Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt!
If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all the stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
• The hunt BEGINS on 3/18 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.
• Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not Explorer).
• There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until Sunday, 3/21 at midnight MST)! So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them.
• Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at the final stop, back on Lisa’s site. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!
Hey Y’all! So glad to have you visit my site and enjoy the fun of this Scavenger Hunt! My name is Pepper Basham and I am an author of contemporary and historical romance. My books are “peppered” with grace and humor and are usually sprinkled with some of my Appalachian heritage too. You can learn more about me by perusing this site or touching base with me on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, MeWe, and/or Pinterest.
My newest release, Hope Between the Pages, celebrates all things BOOKISH!!! Oh yes, you got that right. Stories GALORE! Bookshops. Libraries. Classics. Here’s a little about it!
Clara Blackwell can’t lose her family’s one-hundred-year-old bookshop, but with the deed missing, there’s a chance her father’s legacy could fall into the hands of her greedy uncle. In an attempt to locate the missing deed, Clara uncovers an unusual love note which leads to the discovery of a long-lost romance. Forced to step outside her predictable bookish world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great grandmother’s unknown history. From the beautiful North Carolina Vanderbilt estate to a hamlet in The Lake District, England, can Clara put the pieces of an ill-fated romance together in order to save her bookshop…and maybe even find her own bookish happily-ever-after in the process?
The Stories that Shape Us
The earliest books I remember were the hardback, blue Bible storybooks my parents kept on a bookshelf in the living room. Each book had a smooth cover with a scene depicting some Bible story and promised pages filled with surprising revelations about what God did for his people. My parents read a Bible story to me and my little brother each night before bed, but stories were an integral part of my early childhood. I’m from Appalachia, so, besides the Bible stories, many stories were “told” not “read”. I would say that my love for stories started with that hardbound Bible book, but was inspired and encouraged by the oral tales my granny shared of our family history. Encouraged by my love for storytelling, reading became a natural passion and I was often found carrying a book around which led to the discovery of many other wonderful tales. The Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew were the first sets that drew me to such an extent, I felt I needed to write sequels. “Mysteries” suddenly emerged around every corner of my imagination and though I couldn’t draw very well at all, my first “story” ended up being a mystery inspired by my love for those book series. (note the photo of my daughter holding a copy of my poorly illustrated first story) 🙂
In my late elementary years, I learned the value of traveling outside of the U.S when I read The Secret Garden followed quickly by A Little Princess. It was then that I began my deep and abiding love affair with “all things UK”. With that shift in reading, growing my little Appalachian world, even more,
I began to devour as many stories as I could find. I held a fascination for Abraham Lincoln in middle school and John F. Kennedy in early high school. I would read as many books as I could get my hands on about the English landscape and history, particularly royal history. Then I read Jane Eyre followed quickly by some of Austen’s classics and I was a goner.
College introduced Frankenstein and Dracula, along with Gawain and the Green Knight, Dickens, and Canterbury Tales. Each story feeding a different interest within my imagination, a fun conglomeration which likely encouraged my rather “eclectic” writing style now 🙂 But…at this time, the only fiction with an overtly Christian influence that I’d read was Grace Livingston Hill books- and though they were sweet and gentle, they didn’t hold my interest as much as some other fiction did.
In my early twenties, I made two fascinating discoveries.
- Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings (I finished both series within a week each as a new mom. AMAZING! Nursing moments really add up.)
- When I picked Siri Mitchell’s book, Kissing Adrien, followed immediately by Mary Connealy’s book, Petticoat Ranch, I realized I’d “found” the Christian influence, intriguing stories, and quality of writing I was looking for, not only in reading but also in writing. Add to that the powerful depth of Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love, and, somehow, I found my “writing” family.
All along the way, stories not only entertained me, but each one contributed to growing my education, my imagination, and my appreciation of people, history, worlds, hardships, and triumphs that I may never experience (and may never WANT to experience) in the real world. The point is, they GREW me.
I learned and loved through books. They made me a better person, reader, and writer. They broadened my world and gave me a better understanding of others. Stories matter.
“Their” stories matter and our stories matter. That’s why “book folks” enjoy each other’s company so much. We share stories and the love of stories. We build community, so, not only to stories teach and entertain us, they also bring us together 🙂 (Hmm….maybe that’s why Jesus used them so much 😉
So, now it’s your turn.
What fiction inspired you? Either early on in your reading journey or later? We’ve all grown through stories. Some of mine were written down and some were told to me from a family member, but they all influenced me and my imagination in different ways.
What about you?
Leave your answer in the comments to have an opportunity to win a copy of Hope Between the Pages – a story inspired by the love of books!!
ALSO…..Here’s the Stop #21 Basics:
Clue to Write Down: DIVE
The Next Stop on the Loop: the AMAZING Kara Swanson’s site!
We had a set of those blue colored Bible Story books. There are three of us kids but when Momma decided she was going to give them away I took them. I have them all and they still look great. My grandchildren look at them now.
We had the blue books too. I’ll have to find out which child of 8 has them! I loved all the books you mentioned. I think Francine rivers is still close to my favorite. But I’m a librarian & English teacher – retired – so who can decide?!
Besides the Bible, one book that had a great impact on me is After Anne by Roxanne Henkel. It helped me feel ok about getting help for depression .
I love mysteries. I read Nancy Drew too and Trixie Belden. I started reading Agatha Christie, Elizabeth Peters, and Sherlock Holmes when I was a teenager. I love to read cozy and historical mysteries.
Nancy Drew was and is my favorite series since I was about 14, and was the first series that really hooked me on reading for fun. I love the character, class, and morality that she represents in each story. Now one of my younger gobbles them down faster than I can. 😂😊
younger brothers lol.
I recall Heidi, The Five Little Peppers, and the Bobbsey Twins along with B is for Betsy as among the first books I checked out of the Whapeton Public Library. I decided early on in grade school that when I grew up I wanted a personal library in my home. That dream came true and I cannot wait to add Hope Between the Pages to my bookshelf!
The Boxcar Children was probably the earliest series I remember reading, then the Mandie series. Brock and Bodie Thoene were one of the first Christian Fiction authors that I read as well.
Brock and Bodie Thoene’s books inspired me. I would read them in church instead of listening. 🙂
I give Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden credit for starting my love of reading when I was 7 or 8 years old. I still have all of them…passed them and loving to read to my oldest daughter. Thanks for having this giveaway!
The first book I remember was my uncle got it for me for Christmas when I was nine years old. It was Nancy Drew and I read that book so much, it finally fell apart!
A book in my youth would ve bridge to terabithia. In my adulthood would be Redeeming Love!
The books that have inspired me have been YA contemporary as I can see myself in them as well as increase my compassion for those who are different than me.
My favorite books of the past are the books I read in elementary school. Beverly Cleary’s Mouse series, Bridge to Terabithia, and Just Plain Cat are some that really fired up my imagination. I didn’t really pick up reading for enjoyment again until I was in my 40’s and the kids were managing themselves. Now I read everything I can get my hands on, as long as it has a positive theme and clean writing 🙂
I just always remember reading whatever I could get my hands on. Middle school and high school saw me in the bookstore every weekend, happily handing over my allowance for whatever books grabbed my attention that week.
I grew up with the Bible Story books, and I loved to read and had my first library card when I was about 4. I loved reading the Bobsey Twins, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys.
Anne of Green Gables and Laura Ingalls Wilder books are the earliest books I remember reading myself and they taught me about kindness, imagination and finding adventure in the everyday moments.
The Chronicles of Narnia was probably my biggest inspiration growing up. I was obsessed with reading them over and over again, and they definitely inspired a love of fantasy and also led me to an interest in Biblical historical novels as I became older.
I remember the blue books about the bible from my childhood
I fell in love with reading when I read the Cul-De-Sac Kids books in elementary school. Since then I’ve read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. After reading “A Time to Dance” by Karen Kingsbury and “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers I knew I was a Christian Fiction goner.
Thanks for the post and the opportunity!
sounds interesting
I remember always having a Bible. Aren’t we blessed? I’ve always loved to read. Some of the earliest chapter books I remember are The Bobby Twins, Nancy Drew, and The Hardy Boys.
Hmm I’d say Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys… loved reading those.
As a child I struggled with reading. I read some some books in the Cam Jansen series which is a children’s mystery series. I also enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie series, Nancy Drew and the Magic Tree house serie. These series help teach me to read and helped develop my love for reading.
I’ve always loved to read, especially after a teacher who read to our class (if we got our work done on time). She introduced me to Caddie Woodlawn, Little Britches, and Laura Ingall Wilder’s many books.
I fell in love with reading in third grade when my teachers, Mrs. Scovell, read the Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary every day after lunch. That was my favorite part of the day!
Fiction books that inspired me as a child were Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins. As an adult, books by Eugenia Price.
Eugenia Price is my favorite!
Kim! I remember reading this book. It was so sweet!
I have always loved reading. I loved the Boxcar Children books as a kid!
I always read as a child but I remember when I got a little older my mom let me start reading Jenette Oke books, specifically the Love Comes Softly series. I think this is the first time I got hooked on a series and HAD to read the next one.
Love those earlier books of Siri’s – Moon Over Tokyo and The Cubicle Next Door are ones I reread often.
I grew up on those Blue Bible story books too! My family still gets out #7 every Christmas to read about Jesus’ birth! I also discovered Nancy Drew when I was in the sixth grade and wanted to be just like her when I grew up!
Oh my gosh, there are so many stories it’s hard to choose lol. Ones that really inspired me though… The Last Dragon Chronicles by Chris D’Lacey, The Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville, and original fairytales.
Reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books as a child gave me a love of mysteries. Grace Livingston Hill’s books gave me a taste of Christian fiction that has developed over the years so that the majority of the books I read are in that genre.
I would have to agree with you about Narnia and Lord of the Rings. Those were my bedtime stories for much of my childhood. I can not remember how many times those series were either read to us by our mom or I read through them. The other series I loved and read many times as a child was the Little House books and of course the Bible, tho’ not the blue covered one.
I grew up reading mysteries, and I still love anything with suspense!
The Boxcar Children and Little House on the Prairie books
As a kid, I loved singing & creating dances. It wasn’t until college, taking a Children’s Lit course, that I fell in love with reading. Mo Willems is a favorite in children’s interactive books…I LOVE the reader being involved! The Chronicles of Narnia series, the Mark of the Lion series, and The Hiding Place are some of my absolute favorite reads that I reread often. 🥰📚
The first Christian fiction book I remember reading was given to me by my grandmother. It was the first book in Gilbert Morris’ House of Winslow series. After reading that series, I was hooked on Christian historical fiction.
The Little House Books
Christy Miller Series at a teenager! I have been reading all things Christian fiction ever since!! I love Judy Hedlund books, Melanie Dickerson, Julie Klassen, Sarah E. Ladd, and so many more!
There are so many books I could name from each decade, it seems. As a kid it was lots of Berenstain Bears and the Boxcar Children series, but also lots of wonderful individual books. Later it was Mandie and Christy Miller along with Nancy Drew. Then I really dove into Christian Fiction after having kids. Now I am constantly learning new authors and new types of books that I like.
I would say Little Women, Little House on the Prairie, books by Judy Blume, and Beverly Cleary, Janette Oke, among many others. I loved going to the library as a young child and can remember wanting to go often too.
As a kid, the bookmobile was important so anything with horses, mystery were my go to until 5th grade when moving to San Diego and got to go to real library inside. What a world opening place it is.Then I started in on adventure books and british authors…fell in love with the Borrowers, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Little Women and rest of Alcotts books, and went through all the Nancy Drew as well. I love reading and what worlds books open for me – Christian thrillers and westerns are my go to when I can’t find I can’t get into other books – they were a lifesaver for me during Covid.
The Cheney Duvall series by Gilbert Morris really intrigued me, and I learned more about the Civil War era than I’d ever learned in school. =)
I’ve always loved fairytales, fantasy, and historical reads; being swept away to another time or land draws me in.
My early reading was Highlights Magazine followed by Nancy Drew. I think I owned all of those that were in print at that time. After getting sick of some of the muck that is popular best selling fiction, I’ve graduated to Christian Fiction and will never look back.
I believe I started my love of Christian fiction with Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly series. I now read pretty much every genre of Christian fiction, and have about 30 authors that I don’t miss a book when they put one out.
I loved reading the Little House series, and Tricia Belsen.
Tricia Belden
First time running across you as a author, i hope i can win your book so i can dive into reading your books.
Thanks for participating in the author giveaway!
When I was two, I would sit with a storybook and “read” to my infant brother. Books and reading have always been important to me. In my childhood, I loved mysteries like Nancy Drew. The first Christian fiction I ever read was a book by Grace Livingston Hill, and I was thrilled to find that first book.
I was hooked on Nancy Drew and little House series
Remember the orange biography books? They were in our church library and I think I read them all as a kid. Thanks for bringing back some good memories!
Ooooh, if those are the same ones I’m thinking about I love that someone else remembers them too. They were on the bottom shelf of the bookmobile and I’d grab several every three weeks when it came around. I think I read all they had.
Those Bible Story volumes were my go-to when I had sick days from elementary school. I had built-in shelves in that bedroom that were full of books. Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and other favorites were my go-to.
I read all the black stallion books among many others
I have to say that “Black Beauty” had a huge impact on my young life. I’d always loved horses more than I could describe, but that was the first book that I actually cried while reading it. That is such a powerful memory, realizing that an author’s words could bring such emotion.
I’d have to say the Nancy Drew mysteries are the most memorable to me. My aunt drove the bookmobile so every 2 weeks, she would stop on her route to eat lunch with us. It is a favorite memory of mine. All those books available to me right in our own driveway. It was magical.
A lot of the Amish fictions and historical fictions.
Thank you for the chance of winning your book!
I didn’t really enjoy reading when I was younger, but loved to be read to as a child. I first began reading a lot as an adult. I loved reading Debbie Macomber and was always waiting to read the next book in a series. I love reading now and continue to read Debbie along with many authors in this hunt. I have enjoyed getting introduced to new authors and look forward to reading the new books introduced.
When I was a child I read all of the books by Judy Blume and Beverly Clearly. I think I owned all of them.
Dear Canada inspired my love of historical fiction and Janette Oke helped me fall in love with Christian themes!
Junie B. Jones books got me started on my love of books back when I was in first grade I think.
I’m really showing my age. I remember reading the Cherry Ames books when in late junior/early high school. At the time, it was difficult for a young Christian to find clean fiction or romances. Grace Livingston Hill also was a favorite.
I loved to read, and Mother took us to the public library once a week. In high school I volunteered in my high school library, and one of my sisters became a school librarian. Early stories that I remember were Nancy Drew books, the Marguerite Henry books about Misty of Chincoteague, and ballet-related books. I took ballet lessons and later ended up majoring in both French and English in college. In my teaching career, I enjoyed teaching literature in both French and English. However, I’ve never seen myself as a writer other than writing papers for classes and writing letters to people.
I also loved Nancy Drew when I was growing up. My grandmother introduced me to Janette Oke’s books, but my favorite is “Christy” by Catherine Marshall. I felt like I could relate to it as my ancestors were like those mountain people that Christy taught. I love that the Christy Awards were named for that book 🙂
Little House on the Prairie books started my love for reading.
One year for Christmas when I was in 3rd grade, my brother gave me a Trixie Beldon book. I was hooked! I think that’s when I truly became passionate to read. The book that truly inspired me was The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. When I was in 4th grade, my class read this book. I was so intrigued with it and the parallels Aslan had to Jesus. It is one of my favorite books.
I’ve been reading since before I can really remember, so I really have no idea which books first started my love of reading. The Anne of Green Gables books and Chronicles of Narnia books were some of my earliest favorites that I can remember, as well as Nancy Drew and the Royal Diaries series.
I enjoyed Nancy Drew and Little Women, among others. Books were always an important part of our household.
In my teens and early 20s, I read both Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. Both strongly influenced me. Made me brave. It wasn’t until my mid-40s (after my husband ran away from home) that I rediscovered Christ in my life. I knew my reading habits had to change. I was reading a lot of worldly romance (and all that entails). Twenty years ago, finding Christian fiction was tough. But, find it I did. Francine Rivers and other held me up until Christian fiction became more accessible. I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
The Boxcar Children were my first love as a child. I am not a fast reader but I have always loved books. I am torn between having a physical book in my hands versus an ebook. I like the convenience of an ebook but really prefer the feel of a real book.
The Little House books were beloved favorites of mine that opened the world of fiction for me! I adore those books to this day and can’t wait to introduce them to my daughter!
My sister had Beverly Gray so I started with those, then on to Nancy Drew. Christian Romantic suspense my favorite genre, then Christian contemporary.
Little House on the Prairie was the series I loved most growing up along with The Babysitter Club books. I have almost all of them! (PS I cannot wait to read Hope Between the Pages. It was highly recommended to me when I asked for book recommendations around Biltmore/Gatlinburg area!)
My husband’s family had a copy of those blue Bible story books too! My love for reading started with books like Pippi Longstocking and Mandy by Julie Edwards. I’m currently reading The Hobbit and can appreciate how you found time to read while nursing – that was what kept me sane! (I discovered Jane Austen then!) Thanks for helping make this a fun scavenger hunt!
I loved reading so much when I was in elementary. Luckily I found that love again after high school and college forced readings turned me off! I remember loving The Little Princess, Secret Garden, Black Stallion and others!
Nancy Drew, L.M. Montgomery, and Laura Ingalls Wilder were my favorite reads growing up and shaped a lot of what I read now!
All such WONDERFUL stories about young women growing/changing through different time periods!
Definitely The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Giver series!
Christian,
I keep hearing The Giver series, but haven’t read it yet. The other two…as you know…are FAVS
My sister enjoyed reading the Bobbsey Twins books, and I wanted to be like her, so I read them, too. But my favorite books were Dr. Seuss when I was very young. As an adult, my mother got me hooked on Karen Kingsbury’s books.
Both good choices, Linda! I’ve always loved Dr. Seuss and still love using his books with the children I work with in my day job.
The Happy Hollisters were my favorite as a kid!
I loved to read as a child and the library was my favorite place to visit. I read all the classics, detective books and historical fiction the library had.
The book that influenced me was Christy by Catherine Marshall. There is something about her that draws you in and makes you want to do good in the world.
Little House on the Prairie series, but my total obsession is with the real life Laura Ingalls Wilder, all books, published works, manuscripts, thesis, documentaries, biographies. And Earl Hamner, creator of the The Waltons, his real life stories.
So many books but some were The Boxcar Children, The Happy Hollisters, Nancy Drew, Jane Eyre, Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier, Rosamunde Pilcher, Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury and Jennifer Chiaverini. I love books of all kinds.
I’m 68 years old and a a long, long time reader of anything that has a word on it. I always carry a book with me every day and I get upset if I need a book if I don’t have one. I’ve been lucky to work with books until I became disabled, The libraries where I live fill my hands now. Historical romances are my favorite now but I still read everything I can. The Scavenger hunts that you have are wonderful way to find books that I didn’t know about yet.
When we stayed with my grandparents we had to lay dow when they took a nap. We didn’t have to sleep just stay in bed and be quiet. The bed had a bookcase headboard. In it was a set of books. Alice in wonderland, Tom Sawyer, and many more.
My cousins had the blue Bible story books! I read them every time we went to their house. I loved the Little House books so much. They were my favorites growing up! This past August, I got to go to DeSmet , SD and visited the surveyors house mentioned in The Long Winter. I love all things Appalachian
and about the UK!
The very first book I ever owned was One Kitten Too Many when I was in first grade( oh, I can’t believe how long ago that was!). In elementary school I read all the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew books. I am looking forward to reading your books, as I have just discovered you & your books look very interesting.Thank you for the chance to win your book.
I loved Pippi Longstocking! I read a lot asxa child and even more as an adult!
Oh my goodness! I forgot about Pippi!!! Yes!
As a child I read everything I could get my hands on. I was a flashlight under the covers reader. One book that I remember is Joseph’s Son. It gave an insight of Jesus’s life as a child. One thing you don’t learn in Sunday school.
I grew up loving any books with horses. Ha! Marguerite Henry, Anna Sewell, Walter Farley, and James Herriot were all time favs!
All on a winters day- it was the 90’s, 4th grade in Iowa, so much imagination and suspense. I loved it so I told my highschool lit teacher about it and as we became friends my senior year, she found it online in a little bookstore in New York. She gifted it to me on my graduation day and oh I cried! The best most thoughtful gift I’d ever received. My girls read it now. Full circle reading love!
The Count of Monte Cristo renewed my interest in reading I devoured that book and moved on to The Three Musketeers series.
I loved The Little Engine that Could, Charlottes Web and alot of fairytales. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
Yes, Alicia! And I’ve loved fairytales my whole life too!!
I didn’t become or enjoy reading until I was in high school. Our school library had several of the Heart Song (I think that was the name of the line) books. I picked one up and was hooked.
Thank you so much for your participation in this Hunt.
Stephanie C.
Anne of Green Gables opened up the world of daydreaming for me at 11 years old. I learned that I loved history and storytelling! Glad to find you and your books!
I’ve been reading ever since I can remember! Books have always been an important part of my life. 🙂
Growing up, I especially enjoyed humor in my books, which is probably why I like your books so much!!!
Two books that change me everytime I read them, This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti and A Man Called Blessed, by Ted Dekker. They make me want to be a better Christian and a better writer.
I’ve always been a voracious reader.
Hello Pepper, It’s great to discover a new to me author! My love for books and reading started with the Little House on the Prairie series when I was in third grade. My friend Carol and I were having a race to see who could finish the series first. I don’t remember who won, probably Carol ! But my love for traveling between the pages of books began and hasn’t stopped.
CS Lewis, Tolkien, Dickens and so many classic writers influenced me. And my MiL had me read GL Hill!
I loved Margeruite Henry books as child, have devoured Hunger Games and look forward to all of Tessa Afshar’s books… and found a new love for historical fiction audiobooks!
I also grew up on those blue Bible story books, as well as Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Pippi Longstocking, Little House books, Nancy Drew, Hardy boys, and so many more!
I remember the Blue Bible Story Books from my Pediatrician’s office (I spent a lot of time there when I was very young as I had the measles, mumps, chicken pox, German measles & MONO by the age of 5 & then had my tonsils out!) I learned to read using the Dick & Jane Basal Readers in the mid 60’s. I had the MEANEST 1st Grade Teacher on the planet but she did teach me to read & I’m forever grateful! My 3rd Grade Teacher read several “Little House” books to my class & I was NEVER the same! I am STILL (@ age 62) hiding my iPhone while I’m reading while I’m supposed to be doing other things! Recently, I read while playing cards with my family & still won several hands! It was a REALLY COMPELLING a book❣️
I’m afraid I don’t have one. It seems God can use anything I read to inspire me in that particular moment!
The Trolley Car Family
I don’t remember the author but it was a favorite childhood book! I found it in a library many years ago and read it to my family and told them it was a childhood favorite.
I also read Nancy Drew. A friend and I would race each other to the school library to get the next one.
Some of my earliest book memories are my mom reading my sister and I the whole Little House series. The first books I read completely on my own were the American Girl books. Those early books are probably why I still love historical fiction.
I loved The Little House on the Prairie books when I was little! The Ingalls family was such a strong, loving group!
I didn’t read much fiction as a kid–I read mostly nonfiction–but I did read some fiction about animals, like Marguerite Henry’s books about horses. One of my very favorite books was Lassie Come-Home, by Eric Knight. I loved reading about the dog who was so determined to be with the boy she loved. That book made me want to visit England and Scotland, and I still hope to someday.
I think it’s cool that so many people remember growing up with The Bible Story books. My grandpa used to sell Christian books door-to-door, and some of the ones he sold where The Bible Story and Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories (by the same author). My family had entire sets of those books, as well as a few old display copies my grandpa had given us.
Enid Blyton books got me into reading as a child
I have been reading since the beginning of time! I cannot begin to name all the books which influenced and inspired me. I do know it was Frank Peretti’s book, “Piercing the Darkness” which first showed me the realm of spiritual warfare. I owned a Christian bookstore at one time and found a lot of great authors. This scavenger hunt is introducing me to lots more. I am happy you are on it!
Dr Seuss inspired me to read as a chil, as did fairy tales, nursery rhymes and folk tales. Red Badge of Courage stuck with me too, as did ANne of Green Gables.
Hi!
We also had those Bible stories growing up, on a shelf in the living room by the piano.
I grew up with Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys. I would read every night on our swing set in 2nd grade. Thanks for the memories that you brought to mind!
Little Golden Books, Nancy Drew Little Women and many others!
We read The Secret Garden in grade school and I remember loving it so much! I also enjoyed Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew.
L.M. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables and many more novels and short stories, has had a profound impact on my life and my own writing. And my discovery of Agatha Christie when I was 12 led to a life-long love of murder mysteries!
I started reading when I was 6 and I have stop since then. I love discovering new Christian authors.
I always loved reading and will read anything. I would even read over my moms shoulder as a child as she read Christian fiction – Jannette Oke, Gilbert Morris, Karen Kingsbury, etc. Jane Austen and Margret Mitchell are my two favorite “classic” authors.
I recognize that blue Bible story book. We didn’t have then all, only a few but I remember reading those books. I still have a couple if the ones we had back then. Thank you Pepper for this sweet post.
I fell in love with historical fiction after reading Outlander. I’ve read all those books and many other historical fiction books since then. I especially loved Lisa Bergren’s River of Time series.
grew up on multiple series – Little House on the Prairie et all, Pride and Prejudice and everything Jane Austen, plus a ton of biographies…
Thanks for the giveaway
Janette Oke’s books inspired me and made me wander into the Christian Fiction World! Wow! I never imagined so many awesome authors were out there! So happy after my discovery!
My parents gave us the Children’s Bible, I remember the cover. My mom read to us and then we read it ourselves when we could read. So true how important these seeds are in your life.
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardobe by CS Lewis – I remember my mom reading it to me, and then reading it for myself for the first time. I love fantasy allegory and it inspired me to become a writer myself! Two of the earliest books (besides that one) that made an impact on me was The Chataine’s Guardian by Robin Hardy and When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke. Definitely well-read and well-loved favorites 🙂
This book sounds so fun! As a budding writer myself it’s been very interesting to think back on my early reader years and see what things stuck and inspire me to this day. Narnia was certainly a huge one, but also things like the Passages series by Paul McCusker, Sammy Keyes by Wendelin Van Draanen, and more recently all things Tolkien. Of course there are many more, but naming them all would make for a very long comment. XD
I had some of those blue Bible books too! I continued reading the, even into my teen years. I was also inspired by Narnia and Anne of Green Gables.
I really enjoyed the supernatural thrillers growing up – Peretti’s This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness; Bob Larson’s Dead Air and Abaddon; Bill Meyer’s Blood of Heaven trilogy; and Sigmund Brouwer’s Double Helix and Blood Ties. My tastes have evolved to enjoy “tamer” pursuits, but I still enjoy thrillers of any kind!
I started reading books by Mary Stewart in my High School classroom simply because we shared the same last name lol But that’s where I got my reading addiction started.
I am a reader. I would say Little Women inspired me. Beany Malone. Laura Ingalls Wilder. C. S. Lewis. ahhh I could go on but shall stop with that. Oh wait, anything by Patricia St. John.
We had a set of those blue books too! My reading journey was nurtured by my father and our bi-weekly trips to the library. I eventually started reading in alphabetical order so I read all of Louisa May Alcott’s books and continued on! I always took out the maximum allowed! Dad was so patient as he waited for us to make our selections! I still love reading!
I have read books one after another since 3rd grade… staring with Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and Lauren Ingalls. I love series, especially those with some mystery to them and romance. Nowdays I read primarily Christian fiction.
I loved to read Nancy Drew books! I’m sure there were lots of others as I remember going to the library a lot and one day thinking I’d just start with the A’s and read them all! Ha ha it didn’t take long to realize that was an impossible goal!
I also loved The Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew. I would often spend my “rest” time in a tree reading books. (Yes, I climbed every tree I could!) Books allowed my to escape my daily life while learning something new. I still love to read, although I no longer climb trees.
I enjoyed reading Nancy Drew books.
I’ve been inspired by the A Life of Faith Elsie Dinsmore series. They are amazing books that I’ve read many times!
The book(s) that have sparked a love for reading is Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series. Hadassah is a character that has stayed with me ever since I put down the book (for the 3 time) To lose everything and still feel the errancy to still serve God… I love this story and it has made me pick up more book in search of other powerful examples of the person I can be.
I discovered Christian fiction when I found Beverly Lewis and from there I’ve discovered more and more. I also had those Bible Story books read to me as a child and I read them to my children.
Fiction that has inspired me in my writing actually includes somewhat of non-fiction–specifically, stories based on real events or people. The Little House books are an obvious example, but I also love Carry On, Mr. Bowditch and Snow Treasure.
Thanks for the giveaway!
CutePolarBear
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Nancy Drew introduced me to the joy of mysteries and my love of history has made me a fan of historical fiction. Thanks for being a part of this tour!
The new book sounds really good!
I loved reading The Bobbsey Twin books!
When I was young I read all of the Childhood of Famous Americans and Marguerite Henry books I could check out from the library.
As some have mentioned before I loved the Bobbsey Twins and the Boxcar Children. I always saw my mom read and maybe that is why I loved reading. (sadly my 16 year old son doesn’t like to read like I do and I just hate it!)
I love the blue books too and we still have them all these years later. I think my first introduction to Christian fiction was Janette Oke. We always would say we’d learned to have “Janette Oke” faith. Things might seem really tough but it would work out in the end – just not always how you thought it would.
I have always loved books, and they continue to inspire me! Some of my early favorites were the Boxcar Children, and some of my current favorites are the Red River of the North series.
I began to love books at a very early age. Many afternoons would find me at the tiny library located in the dry goods store or at the bookmobile when it came to my neighborhood. I can still remember the dusty smells of the ancient books in the library and the sharp ink smells of the new bookmobile books. Nights (and my parents) would find me under the covers with a flashlight, helping Trixie, Nancy and the Hardy brothers solve their mysteries. When I discovered my mom’s extensive collection of Grace Livingston Hill books, I was in heaven. I read and reread them all. I am still tempted to stay up late at night reading a suspenseful or inspiring adventure or a sweet romance that I can’t put down.
My grandma had those blue Bible Story books and would read them to us when we were little! I loved the Little House books, Boxcar Children books and Trixie Belden books, as well as books by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume.
I remember the blue Bible Story books. I read and was inspired by The Boxcar Children and anything by Carol Ryrie Brink or Marguerite Henry.
When I was a child, I would read anything I could get my hands on…from shampoo bottles to cereal boxes. I used to love visiting my grandma because she had Reader’s Digest and Guideposts.
I have always enjoyed reading, but growing up I much prefer to be outside, in the barn helping dad milk or riding horseback to spend some quiet time in the woods. I think what really got me devoted to reading was when I read a couple books and then saw the movies after. The books were so much better!( The Horse Whisperer and Bridges 9f Madison County as well as some of Nicholas Sparks books ) Then I read The Kitchen House, and I was hooked on vocal war history. That led to other historical books dealing with the nineteenth century mostly. But my interests cover a very wide range of history in this continent.
Books I remember touching me as a kid were “Blue Willow Plate” by Doris Gates and Sylvia Louise Engdahl’s Children of the Star trilogy, especially book 2 “Beyond the Tomorrow Mountains.” And of course there were all the Hardy Boy books my brother and I read!
We didn’t have a TV when I was growing up so initially reading me was my escape from the boredom. I read all the Little House on the Prairie books, Anne of Green Gables, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries, even Louis L’Amour books! I read so much in 8th that they added Reading to the Achievement Awards and awarded the first pin in my school to me! Over time, reading has encouraged, inspired and blessed me. I love to read!!
I guess the book that got me going at first was Shane we read it at school.
Thank you for sharing! My reading path was influenced early on by my Mom reading the Box Car Children series to us, then Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, next my great aunt sharing one of her favorite books The Hero and the Crown, and then devouring many of the older Newberry Award winners and honorable mentions with the help of the sweetest middle school librarian!
The Little House books were my favorite series as a girl. I remember making watermelon rind preserves with my grandmother because they were mentioned in the books.
My mother taught me to read very early, age 4 or so. We had a set of books about animals and meadows that I really loved early. I had many influences including Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, The Black Stallion. the Bible and Bible stories. I have loved books for all my life, it seems.
All I remember is Pippi Longstockings 😂 but I was have a book with me!
Lurlene McDaniel is the first author that I remember being obsessed with. I read all of her books that I could get my hands on and loved them all. Sweet stories full of heartbreak that almost always left me in tears but I couldn’t stop reading them.
The Christian series I read as a child/teen inspired me to read – I love the ones by Robin Jones Gunn and Judy Baer.
Charlotte’s Web, Nancy Drew series, Little House on the Prairie series were childhood fiction influences. As an adult, my favorites are The Forgotten Garden, The Big Stone Gap series, A Man Called Ove, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Where the Crawdads Sing and so many more.
Charlotte’s Web, Nancy Drew series, and Little House on the Prairie series were some of my childhood fiction influences. As an adult, I love A Man Called Ove, The Forgotten Garden, The Big Stone Gap series, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Where the Crawdads Sing and so many more.
As a little girl, I read whatever I could get my hands on… when my teacher read the first Boxcar Children book to my class, I went to the library and checked it out so I could finish it faster! I discovered Christian fiction in high school, and read a lot of Lori Wick and Dee Henderson’s books before branching out to lots of other authors!
I’ve always lived to read, as far back as I can remember. Honestly, I don’t really remember what book started it all. I do remember always reading with my mom before bed.
I loved the Nancy Drew books a a young child growing up.
The first books I remember devouring were Nancy Drew books. I also loved E.B. White’s books. Hope Between the Pages sounds fascinating!
There are so many books, so little time! Sounds trite – but it’s true. The first book I remember reading was Christy by Catherine Marshall. It has remained my favorite. I never cease to be inspired by books written by the authors on this scavenger hunt. Your new one looks amazing!
Your books embody Luke 24:32, “They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ ” I cannot wait to read Hope Between the Pages!
I fell in love with reading from the start. I remember the Dick and Jane books in elementary school and how much I enjoyed them. I read The Little House books and classics such as Little Women and Charlotte’s Web.
Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables series was where I really found my people! (Ooh, and Hope Between the Pages is simply marvelous!)
I’m only a young adult but I remember loving The Boxcar Children! Our local public library had many of those books and I tried to read all of them (which unfortunately failed XD).
I loved 39 Clues so much! I remember some of them being a bit strange but still, it was my type of book ahaha.
Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness brought prayer and spiritual warfare to life for me as a teenager! Really changed me!
Thanks for sharing your story! <3
I fell in love as a young adult with the Women of the West series by Janette Oke.
This really dates me, but I was introduced to Grace Livingston Hill as a teen and that began my love of Christian fiction.
I can not remember a time when I was not reading or being read to. My parents encouraged my love of reading with little golden books and the magic picture books (you scribbled over parts of the page to reveal more pictures or activities). The magic picture books were given to me before my little brother was born (so probably after age 2 but before I turned 4) and where either Bible stories or provided a story with a Bible basis. My grandfather would share stories with my brother and I (as we were the ones who wanted to hear them) and my dad shared (and still does) stories of things that happened in our community (on the outskirts of the Appalachian region) and in our family.
At the public library, I loved all types of books and as soon as they let me make the jump into the bigger books I started devouring Bobbsey Twins, Happy Hollisters, Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Hardy Boys, Tarzan, and many more (my Scholastic book wish lists were huge–I usually was only allowed one or two).
People love to ask me for suggestions of what to read but I have to give them puzzled looks when they ask for my favorite…once I’ve named the Bible I’m stuck as there are far to many.
We had those same Bible story books when I was growing up. Either Mom or my oldest sister would read me one or more of the stories before bed. I remember pretending to read a book because I saw my siblings doing it. Reading is one of my strongest passions! I currently enjoy the Amish fiction/romance or Christian fiction/romance genres the most.
We had those blue Bible story books too (I believe my parents still have them). I also remember reading the Little House books and loads of Nancy Drew (that my daughter now owns).
Well, I actually loved Harry Potter a lot. Even as a young kid I would listent o the audiobook version over and over again ahaha
I loved reading American Girl so much
Oh, I can’t wait for this one!! It’s so hard to pick just one book, I loved anything horse-related growing up! The Saddle Club series were some of my favorites!
I loved Kissing Adrien as well. My intro to CF was probably Lori Wick in the church library. 🙂
My early books were Grace Livingston Hill books belonging to my grandmother and mother and Nancy Drew books.
I didn’t really get into reading until I was almost 17 years old. I read some books here and there but nothing held my attention for very long. I read a few Nancy Drew’s but soon outgrew them, then I read Janette One’s love comes softly series, but after I finished I didn’t know where to go or look for a new series so I stopped reading.
Then a few years later my mom gave me “The Regency Spies of London” series by Melanie Dickerson. I absolutely fell in love with those books, and even stayed up until 4 in the morning to finish.
I continued reading every Melanie Dickerson I could find.
After that I was equipped to find new books by different authors because I knew which genre I liked. So came along authors such as Jody Hedlund, Lynette Eason, Lisa T. Bergren, a little Jane Austen, and I even revisited Janette Oke’s “love comes softly”
Series and “Prairie Legacy” series.
I now am an avid reader and I absolutely love the many adventures I can dive into!
The Happy Hollisters was the first series of chapter books that I read. They gave me a love of mysteries and of stories that involve large, loving families!
I began my Christian Fiction journey with Grace Livingston Hill. Like you, I wanted something more intriguing to read but something that still reflected my new faith. I am so grateful for authors like you who give us wholesome reading materials!
The Little House books were my childhood favorites.
I have THE ACTION BIBLE. I love it!!
You are new to me. I appreciate you post. Love learning about new authors and their books!
Thank you for your great giveaway!!
As a child The Little House books inspired my love of historical fiction, and the The Boxcar Children mysteries inspired my love of mysteries. But I think it was my papaw and his telling of family stories that inspired my love of genealogy and family history. As well as a desire to write.
Little House in the Big Woods was definitely the beginning for me as a child and now in my late 30’s I can look back and deeply appreciate my beginning to a life long love of reading and now I get to share it with my kids!
Books by L.M Montgomery and books about Nancy Drew.
I didn’t grow up “loving to read”; it was just something that was required of us kids. Truthfully, I loved being outdoors more. But there were those moments when I’d sit long enough to read a book, so there are a few that I enjoyed: Hansi (a story of a girl growing up as a Nazi youth), Anne of Green Gables. Then when I moved into my teen years I had a couple of English teachers that made the stories we read for school seem real, personal: A Scarlet Letter, A Tale of Two Cities, Pride and Prejudice…and I was off. I majored in English in college and had ample exposure to stories that I didn’t like. But they did teach me to go deeper into a character and feel what life was like in their skin. And surprisingly, after college and all that “forced reading” I really started to love reading as I was able to choose stories that were of interest to me. Stories by Mary Connaely and Dee Henderson. Like you, once I found my preferred reading genre, I was off reading about places and people that have adventures in life that inspire, instruct and encourage me.
I loved Enid Blyton’s adventure series books…read them many times!!
I learned to read when I was 4, and never stopped. I read everything I could get my hands on, Nancy Drew, classics like Little Women and Jane Eyre, and even Shakespeare and Homer. There was nothing I wouldn’t read. I loved biographies for a long time, and also read nonfiction. There was a lot of storytelling in my family also, especially at large, extended family gatherings. I also wrote my own stories, which continued until I had my first child at 18. After that, I just didn’t make the time for years, although I still made time to read. Now that I am retired from teaching it is time to get back to more reading and begin writing again.
The Outsiders. I read it 30 years ago and often think about the characters.
I have always been reading.my favorite right now are Love Inspired Books
i stared in 2nd grad i use to read up to 3 or forur book and then i love any kind of books since i am confinde to the hosue i trying to catch up
My mother taught me to read from the Bible and a few children’s books before I started to school. I’m not sure why I liked reading fiction so much from the first grade and even today. Maybe it was easier than math and more interesting! I usually read more fiction than my other classmates. I like to read now for inspiration, learning interesting things about other places and historical times.
I remember in junior high reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I could not believe that people could treat others the way the Germans were treating the Jews. It broke my heart.
I’ve always loved to read. I suppose my first “novel” was A Wrinkle in Time and I haven’t stopped since. I was introduced to Grace Livingston Hill through a church library then on to Michael Phillips and Judith Pella, Francine Rivers,
and Eugenia Price – to name a few. Now there are so many choices – its hard to find time to read them all. One disappointment is that my local library carries none of your books. 🙁
I have been an avid reader ever since that 1st Dick Jane & Sally book was placed into my hands…my mother and sisters are also avid readers but I think I got my love of stories from my Daddy…my Daddy was a teller of tales and a spinner of yarns…so much wisdom in his words..I miss him dearly.
Nancy Drew was my go to when I needed escape from life around me and she helped me a lot.
I don’t remember a time that I didn’t love to read. I guess my love of reading started with Dr. Seuss.
Yes! I love story and books, too. When I was in 3rd grade, we moved to Germany…we only had about 4 hours of TV a day…so I always had a book. I could take books wherever I went. Consequently, I got hooked on biographies and read every one available in the library. I always give time to my Bible, but love beautiful books, too. I am now trying to instill the same love into my grand babies ❤️
I always look forward to reading whatever you write 😀
I always loved the Mandie series–I couldn’t wait for each new book to be released. I also loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and their spin-off series.
I was reading fairly well at a young age. I don’t remember the name of the book, but there was a particular book my mom read to me when I was 4 and under. I loved that book so much that it made me want to read, so I memorized each word and could start connecting letters with their sounds. Once I got the hang of it, my Papaw gifted me with some Nancy Drew Notebooks and Nate the Great books. Those are what truly inspired me!
Bodie Thoene’s books inspired me.
I think it’s so amazing to see how some fiction continues to impact so many generations of readers. When I was a young girl, my mom introduced me to Nancy Drew (who she had read as a young girl), and that lit an even greater fascination for story inside me. Now, I’m mainly a Christian Fiction girl (with a touch of fantasy/ya on the side), but I still have so many wonderful memories of the first classical books I devoured.
I loved reading when I was younger. I loved reading the Dear America series, American Girls, Babysitters Club, Little House on the Prairie, just about anything historical fiction. I still love to read, but I do get to as much between studying for grad school and working.
We had two boys, so The Sugar Creek Gang books permeated our family life for a number of years.
I received Little Women in my 4th grade Christmas gift exchange. It’s still a favorite to read all these years later.
Thank you for having me here. I look forward to reading with you!