Nostalgia, A Writers Journey ~ Linda Shenton Matchette ~ Giveaway

Nostalgia

By Linda Shenton Matchett

My birthday falls in the month of May, and each year I become more nostalgic on that day, remembering previous celebrations and other heartwarming memories. This year my husband and I went away for the weekend to a cozy cabin in the White Mountains. Every morning was spent writing my latest work-in-progress. It is nearly complete, and I got to thinking about the fact that the manuscript is the ninth one I’ve written, six of which have been published.

I began to reminisce about my writing odyssey. It has been two years since my first book, Love’s Harvest, was published, but putting pen to paper started long before that. I made up stories in elementary school and a little bit in junior high, but I put writing in high school. I didn’t return to it until we moved to New Hampshire fifteen years ago to operate a B&B. As we pulled out of the driveway in Virginia, I wrote my first journal entry. Capturing our experience reignited my love of the craft, and I’ve been writing ever since.

Twists and turns littered my path: some freelance writing in travel and lifestyle magazines, a few guest blog posts, and an opportunity to write a monthly devotion for my church’s regional association. I enjoyed the non-fiction work, but telling stories is my first love, so I set out to write “The Great American Novel.” I wrote it, but great it was not! However, I didn’t know that and submitted it to several publishers, one of whom took the time to tell me she saw great potential but that I needed to improve my writing.

To make a long story short (which as a novelist is tough for me!), I took classes, attended conferences, and joined ACFW, which connected me with a group of authors who decided to create a collaborative blog: 

www.stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com. Three years ago, one of the authors suggested we band together and publish a collection of romance novellas. I was alternately excited and terrified of the opportunity. I had never written a romance before. Could I do it? Would anyone read it? If so, would they like it?

The questions continued, including the most important: what in the world could I write about? When the answer came to me, I couldn’t get to my computer fast enough. The biblical book of Ruth is one of my favorites. While I was growing up, my family moved quite often, so I appreciate that Ruth chose to leave her family and all that she knew to follow Naomi to a land where she may not have even spoken the language. Having read Francine River’s book Redeeming Love which is a retelling of the book of Hosea set in the American Old West, I decided to set Ruth during the WWII era. Research helped me find a famine (like the one in Ruth’s story) and the British Women’s Land Army, and a story was born!

It was a long trek to publication, but as I look back I see God’s perfect timing. I wish I had paid attention more during the journey. I think I may have missed some blessings. Are you waiting on God? Instead of chafing at the bit to reach the destination, ask Him what He would have you learn along the way.

Back Cover Copy:

Noreen Hirsch loses everything including her husband and two sons. Then her adopted country goes to war with her homeland. Has God abandoned her?

Rosa Hirsch barely adjusts to being a bride before she is widowed. She gives up her citizenship to accompany her mother-in-law to her home country. Can Rosa find acceptance among strangers who hate her belligerent nation?

Basil Quincey is rich beyond his wildest dreams, but loneliness stalks him. Can he find a woman who loves him and not his money?

Three people. One God who can raise hope from the ashes of despair.

About Linda: Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, journalist, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places most of her life. A member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters In Crime, Linda is a volunteer docent at the Wright Museum of World War II, and a trustee for her local public library.

Social Media links:

Website: www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin/in/authorlindamatchett

Giveaway:

Sign up for Linda’s newsletter (https://bit.ly/2DDLmI2)  to be entered in a raffle to win a paperback (US, or eBook international winner) copy of Love's Harvest. Everyone who signs up will receive her free eBook Devotions from a Writer. Once you've signed up, post "done" in the comments. The winner will be selected on May 31st.

Linda 

UNDER FIRE: Behind the Story

Under Fire: The Story Behind the Story

by Linda Matchett

War always has a tremendous influence on people’s lives, and WWII was no exception. I grew up hearing stories about that time period from my grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Most were too old to serve in combat, but they did their bit in a host of other ways. For example, my paternal grandfather worked for Shell Oil Company and was responsible for the gas ration stamps for Baltimore, Maryland, a city of nearly one million people. He had a particularly harrowing ordeal involving the police and a trunk full of boxed stamps. And even though my dad was a child during the war, he was also impacted in many ways.

As a former Human Resources professional, I am intrigued by the role women played during WWII, and the changes that occurred to society because women were no longer relegated to the home. They volunteered, took jobs, and started charitable organizations, in addition to running their households. Most compelling for me are the inroads women made into jobs previously commandeered by men.

As a result, when I decided to write my debut mystery, Under Fire, I wanted to use a protagonist whose career choice was unusual for a woman. Because she was an amateur sleuth, she needed to work in a profession that allowed her to follow clues wherever they led. I racked my brain to no avail. Then I happened past an exhibit about war correspondents at the Wright Museum of WWII where I am a volunteer docent. The display focused on Ernie Pyle, but included a small placard that said of the more than 1,600 certified reporters, only 127 of them were women. Eureka! My main character had a job.

Using a 1947 high school yearbook, I named her Ruth Brown. She is intelligent, curious, and tenacious-all necessary traits to being a journalist. Because of her position as a war correspondent, I was able to send her to England and Ireland where she experienced rationing, bombing raids, housing shortages, difficulties with public transportation, and black market schemes. In order to make Ruth realistic, I read countless memoirs, autobiographies, and newspaper articles by those 127 female correspondents. Their stories are one action-packed adventure after another, many of which are almost beyond belief. I homogenized many of their encounters and subjected Ruth to similar circumstances.

After creating my protagonist, I had to come up with a mystery for her to solve, and a study of the London police blotter gave me lots of cases from which to choose. I won’t give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say, the war plays a large part in the motive, as I discovered it often did in real life crimes at that time. It is my hope that Ruth will put a face on the war for readers, and that she will honor those women who served at home and abroad, in both big and small ways. Under Fire explores themes of God’s grace, forgiveness, and second chances and is available from eLectio Publishing: www.electiopublishing.com 

About Linda: Born in Baltimore, Maryland, a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry, Linda Shenton Matchett has lived in historical places most of her life-from Edison, New Jersey (named for the famed inventor of the lightbulb) and Washington, DC to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (reputed to be the oldest summer resort in America).

A freelance writer for over ten years, her articles and devotionals have appeared in numerous print and online publications. A varied career has included stints as a crisis counselor, human resources professional, bed and breakfast owner, and youth center director. She is currently the Front of House, Snackbar, and Catering Manager for Brewster Academy, a boarding high school.

In her off hours, she can be found volunteering as a docent at the Wright Museum of WWII and as a Trustee for the Wolfeboro Public Library. She is active in her church where she serves as treasurer, usher, choir member, and Bible study leader.

Connect with Linda:

• www.LindaShentonMatchett.com
• www.facebook.com/AuthorLindaMatchett
• www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett
• www.linkedin.com/in/authorlindamatchett

 A Note from Peg: This book releases TODAY, July 25, 2917. Use the link above to get your copy hot off the press!