This week I’m hosting Stephanie Grace Whitson with A Most Unsuitable Match, Lisa Harris withAn Ocean Away, and Leslie Gould and Mindy Starns Clark with The Amish Nanny. If you want to enter the drawings, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (July 17th) evening.
Interview with the heroine from A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson:
We’re here on the Steamship Delores, about to embark on the two-thousand-plus mile journey north to Fort Benton Montana, and our roving reporter has convinced the only young lady on board to answer a few questions.
1. Miss Rousseau, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
Interesting? Well … I don’t know that I’m all that interesting, really. I’m not all that different from any other young lady raised to be … just that. A lady. I suppose some would think it interesting that I’ve embarked on this journey. To tell you the truth, I thought it was interesting and brave—until the Delores pulled away from the levee yesterday. Now I’m thinking it may be the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. But I’m here now. At least I have Hannah with me. She thinks travelling by steamer is like flying, it’s so fast. Seeing her excited about the trip helps some. I just hope I don’t live to regret running off like this.
2. What do you do for fun?
I haven’t had fun in a while. I’ve been in mourning since Mother died a few weeks ago.
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I think I’ve put off just about everything since Mother died. It’s like I’ve been sleep-walking. Hannah says that’s what mourning is like. But I’m coming into my own now. At least I hope so. Before I left, I hired someone to help Walker take the overgrown grounds in hand. He’s going to repair a few things, too. And keep watch over the house. Maybe that means I’m going to be all right. I mean … I’ve dreaded just about every day for so long. But now … here I am on this steamboat. Yes. I think I’m going to be all right.
4. What are you afraid of most in life?
Being alone. That’s why I’m here, you know. I’m going to find my Aunt Edith. Two days ago I didn’t even know I had an Aunt Edith. Can you imagine that? A girl my age growing up without knowing her own mother had a twin sister?
5. What do you want out of life?
I just want to understand why. Why didn’t Mother tell me about Aunt Edith? Why did Mr. Vandekamp—he’s in charge of Papa’s affairs—why did he get so angry when I asked him about her? He forbad me to try to come on this trip. I let him know that I am of age and he cannot forbid me to do anything. I want answers, and I’m going to find them.
6. What is the most important thing to you?
Well, right now, Hannah’s very important. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
Oh, I just love Mr. Dickens! Don’t you? I can read his books over and over again and they never grow old.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d be more … sure. Of who I am. Of what I should become. I’d be able to look back and accept things without feeling so … lost.
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
Mother didn’t allow pets. She said they were an unnecessary nuisance. I used to pretend that Minette’s dog, Jake, was mine. They just live next door. Minette’s my best friend. She was happy to share Jake.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I’d visit the place Mother grew up in France. Maybe if I saw her as a girl, I’d finally understand … well. That’s silly, isn’t it.
