Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings: A WWII tale (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries) by Elaine Faber. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings: A WWII tale
(Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
by Elaine Faber
Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings: A WWII tale (Mrs. Odboddy Mysteries)
Historical Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – California
Elk Grove Publications (April 30, 2022)
Paperback : 264 pages
After falling from a tree, Agnes’s behavior and delusions escalate from ‘merely eccentric,’ to ‘near mayhem ’ Still seeking a permanent home for a displaced carnival tiger, she goes to unthinkable extremes in an effort to prevent city hall from destroying the big cat. When Agnes witnesses a well-known citizen commit burglary, and the church’s beloved Good Shepherd painting goes missing, she becomes obsessed with exposing the art thief. But, questions arise whether the extent of her bizarre behavior is due to a ‘brain bleed’ from her head injury, or is something amiss in her medical treatment?
As WWII rages across the Pacific, dealing with victory gardens and rationing at home doesn’t stop Agnes from fighting the war from the home front. From city hall, to the hot seat at Newbury’s Police Department, and finally to a San Francisco mansion, Agnes pursues injustice to save a tiger and expose a shocking conspiracy at the highest levels of Newbury’s elite society.
Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings is a hilarious WWII mystery-adventure you’ll not soon forget.
Interview with Elaine Faber
Thanks for taking the time to share a bit about yourself with my readers and me!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m an elderly lady who waited far too long before deciding to share my writing with others. Now with 10 published books, I’m still sharing! Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings is one of my favorite stories.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing short stories in the late 50’s, early 60’s and continued throughout my life. Now have short stories published in 22 anthologies.
Did you always want to be an author?
I always liked to write, but didn’t think about publishing until about ten years ago. What made you choose the cozy mysteries? I don’t like cruelty, explicit sex, inhumanity, or gruesome details. The cozy mystery guarantees a good story without explicit sex or extreme violence. Add a cat and its perfect.
Do you prefer to read cozy mystery books, or do you have another favorite genre? What are you reading now?
I love cozy mysteries and read daily. I’m currently reading “Sea Change” by Robert Parker. It may be a bit grittier than a cozy mystery. We’ll see.
Do you have a favorite place to write?
In my very quiet office, at my computer where Mrs. Odboddy speaks to me and helps flesh out her adventures. LOL
What’s on your desk (if you write at one!)?
Computer, package scales, pens, papers, glasses, coffee cup and a sandwich.
What is the first book you remember reading as a child? What was one of your favorite books you read as a child?
I still have my favorite child’s book, Bunny Blue about a plush rabbit who has lost his bow and search all night for it. I loved reading Little Women, Heidi, and Zane Gray westerns as a teenager.
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
My novels sold on Amazon are physical books and e-books, but I personally prefer to read a hardback book or paperback. I don’t read e-books.
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
I went to Austria and Germany in the late 80’s and it was so beautiful. It would be a lovely place to live and write a book. One of my novels, Black Cat and the Secret in Dewey’s Diary partly takes place in Austria.
What or who has influenced you the most as a writer?
Years ago, I read The Secret Meow by Paul Gallico, where the CAT narrated the story!. The concept fascinated me. I think that book influenced me to write cozy cat mystery novels where the cat narrates part of the story. My first published novel, Black Cat’s Legacy, is a cozy cat mystery, followed by three more cozy cat mystery adventures. In Mrs. Odboddy’s series, she has a Siamese cat, but Ling Ling is a silent character in these stories.
Do you have any author friends who support you while you’re writing? Do you belong to any writing groups?
I work with several author friends and belong to three writer’s groups. Sisters in Crime, Northern CA Publishers and Authors, and Elk Grove Writers Guild. Three of Mrs. Odboddy’s mysteries won annual writer’s awards in NCPA in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Finally, what are you working on now? Can you tell us a bit about it?
I have several works in progress. Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate TBP 2024, a sequel to a stand-alone novel, The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain, TBP 2023, and currently updating my first published novel, Black Cat’s Legacy, published in 2014. Don’t we continue to grow as writers over time? It’s a goal I continue to pursue.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions!
About Elaine Faber
Elaine Faber lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband and two feline companions. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (SIC), Elk Grove Writer’s Guild (EGWG), and Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA). Elaine volunteers with the American Cancer Society. She has published nine cozy mystery novels, and an anthology of cat stories. Her short stories are also published in 22 independent anthologies.
Black Cat’s Legacy, Thumper meets Kimberlee and with the aid of his ancestors’ memories, helps her pursue her father’s cold case murder. http://tinyurl.com/lrvevgm
Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, Thumper (Black Cat) goes to Texas and confronts an embezzling attorney and thwarts an attempted murder plot. http://tinyurl.com/q3qrgyu
Black Cat and the Accidental Angel, Black Cat and his companion are left behind following an MVA and find new adventures on an emu farm. http://tinyurl.com/y4eohe5n
Black Cat and the Clue in Dewey’s Diary Kimberlee follows clues to stolen gold coins in Austria, as Black Cat faces intrigue in hometown Fern Lake. http://tinyurl.com/vgyp89s
Mrs. Odboddy-Hometown Patriot, Eccentric Mrs. Odboddy is determined to expose Nazi spies and conspiracies on every hand. http://tinyurl.com/hdbvzsv
Mrs. Odboddy-Undercover Courier, Mrs. Odboddy prevents Nazi spies from stealing the ‘secret documents’ she is carrying by train to President Roosevelt. http://tinyurl.com/jn5bzwb
Mrs. Odboddy-And Then There was a Tiger, Falsely accused, Agnes seeks the missing war bond money and befriends a displaced carnival tiger. https://tinyurl.com/yx72fcpx
Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings. Agnes exposes an art thief, and seeks a permanent home for Shere Khan, the displaced carnival tiger, she https://tinyurl.com/5xah4cnt
The Spirit Woman of Lockleer Mountain. Is the woman in the woods a missing neighbor, the imaginary local Native American’s Spirit Woman? http://tinyurl.com/y7rp7f3x
All Things Cat, Twenty-one short stories written about, or narrated by about cats from all walks of life. http://tinyurl.com/y9p9htak
Elaine’s Website http://www.mindcandymysteries.com
Purchase Link – Amazon
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Mrs. Odboddy’s Desperate Doings TOUR PARTICIPANTS
May 29 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
May 29 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 30 – FUONLYKNEW – HISTORICAL FACTS POST
May 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
May 31 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 31 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
June 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
June 1 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
June 2 – Indie Author Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 3 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 3 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
June 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
June 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 5 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 5 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 6 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 7 – Maureen’s Musings – REVIEW
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Thanks for the opportunity to share my book with your readers. Hope they will enjoy the story.
You’re welcome! Thank you for stopping by today!
Thanks for hosting.