After a Writers Conference

I have been attending writers conferences since 2002. When I lived in Colorado, I attended the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference annually. It was through this conference that I sold my first published book, Retirement Homes Are Murder, as a result of a pitch session to Deni Dietz of Five Star. Since moving to Southern California in 2015, I planned to attend the California Crime Writers Conference but was only able to go this year.

After a writers conference, I always come away inspired with new ideas. In previous writers conferences I have come up with insights that led to new manuscripts. I also have enjoyed the opportunity to mingle with other writers and to make new friends.

After the California Crime Writers Conference this last weekend, I came home with notes and action items to follow up on including new promotional and speaking opportunities. Wherever I am in my writing journey, writers conferences always provide a boost.

Are There Rules for Writing Genres and Should an Author Stick to One Genre?

Since I write primarily mysteries, I’m always interested in purported “rules” for various sub-genres of mysteries. Most of my mystery novels are on the cozy end of the spectrum. It’s often stated that cozies should have no sex, no swearing and no on screen violence. In my Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery Series, I violate two of these rules with geezer romance and a protagonist who cusses. I even received a one-star review for language (Paul uses hell and damn).

Here’s my take. I write what I enjoy reading and to tell the story I want to tell. When I started I didn’t even know about these “rules.” Now that I’ve heard about then, I still don’t follow them. I also don’t stick to strict genres. I have two novels that mix mystery and paranormal elements. I mix mystery and romance (I was a card carrying member of Romance Writers of America for several years). As well as my six book amateur sleuth series, other mysteries include historical, private eye, theater, professional organizer, sports, a thriller and a biography of a World War II veteran.

For me it’s challenging and interesting to try different subject matter.

California Crime Writers Conference

I will be attending the California Crime Writers Conference in Southern California in June. This conference for writers of the crime/mystery genre is held every two years and this is the first chance I’ve had to attend it since moving back to Southern California. It took place in 2015 just before I moved, and in 2017 I had to pass because of attending my 55^th high school reunion in Honolulu.

I’ll be on a panel titled Cozies on the Edge: Meeting and Subverting Reader Expectations. This is a subject I’m looking forward to exploring with fellow authors Mary Marks, Frankie Bow, Jennifer Chow and moderator Leslie Karst. I write primarily amateur sleuth mysteries, but mine are on the cozy end of the spectrum. Supposedly with cozies, there are three rules: no sex, no swearing and no on screen violence. I violate two of these three rules with geezer sex and some cussing. Most cozies feature young women protagonists whereas many of my mysteries have older characters. Also, I have one geezer-lit mystery with paranormal elements. I had one publisher turn it down because they didn’t publish paranormal novels.

I write what I enjoy reading and writing, that’s why many of my mystery novels have older characters. And besides, I started writing later in life at the age of fifty-six.

Geezers and geezerettes rule.

Giving Book Talks

I enjoy giving presentations about my published books at libraries, book stores, book clubs and service organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis and Optimist. When I was a child I never thought this would be the case because I was painfully shy and introverted. But over a business career I learned to give speeches and now look forward to them rather than dread them.

When each of my new books is published, I develop a new presentation. My objective is to put together an entertaining and humorous speech. I typically have a theme and then indirectly tie this to my book. For example, my current presentation is about pickleball, a sport I play and one that’s featured in my latest mystery novel, Paradise Court.

Most of my talks are in person, but I also have done conference call and Skype presentations to other locations.  If any of you want me to speak to one of your groups, you can contact me at mikebef@aol.com.

 

Pain

Over the last month, I’ve gained a new perspective on suffering from chronic pain. I had knee replacement surgery and am now recovering. The pain, the inability to sleep, difficulty concentrating were all symptoms I experienced. Fortunately, for me, I’m improving every day, and the pain is slowly dissipating. Not so for people with chronic pain. My short period of suffering is nothing compared to what many people undergo on an ongoing basis. Likewise, there is the decision to use addictive drugs or not. I was able to cut back and then eliminate the addictive drugs, but it would be a different case if the pain had not been reduced. These are very difficult problems that millions of people face on a daily basis.

New Books Received

It’s always a treat to open the box for the first shipment of a new novel. I received copies of Paradise Court, a pickleball mystery. Although recovering from knee replacement surgery and on injured reserved at the moment, I have been playing pickleball, a sport played with a paddle and wiffle ball—a combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong. This sport is featured in this mystery novel set on Maui.

Pickleball Mystery Novel Now Available

My latest novel, Paradise Court, a pickleball mystery is now available. This is a sequel to Court Trouble.

In Paradise Court, while vacationing on Maui with his wife, Mark Yeager makes two discoveries: he finds a pickleball court and a dead body. Things go downhill as he becomes a suspect in a murder investigation, his wife is kidnapped and he gets crosswise with a local crime boss. He must sort through a cast of suspects to find the killer, rescue his wife and stay alive.