August Author of the Month
A secret mission. A fake bride. A run for their lives.
According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away-a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels.
Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey and get home?
And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love.
According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away-a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels.
Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey and get home?
And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love.
ASIN: B086696351
Interview with Linda Shenton Matchett
and Emily & Gerard
1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Spies & Sweethearts (Sisters in Service, book 1) came about through a combination of events. I read Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series about three brothers which gave me the idea to write about three sisters. While preparing a lecture about women in espionage for my local museum, I read numerous accounts of the brave women who went undercover during World War II and decided I wanted to tell their story. Many of these female spies served behind the lines in occupied France, so I decided to set the story there and include the French Resistance.
Spies & Sweethearts (Sisters in Service, book 1) came about through a combination of events. I read Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series about three brothers which gave me the idea to write about three sisters. While preparing a lecture about women in espionage for my local museum, I read numerous accounts of the brave women who went undercover during World War II and decided I wanted to tell their story. Many of these female spies served behind the lines in occupied France, so I decided to set the story there and include the French Resistance.
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2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
I wrote this book in about eight weeks and self-editing took another two or three.
3. What made you choose some of the specific locations in this book?
I chose Paris and its outskirts because that location was a “hotbed” of Resistance activity during the war. I researched the various escape routes that had been created and were still operational during the timeframe of my story, and selected one that sent my characters toward Switzerland through Grand Risoux forest. |
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Emily Strealer
4. What do you hope that people will learn from your story?
I hope people will learn that no matter how dark life may seem, God is in control.
I hope people will learn that no matter how dark life may seem, God is in control.
Gerard Lucas
5. What is your greatest strength and your greatest flaw?
I’ll speak to my greatest flaw first. I’m highly trained in military, strategic, and covert tactics. Unfortunately, I often depend on myself first rather than God when approaching a situation. That has gotten me into trouble over the years. My greatest strength is my faith which upholds me during difficult and dangerous times.
I’ll speak to my greatest flaw first. I’m highly trained in military, strategic, and covert tactics. Unfortunately, I often depend on myself first rather than God when approaching a situation. That has gotten me into trouble over the years. My greatest strength is my faith which upholds me during difficult and dangerous times.
6. What part of the writing process do you like the least?
I don’t enjoy the self-editing process. I find it tedious and lacking in creativity. Once I’m done with a story, I’d rather move on to the next idea.
I don’t enjoy the self-editing process. I find it tedious and lacking in creativity. Once I’m done with a story, I’d rather move on to the next idea.
7. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that has happened in your life as writer.
For my very first book signing, three people showed up: my mom, one of my critique partners, and a friend. So much for taking the world by storm!
For my very first book signing, three people showed up: my mom, one of my critique partners, and a friend. So much for taking the world by storm!
Bonus. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
My favorite Bible verse is;
My favorite Bible verse is;
Linda Shenton Matchett
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Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a trustee for her local public library. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life, and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors. Sign up for Linda's newsletter and receive a free short story.
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It's Time For A Giveaway!
Linda is generously giving away an e-book copy of Spies & Sweethearts
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