Talkshow Thursday: Linda Shenton Matchett
I enjoy sitting down with other authors and getting to know
them. With the upcoming release of Love’s
Belief, Book 3 of the Wartime Brides series, I thought you might like to
find out a bit more about me. So grab a glass of your favorite beverage and
read on! Feel free to ask your own questions in the comments section.
QUESTION: How did
your former career as a Human Resources professional aid you in the writing
process? How was it an impediment?
Answer: In my
first two jobs out of college I was fortunate to work for strong female
managers. They were good at what they did, and took pride at being successful
women without feeling like they had to act like men. In the 80s and 90s, women
were still struggling to be accepted in positions other than clerical or
administrative. Working during that time gave me an interest about the history
of women in the workforce, and especially women who were pioneers in their
field. As a result, I’ve uncovered lots of intriguing stories that I want to
tell. The impediment is the number of stories I’ve found!
QUESTION: What
was your inspiration for Love’s Belief?
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| German Resistance Flag |
Answer: Like the
other books in the Wartime Bride series, the story is a biblical retelling. I
had already written about England and France, and I decided it was time to do a
story about the German home front. Knowing there were lots of German people who
disagreed with Hitler and participated in the official (and unofficial)
resistance, I dug around until I found a story in the Bible that seemed to meld
well with the WWII era. When I found the story about the Hebrew midwives who
went against Pharaoh to save Jewish babies, I knew I had a fit.
QUESTION: Lots of
research goes into writing a book. Did you unearth a particularly interesting
tidbit you just knew had to be
included in the story?
Answer: The
administrative aspect of the Nazi party was intriguing. They were very
calculating and intentional about what they did, almost business-like with
their policies and procedures. Nanna Conti was head of the Midwives Association
and became a powerful force within the Nazi party. She created many policies
and improved midwifery in many ways despite her virulent anti-Semitic views. I
wanted to show a glimmer of the good she did for obstetrics.
QUESTION: What is
one thing you wish you knew how to do?
Answer: I love
languages and would like to learn how to speak a foreign language, perhaps
German. I took three years of it in High School, yet I remember very little.
QUESTION: Some
quickies:
Answers:
Favorite color: Any shade of red!
Favorite food: Dessert, especially cake!
Favorite time of year: Fall. The weather is still temperate,
and the red, orange, and gold colors of the leaves in New Hampshire where I live
are gorgeous.
QUESTION: You
have traveled to many states, as well as to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and
England. Where else would you like to visit?
Answer: That is a
GREAT question. I’d like to go back to England because I feel like I only
scratched the surface of that wonderful country, having been to London and the
south coast. But I would definitely like to get to Australia and New Zealand.
The history of those countries is fascinating.
QUESTION: What is
your next project?
Answer: I am
currently writing Book 4 of the series. It’s called Love’s Allegiance and is set in America. It explores the roles
played by Conscientious Objectors and is inspired by the story of Rebekkah and
Isaac from the Old Testament.
QUESTION: Where
can folks find you on the web?
Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Shenton-Matchett/e/B01DNB54S0
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15140007.Linda_Shenton_Matchett
About Love's Belief:
Midwife Pia Hertz and her mother Sabine have been
delivering babies long before the Nazis came to power. Now, the Third Reich has
implemented mandates that require Jewish babies and other “undesirables” to be
killed as part of The Final Solution. Is Pia’s new faith in Christ strong
enough to defy the laws of man?
Despite the agony of the injury at the Battle of
Drøbak Sound that took his arm, Dieter Fertig is relieved he’s no longer part
of Hitler’s army. He returns to Berlin and discovers Jews are being deported by
the thousands. When he realizes the Nuremburg Laws require his best friend’s baby
girl to be killed, he must find a way to spirit the child out of Germany before
the Nazis discover her existence.
Inspired by the biblical story of Shiprah and Puah,
the midwives who saved Jewish babies during Pharaoh’s reign, Love’s Belief shows how one person’s
actions can change the world.
Purchase
links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XUaS4H
Apple Books: https://itunes.apple.com/book/id1459365377
I took two years of German in college, and about the only words I remember are those I hear in war movies or Hogan's Heroes. Even in class, I did well in reading German, but not understanding spoken German. No ear for languages. (Sigh)
ReplyDeleteI did much better with the written word as well, but I tend to be a visual learner. I have a friend whose folks were immigrants and the family spoke German at home while she was growing up. I feel like I'm missing out not knowing another language.
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