D'Ann Mateer and Free Books!

Lula Bowman is used to having all the answers, but this assignment has her questioning all her plans for the future.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of The Marshal's Pursuit, by Gina Welborn, is:

dkstevensne@ . . .

and the winner of the signed copy of Her Montana Twins, by Carolyne Aarsen, is:

fishingjan@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your books to you right away.

I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's meet novelist D'Ann Mateer, author of Playing by Heart (Bethany House, September 2014).

Anne Mateer is passionate about bringing history to life through fiction. She is the author of four historical novels set in the years just prior to and during World War I and was a 2013 Carol Award finalist. She also has a contemporary short story in the upcoming A Cup of Christmas Cheer II.

Anne and her history-loving husband live in Texas and are the proud parents of three young adults.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

--My husband and I met while doing summer internships in Washington, D.C.

--I hate cooking.

--I am a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Playing by Heart.

Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But a shocking phone call from her sister changes everything.

Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to help her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn't even consider those real subjects!

Lula commits to the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula only has plans to return to college as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.

However, the more time she spends around Jewel's family, the girls' basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula realizes God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look very different than she expected.

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

Lula is a young woman who has become strong as she’s pursued a dream against the norm, and yet she finds herself torn between crafting her dreams to please others or embracing the things she is uniquely gifted to do. I think that’s a struggle for many of us—especially women. We struggle to balance sacrifice for those we love with pursuit of our own goals. I think the universality of these issues will endear Lula to readers.

You're so right, D'Ann. Women in particular tend to struggle with the nurturing aspect of our personalities and the ambitious side. 

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I don’t see a lot of current movies, so this is always a hard question for me! I’ll go with what I know, which might not be super mainstream, but who knows?

I am kind of enamored with the girl from the new movie The Hundred Foot Journey, Charlotte Le Bon. Give her a bit of a twang and I think she’d make a great Lula.



As for Chet, I lean toward Jack Ashton from last season’s Call the Midwife. (He plays Trixie’s new love interest, the hunky priest.) He has that “All American Boy” look, though my guess is he’s British. But maybe not. ☺



If you could set your next novel absolutely anywhere you’d like, where would you set it? And during what time period? Why?

I’ve always had a penchant for everything British, so I’d set a story in England or Scotland—or even Wales or Cornwall. Any time period would do. I love all of history.

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

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Not only was it a fascinating historical novel (set in 1600s Massachusetts), but I consider Ms. Brooks one of the best at conveying an accurate historical worldview in her characters. She is also amazing at creating a sense of time and place through her word choices in storytelling. Her books truly transport the reader to experience history, not just read about it.

Agreed. She's a phenomenal author. 

What are you working on now?

I’m about to begin a new project and I’m not exactly sure which idea I’ll be pursuing! I have several bits of information that have spurred my imagination recently. The difficulty comes in deciding which one to follow.

Where else can readers find you online?

I blog at www.annemateer.com. I am also active on facebook , twitter , and pinterest . You can also check out my bookshelf on Goodreads.

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:




CBD.com




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

What is your primary purpose in reading fiction—escape or discovery (of yourself or history or the world)?

Thanks, D'Ann, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, D'Ann has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, September 29. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to D'Ann's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Carolyne Aarsen, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a free copy of the book.

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.