Monday, August 17, 2015

Author Interview and Giveaway: Black Cat and the Accidental Angel by Elaine Faber

Black Cat and the Accidental Angel
Cozy Mystery
Paperback: 246 pages
Publisher: Elk Grove Publications (April 1, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1940781112
E-Book ASIN: B00W4J9ZVU
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Synopsis:
When their carrier is left behind following an MVA, Thumper awakes with amnesia. His companion says, “Call me Angel, I’m here to take care of you.” Why she won’t share their history or tell him his real name is a mystery.

No sooner than the cats are taken in by John and his daughter, Cindy at a vineyard and Emu farm, strange and progressively harmful pranks begin to occur, threatening Cindy’s safety.

A surprising discovery and an unexpected meeting with a stranger brings about changes to their lives. Black Cat (Thumper) struggles to remember his past and yearns to return to his family, but Angel insists they must stay and help John resolve his financial troubles. As the summer progresses, Black Cat experiences despair, shame, loss, and finally acceptance and joy. But, when a final threat to Cindy arises, Angel risks her life to protect the child she has come to love, and Black Cat learns there are more important things in life than knowing your own name.
hi-res-Elaine-Boots 
Birdhouse Books Interviews Elaine Faber 

Birdhouse:  When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?


Elaine:  I think I’ve been a writer since I was a child, writing poems for my mother.  I began writing short stories in high school on my little manual typewriter. I still have a folder full of brown, dog-eared pages from this time. One of these days, I’ll look them over, revise some of them and spring them on an unsuspecting world.

Birdhouse:  What was your favorite book as a child? 

Elaine:  I read Heidi and Little Women as a young girl, and To Kill a Mockingbird as a teen, but the book that most influenced my writing career  was Paul Gallico’s Silent Meow, a book with photographs of Mr. Gallico and his wife and a cat that ‘took over’ the family. The book is supposed to be written by the cat! It was the first book I ever read from the cat’s point of view and the concept fascinated me. I think the concept for my novels, Black Cat’s Legacy, Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, and Black Cat and the Accidental Angel, where Thumper tells part of the story from his point of view, came from this early exposure to Mr. Gallico’s wonderful book. Yes, it’s still on my shelf in a place of honor.

Birdhouse:  What is your writing day like? Do you have any interesting writing quirks?


Elaine:  I suppose I’m a pretty boring writer. Don’t get up at 4:00 AM to write. Don’t write longhand in a yellow tablet or use a manual typewriter any more. Don’t play the Grateful Dead in earphones.  Writing is supposed to be fun. I write new stories when the mood strikes. I’m at my desk every day, either writing, editing, promoting, working on a guest post, beseeching cooperative bloggers for interviews (LOL) or whatever else the day requires. I work on my ‘craft/business’ every day in some manner, but have no particular requirement for XX number of words per day. That doesn’t sound like fun to me.

Birdhouse:  What was the most surprising thing you learned while creating this book?


Elaine:  As with all my books, the characters surprise me with their unexpected twists and turns. Often the characters behave in ways that I had not planned. We know that in a Cozy, you can’t kill a cat or a child, but there is a scene in Black Cat and the Accidental Angel, where a character is in a life-threatening situation with seemingly no way out. I always figure it out, but there are times when I may sit with chill bumps on my arms, scratching my head and saying, “Now, what the heck shall I do?”

Birdhouse:  Who are your favorite authors?

Elaine:  I love Elizabeth Peters, who writes a mystery in Egypt during 1930-40’s. Of course, Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen are favorites. I love John Steinbeck who can turn a phrase so beautifully. I love many cozy mystery writers too numerous to name. 

Birdhouse:  What is your next writing project?

Elaine:  My current WIP, a humorous mystery, Mrs. Odboddy, Home Town Patriot, is scheduled for next spring. It is set during WWII in hometown United States. I’ve added many little-known historical facts about that era with the humorous exploits of an elderly eccentric lady who sees conspiracies and Nazi spies around every bush. As she attempts to bring the scoundrels to justice, she encounters stolen Hawaiian money, six chickens, a casket company and an old lover from WWI. 

Thanks for the opportunity to share my books with your readers. I hope they will check them out on Amazon.


About The Author
Elaine Faber’s short stories are published in magazines and multiple anthologies. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Inspire Christian Writers and Cat Writers Association.

Elaine is author of the Black Cat Mysteries involving Thumper, the cat who solves mysteries with the aid of his ancestor’s memories: Black Cat’s Legacy; Black Cat and the Lethal Lawyer, and Black Cat and the Accidental Angel. 

Elaine lives in Elk Grove with her husband of 51 years. (That’s a marriage of 51 years, not a husband of 51 years). They share their home with four house cats, the inspiration for her Black Cat Mysteries. A portion of the sales proceeds goes to animal rescue programs. 

Author Links
Website: www.mindcandymysteries.com
Facebook:  http://facebook.elainefaber2 

Purchase Links
Amazon
Shop Indie Bookstores B&N

Book 2 in this Series



Giveaway:  
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

4 comments:

pastprimetravelers said...

I enjoyed reading about how you came upon using a cat to solve the mysteries. I also, enjoyed reading about your daily schedule for keeping up with your work. Thank you for sharing with us and the best of luck with your blog tour. Maria

Elaine Faber said...

So glad to have you visit today. Hope you will check out the three Cat Mystery books on Amazon. I know you'll love thumper and become a devoted fan!!

Mama Cat said...

This sounds like a fun series that is new to me - would love to start reading in it! Thank you for the chance to win! I love cozy mysteries with cats!

Elaine Faber said...

Mama Cat. Happy to see you visiting the blog. Even if you don't win, the books are only $3.99 on Amazon and finding a new cat mystery is an exciting and worthwhile process. Hope you will check us out. :)