Talkshow Thursday: Meet Love's Allegiance Rochelle Addams

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Rochelle Addams

I love the research aspect of writing a novel. Not surprising. I’m a huge history geek. The more factoids I can find the better. My next favorite part of writing is developing my characters. In fact, I typically create an entire biography for all primary and secondary characters; from birthdates and physical attributes to hobbies and fears. Love’s Allegiance was no different, but this time, I found the perfect photograph that encapsulates my vision of Rochelle Addams, my female protagonist.

Now, you get to meet her, too.

LM: You are from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Can you tell us a bit about what it was like to grow up there, and how was that different from life at Shady Hills?

Rochelle: It is a lovely small town, with just under 6,000 people living there. Did you know the town was named for the mechanics who made and repaired Conestoga Wagons in the 1800s? Railroad tracks go through the town, so there is a constant stream of trains which makes it a bit noisy, but it’s fun to see all the lines going through on their way to delivering everything from fruit and coal to newspapers and ice. There are lots of troop trains that pass through as well. The boys usually yell out the windows and waves. Some of the girls go down to the station and blow kisses and wave back. We also have a small amusement park called Willow Mill, and they added a new carousel, a whip, and a couple of new kiddie rides.

LM: With just about all the guys your age off at war, what was the social scene like?

Rochelle: In one sense, it was very dull because there were very few boys my age or even a little older around; no one to date on a steady basis. However, because of the Naval Supply Depot coming in 1942, there were lots of sailors coming and going. Some of our friends volunteered as junior hostesses with the USO, but that wasn’t for me. It was hard knowing they were going overseas to fight and maybe lose their lives.

LM: Everyone “did their bit” for the war effort. How did you serve before going to Shady Hills, and what was your favorite activity?

Rochelle: I was part of the local pen-pal club. A bunch of us would get together once a week and answer all the letters we received from local boys who’d gone into the service. I enjoyed that the most because I liked sharing news of what was happening in town or at church. I also rolled bandages for the Red Cross, and of course, collected scrap like everyone else.

LM: Do you consider yourself brave or foolish leaving everything you knew to pursue a potential marriage of convenience?

Rochelle: A little of both, I suppose! I made the decision quickly and agreed to move immediately so I couldn’t change my mind. Here I was one day complaining to Claire that there was no one to marry, and only a few days later I’m in an expensive car being chauffeured to meet a prospective husband. But I didn’t feel I had anything to lose by exploring the possibility.

LM: What were your first impressions of Irwin?

Rochelle: That he was uncertain and unhappy. He is a handsome man, someone any girl would think was attractive, but he was frowning when I stepped out of the car, and his expression didn’t change must for most of my first day.

LM: What was it like working at Shady Hills?

Rochelle: Initially, it was very difficult. Many of our coworkers didn’t like Irwin because of his conscientious objector status, and I was guilty and unlikable by association. But Lester was a nice man, and he befriended both of us. Eventually, most people accepted us. The work was very rewarding, working with people less fortunate than ourselves. The patients were dear, and I grew to love quite a few of them.

LM: Where can readers find your book?

Rochelle: http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/p/books.html

_______________________________

COMING SOON!

Cover Reveal Coming

Love’s Allegiance: With most U.S. boys fighting for Uncle Sam in far off countries, Rochelle Addams has given up hope for a wedding in her future. Then she receives an intriguing offer from a distant relative to consider a marriage of convenience.

Conscientious objector Irwin Terrell is looking forward to his assignment at Shady Hills Mental hospital to minister to the less fortunate in lieu of bearing arms. At the arrival of the potential bride his father has selected for him, Irwin’s well-ordered life is turned upside down. And after being left at the altar two years ago, he has no interest in risking romance again.

Despite his best efforts to remain aloof to Rochelle, Irwin is drawn to the enigmatic and beautiful young woman, but will time run out before his wounded heart can find room for her?

Inspired by the biblical love story of Rebekkah and Isaac, Love’s Allegiance explores the struggles and sacrifices of those whose beliefs were at odds with a world at war.

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Rolande Bisset

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Rolande Bisset

My next release, Love's Rescue, (anticipated date 2/14/19) is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Rahab, a prostitute who hid two Hebrew spies and diverted the attention of the authorities so the men could slip out of the city upon completion of their  reconnaissance. After lots of research, I chose the liberation of Paris during WWII as my setting to redo the story. It was a part of the war about which I knew very little. Here is Rolande to tell you what it was like to live in Paris during the dark days of German occupation:

LM: The Germans arrived in June 1940, what do you remember most about that day?

Rolande: I felt like the lights had gone out over the city. The joy was gone, overtaken by a sense of fear and foreboding. We had not believed we would be defeated, so when the government fled on the 10th, we were distraught to see German tanks rumbling down the Champs de Elysees with thousands of German troops marching behind them on the 14th. We thought we would all be killed or taken prisoner. Rumors were rampant the Germans would steal anything of value, rape the women, and kill the men. I stayed in my home with the curtains drawn, hoping to escape notice. When I went out later and saw the Nazi flag flapping in the breeze from the Eiffel Tower, my heart broke.

LM: In a show of power, the Germans implemented many laws to undermine the French culture. What were some of those laws?

Rolande: Censorship and propaganda made life difficult. We were not allowed to speak French, wear berets, fly the French flag, or sing Marseillaise, our national anthem. There was a curfew, and anyone breaking it faced stiff fines, or perhaps worse...Books and American films were banned, and the Germans changed our time zone to match that of Germany.

LM: What was it like trying to provide for yourself during the occupation?

Rolande: The occupiers took about eighty percent of food production, so finding enough to eat became a daily struggle. There was a rationing system of sorts, but it was so mismanaged the black market flourished and people became malnourished. Lots of substitutions had to be created to handle the shortage of things like gasoline and coffee. My friend started roasting chicory to replace her coffee, but I never developed a taste for it. Many vehicles were converted to run off charcoal.

LM: Your father was part of the Vichy government. How did that come about?

Rolande: My father was a wealthy and successful man long before the Germans arrived. He is cunning and has a lot of business savvy which is a lot of what helped him get ahead. But he also knows how to ingratiate himself with whomever is in power at the time, so I was not surprised that he managed to find a position within the new government

LM: Despite your father's job, you chose to join the Resistance. How did that come about, and weren't you frightened for your life?

Rolande: I could not stand by and let the occupiers win. I knew I might die, but it seemed more important to do the right thing rather than live in bondage under the Germans. There were times I was terrified. What if the circuit had been discovered? What if I had been betrayed? Those thoughts were with me every moment of every day, and more so when I was on a mission. My friend Adele was involved in the Resistance first. She knew how I felt about the Germans, and she eventually got me into the organization.

LM: A little more than four years later, Paris was liberated. What was that day like?

Rolande: It was very scary, but also exciting. The FFI had staged an uprising, so there was a battle in the streets. Barricades and trenches were created, and hundreds of people had guns. I was frightened to think I had survived the occupation only to be killed in the fire fight to liberate the city. After the surrender, people were dancing in the street, singing, and drinking. They were hugging the Allied troops who had come to save us.


About the book: 

Cover revealed in January!

A prostitute, a spy, and the liberation of Paris.

Sold by her parents to settle a debt, Rolande Bisset is forced into prostitution. Years later, shunned by her family and most of society, it’s the only way she knows how to subsist. When the Germans overrun Paris, she decides she’s had enough of evil men controlling her life and uses her wiles to obtain information for the Allied forces. Branded a collaborator, her life hangs in the balance. Then a British spy stumbles onto her doorstep. Is redemption within her grasp?

Simon Harlow is one of an elite corps of American soldiers. Regularly chosen for dangerous covert missions, he is tasked with infiltrating Paris to ascertain the Axis’s defenses. Nearly caught by German forces moments after arriving, he owes his life to the beautiful prostitute who claims she’s been waiting for the Allies to arrive. Her lifestyle goes against everything he believes in, but will she steal his heart during his quest to liberate her city?

Inspired by the biblical story of Rahab, Love’s Rescue is a tale of faith and hope during one of history’s darkest periods.

Available February 14, 2019

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Varis Gladstone, Plucky Sidekick

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Varis Gladstone, Plucky Sidekick

As part of the launch for Under Fire, the first book in my mystery trilogy, I interviewed the main character Ruth Brown. Today is your chance to meet Ruth’s BFF and “plucky sidekick.” But first a little bit of background.

Varis is named for one of my great aunts. I was very young when she passed away, but I often heard tales about her; a strong personality, but gracious. From what I understand she followed her own path, never marrying and working as a schoolteacher. She enjoyed traveling and did so extensively (unusual for a single woman to travel alone at that time). When I was looking for a secondary character who could hold her own next to Ruth, I knew someone based on my great aunt was perfect, and why not give her the name too!

LM: Thanks for joining us Varis. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Varis: I’m glad to be here. I’m an only child, and my parents were older than most when they had me. I was born in Hazelton Falls, NH and still live there. I met Ruth on the first day of kindergarten. We took to each other and have been pals ever since. My one vice is clothes. I’m always on the lookout for the next great outfit. Rationing makes it tricky, but fortunately I love to sew which keeps my wardrobe budget in check!

LM: You work for Coltrain Enterprises. What do you do for them?

Varis: I’m Mr. Coltrain’s secretary. He owns the company, having inherited it from his uncle. I type lots and lots of letters, reports, and contracts. I also take the minutes at meetings such as the union negotiations that got a bit out of hand. Because we’re a war contractor, I can’t give you specifics. I’m sure you understand.

LM: Absolutely! You had some close calls with danger during the investigation surrounding Jane’s disapperance. Would you consider yourself very brave?

Varis:  (Laughing) Hardly! When I’m around Ruth, things just seem to happen, so I’ve learned to be on my toes at all times. Most times that works!

LM: What is the greatest challenge you face with the war on?

Varis: The loss of our young men. Hazelton Falls was well-represented at Pearl Harbor and several of our boys perished that day. More have enlisted, and not everyone may return. I’m proud that they have chosen to serve, but it is a scary time waiting for them.

LM: Do you have a special young man?

Varis: Not at this time. I’m enjoying my career, and I’m very busy with hobbies and serving in the Red Cross. My life is quite full.

LM: Anything else you’d like readers to know?

Varis: Under Fire is available online at eLectio Publishing or Amazon. When readers purchase the paperback directly from the publisher they receive the ebook version for free! And please don't forget to leave a review once you've read the book.

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Carly Turnquist

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Carly Turnquist

Today we’ve managed to corral Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, as she shares the story behind the story for her latest adventure, Hidden Assets. She is being interviewed by her creator, Leeann Betts.

Leeann:          Well, Carly, nice of you to drop in.

Carly: Not like I had any choice. I didn’t want you to write me out of my own series.     

LAB:   Hard to do that. But that’s a threat for another day. Carly, your readers love that you don’t take yourself seriously. Why is that?

CT:     Why do they love me, or why don’t I take my seriously?

LAB:   Why don’t you take yourself seriously?

CT:     My husband Mike says I’m a full-time job. I think he’s right, and that seems unfair. So I try to laugh at myself more than I cry, because I think maybe that will make his job easier. Also, although when I’m faced with a decision, I feel like I make the right decision, but when I look back, I can see I should have thought it through a little better. Which means I can laugh at myself later on. Not as much as Mike laughs at me, but some.

LAB:   You’re a forensic accountant. What exactly do you do?

CT:     Besides create work for Mike? (laughs) A forensic accountant is an accountant who has been specially trained to look for things people try to hide. For example, the IRS hires tons of us to ferret out taxable income people try to disguise as something else. Divorce attorneys hire us to help their clients find money and assets that the opposing party has hidden. Estate attorneys also use our services. Because we use standardized accounting principles, our work can be checked and tested, which gives us credibility in court. Forensic really just means “forum” or the ability to testify credibly in court. It doesn’t have anything to do with dead bodies. Although, I have been known to stumble over one or two bodies in the past.

LAB:   Which is what makes you an accidental sleuth, right?

CT:     That’s a term used by some, and I guess I like it better than amateur sleuth, because when it comes to me, I’m no amateur. Not like that railway copper I get mixed up with in this book. Now he–

LAB:   Not here to talk about him. So your friend asks you to help her find some missing property, right?

CT:     Right. She’s getting a divorce, and I know how that feels. And she thinks her husband has taken some of their joint marital property and hidden it so he won’t have to share it with her in the divorce settlement. Plus we haven’t seen each other in years. We were friends in college, and have kept in touch ever since.

LAB:   Apparently there’s a backseat driver story she’s going to share with Mike?

CT:     Apparently so. I was a little bit wild in college, not to mention a wee bit controlling. Don’t ask Mike, though. He’d say I haven’t changed a bit.

LAB:   And then there’s something going on with Mike’s client, right? Didn’t that happen in the last book, too?

CT:     Yes. In Broke, Busted, and Disgusted, Mike’s client ends up murdered, and Mike is suspected, except he is missing. Which caused me no end of grief, let me tell you. He hasn’t had the nerve to complain lately that I’m a full time job, after that little escapade. In Hidden Assets, his client is trying to pull the wool over his eyes. Mike is writing a new computer program for this client, and Mike discovers some bad practices and crooked dealings happening behind the scenes of the program, in a ghost module, so to speak.

LAB:   So why did you take the train to Wyoming?

CT:     Because of the episode on the plane to New Mexico, Mike thought it would be safer to take the train. Days of boring nothingness. At least, that’s what he hoped. And he was right, until the night we were due to get off.

LAB:   Without giving away the ending, does the story end well?

CT:     As you know, I have a strong sense of justice. Of course the story ends well. Not for everybody, of course. But the good guys win and the bad guys—not in the gender sense, because I don’t want to give it away, as you said—get theirs. Justice is satisfied, and I’m off home again to quiet Bear Cove, Maine.

LAB:   But Bear Cove, Maine, isn’t always peaceful, is it?

CT:     True. It probably has a higher per capita murder rate than New York City, but it keeps things interesting.

LAB:   So what’s up for you next?

CT:     Well, a good friend wants to thank me for solving the murder and saving her life, so she’s sending us on an Alaskan cruise. Think about it, seven days of sailing, whale watching, and eating. What could go wrong?

LAB:   Yes, Carly, what could go wrong, indeed?

Author bio: 

Leeann Betts writes contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens historical suspense. She has released five titles in her cozy mystery series, By the Numbers. In addition, Leeann has written a devotional for accountants, bookkeepers, and financial folk, Counting the Days, and with her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, has published a book on writing, Nuggets of Writing Gold, a compilation of essays, articles, and exercises on the craft. She publishes a free quarterly newsletter that includes a book review and articles on writing and books of interest to readers and writers. You can subscribe at www.LeeannBetts.com or follow Leeann on www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com. 

Find her on Facebook or Twitter. Her books are available on Amazon.

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Henry Jorgensen

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Henry Jorgensen

On the Rails is my latest publication. Perhaps you had a chance to meet the main female character, Katherine Newman in my post on February 16, 2017. Now I'd like to introduce you to Henry Jorgensen, Katherine's boyfriend and the reason she began a new life as a Harvey Girl.

Linda: Thanks for stopping by Henry. Your family is Danish, having immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1800s. Can you tell us about that?

Henry:  My paternal grandparents arrived in New York in 1869, shortly after the American Civil War. My father was a young man at the time. His family decided to leave Denmark because of the joblessness caused by the rapid population growth and the loss of a portion of the country to Germany. Five years prior to their leaving, Slesvig-Holsten fell to the Germans. Danish culture was repressed and there was political persecution. Rather than move elsewhere within Denmark, my grandparents decided to seek a new life in America. My maternal grandparents arrived several years later.

Linda: The Scandinavian population is not as large in Ohio as elsewhere in the U.S. Why did your family choose to settle in Warren?

Henry: In the early 1800s most of the Danish people settled in Eastern cities, but like most Danes my father's family were farmers and had been for generations. It is what they knew how to do and could make a living at it. The Homestead Act of 1862 said that any immigrant who filed an intent to become a citizen could claim 160 acres of unoccupied government land and earn the title in five years. Or that person could work as a farm hand and earn enough to purchase a farm in ten years. My father's family was heading west and passed through the Warren area. They liked what they saw and felt they had traveled far enough, so they staked their claim.

Linda: You broke up with Katherine because of financial reasons. Your parent's mortgage was being called in, and you didn't feel that you could provide for her. What happened?

Henry: My younger sister became quite ill when she was a child, and my parents took her to specialists in Cleveland. The treatments were very expensive, so they took out a mortgage on the farm to pay the bills. Then we had a crop failure that greatly reduced our income, and we got behind on our payments. I didn't feel it was right to subject Katherine to the stress of my family's financial woes.

Linda: You took a job on the railroad to help your parents make mortgage payments. What was that like?

Henry: It was a big adjustment for me, but it was important that I do my part to help my family. After living in a rural, farm community working on the trains was difficult. They were loud and dirty, especially shoveling coal to keep the engine going. I transferred off the trains to laying track, and that was only slightly better. It was hard work being outside in all kinds of weather conditions as well as geographically. We were laying track across rivers and through mountains, canyons, and deserts. I'm used to working outside, so I don't think it was as difficult for me as it was for some. The money was excellent, so I was able to send quite a bit home.

Linda: Thanks for visiting with us Henry. Readers can hear more about your story in On The Rails, available for free in eBook format from March 1-5.

About the book:  

Warren, Ohio, 1910: Katherine Newman loves being a teacher, but she loves Henry Jorgensen more, which is why she’s willing to give up her job to marry him. But instead of proposing, Henry breaks up with her. Devastated, Katherine seeks to escape the probing eyes and wagging tongues of her small town. A former Harvey Girl, Katherine’s mother arranges for Katherine to be hired at the Williams, Arizona Harvey House. Can she carve out a new life in the stark desert land unlike anything she’s ever known?

Henry Jorgensen loves Katherine with all his heart, but as the eldest son of a poor farmer can he provide for her as she deserves? The family’s lien holder calls in the mortgage, and Henry must set aside his own desires in order to help his parents meet their financial obligation. But when Katherine leaves town after their break up, he realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life. Can he find her and convince her to give their love a second chance?

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Allison

Do you ever get so involved in a book's character that you wonder about their backstory? I do, so I thought I take a few minutes and sit down with Allison White, the main character my upcoming post-WWII novelette being released by Celebrate Lit Publishing this spring. For those of you who read Love's Harvest, you may remember Allison. She was the young woman who befriended Rosa Hirsch, the German widow who fled to England in 1940 with her mother-in-law Noreen.

Inspiration for
Allison's character

Linda: Allison, it's a delight to have to stop by the blog today. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Allison: Sure. It's a pleasure to be here. I was born on December 25, 1920 in Cotswold, England. I don't have any siblings, and unfortunately I lost my mum and dad in the Blitz, but I have a wonderful circle of friends, and Rosa's mother-in-law, Noreen treats me like a daughter.

Linda: Noreen is a basket-weaver and makes gorgeous willow baskets. What sort of creative activities do you like to do?

Allison: (laughing) Noreen tried to teach me to weave, but it was a disaster from the start. The only basket I made had a definite lean to it. Not unusable, but not my finest work. Then Rosa tried to teach me needlepoint and sewing, but those didn't work out well either. I finally found my niche in the kitchen. Apparently the chemistry of baking is a fit for me. I don't want to toot my own horn too loudly, but my bread and biscuits are lovely. Smooth texture and good taste. Rose usually has me make all the sweets.

Member of the WLA

Linda: I love to bake also. During the war, you worked for the Women's Land Army What was that like?

Allison: Brilliant. I loved it. I didn't want to be trapped inside a factory. Dark, dank, and dangerous. Sure, those girls made more money, but in the Land Army I didn't have to fear for my life. The days were long, especially during planting and harvesting seasons. We sometimes worked fourteen or sixteen hours days. But the weather was lovely, and we were making a real difference. Feeding the masses, you know. I learned to love farming thanks to the Land Army.

Linda: Is that why you chose to stay on at the Quincey's farm after the war? What sort of work are you involved in there?

Allison: With my parents gone, I have no family to speak of. There are a few cousins in Scotland, but I haven't seen them since I was a youngster. Rosa and Basil have been my family. It only made sense to stay with them. They still need help on the farm. Mr. Sullivan oversees the animals, and I handle the produce side of things. Although I must say I've seen enough potatoes to last a lifetime!

Linda:  Many young women your age don't go to university, yet you attended University of Manchester. Can you share about your experience?

Allison: My parents were keen on education, and they didn't care that I was a girl. They wanted me to get a degree, so I could be whatever I wanted. There were lots of rules, more so it seemed for the girls. Curfew and the like. But meals and laundry services were provided for us, and classes were wonderful. Lots of debate and discussion. I learned to think for myself at university. And I met lovely people, but the war changed all that. I had to do my bit, so I dropped out and joined the WLA.

Linda: How has your life changed since the war?

Allison: In many ways it hasn't. Many items are still rationed, although not as many on the farm. And even if something is available it's difficult to find. Shoes for example. I've patched my oxfords countless times. I'll be glad when I can find a new pair. But the country is moving on. We survived, so nothing seems so bad, although it's sad to see the families who have lost their boys and men. Some women lost husbands and sons. Before the war I never would have been promoted to manage anything, even part of a farm. Basil has given me a opportunity I probably would never have had. And Mr. Sullivan is coming round to working with a woman.

Linda: Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit about yourself.

Allison: Thanks for hosting me. Folks should keep an eye on your blog and your Facebook page for information about our book coming out in the Spring. The publication date will be set soon, and a title will be forthcoming.