Linda Shenton Matchett's Blog, page 55
September 3, 2020
Fiction Friday: September New Releases!
Fiction Friday: September New Releases!
Lots great new Christian and Clean-N-Wholesome books coming out in September.
Love's Pure Light (Historical Romance, 09/01/20): Susanne Dietze, Janine Rosche, Deborah Raney, Shannon McNear: Be transported to unique time periods as you follow a treasured family nativity set through four generations of the Shepherd family.
Target for Ransom (Christian Romantic Suspense, 09/01/20): Laura Scott: Can he rescue the daughter he never knew he had?
Something Worth Doing (Historical Fiction, 09/03/20): Jane Kirkpatrick: Based on a true story, a suffragist demonstrates resilience.
Pam's Christmas Kisses (Contemporary Christian Romance, 09/07/20): Laura Domino: Love is more than meets the eye.
Matching Points (Contemporary Christian Romance, 09/09/20): Nancy J. Farrier: She doesn't hold his past against him...can he forgive hers?
Love at First Flight (Historic Romance, 09/15/20): Linda Shenton Matchett: Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?
Hiding the Billionaire (Sweet Contemporary Romance, 09/18/20): Macie St. James: They have it all...except the one thing that matters most.
September 2, 2020
Talkshow Thursday: Meet Christy Distler
Talkshow Thursday: Meet Christy Distler
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your book A Cord of Three Strands. The premise is fascinating. Where did you find your inspiration for the story?
CHRISTY: Thank you so much, and thank you for hosting me, Linda! My inspiration actually came from a dream. I know, cliché, right? But it’s true. Years ago I was working on the genealogy of my maternal grandmother’s family and came across a name—Seneca Lukens—that made me question the family’s connection to the Seneca tribe. That night Isaac Lukens—a man born to a French trader and a Lenape woman—showed up in a dream. From there I started writing his story, and it ended up intertwining with historical happenings and people.
LM: Research is an important part of the writing process. What sort of research did you do for A Cord of Three Strands? Did you unearth anything that was totally unexpected that you knew you had to include?
CHRISTY: ACTS required sooo much research. I had some general knowledge already since I love historical fiction and I attended Horsham Friends Meeting (the Quaker meeting in the book) for a couple of years when I was a young adult. That said, a lot of research was still necessary, especially since all the places in the story, as well as several people and the Friendly Association (the group of Philadelphia Quakers who attempted to act as a liaison between Pennsylvania and its Indian tribes) aren’t fictional. But I love research, so I didn’t mind it.
As far as unearthing something unexpected, yes—two things, actually. The first was the Friendly Association. I didn’t know about that until I started researching, and when I learned the group formed at exactly the time the book was set, I knew I had to include it. The other thing I learned didn’t end up in the book, but it gave me some real insight into what life was like in the eighteenth century. About a year after ACTS’s prologue takes place, Gwynedd Friends Meeting (the nearest meeting to Horsham) was hit by an epidemic, probably diphtheria, that took the lives of about sixty of the children—almost that entire generation—in two months’ time. Just inconceivable. Several of the children were cousins to my ancestors, and I’d love to find a way to somehow write a tribute to those children and their families. But wow, what an emotionally intense undertaking that would be.
LM: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
CHRISTY: For ACTS, seeing it all come together in the end. I didn’t plot this novel like I did the one I’m working on right now, so seeing the way everything fell into place just perfectly (in my eyes, anyway) just amazed me. Of course, I know better than to take credit for that. God planted this story in my heart, and even though I tended it, he caused it to grow.
LM: You are a professional editor in addition to being a novelist. How do you balance the two roles? Is it difficult to turn off your internal editor as you’re drafting?
CHRISTY: It’s definitely a balancing act. Editing is a more right-brained activity while writing is more left-brained, and switching from one to the other on the fly doesn’t always go smoothly for me. I’ve found it’s best to set aside days for just writing (not editing my work or anyone else’s). Turning off the internal editor can be difficult too, which is why I’m probably one of the slowest writers I know. I tell my authors to get the story down on paper and worry about the more challenging details later, but I’m not so good at taking my own advice with this. I’m working on that.
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your book A Cord of Three Strands. The premise is fascinating. Where did you find your inspiration for the story?CHRISTY: Thank you so much, and thank you for hosting me, Linda! My inspiration actually came from a dream. I know, cliché, right? But it’s true. Years ago I was working on the genealogy of my maternal grandmother’s family and came across a name—Seneca Lukens—that made me question the family’s connection to the Seneca tribe. That night Isaac Lukens—a man born to a French trader and a Lenape woman—showed up in a dream. From there I started writing his story, and it ended up intertwining with historical happenings and people.
LM: Research is an important part of the writing process. What sort of research did you do for A Cord of Three Strands? Did you unearth anything that was totally unexpected that you knew you had to include?
CHRISTY: ACTS required sooo much research. I had some general knowledge already since I love historical fiction and I attended Horsham Friends Meeting (the Quaker meeting in the book) for a couple of years when I was a young adult. That said, a lot of research was still necessary, especially since all the places in the story, as well as several people and the Friendly Association (the group of Philadelphia Quakers who attempted to act as a liaison between Pennsylvania and its Indian tribes) aren’t fictional. But I love research, so I didn’t mind it.As far as unearthing something unexpected, yes—two things, actually. The first was the Friendly Association. I didn’t know about that until I started researching, and when I learned the group formed at exactly the time the book was set, I knew I had to include it. The other thing I learned didn’t end up in the book, but it gave me some real insight into what life was like in the eighteenth century. About a year after ACTS’s prologue takes place, Gwynedd Friends Meeting (the nearest meeting to Horsham) was hit by an epidemic, probably diphtheria, that took the lives of about sixty of the children—almost that entire generation—in two months’ time. Just inconceivable. Several of the children were cousins to my ancestors, and I’d love to find a way to somehow write a tribute to those children and their families. But wow, what an emotionally intense undertaking that would be.
LM: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
CHRISTY: For ACTS, seeing it all come together in the end. I didn’t plot this novel like I did the one I’m working on right now, so seeing the way everything fell into place just perfectly (in my eyes, anyway) just amazed me. Of course, I know better than to take credit for that. God planted this story in my heart, and even though I tended it, he caused it to grow.
LM: You are a professional editor in addition to being a novelist. How do you balance the two roles? Is it difficult to turn off your internal editor as you’re drafting?
CHRISTY: It’s definitely a balancing act. Editing is a more right-brained activity while writing is more left-brained, and switching from one to the other on the fly doesn’t always go smoothly for me. I’ve found it’s best to set aside days for just writing (not editing my work or anyone else’s). Turning off the internal editor can be difficult too, which is why I’m probably one of the slowest writers I know. I tell my authors to get the story down on paper and worry about the more challenging details later, but I’m not so good at taking my own advice with this. I’m working on that.
August 31, 2020
Traveling Tuesday: Sweetwater, Texas
Traveling Tuesday: Sweetwater, Texas
The second largest U.S. state by both area (after Alaska) and population (after California), Texas is also larger than many countries. At 268,820 square miles, the state is almost twice as large as Germany or Japan and over twice the size of the United Kingdom. Its fascinating history includes ownership by Spain and France as well as being a member of both the United States and the Confederate States. For nearly ten years, Texas was also a republic having gained its independence from Mexico after the Texas Revolution.
On December 29, 1845 Texas was admitted at the twenty-eighth state. As a result, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S., and a boundary dispute went one for three years. The population was a strong mix of English-speaking settlers and Spanish-speaking former Mexicans. New settlers streamed into the state, many bringing their slaves. It wasn’t long before the beef industry took hold, with cattle being shipped all over the U.S. and Caribbean. The cotton, timber, and oil industries also created a strong economy within the state.
Nestled in the north central part of the state, the small town of Sweetwater sprouted. They received a post office in 1879, and the Texas and Pacific Railway started service two years later. To increase railroad traffic, the town built a town lake in 1898, then three more in subsequent years. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway began construction in 1903. Sweetwater became a railroad town with businesses and homes clustering along the rail lines.
As with many towns across the U.S. during World War II, Sweetwater’s population increased dramatically, more than doubling in large part to Avenger Field (named in a contest won by a Mrs. Grace Faver). Covering nearly 900 acres, the field began as the Sweetwater Municipal Airport in the 1920s. A small flight school operated using WWI surplus planes. In August 1941, the Army Air Force took over and created a training base. The flight school was taken over by the Plosser-Prince Air Academy who was contracted by the Royal Canadian Air Force to train British and American volunteer pilots.
One class of British Royal Air Force pilots was trained before the field was converted for training American women pilots: Jacqueline Cochran’s Women Air Service Pilots (WASP). The private flying school was closed in August 1942, and the base became a formal Army Air Force military installation to be used by the Air Transport Command as a transition school for experienced single-engine pilots. The graduates would be certified on twin-engine planes before being sent overseas. Ultimately, the men were moved to other locations and the base solely used for the WASP program.
The program disbanded in December 1944, and at the end of the war the military turned over the airport to local government for civil use. Pilots can still land at Avenger field at the Sweetwater Airport. Located on fifty acres of leased land, the National WASP WWII Museum opened in 2005, with a grand opening held on May 28, the same day the first class of WASP graduated in 1943.
_______________________
Love at First Flight: A WWII Romance
Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?
Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson.
Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.
Releasing on September 15, 2020 on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback.
Pre-order Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GP87WY5
The second largest U.S. state by both area (after Alaska) and population (after California), Texas is also larger than many countries. At 268,820 square miles, the state is almost twice as large as Germany or Japan and over twice the size of the United Kingdom. Its fascinating history includes ownership by Spain and France as well as being a member of both the United States and the Confederate States. For nearly ten years, Texas was also a republic having gained its independence from Mexico after the Texas Revolution.On December 29, 1845 Texas was admitted at the twenty-eighth state. As a result, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S., and a boundary dispute went one for three years. The population was a strong mix of English-speaking settlers and Spanish-speaking former Mexicans. New settlers streamed into the state, many bringing their slaves. It wasn’t long before the beef industry took hold, with cattle being shipped all over the U.S. and Caribbean. The cotton, timber, and oil industries also created a strong economy within the state.
Nestled in the north central part of the state, the small town of Sweetwater sprouted. They received a post office in 1879, and the Texas and Pacific Railway started service two years later. To increase railroad traffic, the town built a town lake in 1898, then three more in subsequent years. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway began construction in 1903. Sweetwater became a railroad town with businesses and homes clustering along the rail lines.As with many towns across the U.S. during World War II, Sweetwater’s population increased dramatically, more than doubling in large part to Avenger Field (named in a contest won by a Mrs. Grace Faver). Covering nearly 900 acres, the field began as the Sweetwater Municipal Airport in the 1920s. A small flight school operated using WWI surplus planes. In August 1941, the Army Air Force took over and created a training base. The flight school was taken over by the Plosser-Prince Air Academy who was contracted by the Royal Canadian Air Force to train British and American volunteer pilots.
One class of British Royal Air Force pilots was trained before the field was converted for training American women pilots: Jacqueline Cochran’s Women Air Service Pilots (WASP). The private flying school was closed in August 1942, and the base became a formal Army Air Force military installation to be used by the Air Transport Command as a transition school for experienced single-engine pilots. The graduates would be certified on twin-engine planes before being sent overseas. Ultimately, the men were moved to other locations and the base solely used for the WASP program.The program disbanded in December 1944, and at the end of the war the military turned over the airport to local government for civil use. Pilots can still land at Avenger field at the Sweetwater Airport. Located on fifty acres of leased land, the National WASP WWII Museum opened in 2005, with a grand opening held on May 28, the same day the first class of WASP graduated in 1943.
_______________________
Love at First Flight: A WWII Romance
Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson.
Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.
Releasing on September 15, 2020 on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback.
Pre-order Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GP87WY5
August 26, 2020
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Theresa Lynn Hall
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Theresa Lynn Hall
Linda: Welcome back! Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your debut Love Inspired Suspense novel Accidental Target. It sounds intriguing. What was your inspiration for the story?Theresa: Thank you so much for having me, Linda.I’m a pantser, so when I started the story it began with the idea of what would happen if someone was involved in a car accident and suddenly became the target of a killer. I think I was watching the news when I came up with it. From there, the characters began to take over. LM: Getting a book accepted by Love Inspired is a big accomplishment. How did the opportunity come about?Theresa: I just so happened to be on Facebook and saw a post by Emily Rodmell announcing The Great Love Inspired Author Search. I was working on a suspense and had the first six chapters written, so I decided to enter for feedback. I never dreamed I would end up with a contract! I polished up the first three chapters, wrote a synopsis, and a query letter, then sent it off. In the meantime, I continued writing the book. After I got the request for the full, I started to get really nervous. Emily Rodmell was the editor who received my submission and she gave me edits to do based on those first three chapters. After getting “The Call” I still had more edits to do, but Emily’s ideas really brought the story together. Even if I hadn’t been offered a contract, just getting the chance to work with her and learn from her has made me a better writer.LM: With your son in law enforcement, you’ve got a ready-made subject matter expert close at hand. What other research did you conduct for your story?Theresa: I also have a son who is a volunteer firefighter and we have several other police officers in the family, so I’m very fortunate to have plenty of experts I can reach out to for help. Some of my research also came from reading articles online, books about law enforcement, listening to podcasts and watching lots of YouTube videos. I watched a video on how to escape zip-ties to help me with a scene in the book. Great knowledge to have but I hope I never need it in real life!LM: How do you decide where to set your stories?Theresa: I’m a native Texan, and Texas is a BIG state. There’s literally every type of landscape you can imagine here. I like setting my books in fictitious Texas towns that resemble real towns.LM: If money were no object, where would you vacation?
Theresa: Oh, that’s an easy one! I would travel to Scotland and visit a real castle. Many years ago, I researched my dad’s family, and with the help of relatives, traced it back to 16th century Scotland. I’ve wanted to visit there ever since.
LM: Quickies:Theresa: Favorite Childhood book: The Little House on the Prairie seriesFavorite food: Mexican foodFavorite way to spend a day off: Writing (because I’m a full-time teacher.) LM: What is your next project?Theresa: I’ve got a couple of them, but one I’m working on right now is about a serial killer who is tormenting a female police officer. Although, she’s pretty tough and she doesn’t scare easily. It’s fun writing about a female character who can handle herself in just about any situation. She also has a handsome Texas Ranger helping her hunt down the killer. It will be interesting to see how they pull it off!
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?Theresa: I have a website at www.theresalynnhall.com and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theresahallauthor. I also have other social media accounts listed on my website. I also blog to help promote other Christian authors.
_____________________About Accidental Target:
On an icy road in the dead of night what she sees might get her killed.Allison Moore can't deny what she sees—a lifeless hand sticking out of a tarp in the back of a crashed pickup truck. Seconds later, she's on the run with a murderer on her heels. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted...except police sergeant Jackson Archer. But with someone set on silencing her, can Jackson keep his promise of protection?Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/32cRVQg
Linda: Welcome back! Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your debut Love Inspired Suspense novel Accidental Target. It sounds intriguing. What was your inspiration for the story?Theresa: Thank you so much for having me, Linda.I’m a pantser, so when I started the story it began with the idea of what would happen if someone was involved in a car accident and suddenly became the target of a killer. I think I was watching the news when I came up with it. From there, the characters began to take over. LM: Getting a book accepted by Love Inspired is a big accomplishment. How did the opportunity come about?Theresa: I just so happened to be on Facebook and saw a post by Emily Rodmell announcing The Great Love Inspired Author Search. I was working on a suspense and had the first six chapters written, so I decided to enter for feedback. I never dreamed I would end up with a contract! I polished up the first three chapters, wrote a synopsis, and a query letter, then sent it off. In the meantime, I continued writing the book. After I got the request for the full, I started to get really nervous. Emily Rodmell was the editor who received my submission and she gave me edits to do based on those first three chapters. After getting “The Call” I still had more edits to do, but Emily’s ideas really brought the story together. Even if I hadn’t been offered a contract, just getting the chance to work with her and learn from her has made me a better writer.LM: With your son in law enforcement, you’ve got a ready-made subject matter expert close at hand. What other research did you conduct for your story?Theresa: I also have a son who is a volunteer firefighter and we have several other police officers in the family, so I’m very fortunate to have plenty of experts I can reach out to for help. Some of my research also came from reading articles online, books about law enforcement, listening to podcasts and watching lots of YouTube videos. I watched a video on how to escape zip-ties to help me with a scene in the book. Great knowledge to have but I hope I never need it in real life!LM: How do you decide where to set your stories?Theresa: I’m a native Texan, and Texas is a BIG state. There’s literally every type of landscape you can imagine here. I like setting my books in fictitious Texas towns that resemble real towns.LM: If money were no object, where would you vacation?
Theresa: Oh, that’s an easy one! I would travel to Scotland and visit a real castle. Many years ago, I researched my dad’s family, and with the help of relatives, traced it back to 16th century Scotland. I’ve wanted to visit there ever since.LM: Quickies:Theresa: Favorite Childhood book: The Little House on the Prairie seriesFavorite food: Mexican foodFavorite way to spend a day off: Writing (because I’m a full-time teacher.) LM: What is your next project?Theresa: I’ve got a couple of them, but one I’m working on right now is about a serial killer who is tormenting a female police officer. Although, she’s pretty tough and she doesn’t scare easily. It’s fun writing about a female character who can handle herself in just about any situation. She also has a handsome Texas Ranger helping her hunt down the killer. It will be interesting to see how they pull it off!
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?Theresa: I have a website at www.theresalynnhall.com and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theresahallauthor. I also have other social media accounts listed on my website. I also blog to help promote other Christian authors._____________________About Accidental Target:
On an icy road in the dead of night what she sees might get her killed.Allison Moore can't deny what she sees—a lifeless hand sticking out of a tarp in the back of a crashed pickup truck. Seconds later, she's on the run with a murderer on her heels. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted...except police sergeant Jackson Archer. But with someone set on silencing her, can Jackson keep his promise of protection?Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/32cRVQg
August 24, 2020
Traveling Tuesday: Missouri
Traveling Tuesday: Missouri
Located in the Midwestern United States, Missouri’s history hearkens back several hundred years with the Osage and Missouria Native American tribes. The state is bordered by eight states: Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. With the Ozark Mountains, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and large forests, the geography is rich in flora and fauna. In 1764, the fur trade was found by Frenchmen Pierre Laclede and his stepson Auguste Chouteau. Three years later the Spanish arrived.St. Louis became the center of a regional fur trade with Native American tribes that extended along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and dominated the economy for decades. The rivers were used to ship the furs down to New Orleans for export to Europe. The industry and the associated businesses made St. Louis a financial center and saw a large influx of wealth and luxury items. Shipment of agriculture products also created a boom in the economy, and the invention of the steamboat increased river trade even more.
Photo: balancedspirit/PixabayAcquired during the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Missouri became known as the Gateway to the West because it served as a departure point for many expeditions, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Oregon, Santa Fe, and California trails all began in Missouri, and the Pony Express got its start in Missouri.
After the territory was admitted as a slave state in 1821 (as per the Missouri Compromise), many of the early settlers migrated from the south and brought slaves with them. A decade later, Mormons and Canadians began to arrive, and conflicts were common. The Mormon War erupted in 1838, and the following year an “Extermination Order” was passed, and the Mormons were expelled, and their lands confiscated. Tensions over slavery continued, and the population exploded.
Many of the newcomers were Irish and German immigrants and found themselves on opposing sides of the slavery issue. Missouri voted to remain within the Union, however, a pro-Confederate group of politicians fled to the southern part of the state and voted to secede. However, as they never controlled any part of the state, the act was merely symbolic. The state was the location of nearly fifty battles during the Civil War.
The expansion of the railroad and the Texas cattle industry after the war, made Kansas a major meatpacking center. By the time World War II arrived, Missouri had transition from a rural economy to that of a mixed agricultural-service-industrial economy. Multiple military bases and Prisoner-of-War camps were constructed around the state, and almost 450,000 Missourians served in the military. Defense industry plants sprang up such as Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, Pratt & Whitney (engines), North American Aviation (bombers), Westinghouse, and Bendix Aviation.Perhaps most memorable is that the USS Missouri was the last battleship commissioned by the US, and was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan which ended WWII. Some well-known Missourians include Chuck Berry, Walt Disney, Edwin Hubble, Harry S. Truman, and Mark Twain.
Have you ever visited the Show Me State?
__________________________
Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.
As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.
An exciting addition to the “Westward Home & Hearts” series, this story is a Christian western romance. Easily read as a stand-alone.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3aOFLiS
August 19, 2020
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back June Foster
Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back June Foster
Linda: Welcome back! It’s been a while since your last visit, but you’ve been quite busy. Congratulations on your recent release Ryan’s Father. The story addresses series issues. Where did you get the inspiration for this story?June: In my novels, I write about Christian characters who encounter the challenges of living in today's world. I've written stories where my heroes deal with obesity, anger, drug use, and much more. The Lord placed on my heart a story about a Christian man who fights against same sex attraction.Linda: You are a retired school teacher, and the main character is a teacher. Did you draw from your own experiences to write this story?June: Yes, in some ways. I always taught the lower grades so I'm well acquainted with teaching reading. In the novel, the hero is a first-grade teacher, and I wrote several scenes where Ryan led his youngsters in learning to read.LM: What do you do you do to prepare yourself for writing? Do you have a set schedule?June: I generally write earlier in the day when I'm not tired or distracted. When I work on first drafts, I feel like my writing is terrible, but when I go back to edit, it doesn't seem quite as bad. (smile)LM: How do you deal with writer’s block?
June: For some reason, I'm not bothered by writer's block, but on occasion I don't know what's going to happen to my characters next, so I try a method I picked up in James Scott Bell's class. He suggested getting a thesaurus and open to a random page and point to a word. Then do it again. Allow the words to spark an idea. For example, I glanced at "diamond" then "parade." I would now include those two elements in a scene if I needed an idea.LM: Here are some quickies:Lake or ocean? I'd rather visit the ocean but only to look at it, not to swim in it.Walk, drive, or bicycle? I prefer to walk to get much needed exercise.Cat or dog? I'm completely in love with dogs.
LM: You have visited many areas of the U.S. What is your favorite place and why?June: We were so blessed to travel all over the US in our RV. However, my most favorite place was Hawaii. The air, the ocean and sand, the flowers, I can't tell you how glorious the islands are.LM: What is your next project?June: I'm writing a romantic suspense that will be published in December. In The Inn at Cranberry Cove, a young woman inherits her aunt's B&B in Washington state but encounters frightening midnight visitors. The handsome gardener whom her aunt hired before she died lives with a secret he can't reveal to the heroine.Linda: Where can folks connect with you?June:
Website: http://www.junefoster.comAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/junefosterTwitter: https://twitter.com/vjifosterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefoster
About Ryan's Father:
Ryan Reid is a first-grade teacher and a Christian with a heart for neglected kids, but a chance encounter during an earthquake with Sandy Arrington, a beautiful young nurse, rocks Ryan’s carefully guarded world and unearths the secret he has held deep in his heart: he's gay. Though Sandy falls in love with him, Ryan’s forbidden affections lie elsewhere, and he must depend on the Lord to see him through a battle he always hoped he’d never have to face.Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085S37ZDC
Linda: Welcome back! It’s been a while since your last visit, but you’ve been quite busy. Congratulations on your recent release Ryan’s Father. The story addresses series issues. Where did you get the inspiration for this story?June: In my novels, I write about Christian characters who encounter the challenges of living in today's world. I've written stories where my heroes deal with obesity, anger, drug use, and much more. The Lord placed on my heart a story about a Christian man who fights against same sex attraction.Linda: You are a retired school teacher, and the main character is a teacher. Did you draw from your own experiences to write this story?June: Yes, in some ways. I always taught the lower grades so I'm well acquainted with teaching reading. In the novel, the hero is a first-grade teacher, and I wrote several scenes where Ryan led his youngsters in learning to read.LM: What do you do you do to prepare yourself for writing? Do you have a set schedule?June: I generally write earlier in the day when I'm not tired or distracted. When I work on first drafts, I feel like my writing is terrible, but when I go back to edit, it doesn't seem quite as bad. (smile)LM: How do you deal with writer’s block?
June: For some reason, I'm not bothered by writer's block, but on occasion I don't know what's going to happen to my characters next, so I try a method I picked up in James Scott Bell's class. He suggested getting a thesaurus and open to a random page and point to a word. Then do it again. Allow the words to spark an idea. For example, I glanced at "diamond" then "parade." I would now include those two elements in a scene if I needed an idea.LM: Here are some quickies:Lake or ocean? I'd rather visit the ocean but only to look at it, not to swim in it.Walk, drive, or bicycle? I prefer to walk to get much needed exercise.Cat or dog? I'm completely in love with dogs.LM: You have visited many areas of the U.S. What is your favorite place and why?June: We were so blessed to travel all over the US in our RV. However, my most favorite place was Hawaii. The air, the ocean and sand, the flowers, I can't tell you how glorious the islands are.LM: What is your next project?June: I'm writing a romantic suspense that will be published in December. In The Inn at Cranberry Cove, a young woman inherits her aunt's B&B in Washington state but encounters frightening midnight visitors. The handsome gardener whom her aunt hired before she died lives with a secret he can't reveal to the heroine.Linda: Where can folks connect with you?June:
Website: http://www.junefoster.comAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/junefosterTwitter: https://twitter.com/vjifosterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjunefosterAbout Ryan's Father:
Ryan Reid is a first-grade teacher and a Christian with a heart for neglected kids, but a chance encounter during an earthquake with Sandy Arrington, a beautiful young nurse, rocks Ryan’s carefully guarded world and unearths the secret he has held deep in his heart: he's gay. Though Sandy falls in love with him, Ryan’s forbidden affections lie elsewhere, and he must depend on the Lord to see him through a battle he always hoped he’d never have to face.Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085S37ZDCAugust 14, 2020
Release Day: Dinah's Dilemma
Release Day: Dinah's Dilemma
I'm excited to announce the release of Dinah's Dilemma. The story was a long time in the making and has taken me back to my original historic roots of the 1800s. Being a native of Baltimore then living in Maryland and Northern Virginia, I was immersed in the colonial and Civil War eras. When I was invited to be part of the Westward Home and Hearts Mail Order Bride series, I jumped at the chance. In addition to giving my female protagonist a Baltimore heritage, I scoured my family's genealogy records to name my characters.
I hope you'll enjoy reading Dinah's Dilemma as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Here's a bit about the story:
Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XnWDv
I'm excited to announce the release of Dinah's Dilemma. The story was a long time in the making and has taken me back to my original historic roots of the 1800s. Being a native of Baltimore then living in Maryland and Northern Virginia, I was immersed in the colonial and Civil War eras. When I was invited to be part of the Westward Home and Hearts Mail Order Bride series, I jumped at the chance. In addition to giving my female protagonist a Baltimore heritage, I scoured my family's genealogy records to name my characters.
I hope you'll enjoy reading Dinah's Dilemma as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Here's a bit about the story:
Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4XnWDv
August 12, 2020
Talkshow Thursday: Meet Melony Teague
Talkshow Thursday: Meet Melony Teague
Linda: Welcome and thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on the release of your debut A Promise to Keep. What was your inspiration for the story?Melony: Thank you Linda, that’s a good question. I asked myself what it would be like to attend a high school reunion with all its mixed emotions. And what if you were reunited with your high school crush? And what would happen if a promise led you to that reunion. What if opposites like a quirky librarian and an adrenaline junkie, technical rescuer spent time together, would sparks fly? How would each of them, in their own way, have to overcome their biggest fears or regrets? And the story evolved from there.LM: How do you come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?Melony: I’m not sure exactly how I come up with my characters, they show up and reveal themselves to me in the first few chapter and then I run with it. All I know is that they make me fall in love with them, even with their flaws and all. And then I feel compelled to tell their story.LM: Research is an important part of writing. What sort of research did you do for A Promise to Keep?
Melony: My research included technical rescue research, which I had a local firefighter and technical rescuer to call on for first-hand information and to check my scenarios were plausible and realistic. My fellow author and friend, Tara K Ross helped me with the climbing scenes because of her own experience. The fear of heights was based on my own climbing experience. For the medical research, my friend Dr. Etzkorn was my consultant. In all of these areas, any mistakes are my own fault. They all gave excellent feedback. A large inspiration for the story was watching as many documentaries on the Thai Cave rescue as I could cram in.LM: You’ve written fiction and nonfiction (as a contributor to As the Ink Flows). How do you approach the two genres differently? The same?Melony: The common thread between these two genres is the motivation with which I tackle them. My aim is to inspire and bring hope with my words, not matter whether those words are fiction or not. I really believe everyone has a story to tell, and we need stories to bring life, and nourishment to our creative souls. God made us to relate to stories. These stories, both fiction and non-fiction are powerful and an essential part of humanity. LM: If money were no object, where is your idea of the ultimate vacation?Melony: That’s a hard one. Maybe Hawaii or some other tropical island.LM: Quickies:Favorite childhood book: I was a fan of Nancy Drew, Famous Five and Secret Seven and the Three Investigators. So basically all the budding sleuth books.Drink of choice: Coffee, tea, or soft drink?Coffee in the morning, tea after lunch. I prefer sparking water to soft drinks.Would you rather walk, bicycle, or drive a car: That depends, if it’s in nature, walk, if it is in the city, then a car.Melony:LM: What is your next project?Melony: I’m working on story and falling in love with these characters. It’s early days so I can’t say too much, but with the arrival of the pandemic the in-person research for the sequel to A Promise to Keep had to be put on hold. So while I wait, I am keeping myself busy with another story.LM: Where can folks find you on the web?Melony: My website is http://www.melonyteague.com, and readers can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as BookBub and Goodreads. The links are below:
Website: http://www.melonyteague.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/melonyteague/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/490991801725364/Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melony-teagueTwitter: https://twitter.com/MelonyTeagueInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/melonyteague/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14249646.Melony_TeagueNewsletter signup: newsletter____________________About A Promise to Keep
Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the decor to do it. Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he's back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah. Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure to uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3iX8nKh
Linda: Welcome and thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on the release of your debut A Promise to Keep. What was your inspiration for the story?Melony: Thank you Linda, that’s a good question. I asked myself what it would be like to attend a high school reunion with all its mixed emotions. And what if you were reunited with your high school crush? And what would happen if a promise led you to that reunion. What if opposites like a quirky librarian and an adrenaline junkie, technical rescuer spent time together, would sparks fly? How would each of them, in their own way, have to overcome their biggest fears or regrets? And the story evolved from there.LM: How do you come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?Melony: I’m not sure exactly how I come up with my characters, they show up and reveal themselves to me in the first few chapter and then I run with it. All I know is that they make me fall in love with them, even with their flaws and all. And then I feel compelled to tell their story.LM: Research is an important part of writing. What sort of research did you do for A Promise to Keep?
Melony: My research included technical rescue research, which I had a local firefighter and technical rescuer to call on for first-hand information and to check my scenarios were plausible and realistic. My fellow author and friend, Tara K Ross helped me with the climbing scenes because of her own experience. The fear of heights was based on my own climbing experience. For the medical research, my friend Dr. Etzkorn was my consultant. In all of these areas, any mistakes are my own fault. They all gave excellent feedback. A large inspiration for the story was watching as many documentaries on the Thai Cave rescue as I could cram in.LM: You’ve written fiction and nonfiction (as a contributor to As the Ink Flows). How do you approach the two genres differently? The same?Melony: The common thread between these two genres is the motivation with which I tackle them. My aim is to inspire and bring hope with my words, not matter whether those words are fiction or not. I really believe everyone has a story to tell, and we need stories to bring life, and nourishment to our creative souls. God made us to relate to stories. These stories, both fiction and non-fiction are powerful and an essential part of humanity. LM: If money were no object, where is your idea of the ultimate vacation?Melony: That’s a hard one. Maybe Hawaii or some other tropical island.LM: Quickies:Favorite childhood book: I was a fan of Nancy Drew, Famous Five and Secret Seven and the Three Investigators. So basically all the budding sleuth books.Drink of choice: Coffee, tea, or soft drink?Coffee in the morning, tea after lunch. I prefer sparking water to soft drinks.Would you rather walk, bicycle, or drive a car: That depends, if it’s in nature, walk, if it is in the city, then a car.Melony:LM: What is your next project?Melony: I’m working on story and falling in love with these characters. It’s early days so I can’t say too much, but with the arrival of the pandemic the in-person research for the sequel to A Promise to Keep had to be put on hold. So while I wait, I am keeping myself busy with another story.LM: Where can folks find you on the web?Melony: My website is http://www.melonyteague.com, and readers can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as BookBub and Goodreads. The links are below:
Website: http://www.melonyteague.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/melonyteague/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/490991801725364/Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/melony-teagueTwitter: https://twitter.com/MelonyTeagueInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/melonyteague/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14249646.Melony_TeagueNewsletter signup: newsletter____________________About A Promise to Keep
Research librarian Savannah Sanderson wants nothing more than to escape into her happily-ever-after novels with their larger-than-life fictional heroes. But a promise to her late husband has her attending her dreaded twenty-year high school reunion, drinking ghastly punch, and taking desperate measures just to keep her vow, even if she has to hide behind the decor to do it. Once a reckless troublemaker, Michael McCann fled town after graduation. Now a professional technical rescuer, he's back for the reunion, but on his trip down memory lane, he soon comes face to face with unresolved issues, namely Savannah. Before the night is over, a pact between these two old friends will lead them on an adventure to uncharted emotional territory where Michael must confront his past regrets and find the courage to reveal the truth. But can Savannah fly from her sheltered nest and risk her heart on a real-life hero?Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3iX8nKh
August 10, 2020
Traveling Tuesday: Baltimore in the 1800s
Traveling Tuesday: Baltimore in the 1800s
I was born in Baltimore, but my family relocated to New Jersey when I was still a young child. However, my father’s family members are long-time residents, so I continue to have close ties with the city. While brainstorming ideas for my story Dinah’s Dilemma, I was researching U.S. cities that had a gang presence during the mid- to late-1800s. Unfortunately for Baltimore, “Charm City” was near the top of the list. I was unfamiliar with this seamy side of my hometown and began to research with gusto in order to find a group for my protagonist’s brother.
About eighty years before the moniker Charm City surfaced, Baltimore was often referred to as Mobtown, first for the riots that occurred leading up to the War of 1812, then later for the violence that stalked its streets. By 1870, the city was home to more than a quarter million people, falling behind New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, St. Louis, and Chicago. An influx of Irish and German immigrants escaping famine and social unrest in Europe flooded the city tipping the percentage of foreign-born residents to nearly twenty-five percent. African-Americans also flocked to Baltimore creating competition for jobs.
With tensions high, it’s unsurprising that gangs began to infiltrate. The Bloody Tubs, Rips Raps, and Plug Uglies all started prior to the Civil War and with the exception of the Plug Uglies, continued their activities into the late 1870s. The Baltimore Crew gang wouldn’t show up until 1900. All three gangs were used by political parties to influence and intimidate voters, wreak havoc on election day, and assassinate opponents and murder law enforcement officers. Arson, knife-fighting, and robbery were also part of the gang’s repertoire.
A full decade would pass before public outcry against the violence would become loud enough for politicians to disassociate with the gangs and begin to clamp on their crimes. The 1880s saw a growth in manufacturing and new industries sprang up such as men’s clothing, canning, tin and sheet-iron products, tobacco, and foundries. Houses were constructed adding to city’s economy.
Now ninety-two square miles, Baltimore has come a long way since its inception of sixty acres in 1729. Have you visited Charm City?
____________________
About Dinah's Dilemma
Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?
Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.
As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3fC9Xys
I was born in Baltimore, but my family relocated to New Jersey when I was still a young child. However, my father’s family members are long-time residents, so I continue to have close ties with the city. While brainstorming ideas for my story Dinah’s Dilemma, I was researching U.S. cities that had a gang presence during the mid- to late-1800s. Unfortunately for Baltimore, “Charm City” was near the top of the list. I was unfamiliar with this seamy side of my hometown and began to research with gusto in order to find a group for my protagonist’s brother.
About eighty years before the moniker Charm City surfaced, Baltimore was often referred to as Mobtown, first for the riots that occurred leading up to the War of 1812, then later for the violence that stalked its streets. By 1870, the city was home to more than a quarter million people, falling behind New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, St. Louis, and Chicago. An influx of Irish and German immigrants escaping famine and social unrest in Europe flooded the city tipping the percentage of foreign-born residents to nearly twenty-five percent. African-Americans also flocked to Baltimore creating competition for jobs.
With tensions high, it’s unsurprising that gangs began to infiltrate. The Bloody Tubs, Rips Raps, and Plug Uglies all started prior to the Civil War and with the exception of the Plug Uglies, continued their activities into the late 1870s. The Baltimore Crew gang wouldn’t show up until 1900. All three gangs were used by political parties to influence and intimidate voters, wreak havoc on election day, and assassinate opponents and murder law enforcement officers. Arson, knife-fighting, and robbery were also part of the gang’s repertoire.A full decade would pass before public outcry against the violence would become loud enough for politicians to disassociate with the gangs and begin to clamp on their crimes. The 1880s saw a growth in manufacturing and new industries sprang up such as men’s clothing, canning, tin and sheet-iron products, tobacco, and foundries. Houses were constructed adding to city’s economy.
Now ninety-two square miles, Baltimore has come a long way since its inception of sixty acres in 1729. Have you visited Charm City?
____________________
About Dinah's Dilemma
Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life?Dinah Simpkins has no chance of making a good marriage. Her outlaw brothers and her father’s gambling addiction have ruined the family’s reputation. Then the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency provides an opportunity for a fresh start. After Dinah arrives in Nebraska, she discovers her brothers played a part in the death of her prospective groom’s first wife.
As a former Pinkerton detective Nathan Childs knows when someone is lying. The bride sent by the matrimonial agency may be beautiful, but she’s definitely hiding something, and he has no intention of marrying her until he uncovers the truth. But an easier solution may be to send her packing. Then his young daughter goes missing. He and Dinah must put aside their mutual hurt and mistrust to find her.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3fC9Xys
August 6, 2020
Fun Friday: August Releases
Fun Friday: August Releases
Be sure to check out these new releases for the month of August:
The Soldier's Lady (08/01/20) Historic novella collection, Suzanne Dietze, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad, Janette Foreman: Adventure and romance await at Frontier Forts http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085LZ4XKD
Accidental Target (08/01/20) Christian Romantic Suspense, Theresa Lynn Hall: She never thought an innocent act of kindness would put a target on her back. http://amazon.com/dp/B083QLPDB2
In High Cotton (08/03/20) Women's Fiction, Ane Mulligan: Can five Southern women band together, using their wiles and wisdom to survive the Great Depression? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B087V636BH
Peace in the Valley (08/04/20) Amish romance, Kelly Irvin: One Amish is shown a different way to practice her faith, but pursuing it could cost her everything she holds dear, including the man she loves. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B081MQ7836
The Plans We Made (08/14/20) Women's Fiction, Kathryn Cushman: When past secrets hold the only key to hope for the future http://amazon.com/dp/B08D6T586Q
Abigail's Secret: (08/15/20) Contemporary, Marilyn Turk: The lighthouse holds secrets that can change their lives. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CNMX5HG
Dinah's Dilemma (08/15/20) Historic Romance, Linda Shenton Matchett: Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life? https://amzn.to/3gr2V0I
The Price of Dreams (08/18/20) Contemporary Romance, Toni Shiloh: If my hopes of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B088FYXV2D
Be sure to check out these new releases for the month of August:
The Soldier's Lady (08/01/20) Historic novella collection, Suzanne Dietze, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad, Janette Foreman: Adventure and romance await at Frontier Forts http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085LZ4XKD
Accidental Target (08/01/20) Christian Romantic Suspense, Theresa Lynn Hall: She never thought an innocent act of kindness would put a target on her back. http://amazon.com/dp/B083QLPDB2
In High Cotton (08/03/20) Women's Fiction, Ane Mulligan: Can five Southern women band together, using their wiles and wisdom to survive the Great Depression? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B087V636BH
Peace in the Valley (08/04/20) Amish romance, Kelly Irvin: One Amish is shown a different way to practice her faith, but pursuing it could cost her everything she holds dear, including the man she loves. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B081MQ7836
The Plans We Made (08/14/20) Women's Fiction, Kathryn Cushman: When past secrets hold the only key to hope for the future http://amazon.com/dp/B08D6T586Q
Abigail's Secret: (08/15/20) Contemporary, Marilyn Turk: The lighthouse holds secrets that can change their lives. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CNMX5HG
Dinah's Dilemma (08/15/20) Historic Romance, Linda Shenton Matchett: Will she have to run from the past for the rest of her life? https://amzn.to/3gr2V0I
The Price of Dreams (08/18/20) Contemporary Romance, Toni Shiloh: If my hopes of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B088FYXV2D
