Today we welcome Jennifer Deibel to the blog. We’ll be talking about her latest release THE IRISH MATCHMAKER. First, give our readers a quick look at your novel.
I pray that all readers will be encouraged in their own faith journey—whether they’ve been
following Jesus for years or just exploring what this God thing is all about. And if anyone
is struggling to trust in God’s provision, when it’s almost impossible to see how He could
provide, I hope that they would be heartened and encouraged to trust Him.
Why do you love setting your novels in Ireland?
The culture, language, and people are part of my heart and soul. I love being able to help
others experience even a piece of that incredible country. It is such a joy.
What type of research was required to portray the historical setting in The Irish
Matchmaker?
While I’ve driven through Lisdoonvarna and stopped for tea once or twice, I was never
able to spend much time there. So I spent a lot of days and weeks online learning about the town’s history, as well as the history and methods of matchmaking. I was so grateful to be able to chat with people at the Spa Wells Historical Centre, as well as talk to third-
generation matchmaker Willie Daly (who is still making matches in Lisdoonvarna to this day)! It was some of the most fun research I’ve done in a while!
Catríona is the daughter of a renowned matchmaker. What were the responsibilities of a matchmaker during this time period?
Matchmakers were responsible for finding suitable matches for their clients. Sometimes the
first match worked, other times it took a few tries. Then it was their job to negotiate the
terms of the match—money for dowry and land or livestock that was going to be part of
the deal, etc. Many matchmakers also kept meticulous records. Lisdoonvarna’s current
matchmaker carries a book with him that has the details of every match made by him, his
father, and his grandfather!
Catríona is determined to make a reputation for herself as a great matchmaker, as well as make herself a prosperous match. What, in your opinion, makes a great match between two characters?
That’s the million-dollar question! There has to be some common thread connecting the
characters to begin with. It could be a shared circumstance, mutual attraction, or even
mutual annoyance! But both parties really need to have the same goal for the relationship.
A good dose of conflict or a few obstacles can really help refine those goals and draw the
couple together. I also think laughter is a must for any successful romantic match.
What do you love most about writing historical romance?
I love being able to experience the world through a different lens. No matter how many
stories I write, I learn so much, and I get to see countries, cultures, and time periods most
people don’t get the opportunity to if they don’t read or write historical fiction. It’s a
chance to see what things were like.
What about your own life influences your writing?
Oftentimes, my own faith and struggles influence what or how I write. I’m able to draw on
those experiences in order to add a deeper layer of authenticity to the characters’ thoughts
and actions. Many of the humorous situations in my books were inspired by events I
actually experienced—like the “moving cloud” (aka sheep) in the nighttime journey over
the Errigal Pass in A Dance of Donegal and the cows munching on seaweed in the middle
of the street after a storm in The Lady of Galway Manor!
How can readers connect with you?
I absolutely love connecting with readers, so I hope they will! My website has all the links
to find me around the web. Readers can sign up for my newsletter there and find links to all my social media.
Where can readers purchase a copy of The Irish Matchmaker?
The Irish Matchmaker is available wherever books are sold in paperback, ebook, and
hardcover format. And the audiobook will be available after the release date. The best deal
can always be found at Baker Book House where you can preorder the book for 40 percent
off and free shipping.
Thank you so much for joining us today, and sharing a look inside The Irish Matchmaker. Reader’s, here’s a quick look. . . . .and it releases today!
As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love–and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne’s son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker’s failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man–and for herself!
Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it’s not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker–who clearly has eyes for someone else.
Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?
