published books. In August I will note the  thirteenth anniversary of the publication of Senior Moments Are Murder, the third book in the Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series.

Fiction Writing As Entertainment

Writing a novel provides a form of entertainment for readers. We are story tellers. I pick subjects that I’m interested in, and it’s my job to write an exciting plot with fascinating characters. If I can provide entertainment, joy, laughter while taking the reader out of daily troubles, I will have achieved my goal.

The Joy of Creating

Many creative activities can provide joy to the creator and the recipient of the creation. A painter starts with a blank canvas and creates a painting. A sculptor starts with stone and creates a sculpture. A musician creates a sheet of music. An inventor starts with an idea and ends with an invention. As writers, we start with a blank sheet of paper or a blank screen and then create a manuscript. Through all the trials and tribulations, we writers have the opportunity to enjoy the creative writing process.

The Importance of Editing

A lesson I’ve learned is that a writer needs to have an independent editor. After I go through many passes of editing, I still need an expert with an outside perspective to edit my work.

Another Observation as an Author

One other thing I’ve learned about being an author. It’s a lonely avocation. It’s just the writer and the pen or keyboard creating a story. On the other hand, there are ample opportunities to interact with readers through conferences and speaking engagements. Although many writers are introverts, we learn to speak out and present ourselves to the public. I attend mystery conferences such as Left Coast Crime and Bouchercon. I enjoy speaking at book clubs, libraries, service organizations and bookstores.

One More Lesson Learned as an Author

Much like there being many ways to write, there are many ways for people to read a book. There are a variety of print options including hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback and large print. Other ways to enjoy a book are e-books and audiobooks. Whatever a reader prefers, there are these variety of options to choose from.

Another Lesson I’ve Learned as an Author

Writing is a skill that one can learn. Like anything else in life, it takes practice. It’s said you need to write a million words to master writing. I’ve written over a million words, and I’m still learning.

 

Saturday Sleuths Book Club

I’ll be presenting and signing books at the Saturday Sleuths Book Club at Book Carnival Bookstore 348 S. Tustin, Orange, CA, June 15 at 9:30 AM.

Lessons Learned as an Author Continued Again

Another lesson I’ve learned as an author is that there are many different ways to write. When I started writing at the age of 56, I came across a book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s an excellent book on creativity. Julia has a technique called Morning Pages which is to write three hand written pages first thing in the morning. These pages can be anything: your journal, a shopping list or whatever and are a way to get the creative juices flowing for the day. I modified her concept and would review where I left off in my current manuscript and write three handwritten pages of the story first thing in the morning. When I came home from my day job, I’d put those three pages into the computer, editing along the way. This produced two typed pages a day. If you do the arithmetic, in 150 days I’d have a rough draft for a 300-page novel. In fact, this is the way I wrote my first four published novels. Then when I retired in 2007, I modified my approach and wrote each morning directly into the computer. I wrote every morning except if I was doing an event or had a family activity. Doing this until we moved back to Southern California in 2015, I completed a number of manuscripts, some of which have been published. Since then, I have been primarily in editing mode and now have twenty-two published books with more to come.

Lessons Learned as an Author Continue

Another lesson I’ve learned as an author is perseverance. When I started writing, I sent short stories off to magazines and anthologies to get them published. I’m happy to report that on my 112^th submission I sold a story called Never Trust a Poison Dart Frog in an anthology titled Who Died in Here? that had either a death or a murder taking place in the bathroom. Since then, I’ve had many more rejections of novel length manuscripts, but I’ve also had twenty-two published books. Rejection just comes with the territory in writing, so stick-to-itness is an essential attitude for writers.

Lessons Learned as an Author

I’ve learned many things as an author. One of the first lessons learned is that you can write at any age. Here’s the range from my own experience. Several years ago at the Los Angles Times Festival Of Books, Morrie Markoff was there signing the first book he had ever written and published. It was titled, “Keep Breathing,” his memoir. At the time Morrie was 103 years old. On the other extreme, when I lived in Colorado, I mentored an eight-grade student whose school required that he work on a year-long project. The project he chose was to write a novel. I met with him every week to review what he had written and gave him feedback. By the end of the year, he had completed a rough draft. It was nowhere near being ready for publication, but he had accomplished something very important by writing a complete manuscript at his age. I started to write at the age of 56, and my first novel was published at the age of 62.

Writers Conferences

When I started writing in 2001, I was introduced to the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference in Denver. I attended for many years until we moved back to Southern California in 2015. This conference provided panels on writing craft, how to get agents and publishers, and how to promote a book once published. It was through this conference that I received my first book contract with Five Star as a result of a pitch session to Deni Dietz of Five Star at the conference. In Southern California I’ve attended the California Crime Writers Conference twice. This writers conference is held on odd numbered years in Culver City. These conferences are a good way to improve writing and to make contacts for publishing opportunities.

Speaking at Bookstores (continued)

Last Saturday I spoke at Mystery Ink Bookstore in Huntington Beach, CA, and signed my two most recent mystery novel, Murder in the Museo Kircheriano and A Mystery Yarn.

Speaking at Bookstores

Last Saturday I spoke at Book Carnival Bookstore in Orange, CA, and signed my two most recent books, Murder in the Museo Kircheriano and A Mystery Yarn. This coming Saturday, May 4 at 1 PM, I will be speaking and signing books at Mystery Ink Bookstore, Fernhill Clubhouse, 5472 Diamond Dr., Huntington Beach, CA.

Catching Up with Friends

I drove from Southern California to the Bay Area last week and had a chance to visit with old friends. I stayed with a college friend, saw two friends from my working days and visited a cousin I hadn’t seen in a number of years. All in all, it was a very enjoyable trip.

Another Enjoyable Left Coast Crime Conference

Last week I attended the Left Coast Crime Conference in Bellevue, Washington. I was on a senior sleuth panel with Arthur Coburn, Susan McCormick, Paula Charles and Ellen Kirschman:

I also moderated the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, introducing 31 debut authors whose first mystery/thriller/suspense/thriller novels was published in 2023 or early 2024.

I caught up with old and new friends including two fellow authors with Encircle Publications: Sharon Dean and BJ Magnani:

Judging Writing Contests

I’ve been a judge a number of times for writing contests. In 2013 I was a judge for the Mary Higgins Clark award for Mystery Writers of America. I received over 130 books to judge. The criteria were a suspense novel in the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark:

·       "The protagonist is a nice young woman whose life is suddenly invaded.

·       "She’s self-made and independent, with primarily good family relationships.

·       "She has an interesting job.

·       "She is not looking for trouble–she is doing exactly what she should be doing and something cuts across her bow.

·       "She solves her problem by her own courage and intelligence.

·       "The story has no on-scene violence.

·       "The story has no strong four-letter words or explicit sex scenes."

 

Of the books I received to read approximately one hundred were cozy mysteries with a female protagonist, not a suspense novel. After reading a few pages, I could determine that these were not consistent with the guidelines. Over the next year, my wife and I read all the cozy mysteries and started chuckling about the cozy tropes. This inspired me to write A Mystery Yarn that will be published later in April and is now available for pre-ordering. It’s a parody that includes these tropes:

·       The protagonist is a woman who runs a craft store

·       She had a bad previous relationship

·       She has a sort-of relationship with a man in law enforcement

·       She finds a dead body and becomes a suspect

·       She has a dog

·       She has a cat

·       There’s a ghost in her store

·       Her best friend is a gay guy

·       There are recipes at the end of the book

It was an enjoyable exercise to write a humorous cozy. As an example, the protagonist can’t cook. Her recipes include toast, grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, and s’mores.

Jokes

Every day I email jokes to three friends and often post them on Facebook. Since I write humorous mystery novels, I’m a big fan of what I call “dumb dad jokes,” jokes we dads tell to our kids and grandkids to make them groan. Here’s one example of this very sophisticated form of humor: Which bathroom fixture is most likely to be submerged? The sink. Groan and bear it.

Table Co-hosting at the Left Coast Crime Conference

I’ll be attending the Left Coast Crime Conference in Bellevue, WA, in April. In addition to moderating the Meet the New Author Breakfast, participating in Author Speed Dating and being on a senior sleuth panel, I’ll be co-hosting a table at the Saturday night banquet with fellow author Bruce Rolfe.

Release of Three New Audiobooks

I have three audio books that have been released: Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse, The V V Agency, and Coronavirus Daze.

Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse on Amazon Amazon.com: Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse (Audible Audio Edition): Mike Befeler, Independently Published, Virtual Voice: Books 

The V V Agency on Amazon Amazon.com: The V V Agency (Audible Audio Edition): Mike Befeler, Independently Published, Virtual Voice: Books

Coronavirus Daze on Amazon Amazon.com: Coronavirus Daze (Audible Audio Edition): Mike Befeler, Independently Published, Virtual Voice: Books

In Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse a staged murder at a mystery dinner playhouse turns into a real poisoning death. Recently retired detective, Gabe Tremont, is called back to solve the crime, while struggling to figure out how to successfully retire. He discovers the playhouse director, the cast members and a spy from a competing theater all have reasons to want the victim dead. This book also deals with the topic of hoarding.

 

Imagine a dash of Philip Marlowe wrapped in an urban fantasy. The V V Agency is a paranormal mystery that spoofs the PI subgenre and introduces the transvictus—a unique shape shifter. Van and Vanna run a detective agency, but clients never see them together for a simple reason. A sexual encounter transforms one into the other, and nudity renders them invisible. This presents some interesting dilemmas for his and her love lives, but gives them a distinct advantage when doing detective work. Van and Vanna take the case of a woman suspected of killing her husband.

 

Coronavirus Daze is an uplifting and humorous story about a boy keeping a journal during the Coronavirus outbreak. Tad, a middle school student in Southern California, must deal with the boredom of being stuck at home with his parents during the Coronavirus pandemic and has a life transforming experience when he makes an unexpected discovery. Readers may shed a tear and will certainly have some chuckles as Tad recounts his adventures in a time of chaos and uncertainty.

Author Speed Dating at the Left Coast Crime Conference

I’ll be participating in the Author Speed Dating at the Left Coast Crime Conference in April. This is an enjoyable event where I will be speaking to 18 tables of mystery readers along with fellow author Tony Ollivier. At each table, we each will give a two-minute pitch about our latest mystery novels. Then we move on to the next table. It’s an excellent way to reach new readers. I’ve also found that by the end, we could give each other’s presentation. I always hand out postcards of my books as well.

Publication of Murder in the Museo Kircheriano

My  historical mystery novel, Murder in the Museo Kircheriano, is now available.

Print Amazon: Amazon.com: Murder in the Museo Kircheriano: 9781941271575: Befeler, Mike: Books

Or contact your favorite bookstore. 

I’m available to give presentations to book groups, libraries and service organizations via Zoom or in-person. Mikebef@aol.com

I’ll be presenting and signing at Mystery Ink Bookstore Fernhill Clubhouse 5472 Diamond Dr, Huntington Beach, CA on Sat., May 4, at 1 PM. and Book Carnival 348 S. Tustin, Orange, CA, on Sat. April 27 at 2 PM

In Murder in the Museo Kircheriano Jesuit priest Athanasius Kircher created the world’s most amazing museum in the mid seventeenth century Vatican. He was brilliant and reputed to be the last man to know everything. He also bordered on being a con man.

When Queen Christina abdicates her throne in Sweden, converts to Catholicism and visits Kircher’s museum, she and Kircher discover a dead body. They team up to solve the mystery of the murdered man, while encountering a secret nephews circle.

Postcards

When one of my new books is published, I always have postcards made with the cover art on one side and information about the book on the other side. I provide the text, and my daughter-in-law who is a terrific graphic artist designs the postcard. Then I have the postcards printed. I have a snail mail list that I send the postcards to, and I give them out at conferences such as the Left Coast Crime Conference and other events. I have Murder in the Museo Kircheriano being published in March, and A Mystery Yarn being published in April. The postcards have been printed and are on their way to me.

Pre-order for A Mystery Yarn

The third book in my Omnipodge Trilogy, A Mystery Yarn, following Old Detectives Home and Last Gasp Motel, will be published by Encircle Publications on April 24 and can now be pre-ordered.

Print Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Gasp-Motel-Omnipodge-Mystery/dp/1645994724

Print Barnes and Noble: A Mystery Yarn by Mike Befeler, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

e-book Amazon: A Mystery Yarn (An Omnipodge Mystery Book 3) - Kindle edition by Befeler, Mike. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Or contact your favorite bookstore.

I’m available to give presentations to book groups, libraries and service organizations via Zoom or in-person. Mikebef@aol.com

In A Mystery Yarn, while making the rounds to visit her fellow shopkeepers in Ominpodge Village Center, Pru Pendergast overhears an argument between her obnoxious landlord, Bart Cunard, and Sally Midge Cunard, Bart's ex-wife, during which Sally Midge accuses Bart of being involved in shady real estate dealings with developer Larry Ludwick. Pru also hears jewelry shopkeeper Jake Yalley defend Sally Midge and threaten Bart.

When Pru visits Flo Florrest's yarn shop, Bart comes in and gets into a shouting match with Flo. Pru next goes to Bea Potter's bookstore and listens to Bea complain about Bart sexually harassing her. Then Pru has lunch with best friend Herb Hanover-of Herb's Herbs-and he cries about Bart calling him hateful names while Herb is still sensitive over his partner's death.

Pru returns to her shop, Driftwood Creatives, to find Bart dead, garroted with driftwood handles and brown Vicuna yarn. She also notices that Bart's diamond ring is missing from his hand. Because his body is found in her shop, Detective James Moriarty immediately questions Pru and accuses her of murder, but she's certainly not the only suspect. Pru must escape attacks on her own life and avoid being arrested until she can find the real killer and solve the crime, all while trying to catch the eye of her new sort of boyfriend.

Senior Sleuth Panel at LCC2024

I will be on a senior sleuth panel at the Left Coast Crime Conference on Saturday, April 13 at 4 pm in Belleview, WA. Other panelists are Paula Charles, Ellen Kirschman, Susan McCormick and moderator Arthur Cohen. I’ve had the pleasure of being on panels with Ellen and Susan before. I will also be moderating the Meet the New Author Breakfast on Friday, April 12 at which Paula and Arthur will be presenting. Senior sleuths are a major part of my mystery writing since the majority of my mystery novels feature older amateur sleuths.

Meet the New Author Breakfast at LCC2024

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

Cover Reveal for A Mystery Yarn

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

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

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

Advice from Publicist

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

Giving Presentations

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

Family Gatherings

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