Linda Shenton Matchett and Free Books!

A secret mission…a fake bride…a run for their lives.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Dawn Kinzer's contemporary romance, By All Appearances, is:

pepsi324@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's meet novelist Linda Shenton Matchett, author of the historic romance novel, Spies & Sweethearts (Shortwave Press, April 2020).

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a trustee for her local public library. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry.

Linda has lived in historic places all her life, and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I took shooting lessons last year.

What fun! I took handgun lessons years ago (and never shot another one, but that's beside the point). It was a fun experience. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Spies & Sweethearts.

According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away—a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels.

Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey?

And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love.

What is it about Emily that will make your readers care about her?

Emily is the youngest of three sisters and as such, has always felt the need to prove herself. She tries to make good decisions, but often second guesses and compares herself to others. I think that many of us have “imposter syndrome,” and readers will be able to relate to her struggle with self-confidence.

What kind of brainstorming do you when beginning a new novel?

I am fascinated by the various jobs (paid and unpaid) women held during WWII, so the first thing I do is determine what my protagonist will do for a living. I have a list of jobs and women’s organizations that I created years ago when I first started writing about WWII. After figuring out my heroine’s job, I make a list of “what if” scenarios to see what sort of trouble I can subject her to. I also try to come up with an actual event that will impact her and her situation. The event may determine the setting, but if not, I brainstorm ideas as to what location makes the most sense for the story arc. The theme of second chances is often in my stories, so I also brainstorm past difficulties for my heroine.

That's an excellent path to follow in order to develop a compelling, conflict-riddled story. And you have the historic element to use as well. I love it.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I just read Barbara Britton’s Heavenly Lights: Noah's Journey (Daughters of Zelophehad Series). I fell in love with the main characters on the first page, and they have stayed with me long after finishing the book. Noah is a complex woman who I related to immediately, and Jeremiah, a deaf/mute, is a hero in every sense of the word. I laughed, cried, and sighed through the entire book. The story also made me examine my own faith.

What are you working on now?

I’m finishing The Widow & The War Correspondent, the third book in the Sisters in Service series. The story is about Emily’s oldest sister, Cora who is widowed when her husband is killed at Pearl Harbor.

Where else can readers find you online?

Website/blog: www.LindaShentonMatchett.com
Newsletter signup (receive a free short story)
Facebook
Amazon author page
BookBub
Goodreads
Pinterest
Twitter: @lindasmatchett

The book is available for purchase online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Women in all walks of life stepped out of their comfort zone to serve the war effort during WWII. When is a time you stepped out of your comfort zone to do a good deed?

Thanks, Linda, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Linda has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

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Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE