 If you love to read historical fiction, you're going to want to learn more about the author I'm interviewing today. She's got all sorts of historical stories out, and they all sounds good! So, stick around and get to know Linda Shenton Matchett with me. Linda, what first made you want to be a writer? I’ve been writing since I was very young. My parents gave me a tablet (with a bouquet of pencils on the front!) and a package of pens and encouraged me to fill the notebook. I was an active, imaginative kid, and I think it was their way to keep me in one place (and out of trouble) for periods of time. I scribbled lots of stories, but the incident that lit the desire of being an author was when I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as a young teen. The book made a deep impression on me, and I wanted to write stories that affected others the same way. I continued to write stories but was not able to get serious about publication until about fifteen years ago. You call yourself a history geek. What is it about history that makes you love it so much and want to weave it into your books? I actually hated history throughout my school years. Unfortunately, it was taught as a collection of dates, places, and names. It wasn’t until my early adult years that I experienced museums with docents and re-enactors who brought history alive with people’s stories and what it was like to live during the time period. The personal aspect is what intrigues me. How was life different during the particular era and how was it the same? How would it have felt to be there? Live through the various events? You have written quite a few books now, in several different time periods. What would you say is your favorite time period and why? As much as I enjoy writing about the mid- to late-1800s, my favorite time period is World War II, especially the U.S. and British home front. It was a time of great change in all aspects of life, and turned society upside down as women stepped into roles and jobs traditionally held by men, whether they wanted to or not. It was all about supporting the war effort. People had to set aside differences, band together, and support each other. Great reasons! I know you write both romance and mystery. Do you have a favorite? I enjoy writing mysteries, but have turned to primarily writing romance because I prefer happily-ever-after stories. I love happily ever afters, too! Do any of your characters share traits or personalities with you? Most of my characters are tenacious (read stubborn) and that’s definitely a shared trait. LOL. The women are usually fairly candid, also much like me. (I’m not sure I’d know how to write a demure character!) But my protagonists are often more brave, trying things that I’d never dream of such as be a mail-order bride, spy, war correspondent, or gold prospector. What are you working on next? Anything coming out soon? I’m just about finished with a WWII romance that is part of the Thanksgiving Books & Blessings collection. Estelle’s Endeavor will release on September 26, 2022. After that I’ve have several books planned for next year, two of which are contemporary novels, but I’ve managed to bring in the past history, of course! Sounds like fun. Okay, one last question: Please tell us one thing about you that very few people know. I was fingerprinted by the police when I was eight years old. Crazy to think about now, but our Brownie troop toured the jail as a field trip. They even put us in the cells. What were they thinking?? I can’t imagine it had anything to do with earning a badge. :-) Ha! That's really fun. I can remember doing some interesting things to earn girl scout badges, but don't remember doing that. Thanks so much for being a guest on my blog and telling us more about you, Linda! If you want to find out more about Linda and one of her books, keep reading.  Estelle’s Endeavor: Will a world at war destroy a second chance at love? Estelle Johnson promises to wait for Aubry DeLuca to return from war, but then she receives word of his debilitating injuries. Does she have the strength to stand by him during his hour of need? Aubry DeLuca storms the beaches of Normandy, then wakes up in a hospital, his eyes heavily bandaged. Will the only woman he’s ever loved welcome him home or is he destined to go through life blind and alone? Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Pga59w 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 a former 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.
Links: Website/blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Shenton-Matchett/e/B01DNB54S0 Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/linda-shenton-matchett BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett Moments in History YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b-o_6cD8HkHNyFP-wZwJg Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/LindaShentonMatchett
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Linda Shenton Matchett
8/1/2022 07:40:23 pm
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