Mike Befeler mystery novels prove that getting old can be murder
Article by Denver Authors ExaminerEd Hickok   Feb 18, 2010

Local Denver author, Mike Befeler, created his own genre, ‘Geezer-lit,’ and has published two books that show how life may begin at sixty, but so can murder. Retirement Homes Are Murder (2007) and
Living With Your Kids Is Murder (2009) are both part of the Five Star Mystery Series. Living With Your Kids Is Murder is a finalist for the Lefty Award for the most humorous mystery novel published in 2009.

Befeler said, “I started looking ahead to what I wanted to do when I retired. In 2001, at the age of 56, I made the decision to pursue fiction writing. I sold my first novel in 2005 as the result of a pitch session at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference.”

Befeler strives to do more than simply publish books. He wants to promote a positive image of aging. He said, “I have a presentation titled Aging and Other Minor Inconveniences that I give at retirement homes and service organizations such as Kiwanis, Rotary, and Optimist. I'm always willing to speak to groups along the Front Range.”

Befeler described the manuscript he is currently working on. “Imagine Dirk Pitt morphed into a retired mathematics professor and conspiracy nut with a butt-kicking, surrogate-daughter sidekick. Elmore Kranz bombards the police with his predictions of disaster until one of them actually happens, to the point that he’s implicated in the plot. Even with the assistance of his one ally, rookie cop Britney Chase, people start dying around Elmore as attempts are made on his life. Elmore and Brittney team up to solve a hundred year old puzzle while thwarting a secret government agency and an Afghani terrorist group trying to get their hands on a doomsday weapon.”

But isn’t that everyone’s idea of a cozy retirement?


Befeler’s advice to new authors: “Start writing and keep doing it. I meet so many people who have stories to tell but never sit down to start. Others start and get discouraged. You need to develop sound writing skills and be willing to learn, but beyond that, successful writing is 90% perseverance.”

Befeler’s novels can be purchased at: Amazon.com

Fans can visit the Befeler’s website at   http://www.mikebefeler.com

        

DR. JUDITH BRILES presents AUTHOR U (University) BOOT CAMP
                                                                           Sat Feb 27 8:30-4:30 

                                                                                    spedial rate $89 for KitchenTableWriters

                                                                            Red Lion Inn, HW I-70 and Quebec
MUST contact  Judith@Briles.com or call 303-885-2207  for $89 rate by Sat Feb 20

Authoring, Promoting, and Selling Your Book takes a swarm of ideas and team of

people to execute it -- at the head of the list is YOU!  Inthis intensive, full all-day Boot Camp,

your head will swirl with theideas that you will learn and embrace.

Workbooks and lunch included.You have 4 dynamic workshops with 4 dynamic presenters.

Packedwith information with everything from creating a viable PR strategy,branding and product development,

technology ideas that are free ordownright cheap, sales tactics positions to maximize your success, andhow to maximize your presence on the Internet--this is the place to beon Saturday, February 27th. Bring your lap top!

What You Will Learn
· How to guarantee that You and Your Book are found on the Internet.
· Create an Amazon Best-Seller champagne.
· How to resurrect an "old" book.
· How to create a snazzy You Tube presence.
· How to use webinars to promote your brand.
· How to write a media release that works.
· How to create a speech that people will pay to hear.
· Super savvy PR promotion that you orchestrate.
· 5 mistakes to avoid in creating a webinar.
· How to get on radio and TV today.
· How to expand your platform and sell more books.

· How to really make money with your book.
· Review the major uses AND abuses of webinars.
· Give you the steps necessary for a Great Webinar.
· How to be on You Tube in minutes.
· The latest in website gadgets
· 3 things NEVER TO DO in publicity.
· 5 must-haves in your book PR pitch.

Your Faculty:    Dr. Judith Briles  Author of 26 books!

Heather Lutze The Findability Formula:The Easy Approach to Search Engine Marketing

Kimberly Field Publicity Guru, knows publicityfrom both sides of the camera.

Kelly Johnsonof Cornerstone Virtual Assistance.

Mike Zabiniski co-founder TheWebinar Mentor.

Cathie Beck award-winning journalist
                                                                             

===================================================================

AND FOR YOUR OWN WRITING:

Join me.

Kitchen Table Writing begins this Thurs PM. 
Write Your Life Story Tues and Wed AM

        

One writer who is traveling emailed me regret that she were not writing while she was away.  Yet she was doing
"Morning Pages" every day.  Here is my response.

 "Morning Pages is indeed writing, and reading, camellias, watercolor, concerts, produce markets are all fantastic ways to rejuvenate.  I am delighted that your time away is working so well.  These adventures sound fantastic."



Here are a few writing suggestions that coincide with these glorious moments.

 

To rejuvenate I....
 

When I am refreshed I...


I am surprised at how...

 
Flowers and the ocean....

 
To travel is to...


Try a few of these start lines and email them to me for an award. 

info@KitchenTableWriting.com  AnneRandolph@comcast.net
www.KitchenTableWriting.com
 

        

And this from a Wednesday Morning Writer on a20 Minute Writing Practice

20 MINUTES DELIGHT: How long is a moment?

"To write and to continue to write and 20 minutes feels like a damned long time & my hand is cramping.  Not used to writing so long without a break.  My hand would like a rest.  I would like some coffee.  I want to stop.  How long has it been? 

Anyway, I came from home to come to a writing class to be encouraged to allow the free flow of my thoughts to make me sit down and write and I am doing that right now and though my hand hurts and I have a cold and I don’t know how much longer till the 20 minutes is up and I know I enjoy writing & that this is what I want to be doing, can I get myself to do this on my own?  Is it kosher to stop for coffee?  It is my class - but will I miss the moment  - the thought if I break the flow?  I don’t know.  Back to I don’t know and I wonder if I am lying to myself when I say/think/feel I don’t know.

Where did I come from?  Where am I  going?  I came from what?  I am lost now.  Don’t know where to go from here. 

I came from my thoughts.  I keep trying to judge what I’m writing.  Hasn’t stopped me, but I’m trying.  I’m getting restless.  Wish I’d track the time so I would know how much longer?  Is it better to know how much longer or is it better to not know?  If I knew would I be watching the clock impatiently or would I be relieved by how quickly the time is going?  Or in a panic that the time is passing me by & I haven’t found the “genius” that I know is within me.  Have I found the genius & missed it?  Would I recognize her if I saw her? 

Do I have to write so fast?  That I say, yes I do - unless I stop to think about what I am writing I write fast and sloppy that’s just the way I do it and I don’t think I’m inclined to change that.  The only benefit to slowing down is maybe my hand won’t cramp so much, though now it’s not doing so badly.  I feel like I’m doing morning papers again and I’ve almost done three pages. 


Well I have done 3 pages.  We have been told a moment longer.  Relief, blessing, Amen.  How long though is a moment?  Seems longer than how I would define it.  How do I capture thoughts that go out in front of my writing.  I’m done."

Susan Firman
Wednesday Writing
February 2010 

        

A creativity colleague of mine shared insights for New Year writing that I thought were great.  Here's what she said.

Ease Back into the Flow
You may be filled with inspiration and ideas for your most creative 2010. Or you may have no clue what you really want to do, and need some time to make a graceful transition from party mode to work mode.
 
One step at a time
Here's a course of action that will allow you to ease back gently into your creative flow.

Give yourself a break. Don't feel that you need to have everything figured out and planned for the New Year. I let myself off the hook for having to have a brilliant plan for the entire year mapped out. I have the first steps, and that's enough to get me back in the swing of things.

What's done is done. Let the eggnog, the holiday cookies and the times you blew everything off float away on the ether of the past. You enjoyed it then and now you may be ready to return to a humbler lifestyle. Regrets seem to add weight to the spirit, so let go of any guilt about overindulging.

Relish the break. Notice how good the time you spent relaxing feels. We need slack time to regenerate our creativity.

Revive your practices that slipped away during the holidays. Gently bring back your healthy habits. I'm easing back onto the yoga mat, relishing my daily walks and looking forward to more kickboxing classes.

Take it easy. Let your return be as slow as it needs to, but be firm with yourself about getting back to your writing and creative pursuits. Build up slowly, if needed. Start with brief (10 minute) free writes. Take time to clear away any clutter that has accumulated. Both practices can help you to resume your creative path.

Connect to the love. What do you love about your writing practice, your exercise regime? You may take a few moments to jot down what you love about it. If you have already done this writing, take it out and revisit your passion.

Refresh your faith. You will get back on the exercise treadmill. You will revive your love for green vegetables. You will come back to your writing practice.

Set up structures that help. There's an overabundance of things to do, and simple structures can help. Make dates with your writing buddies, schedule time into your calendar, and break down projects into simple task lists. I like the to dodlist's simple method that helps tackle projects one action step at a time.

What helps you transition from holiday time to the new year? Drop a comment on the Original Impulse blog, or email me.
 
Copyright 2009 Cynthia Morris. Cynthia coaches creative people to confidence and completion and inspires life as a creative adventure. Visit www.originalimpulse.com to get an infusion of inspiration for your art, writing and life.

GET BACK TO  WRITING Thurs PM Jan 14, 21, 29 at www.KitchenTableWriting.com
or WRITE YOUR LIFE   Tues and/or Wed AM  Begins in January, 2010   www.WriteYourLifeStory.org  Join us!
RSVP  AnneRandolph@comcast.net

        

In one of my workshops a writer was concerned that the same story that was written a year ago was written again. 

RETELLING THE SAME STORY IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO REWRITE  Thus the RE in rewrite.

A part of editing is to retell and rewrite stories from the blank page, several times in fact.  This way we deepen our writing and we know what story has great significance.  We always come up with lines and details that can be added to the final copy.  Don't worry about feeling concerned about repeating stories.  This is a part of the process.  Holiday food captures our culture. I gave the same prompt and this often elicits similar stories.   I have written the same incidents many times, meaning this moment is important.

Try this prompt:  Relate a crisis at a holiday meal, include details of the food and details of how folks felt about and dealt with the conflict.
Put emotions into action. 
 
Email me your writing for a prize.  info@KitchenTableWriting.com     HAVE A DELICIOUS HOLIDAY!

        

See sample of this delightful new Broadway play and book.

LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE  on Broadway. 
Book by Ilene Beckerman, script by Nora and Delia Ephron (Your Got Mail, Julie and Julia)

Click link to view an excerpt  SEE VIDEO  Interview with Nora and Delia Ephron

CLICK TO WATCH CLIP: LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE

Think about important moment and what you wore. How did you feel.  What was the conflict
 Write about it.
(Send me a copy for a Holiday prize)  info@KitchenTableWriting.com

==================================================================================
Writing Workshops at Highlands United Methodist Church

Join Anne Randolph's Writing Workshop at Highlands United Methodist Church

"Ways of Knowing" Series

December 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Write Your Own Christmas Story:

Past, Present & Future

Explore the meaning of the holidays in light of your own life story. 
Facilitator Anne Randolph will provide writing prompts and guidance
to get the creative juices flowing.  Anne is the creator of
Soup Kitchen Writing and www.WriteYourLifeStory.org

The workshops takes place on Tuesday evening  Dec 8, 6:30-9:00 in the historic
Highlands United Methodist Church  building
on the corner of West 32nd Avenue and Osceola Street. 
The cost is $5 per person.  Childcare is provided. 

CONTACT:  Anne Randolph for reservation  AnneRandolph@comcast.net
Rev. Dr. Betty Bradford, Senior Pastor
Highlands United Methodist Church
303-477-5857  www.highlandsumc.com

        

The WriteYourLifeStory group presented ME! in our 1st Book Lover's Salon last night.  What a magical evening.  How wonderful for my writing to be listened to, appreciated, admired.  I am euphoric.  A warm and receptive audience of over 25 folks listened to the opening of the 1st 3 chapters of my "soontobecompleted" novel, THE SWEET NOT ENOUGH, set in Alabama, 1948.

What a privilege to have supportive friends.  Thanks for listening and laughing and crying and for being with us.  Much care, Anne
www.WriteYourLifeStory.org

Great quotes from  Kitchen Table Writers.

"The mostwonderful work just pops out of my pen when I work from Anne's prompts,
in the trusting, supportive atmosphere she creates."   Mysti Berry, San Francisco

Last night was wonderful. Listening to you read was joyous....I don't know how else to describe it!

Writing with Anne stirs, stirs, stirs the pot.

When I'm done for the evening I feel more creative, confident and alive!  Lisa Eastin, Attorney

        

The only way to hold a reader or publisher and to keep the pages turning is to use conflict and resolution every beat of the scene.  This means that a character wants something and there is something in the way of their getting their need met.

Conflict is important to define the arc of a story, BUT conflict must be on every page, or at least every page and a half. The way to find conflict is to review each step of action per page and define NEED, WANT, OBSTACLE, ACTION, and define HOW THIS CONFLICT IS RESOLVED.  To resolve conflict one force wins and another force looses.  

Aristotle defined the concept, giving us 2000 years of writing that works!

EXERCISE TO FIND CONFLICT:

Make a list of wants for each character in each scene. 


What is their intention/agenda when they enter the scene? 


What is their obstacle, what stands in their way?


How is this conflict resolved?


How does this resolution lead into the scene that follows?


Analyze each beat, each moment in your scenes using the chart below. Try this for at least one scene.  I challenge you to complete this chart for each scene in an entire chapter.  (I make a copy of this chart and insert it with each scene in my manuscript.  If there is no answer, you have found an area to work.  Send me your results.  AnneRandolph@KitchenTableWriting.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SCENE:                TIME:                PLACE:


CHARACTER        NEED

            
        WANT

            
CHARACTER        NEED

            
        WANT

            
OBSTACLE

        
            
CONFLICT



            
ACTION



            
RESOLUTION
        

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All rights reserved   2009                                                          Reproduce only with permission from Anne Randolph  
www.KitchenTableWriting.com                                    www.AnneRandolph.com    info@KitchenTableWriting.com