Why I Write Historical Fiction - A Guest Blogpost by Linda Matchett

 Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. Follow the journeys of relatable characters whose faith is sorely tested, yet in the end, emerge triumphant. Be encouraged in your own faith-walk through stories of history and hope. 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 lives in central New Hampshire where she is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII. 

This opportunity to share about why I write historical fiction has come an interesting time because I recently spent three months with a branding consultant. Her first few questions were about this very topic. Why did I write? Why did I write fiction? And…why did I write historical fiction?

When I was in third grade, my parents gifted me a notebook, and I’ve been scribbling stories ever since. Thanks to my dad’s job, we moved often, mostly to areas steeped in history. Writing was my one constant. However, after entering the workforce, my fiction writing dropped away as I focused on business writing for my job. After moving to New Hampshire, I freelanced for travel and live style magazines, and as much as I enjoyed that, fiction was always my first love.

But what to write about? I started lots of stories, but struggled to finish. All historical, they covered a variety of eras, but none of the plotlines resonated with me.

Then one afternoon at the Wright Museum of WWII changed my life...

The carpet muffled my footsteps as I wandered into the home front gallery during my volunteer docent shift. I sauntered past the dioramas: a five-and-dime, a kitchen, then a living room, chatting with visitors and answering questions. As I approached the exhibit about war correspondents, my eye was drawn to the small photo at the bottom: a woman wearing a combat helmet and a cheeky grin as she cradled her camera, finger poised over the button. Riveted, I stopped.

Who was she, this lone women in a display of men? I scanned the placard: Therésé Bonney, photojournalist. Minimal information so I yanked out my smart phone and keyed in her name. Facts and figures emerged, but one struck me more than the others: Of the more than two thousand accredited war correspondents, only 127 were women, including Ms. Bonney. Intrigued, I continued to dig. My pulse raced as I read.

By all accounts, she and the other female correspondents had it tough, often relegated to fluff pieces and denied access to combat zones. They fought for the right to tell stories…real stories…the same sort of stories the men had access to. By hook and by crook, these stalwart women made their way across Europe and other countries, shining the light on war’s atrocities. 

There had to me more women like them. Women who went outside their comfort zone to do jobs never before held by women in places they’d never dared go: pilots, welders, mechanics, doctors, farmers, truck and ambulance drivers, parachute riggers, radio operators, laboratory technicians, and even spies. Then there were the women who served in every branch of the armed forces. Some of the women remained on the U.S. home front while others crossed the globe to places most people had never heard of.

Inspired by the tenacity and doggedness of these often-overlooked women to follow a story wherever it led, I knew I needed to shine the light on their stories, their lives, and those of other ordinary women who did extraordinary things – things I could never do in my wildest dreams.

Spies & Sweethearts

She wants to do her part. He’s just trying to stay out of the stockade. Will two agents deep behind enemy lines find capture… or love?

1942. Emily Strealer is tired of being told what she can’t do. Wanting to prove herself to her older sisters and do her part for the war effort, the high school French teacher joins the OSS and trains to become a covert operative. After her training, she finds herself parachuting into occupied France with her instructor to send radio signals to the Resistance.

Major Gerard Lucas has always been a rogue. Transferring to the so-called “Office of Dirty Tricks” to escape a court-martial, he poses as a husband to one of his trainees on a dangerous secret mission. But when their cover is blown after only three weeks, he has to flee with the young schoolteacher to avoid Nazi arrest.

Running for their lives, Emily clings to her mentor’s military experience during the harrowing three-hundred-mile trek to neutral Switzerland. And while Gerard can’t bear the thought of his partner falling into German hands, their forged papers might not be enough to get them over the border.

Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Blog Host Helena P. Schrader is the author of 25 historical fiction and non-fiction books, eleven of which have one one or more awards. You can find out more about her, her books and her awards at: https://helenapschrader.com 

Her most recent release, Cold Peace, was runner-up for the Historical Fiction Company BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 Award, as well as winning awards from Maincrest Media and Readers' Favorites. Find out more at: https://www.helenapschrader.com/cold-peace.html