"The Mechanic and the MD" by Linda Shenton Matchett -- Author Interview, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

 

About the Book

Book: The Mechanic & the MD

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 15, 2020

All’s fair in love and war. Or so they say.

High school and college were a nightmare for Doris Strealer and being an adult isn’t much better. Men won’t date a woman of her height, and they don’t understand her desire to repair car engines rather than work as a nurse or a teacher. When her father’s garage closes, and no one will hire a female mechanic, she joins the Red Cross Motor Corps, finally feeling at home. Until she comes face to face with her past in the form of Ronald McCann, the most popular boy in school.

On the brink of a successful career as a surgeon, Ron’s plans crumble when he’s drafted and assigned to an evacuation hospital in England, the last place he expects to run into a former schoolmate. The gangly tomboy who was four years behind him in high school has transformed into a statuesque beauty, but a broken engagement in college leaves him with no desire to risk his heart ever again.

Will the hazards of war make or break a romance between this unlikely couple?

 

Author Interview

1. Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you? I’m definitely a plotter. Before I start any story, I take about two weeks and create a ten to twelve page outlines of the story. I make notes as to what sort of research needs to be done and take care of before starting to write. Occasionally, a character will wander off the page or beckon me in a different direction, but my books generally resemble the outline when finished.

2. What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? The easiest? The hardest part for me is revision. I despise rework in anything I do whether it’s painting a room or editing a book, so I have to set a reward for myself to make it happen. The easiest is the actual writing because I know exactly where I’m going.

3. Do you pen down revelations and ideas as you get them, right then and there? I definitely pen down ideas when I get them because I learned the hard way that I will NOT remember them, no matter how hard I try. So I have a notepad on my nightstand (hopefully I can read my handwriting in the morning!), a pad in my office, and a note taking app on my phone – that has come in very handy on numerous occasions.

4. How long does it usually take you to write a book? I can write novellas in about thirty days. My novels take a couple of weeks longer, but no more than two months. This is where being an outliner helps.

5. What is your work schedule/routine when you write? I still hold a full-time job, so I’m very structured with my writing time. Four days during the week I’m at my desk by 6:00 and write for about ninety minutes before leaving for work. On Thursdays I work a later shift, so I’m able to write until lunchtime (I love Thursdays!). Saturdays are when I do my social media, blog posts, marketing, etc. If I’m behind in drafting a story, I sometimes write on Saturdays too.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

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 a former 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.

 

More from Linda

As a former human resources professional I am fascinated by the history of women in the workplace. The WWII is especially intriguing because not only did women enter the workforce, but they took jobs previously only held by men. And they proved themselves up to the task.

 

Because of my background, one of the first things I do when devising a story is to determine the protagonist’s job, and I love putting her into an unusual situation. My heroines have been mercantile owners, gold prospectors, spies, war correspondents, photographers, and pilots. In The Mechanic & The MD, Doris Strealer is…you guessed it…a mechanic.

 

I learned early on that I am NOT mechanically inclined. Newly married with not a lot of extra cash, my husband and I decided we would perform our own car maintenance. My husband grew up helping his dad, so he had lots of experience. How hard could it be?

 

For me, apparently very difficult. My first (and only) attempt to change the oil ended with my face and hands covered in black muck and a hole in the filter (don’t ask!). I determined I’m better at holding the flashlight or performing other assistant-type duties.

 

As it turns out, that wasn’t the case for Britain’s future Queen Elizabeth who became the first female member of the British royal family to become an active duty member of the Armed Forces when she joined the Auxiliary Territory Service. She underwent a six-week auto mechanic training course and learned how to deconstruct, repair, and rebuild engines, change tires, and drive every type of vehicle she worked on including jeeps, trucks, and ambulances.

 

When I learned of her service, I was intrigued, and the idea for The Mechanic & The MD was born.

 

I hope you enjoy Doris’s story, my effort to honor the men and women who served during this difficult period in history.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 10

Inklings and notions, March 11

For Him and My Family, March 12

Texas Book-aholic, March 13

deb’s Book Review, March 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 16

Connie’s History Classroom, March 17

Blossoms and Blessings, March 18 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 19

For the Love of Literature, March 20 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, March 20

CarpeDiem, March 21

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 22 (Author Interview)

Miriam Jacob, March 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 23

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/1b8b6/the-mechanic-the-md-celebration-tour-giveaway