Book Talk at Bach Library in Long Beach, CA

Mike Befeler : Lessons Learned as an Author

Friday, June 24, 2022, 11:30am – 12:30pm

Bach Neighborhood Library, 4055 Bellflower Blvd

I’ll be speaking about Lessons Learned as an Author and my latest mystery novel, Old Detectives Home. 

Gun Violence

Usually, I blog about things I’m doing or book related activities. Today, I’m taking a detour because of the serious nature of a vital issue in our country: gun violence. A minority in our nation has placed unlimited gun ownership above the value of human life. We, as a civilized nation, need to change this priority and place human life above unlimited gun ownership. Common sense measures of background checks, red flag laws and limiting access to assault weapons need to be enacted. Encourage your representatives to change our priorities.

Reading Fiction or Non-fiction

Do you read fiction or non-fiction? I read both. Since I primarily write mystery novels, I read a lot of mysteries, but I also read many other fiction genres. I also enjoy non-fiction, particularly on a subject I’m trying to learn more about. I remember one author giving a cautionary note of not reading something very similar to what you’re writing at the time. This makes sense. My wife enjoys going to My Little Library book boxes in our neighborhood, so she’s always trading in and bringing interesting books to read. I also belong to three book clubs and read numerous good books I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. Finally, my best source is recommendations from friends. All of this provides me with a wide source of reading material.

Attitude Check

I’ve continued to work on a positive attitude after my knee surgery in February. I’m in a holding pattern with my knee that contains temporary parts. The orthopedic surgeon took fluid out of my knee to be tested to determine if the infection is gone. The results will be back in early June. If the infection is gone, I will have surgery in August to get permanent parts put in. I’d like to get this all over with but will have to be patient. On the positive side, I’ve done five book talks and signings in the last month: two non-profit fund raisers, two bookstores and a Rotary Club. I’m scheduled for a library presentation next month. I’m fortunate that it’s my left knee so I can drive.

Positive Sports Tradition

Our second son works in the children’s hospital that overlooks the football stadium for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. He told us about the tradition of “the wave” from the stadium. This is performed at the end of the first quarter, so my wife and I like to watch the end of the first quarter for Iowa home games. This tradition started in 2017. Initially, the Iowa team waved to the top floor of the children’s hospital where large windows allowed patients to gather to watch. As the tradition expanded, opposing teams and fans joined in to wave to the hospitalized kids. One source stated that the idea was born on social media: an Iowa fan suggested that the team should think of something to cheer up the children in the hospital. This is the most positive tradition in football and a joy to watch.

Watch Out When You Can’t Hear the Crickets

When we lived in Boulder, CO, there were times of the year when the crickets were noisy at night. When this kept me awake, I would try different sleeping position. On my back or right side of my head against the pillow they were loud. Then I tried putting the left side of my head against the pillow. The result: the cricket noise disappeared. This wasn’t some miracle. I found out during a hearing exam that I have a deaf zone in my hearing. It turns out this is the frequency of the crickets so the chirping was in the lost part of my hearing.

A Favorite Story

Here’s one of my favorite stories, The Tinderbox: two Native American braves were chosen to compete to be the next chief. The challenge was to be the first to arrive at the top of the Sacred Mountain at night and light a fire. They were each given an ember in a tinderbox to carry with them. They set off and halfway up the mountain the first brave encountered an old man, shivering in the cold. The old man asked the brave to let him use the ember in the tinderbox to relight his fire. The brave replied, “I don’t have time. I must reach the top of the mountain and start a fire there to become the new chief.” He left the old man. Soon after, the second brave encountered the old man and was asked to borrow the ember from his tinderbox. This brave wanted to win the competition but realized he couldn’t leave the old man to die of cold. He took the ember out of the tinderbox and used it to relight the old man’s fire. Once the fire was going, he took an ember out of the fire and placed it in his tinderbox. He realized he was behind in the competition but continued onward. Down below, all the people watched to see when a fire would appear on the top of the mountain. Finally, a fire appeared. It was set by the second brave. When the first brave reached the top of the mountain, his ember had burned out. The second brave still had a live ember from replenishing the old man’s fire.