Shannon here: Linda Shenton Matchett shares the inspiration behind her Contemporary Romance, Dial V for Valentine. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an ebook copy. Deadline: Feb 18th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Linda:
The Ultimate Valentine:
My mom was born on February 14th, so when I was growing up, Valentine’s Day wasn’t about romance and falling in love. Instead, it was a celebration of my mother. Even after I began dating, the holiday seemed contrived, an excuse for retailers to rake in lots of money selling items people could live without. Sounds jaded, doesn’t it?
Now, my husband and I enjoy going to the store and playing “if I were going to buy you a Valentine’s present…” We wander through stores together and point out items we would purchase for the other. Some of the items are funny, others are sentimental, and a precious few are heartfelt. Tokens that convey our love for each other. It probably seems like an odd game to most of you, but over the years it has turned into a cherished event because we end up reminiscing about our lives and that makes the day very special.
When I was asked to participate in the multi-author project, You are on the Air, I was hesitant to accept because the books are contemporary romance, and I primarily write historical romance. But I loved the concept: the stories revolve around couples who call into a Christian radio station for relationship advice. I spent about two weeks mulling over (and discarding) ideas, then I realized the plot was right in front of me.
I had just finished putting together an exhibit with the curator at the museum where I volunteer. One of
the display items was a wedding gown made from a parachute. Included with the dress was a photograph of the couple, and their names and wedding date, but nothing else. The lack of information got my mind going, and I wondered about their story. Why did they wait until the end of the war to marry? Why not wed before the groom shipped out? Did they regret waiting? I realized that members of today’s armed forces might deal with the same situation and decided to combine the two plot lines. (See? I can’t leave my historical roots behind!)
In Dial V for Valentine, Celeste and Fergus struggle with the sacrifice that comes with true love. Not the you-can-have-the-last-cookie kind of love, but a love that puts another’s needs and wants above one’s own. What they learn is that we can only love successfully when we understand that love comes from God. We are capable of loving (mates, significant others, friends and the unlovely) because “He first loved us.” Love is an emotion, but it is also an act of obedience.
Question for Readers: One of the treasures Celeste finds with her great-grandmother’s wedding gown is a diary. Have you ever received a special hand-me-down from a relative? What is it and why is it special?
About Linda: Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. She is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Linda was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She now makes her home in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring the outdoors and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors. Learn more & connect:
Linda’s Website Linda’s Facebook Reader’s Group Linda’s Pinterest
Linda’s Youtube Linda’s Bookbub
About the book – Dial V for Valentine:
Valentine’s Day is perfect for a wedding. If only the bride will agree.
Being part of the military is not just a job for Fergus Rafferty, it’s a calling. He’s worked his way up the ranks and doing what he loves best: flying Apache helicopters. The only thing that will make his life complete is marrying Celeste. After he transfers to a unit scheduled to deploy in three months, he’s thrilled at the idea of marrying before he leaves so they can start their new life. Except Celeste wants to wait until he returns. Can he convince her to wed before he leaves?
Celeste Hardwicke has just opened her law practice when she finally accepts Fergus’s marriage proposal. Not to worry. She has plenty of time to set a date, then plan the wedding. Until she doesn’t. But a quickie wedding isn’t what she has in mind. Besides, why get married when the groom will ship out after the ceremony? When she stumbles on her great-grandmother’s diary from World War II, she discovers the two of them share the same predicament.
At an impasse, Celeste and Fergus agree to call into WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love. Will DJ Erin Orberg’s advice solve their dilemma or create a bigger divide? One they’ll both regret.
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Dial V for Valentine Linda’s Books
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Thank you for hosting me, Shannon!
Glad to have you back, Linda.
I have a dipper that belonged to my maternal grandparents. They used to keep it in a bowl of well water for drinking. Everyone drank out of the dipper all day. It was the best, coldest water. And we never got sick. I keep it in a bowl similar to the one they had on top of my kitchen cabinets.
I also have an old double wash tub that belonged to my paternal grandmother. My husband turned it upside down, cut out the sides, lined them with chicken wire, and made a light fixture out of it. It’s in my kitchen.
I have a lovely bowl that belonged to my grandma. I keep were I see it everyday, in my kitchen. When I see it, I remember it sitting in a corner display hutch in her dining area. We spent lots of time sitting at the table playing spades, sharing coffee, or just talking.
Very special. Thanks for sharing.
A distant cousin’s widow gave me the family Bible. They had no children and he was the last of their line. My sisters and I loved family history and genealogy.
Wow, what a fantastic gift!
I have a winner! Tammy Lewis won the drawing. I appreciate Linda for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.