Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.
I’m thrilled to welcome Anne Mateer today! Her book, At Every Turn, recently released with Bethany House Publishers, and its premise grabbed me right away. I loved the concept of a girl in the early 1900s who has a need for speed and ends up in auto races, and the book didn’t disappoint. (Keep reading for how you can win yourself a copy!)
Anne Mateer has a long-held passion for history and historical fiction. She and her husband live near Dallas, Texas, and are the parents of three young adults. You can connect with her online at: www.annemateer.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
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Welcome, Anne! Let’s speed on to the interview. (Sorry for the cheesy joke…I couldn’t resist.) 
Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?
1. Quiet
2. Organized
3. Loyal
4. Bibliophile
5. Clumsy
6. Responsible
7. Dependable
Either/Or Questions:
1) Maui or London? That took me a minute, because I loved Maui more than I imagined I would. It’s beautiful and relaxing. But London is where my city-dwelling, history-loving heart would pick. We went once and of course it wasn’t near long enough!
2) Trailblazer or Rule follower? Definitely a rule follower. Trailblazers have to be fearless, which I am not!
3) Herbivore or Carnivore? Carnivore. It’s only been the last six years or so that I’ve been eating more than a select few fruits and veggies. While my palate has expanded, I’m still a carnivore, given the choice.
4) E-reader or Paperback? I guess I’d say e-reader, though it’s really both. I love books. I have them all over my house and I keep buying them. But I do love my kindle for two huge reasons. First, I love the convenience of my e-reader, especially when traveling. Now I can take an entire library with me and know I won’t run out of something to read before the trip home! I also love my e-reader because it is easy on the eyes. When I go from contacts to glasses in the evening, I can see very little, especially in low light. My e-reader is consistently readable in a way print books are not. And I can make the font bigger if I need to.
5) Tomboy or Girly-girl? Tomboy who wants to be a girly-girl! I do tend toward girly-girl things, but I often chicken out and go back to my comfort zone, especially in clothing choices. In other things, I’m all girly-girl–like accessories!
6) Cheesecake or Creme brulee? I do love creme brulee, but I have to go with cheesecake, mostly because my daughter makes the best cheesecake in the whole world. Seriously. I’ve been to high dollar restaurants where I’ve pushed away the cheesecake because it didn’t measure up to hers! She helped finance three mission trips to Ghana during her high school years by making and selling cheesecakes. Her signature one has a brownie bottom and homemade hot fudge on top.
7) On the go or Take it slow? Take it slow! Since only 3 1/2 years separate our 3 kids, we’ve lived an “on the go” life for many years, usually going to multiple directions at once! Now that our youngest is in his senior year of high school, life is slowing–and we are enjoying it. My husband and I are looking forward to catching our breath before grandkids (there are no spouses on the horizon yet!) speed up life again.
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Oh my, Anne, you and your husband have led a busy life! My two kids keep me on my toes…I can’t imagine 3 in 3-1/2 years. What a neat experience it must be to see your children grow into adults and discover their own interests and gifts. I must say your daughter’s cheesecake sounds amazing, and I love her ingenuity to use it as a fundraiser for mission trips. As someone who’s done my fair share of fundraisers, I wish I’d had something like cheesecake up my sleeve.
Thanks so much for being here today! I loved getting to know you better.
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Caught up in a whirlwind of religious fervor when two missionaries speak at her church, Alyce Benson impetuously pledges three thousand dollars to mission work in Africa. She’s certain her wealthy father will simply hand her the money. But when he refuses, she must either stand up in front of the congregation and admit failure, or raise the money herself.
Alyce harbors a secret passion for speed and automobiles. It’s 1916, and the latest advancements in car engines allow some to post speeds upwards of seventy miles per hour! When she discovers her father’s company has sponsored a racing car that will compete in several upcoming events–races in which the driver will be paid and could win as much as five thousand dollars in prize money–she conspires with her father’s mechanic, Webster, to secretly train and compete.
But as Alyce comes across needs in her own community, money slips through her fingers faster than she can earn it. And when her friends cast aspersions on Webster’s past, she believes she might have trusted the wrong man with her secret. Will Alyce come up with the money in time, or will she have to choose between her promise and the man who holds a piece of her heart?
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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…Have you ever had to raise money for a special cause? What’s the most unique (or yummy) fundraiser you’ve ever participated in, either on the giving or receiving end?
*Giveaway Details: Anne has offered to give away a copy of At Every Turn! All you have to do is leave a comment. (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!
**I’m traveling this week to an agency retreat, so I may be quiet in the comments section. But have no fear…I still plan to read your comments and will include you in the giveaway drawing.
***The winner of last week’s Amazon giveaway is Susan Reinhardt! I’ll contact you this week with details.
I would love to read AT EVERY TURN thank you.
I’ve had to fund raise for the Special Unit my son attended at the school.
One of the Mothers decided we could make Toffee Apples. Never again!! We had mess from one end of the kitchen to the other.
Oh my, Mary! Toffee apples sounds like a lot of work! When there were fundraisers at my kids’ school, I always just asked it I could write a check instead of participate!
This book looks great! Nice to “meet” you, Anne!
Most yummy fundraiser…definitely my boys’ Boy Scout Popcorn fundraiser.
Have fun at the retreat, Sarah!
Boy scout popcorn is always fun!
Fundraising, ugh! That is the least favorite part of our work as youth leaders. I absolutely hate asking people for money! Some of the best fundraisers we have done with the youth have been apple pies, a diner with homemade milkshakes, and cinnamon rolls. We are actually making cinnamon rolls again this month to help the teens raise money for winter retreat.
The book looks like a lot of fun!
Homemade cinnamon rolls. Yum.
Yay, I love Anne’s book!! Fun interview!
Well, I am a fundraiser by day, so I think I have to say I love it. Haha! Truth is, I’m not big on asking people for money. But the bulk of my job is simply telling our story through newsletters, appeals, website stuff, sort of the easy side of fundraising.
And I have to agree with Anne on the London vs. Maui question. Maui would be amazing, but after studying in London and making several trips back, a huge piece of my heart is in London. Ahh, now I’m dreaming of the next trip…
I’m so jealous you got to study in London, Melissa! Not doing that is the one regret hubby and I both have. But we haven’t given up hope even now, lol!
Anne’s first book, Wings of a Dream, was excellent, so I’d love a copy of At Every Turn!
Yay, V.V.! So glad you entered!
I hate having to raise money. I’m horrible at it and don’t like it. But Anne, can I meet your daughter by any chance??? *grin*
Great interview ladies! Congrats on the second book!
Lol! She’s now a busy college student! We haven’t had a cheesecake from her in eons!
Sarah, I am so glad you introduced us to Anne! Her book sounds great.
Congrats to Anne on her book, and to Susan, too, for winning last week’s giveaway!
So glad you dropped in, Karen!
Really enjoyed this interview, Sarah and Anne. I love that your #1 descriptor is quiet, this writer can relate
And that cheesecake sounds heavenly.
Julia, I never think of myself as quiet until I’m around other people. Then I realize how much I am that way!
Great interview, ladies!
I don’t really remember ever doing a fundraiser…I hated selling stuff. I always felt pushy. We’ve bought one of those cards, though, the kind with restaurant discounts on it. Used it quite a bit, so that was good!
I love buying those restaurant cards! But I would still hate to sell them. I’m not a salesman or fundraiser. At. All. Which is so funny that I should write about one!
I am a retired elementary teacher so “fundraiser” was something we heard every year and of course every child in the class felt we should buy something from them as well as all our neighbor children!! Right now I am involved in our church women’s fundraiser and we are taking orders for Christmas greenery.
This book sounds fascinating and I would love to read it.
I’m sure that Christmas greenery will be a good fundraiser!
Loved the interview! Great to meet you, Anne!
Your books sounds good. I love the time period.
I give a lot to different fundraisers. I always give to the kids raising money for school trips, or to the veterans of our country. I do raise money for cancer and veterans about twice a year.
Good for you, Loree! I know those groups appreciate your efforts on their behalf!
I helped with lots of fundraisers at my daughter’s school back in the day. I’d say the Book Fairs were my favorite event. I loved seeing how excited the kids got about their new books.
I LOVED working the book fairs at my kids’ school! Of course, I ended up taking way too many books home with me!
We once belonged to a church in Texas that made cheesecakes every year for the town’s December festival. I think we raised quite a bit of money selling the cheesecakes. I’d love to win a copy of Anne’s new book. Thanks for the chance.
Wow. That was a much bigger endeavor than our little mission trip cheesecake making! I can’t imagine!
I won? Woohoo! Thanks, Sarah.
It’s nice to meet you, Anne. I’m fascinated by the unusual theme of your book.
Congrats on last week’s win, Susan!
anne…looking forward to reading alyce’s story…enjoyed this posting, too.
sarah…thanks for hosting anne on your blog…a wonderful interview.
Good to “see” you again, Karen! Thanks for stopping by!
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