Local Author to offer books for sale Saturday at the Oasis Vendor and Craft Fair
 

[August 16, 2024]    Local author, Emily Tindill, aka Emily Elliff lives in rural Clinton with her husband, Mike. Her love of books started from an early age with comic books.

“Mom bought a box of comic books for a dollar at a rummage sale and that got me, my brother and sisters hooked on reading,” said Tindill.

From there, she devoured Ellery Queen, Alferd Hitchcock and later her sons’ Encyclopedia Brown books. “I’ve always liked trying to solve the mystery before I reached the end of the story.”

In between 30 years of factory work, raising her boys and watching Murder She Wrote with her mother, Tindill decided to take a writing course to see if this ‘old dog could learn new tricks.’ “Plus, it gave me something to do in my retirement years.

“The long-distance writing course had me send my stories in through the mail. It was seven long years before I had my first children’s story published in Hopscotch magazine.

“But reading who-done-its have always been my first love.

“I read somewhere you should read 100 books of your favorite genre before trying to write a book yourself. I’ve easily read that many – if not more.

“I eventually moved on to writing adult cozy mysteries. For me, the story is easier to write then the editing phase. It takes me two years to write a book. I wish I could pump them out like James Patterson – but I can’t see that happening anytime soon.” She laughs.

Tindill’s mysteries are loosely based on her travels in the south with her husband Mike while he worked short-term job contracts.

In her book, Malfunction Junction, her characters, Marty and Marie go back to work in their senior years. Marty’s the breadwinner and Marie is the amateur sleuth.

After six years of traveling with her husband, Tindill is happy to be back on home turf in Clinton where the she wrote her first historical fiction based on the story of Albert Cashier.

Jennie Hodgers, AKA Albert Cashier was one of the few that served a full three years in the army during the Civil War. The book is titled The Road Less Traveled.

Tindill admits while traveling with her husband, the warm winter weather has spoiled her, but she’s glad to be back in Illinois with the four seasons and less bugs. Definitely less bugs.

“I’m looking forward to meeting old friends and hopefully new readers of my mystery books.”

She’ll be at the Oasis senior center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday August 24th, selling her books during the Ballons over 66 Weekend.

[Emily Tindill/Elliff]