Christmas Round-Robin Scavenger Hunt

Christmas Round-Robin Scavenger Hunt 

Merry Christmas! And welcome to the Christmas Round-Robin during which you have the chance to win one of three generous prizes! First prize is a $300 Amazon gift card, second place is a $150 Amazon gift card, and third prize is a $75 gift card. How cool is that?!

In each participating author’s blog post, you’ll find a questions that can be answered by checking out the book blurb or free Amazon preview of his/her book. The hunt stars here:  (Please note that you must answer the questions for EVERY author in the round-robin to be considered to win THIS PRIZE. At the end of my post is the link to the next blog, who will provide a link to the next blog…and so on…to the very end. When you're finished fill out your answers on this form.

My novella, A Doctor in the House, is part of The Hope of Christmas collection that includes stories by two other authors. I’m a history geek, and I write about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. 

World War II was a particularly life-changing event for everyone: those who served in the armed forces as well as those who “held down the fort” on the home front.

In a society that dictated how (secretaries, nurses, teachers) and when (as long as they were single) women could work, the opportunity to hold positions only previously available to men was exciting and scary. Facing prejudice, ridicule, and disdain, these ladies worked extra hard to prove their capabilities to the detractors. It was only after working side-by-side with female employees and witnessing their performance, did men grudgingly agree theses gals had what it took to get the job done.

Margaret Craighill

The military was slow to create women’s auxiliary forces, but once the chance arose, more than 350,000 enlisted. However, it wasn’t until April 1943 that President Roosevelt signed the Sparkman-Johnson Act allowing female physicians to serve in the Army and Navy Corps. A month later, Dr. Margaret Craighill became the first woman doctor to serve in the Army inspiring my character Emma O’Sullivan in A Doctor in the House.

Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital, and she leaves behind everything that is familiar. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart?

Let’s continue this scavenger hunt! Go to the book on Amazon at this link and check out the book blurb. What is the name of the requisitioned country home in Britain where Emma is stationed?  When you have the answer, fill out this form and head over to the next blog!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Valerie Comer, who will share with you about her Christmas book The Cowboy's Christmas Reunion. You can find it at this link. Remember the round-robin ends on December 16^th at 11:59 PM EST.

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Archie Heron

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Archie Heron

Today I'm sitting down with Lord Archibald "Archie" Heron, the male protagonist in my novella A Doctor in the House, part of "The Hope of Christmas" collection that was released on November 24th.  I thought you'd enjoy learning a bit more about him.

LM: Thanks for joining me today, Archie. Can  you tell us a little bit about Heron Hall and how your family came to own it?

Archie: Like many English families, my family was awarded Heron Hall to recognize service to the Crown, in this case Elizabeth I. My great, great, great...well, you get the picture...grandfather was a high ranking official and an assistant to William Cecil who helped end the war with France after she became Queen. He was given a title and the estate. Records are sketchy, but I believe the property was taken from someone to give to my ancestor. The place was in disrepair, and it took nearly twenty years to renovate.

LM: You served in the war before coming home to take over the reigns at Heron Hall. Are you allowed to tell us about your experiences.

Archie: Now that the battles are over, I can share that I was in North Africa fighting Rommel, the Desert Fox. It was brutally hot, and Rommel didn't get his nickname for nothing. Skirmishes went on for weeks. We'd gain ground, and then the Germans would push us back. I was wounded at Tobruk. It took me months to recover and just before they were going to send me back, I got word my brothers had been confirmed dead (swallows heavily), and as the last remaining heir I was discharged.

LM: I'm sorry about the loss of your family. In addition to that loss, Heron Hall was requisitioned by the government for war use. Can you tell us about that?

Archie: I had three days to vacate the house, not much time at all, but that's the way it often was. Anyway, the estate was assigned to the Americans as a convalescent hospital. And to top it off, the administrator was a woman, Dr. Emma O'Sullivan. Rather unorthodox in her treatment methods and not one to take direction from others. Feisty, that's what she is. But Heron Hall served during The Great War, it only makes sense for us to do our bit again during this war. And the lads are so brave. It is my pleasure to do what I can to boost their morale.

LM:  The war has been going on for nearly three years. What has that been like?

Archie: We're fortunate at Heron Hall because of the amount of land we have. We are able to grow crops that supply us and the surrounding area. But there are many things we can't grow or get hold of such as coffee, sugar, and clothing. Not that we need lots of new clothes, but the material wears out, and we're unable to replace the items. Shoes too. Leather is impossible to come by and even if you have enough points and money, there are very few shoes to be found. And there's always the fear of being bombed. The Germans have been tenacious about attacking. But we British are resilient and we will get through it.

LM: It's hard to imagine the war being over, but have you thought about what you would do when the hostilities cease?

Archie: (shrugs) I'm Lord of the manor now. With that title comes great responsibility. I will continue to minister to the people in the village, ensuring they have enough to eat and jobs that will provide for them. We've already lost a few lads, and will probably lose a few more. I'll need to help them get past the grief. It's going to be a long road, don't you know?

LM: Thanks for taking time to visit. I'll let you get back to the boys.



Book Blurb: Emma O’Sullivan is one of the first female doctors to enlist after President Franklin Roosevelt signs the order allowing women in the Army and Navy medical corps. Within weeks, Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital, and she leaves behind everything that is familiar. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart?

Archibald “Archie” Heron is the last survivor of the Heron dynasty, his two older brothers having been lost at Dunkirk and Trondheim and his parents in the Blitz. After his wife is killed in a bombing raid while visiting Brighton, he begins to feel like a modern-day Job. To add insult to injury, the British government requisitions his country estate, Heron Hall, for the U.S. Army to use as a hospital. The last straw is when the hospital administrator turns out to be a fiery, ginger-haired American woman. She’s got to go. Or does she?

Do you love Christmas stories? Love to read but you're a little short of time this season? The Hope of Christmas is the perfect solution: three heartwarming stories that don't take long to read at all. Pick up your copy today on Amazon.

Talkshow Thursday: Fellow authors Terri Wangard and Jodie Wolfe

Talkshow Thursday: 

Fellow authors Terri Wangard and Jodie Wolfe

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today, ladies. I was thrilled when our publisher CelebrateLit invited me to be part of a Christmas collection with you titled The Hope of Christmas. I had just finished reading about the English country homes that were requisitioned by the government during WWII, so decided to wrap my story around that. How did you choose what to write about?

Terri: I learned about the USS Tabberer while doing research for Wheresoever They May Be. I loved the account of the crewmen’s heroics during the typhoon, but couldn’t use it in my book. When I heard about the short stories, I knew it was the perfect place to showcase the Tabby.

Jodie: : In my first collection with Celebrate Lit Publishing, Let Love Spring, my heroine was one of three sisters. So when I was contracted to write a second story with them, I decided to write about one of the other sisters. 

LM: When I was growing up, my paternal grandparents came to our home every Christmas. Even though they were staying the night, during their first trip into the house they would carry piles of gifts rather than suitcases. What is your favorite Christmas memory?

Terri: Going to church for Christmas Eve services. The children always took part, and one year, I was one of the angels who appeared to the shepherds. As we left the podium and went past the choir loft, one of the girls in the choir said to a friend, “They have bare feet.” Back in the day, it was scandalous to be barefoot in church, but do angels wear shoes?

Jodie: I was in second grade when our family moved from one town to another. We moved over Christmas break and I remember my parents were busy packing and I'm not sure what my brothers were up to. I remember sitting on the floor by the Christmas tree, with my back against the sofa and just staring up at the lights on the tree and enjoying the beauty of it.

LM: My story, A Doctor in the House, takes place in England, and I’ve been fortunate to visit, so I have experienced the country first hand. How did you research the settings for your stories?

Terri: Most of Typhoon Prompting takes place in the South Pacific. While I have been there on cruise ships, and even during rough weather, I haven’t been in a typhoon. So all my research came from books, one in particular that I bought used and have read several times.

Jodie: While my story Picking a Bride for Paul is set in a made-up town, it's based on a place in Kansas where my in-laws used to live. Since I had already come up with the town in my first story, it was easy to draw on it for this tale.

LM: I love to write stories, but I must confess that research is my favorite task. I can chase a factoid for days, ferreting out the details. What is your favorite aspect of the writing process?

Terri: I love the research, too. I do way too much.

Jodie: For me it's a toss-up between the research and the writing process. J

LM: What advice can you give to not-yet-published writers?

Terri: Have a lot of patience. Getting published can take years.

Jodie: Wait and trust God's timing.

LM: I’m currently working on a full length historical mystery about a young woman who joins the USO. What is your next project?

Terri:  I’m moving from World War II to World War I. My setting is the Lusitania.

Jodie: I have a full-length book coming out in May 2018 that is set in the back-drop of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893 in Oklahoma Territory.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Terri: 

Website: http://www.terriwangard.com

Group blog: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/terriwangard

Twitter: @TerriWangard

Jodie:

Website: http://www.jodiewolfe.com
Group Blog: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jodie-A-Wolfe-Author/553400191384913
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/116840153259583634192/posts
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Linda:

Website: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Group blog: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/authorlindamatchett

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LindaMatchett

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author_linda_matchett

Purchase your copy today of The Hope of Christmas from Amazon