Hey all! I realize that I am a bit late in posting this interview and giveaway (I had originally planned for the 20th), but my family ended up going up to Alabama to help a family hit by the tornado a few weeks back and my Internet and cell service was horrible there. But! I am here now!
After a lot of discussion, around the time we changed up the template and blog posts on this blog, Kait and I also decided to change up our interviews and giveaways. From now on, we will be interviewing a certain character from a book. Sound like fun? Ya, we thought so too!
So, please help me welcome Emily Graham, the main character for Lorna Steilstad's new book, A Great Catch. (Which I have currently sitting on the top of my TBR pile, just teasing me to dive into it! :-)
Hey Emily! Welcome to Book Ponderings. Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview! This is going to be fun. J Would you like to introduce yourself to the readers of this blog?
First of all, Katy, thank you so much for inviting me to Book Ponderings. You have such a lovely place here. My name is Emily Graham and I’m the main character in A Great Catch. I’m twenty-two years old, and to my aunts’ despair, I’m still not married. I’m the president of the Council Bluffs Equal Suffrage Club, and I’m spending the summer at Lake Manawa in Iowa.
My strengths are being a determined, hard worker for the cause, and my weakness is that I’m a bit clumsy. Actually, if you drew a chalk line on the sidewalk, I’d trip over it.
Trip over a chalk line, eh? Love your humor, Emily! So on the cover of your book, A Great Catch, you are holding a baseball. Are you fond of the sport?
I wasn’t fond of baseball, but I was fond of a certain baseball player. As a leader in the suffrage movement, I wanted to do something that would show men that women could do whatever they could. I came up with the idea of having a Bloomer Girls Baseball team come to the lake. I needed a team for them to play. Carter agreed to let his team do it—if I played for his team. I agreed, but it was hard to learn since I am so clumsy.
Ah, I see. Well, I'm not a big fan at playing it either - have a problem with hitting the darn ball - so don't feel too bad! ;-) What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Free time? What’s that? I spend all my extra time writing suffrage articles, practicing speeches, and writing congressmen. Actually, the little free time I used to spend with my friends, Marguerite and Lilly. We’d go swimming or roller skating. But once I met Carter, well, he had a way of taking up most of my time.
Ohh, are you friends with Marguerite Westing in Making Waves? I loved reading her adventures! If you used one word to describe your personality, what would that be?
Driven.
Strong word! Why would you use that word? Can you elaborate on your personality a little bit more now?
Women have not been granted the right to vote in 1901 and it is a horrible thing. How can women ever be treated with equality if we are not even allowed to choose who represents us in government? I’ve dedicated my life to righting that wrong. If you’d like to sit down and talk about taxation without representation, I’m your girl.
Looks like you have a great purpose in life. By the way, you’re wearing a beautiful outfit on the front cover. Where does your family stand in society?
Why thank you! My grandfather made his fortune in silver, and my father owns an implement company. We are considered well-to-do, but my family isn’t an uppity family. My grandmother would never have allowed us to put on airs of any kind. She’s much too down-to-earth for that.
Ah, okay. So, back on track (sorry, I love a pretty dress!). What is your goal in life?
I would love to work on the National suffrage scene beside Carrie Chapman Catt, and I want men to see how capable women are. Deep down, I have to admit I hope that by committing to this cause, others will see me as valuable.
Not to give away anything in the book, but do you realize your goal or does God show you a different path for you to take?
Hmmm. No, women don’t get the right to vote in 1901, but God’s had special plans for me and Carter.
Hmm, can't wait to read A Great Catch and find out what those plans are! What is your favorite memory at Lake Manawa?
Oh, that’s going to be hard. I’ll never forget my two aunts. They were so determined to see me married off, they’d bring all sorts of fellows around. Can you imagine courting an undertaker?
But I think my favorite memory will always be the first time Carter kissed me. Any man that will kiss you after you’ve fallen in the mud has to win you heart.
Wow! Kissed after falling in the mud? I have to agree with you. So, after going through all the adventures in A Great Catch, what is one lesson that you really learned from your experiences?
I believe I learned that I was pouring so much into the suffrage fight in order to validate myself. I think we women do that a lot. We have to be the best wives, mothers, soccer moms, Christians—somehow believing that our hard work makes us worth of the respect and love of others. I learned that I’ve always mattered to the Lord.
How very true. Well thank you SO MUCH for coming out here today, Emily, and participating in this interview. I cannot wait to read A Great Catch!
GIVEAWAY:
Emily spoke to Lorna Steilstad on your behalf, dear followers, and she has agreed to give A Great Catch to one of Book Ponderings followers! Awesome, right?! Ya! In the comment section, feel free to leave any comments/questions for Emily or Lorna. I can't promise she will have time to read and reply to them all (that totally depends on her!) but I know she would love to see the support! :-)
Giveaway Rules: You must be/become a follower of Book Ponderings AND include your email address with your initial comment.USA only, please. This giveaway begins today and ends Friday, the 3rd of June. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on the 30th. This winner will be notified by the email address they leave in their comment. If the winner doesn't respond within 5 days, we will randomly pick another winner. Have fun!
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