About the Book

Book: Francine’s Foibles

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 12, 2023

She’s given up hope. He never had any. Will they find it together?

World War II is finally over, and America is extra grateful as the country approaches this year’s Thanksgiving. But for Francine life hasn’t changed. Despite working at Fort Meade processing the paperwork for the thousands of men who have returned home, she’s still lonely and very single. Is she destined for spinsterhood?

Grateful that his parents anglicized the family surname after emigrating to the United States after the Great War, first-generation German-American Ray Fisher has done all he can to hide his heritage. He managed to make it through this second “war to end all wars,” but what American woman would want to marry into a German family? Must he leave the country to find wedded bliss?

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About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

Francine O’Malley is a secondary character in Estelle’s Endeavor, and I decided she deserved her own book. The idea for Francine’s Foibles sprang from the stories my mom told me about her time working at Fort Meade processing discharge paperwork for returning servicemen. Because my grandparents lived in a small town near the base, I’d driven past countless times, but it was fun to research what it was like during World War 2 and the years immediately following. The Laurel Historical Society was a wonderful resource with lots of information and photos from “back in the day.”

Initially opened in 1917 and called Camp Annapolis Junction, the base is located in Maryland about twenty miles southwest of Baltimore and twenty miles east of Laurel. The name quickly changed to Camp Meade but in 1928 was redesignated Fort Leonard Wood. According to http://www.home.army.mil, Pennsylvania congressmen were so angered at the removal of the name of their native son they held up appropriations until the army agreed to name the new permanent installation Fort George G. Meade, in honor of the Union general.

During World War 2, the base was used as a recruit training post and more than 3.5 million men past through its gates. A small portion of the facility was also used as a POW camp for Japanese, German, and Italian prisoners.

Mom was still single during her time at Fort Meade, and I loved imagining her as a wide-eyed young woman doing her part for the war effort and greeting handsome soldiers as they set foot back on American soil.

This one’s for you, Mom!

Linda Shenton Matchett

Interview with Linda

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I was around seven or eight years old when my parents gave me a notepad. The first story (not quite a book) was Miranda, The Toy Elephant. Intriguingly, I wrote it under the pen name Miranda Gray. I’m not sure what prompted the use of a pseudonym, and it’s the only time I used it.

How long does it take you to write a book?

My novellas are about 40,000 words in length, and they take about eight weeks to write. My novels are 60,000 to 65,000 words and they take about twelve weeks. That doesn’t include time for research or outlining.

What is your real-life work schedule like when writing? 

I am always writing because I only take a week or so break between books. I have a full-time job, so I write first thing in the morning. Monday through Friday, I’m usually at my desk by 5:30 and write until 7:00 at which time I fix my lunch and get ready for work. Saturdays are for writing blogs, planning social media, marketing, and other non-writing author tasks. Sunday mornings before church, I input my social media and plan my schedule for the week.

How do you create your main characters? 

I first think about what job I want them to hold (probably as a result of my career in Human Resources), then I decide how old they are and what they look like. After that I choose a name and where they need to live.

What does your family think of your writing?

I am so blessed by my family. My husband ensures I have time to write and helps me the many technical aspects like helping with my website and designing covers, etc. We ceased operating our bed and breakfast on October 31, 2012, and I attended a writing conference two weeks later. While I was gone, he converted one of the guest rooms to a writing room for me. He set up everything from the desk and bookshelves to my computer. While my mom was alive she would purchase my books and give them away. After she passed away, I found multiple copies of every book I had published to that point. My siblings also act as cheerleaders and ask me about projects and will send me a text if they learn an interesting WWII fact “just in case I wanted to write about it.”

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 15

Artistic Nobody, November 16 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 17

Guild Master, November 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 19

Fiction Book Lover, November 20 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 21

Back Porch Reads, November 22 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 23

Stories By Gina, November 24 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 24

Holly’s Book Corner, November 25

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 26 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Visa gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5497