WELCOME TO THE CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT!
If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to collect the clues through all the stops, in order (beginning here at Stop #1), so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
- The hunt BEGINS on 6/15 at noon MST right here on this page!
- 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, 6/18 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!
(If you want to start at the beginning, the hunt starts right “here”!!)
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Imaginary worlds have always fascinated me. How about you?
From the whimsy of Narnia to the vastness of Middle earth, even the glimpses I saw in fairytales, my mind absorbed and expanded these make-believe places until I could “see” them myself as I read. The snowy landscape awaiting Aslan, the towering grandeur of Minis Tirith, the elegant ballroom of Cinderella or shadowy forest of Red Riding Hood, something about these worlds inspired me to bring their sense of “magic” into mine.
As a young girl who grew up in Appalachia, surrounded by forests and mountains, the real world (when left to my imagination) with a bit of sunlight through trees, birdsong, and a lazy afternoon could easily transform into something very different. A “prince” meeting me in the woods, a shadow of a dragon I needed to vanquish, the rush of wind through flowers releasing fairies to flight…the simple, through my childish mind, became fantastical.
I suppose that’s why the idea of creating fictional places for my novels inspired a little bit of giddiness. Instead of spending time by myself in imaginary worlds with imaginary people, I could bring other people along too. Readers!
So, I’ve loved creating a few different worlds.
For “a world” that was BASED on a real place, I made Ransom, VA – a Blue Ridge Mountain town that is featured in the Mitchell’s Crossroads series. I took inspiration from nearby towns like Wytheville, Abingdon, and Bristol, VA to create the quintessential small town for those books. I even created Ransom in Minecraft 😊
My Appalachian town in Laurel’s Dream and The Heart of the Mountains was designed from research of mountain communities during that time period, plus my own family history.
Whitlock and Havensbrooke were two places I invented for the Freddie and Grace mysteries. Whitlock has a bit of Biltmore vibe and Havensbrooke was a combo of several manor houses I’d visited in the UK.
But Skymar? Skymar was a combination of all the things I adore most about places I’ve visited in the UK and the U.S. Small-town moments in villages, centuries’ old ruins, castles, monarchy, coastlines, mountains, and…well, everything rolled up into this set of islands between Scotland and Norway in the North Sea. Creating a history and festivals and varying cultures throughout the island has been fun and challenging. If you’d like to visit my make-believe world, you can read about Skymar in Authentically, Izzy and my upcoming novel, Positively, Penelope 🙂
(Psst, did you know there used to be a spy network stationed on Skymar during WW2?)
Share your thoughts below for a chance to win a paperback copy (or digital if you are outside the U.S.) of my upcoming novel, Positively, Penelope, and you can visit Skymar yourself!! If you want to learn more about Positively, Penelope, check it out here!!
And…can you BELIEVE this giveaway?? All the books! And some of my favorite authors!! GOOD LUCK!!
Here are the Stop #20 Basics:
Clue to Write Down: we’re in a
Link to Stop #21, the Next Stop on the Loop: The lovely Ann Gabhart!! HERE!
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Bonus: Below is an exclusive video giving you a “tour” of Skymar to get your ready for Positively, Penelope!!
There are too many to choose a favorite, but…I’ll go with Narnia, K.M. Shea’s Magiford Supernatural City world (Midwest US, but with Vampires, Fae, Wizards, Werewolves, etc.), and Melanie Cellier’s Spoken Mage world. 🙂
Ooh, nice additions!!
Sounds interesting 🤔
Your books sound interesting can’t wait to be able to read one of your books
Narnia is probably my favorite non-real destination, I’d still like a to have a wardrobe that leads to a library installed in my house if I could someday.
Oh yes!! Narnia after The White Witch dies, right?
This is a tough question, but I’d probably go with Middle Earth, specifically Hobbiton or Rivendell.
I am looking forward to your new book! I’m currently reading Cairo Curse and loving it!
I enjoy Rachel Hauck’s Lauchtanland and how Susan May Warren borrowed this country to use in her current Marshall’s series. I loved your contribution to the Mistletoe Square Novella book.
I guess I’m partial to Susan May Warren’s Deep Haven and Gabrielle Meyers’s Timber Falls because they’re both based on real towns that I’ve visited in my home state and I recognize certain things. I also like fake countries with royalty…
I’m a Harry Potter fan so I like Hogwarts.
The Tethered World, created by Heather Love Fitzgerald! Love that world and that series!!!!
I feel like every time I read about a quirky small town, I want to go there!
Aren’t they such fun??!!
Some recent favorites have been Melissa Tagg’s Maple Valley, Iowa and Becky Wade’s Redbud, Pennsylvania. I also recently read Authentically, Izzy and loved the descriptions of the Blue Ridge mountains and the beauty of Skymar. Can’t wait for Positively, Penelope!!
Thanks so much, Emma!! I’ve loved delving into Becky and Melissa’s worlds!!
The lovely world of Middle Earth has been appealing to me, but I have also longed to step back in time and see some of the places I have read about in history or go to a fantastic world in a fantasy novel.
Yes, I totally agree!! Especially in the UK, for me.
I’m so excited to read this new one!! I love the last one!!
Thanks SOOO much!!! It was SUCH fun to write!!
I love all small towns in books that I read. I love the feel of “community” that you have in these fictional small towns.
Oh yes!! totally!! There’s really nothing like it.
all of your books sound really good. I love travel to new places and I llok forward to reading some of your books.
Thanks soooo much. I love getting to write them!
I love reading about new places.
I love Kara Swanson’s Neverland (well, really, I love almost EVERY Neverland XD)! I also think that Nadine Brandes’ Wishtress world was so full of mystery and was beautiful!
I have Wishtress on my bookshelf to read!
oh boy so many places! I will say that LOTR is my favorite! So many different areas I would love to visit.
LOVE LoTR!!
I’m going with any place that had pretty rocks. I’m a fan of crystals and gems hunting!
I would love to visit Emily March’s Eternity Springs or Susan Mallery’s Fools Gold. Thanks for the chance.
The first place that comes to mind is Jan Karen’s Mitford!
And what a lovely “world”
I know it’s simple, but I love Courtney Walsh’s Sweethaven! I’m a proud Michigander and love all our little lake communities!
And Courtney Walsh is one of the best contemp romance authors out there, IMO.
I think Narnia is my favorite. But, speaking of imaginary words, one of my favorite children’s books that I read a few years back was Frindle. I don’t know if you have read it but I believe you would enjoy it. It is all about imaginary words 🙂
Oooh, Frindle? That sounds intriguing. Going to have to go see what it’s about!
I loved reading The Wonderland Trials. It was a fabulous setting and amazed me hownthe author kept the vibe of Alices wonderland while creating her own characters and setting. I also really enjoyed read Authentically Izzy. I enjoyed it so much I have given copies to friends.
I think it would be a tie between Narnia and Middle Earth. I love the characters in both places!
I enjoyed the little town of Heritage in Until I Met You by Tari Faris. (Especially the town hippo!) 😀
Oh HAHA!! Fantastic mention!!
Without a doubt Narnia!
Narnia is definitely near the top of my list too.
The first book of yours I read was book 2 of Pleasant Gap and now looking to read book 1.
Oh yay!! There’s a very special place in my heart for that first book! Three of my kids are “in it”
Skymar sounds like a fun place to visit. I loved finding the maps in Authentically Izzy. Besides the fictional places you mentioned, Julie Klassen’s Ivy Hill would be fun to visit. I’m sure there are many more that I just can’t think of now.
Great mentions!! And I love that my daughter got to design the maps for Skymar!!
I have a horrible imagination but I really enjoy the imagination of others. I think Narnia is my favorite.
I’m so grateful for the imagination of others!!
I love Skymar, but I’ve also enjoyed visiting Wonderland from Sara Ella’s The Wonderland Trials, Narnia, and Savannah Scott’s Bordeaux, Ohio (pronounced Bored Ox).
Wonderful additions!!!
I’ve really enjoyed exploring Hagenheim in Melanie Dickerson’s series.
Great world to mention!!!
My faves were always Hogwarts & Narnia! But I love Neverland too!
Nice choices!!
So many imaginary worlds to choose from!
I enjoyed Ronie Kendig’s Droseran Saga (many worlds like Drosero) and Emily Golus’ Escape to Vindor (world is Vindor but is consists of many nations).
Ronie has such amazing books!
Rachel Hauck’s Lauchtenland was fabulous, and of course, I loved Skymar! I looking forward to the release of Positively, Penelope. 🙂
Thanks so much!! Creating Skymar was such fun!!!
Melanie Dobson had a fictional amusement park in one of her books that has always fascinated me!
I have been reading Lord of the Rings ~ I would love to visit. Especially Tom Bombadil & his lady & the elves & Hobbiton. It all sounds amazing excluding Mordor. Lol 🙂
YES! Wouldn’t visiting Tom and his wife be so interesting!!
Definitely want to visit The Shire and Hobbiton, The White City and just explore Middle Earth in general!
YES! I’m with you, Abby!! Especially AFTER the fall of Sauron!
I love this! And the addition of an historic spy network in Skymar is a nice touch 🙂 My favorite fictional places are probably most of the cute, made-up small towns I read about. The problem with the really cool, complex ones is that they’re usually way too dark/dangerous for me to want to visit (like any of the GoT cities!).
HAHA! I’m not interested in visiting the GoT cities either! Whoa!! And I adore small towns!!
Dear Pepper,
I want to love your books, but I found that the romantic sections, particularly in Mistletoe Countess, were just too graphic and bordered on the pornographic. I wish you would have tuned it way down – sometimes less really is more.
Well, I do hope you find some other books you can enjoy better 🙂
Can’t think of any imaginary place I have read about right off the top of my head….
But I love your books, and am glad I discovered them. The Freddie and Grace books are definitely a favorite, but The Pleasant Gap and Mitchell’s Crossroads Series are up there too. I read them first in KU, then bought the paperbacks.
Your newest series is on my huge to-read shelf. Yeah, its a 5 shelf bookcase overflowing with more on a shelf upstairs.
Mark, you’ve been SO encouraging!! And I’m with you on having a BIG TBR shelf!!
Prince Edward Island. Not imaginary, but totally captured my imagination.
YES!!! Oh my goodness, that’s a bucket list place for me too!
Ansling sounds lovely, and I signed up for your newsletter.
Awesome !! So excited to share the book journey with you!
Love reading your books. They include lots of of humor. Reviews for Positively, Penelope say … humorous, laugh out loud. I know that I will love it too.
Oh Heather, I hope you will!! It was SUCH a delight to write. So much fun!!
All I can think of right now is: Mayberry, NC
Never a bad place to consider!! I LOVE Mayberry!!
I have a fondness for small fictional New England towns.
Okay, how about the Hobbit’s peaceful shire in the Lord of the Rings series? Sounds like a place I’d love to settle in 🙂
And of course, I want to visit where Izzy & Penelope are….I love the video you included! I can not wait for Penelope’s story because I absolutely loved Izzy!!
Then there’s also Suzanne Woods Fisher book series “Three Sisters Island” that I wished were real. Such an amazing series!
Thank you for the extra chance to win a copy of “Positively Penelope”. This is such a fun hunt 🙂
I love small town stories
Narnia does sound wonderful. I would love to hang out with Nancy Drew in her town.
My favorite fictional land since I was five has been Neverland and my pappy smurf(grandpa) read me Peter Pan. Though I was that rare kid who wanted to be a pirate not a lost boy. Though Skymar has now become a close second.
I liked Belle Calhoune’s Owl Creek, Alaska series
I enjoy fictional small towns like Cowboy Crossings. They are easy to imagine and I want to visit!
I live in New Zealand where Lord of the Rings was filmed and have driven past those sites a number of times. I have never seen the films and am not that interested but love historical fiction. I have a Great Grandfather who came to New Zealand from a tiny island off the west coast of Norway called Ona. So I was interested when you said your book incorporated things from the islands around that area.
What an amazing history! I love studying family history
The book sounds so fun!
It was really fun to write!
all of the places ever Wonderland and neverland are my favorite to places i love to visit in books
I love reading books set in unique settings. Your book sounds wonderful and fun!
I’m not sure about imaginary places. I do enjoy the town of Mitford from the Mitford series by Jan Karon..
Narnia sounds magical to me. Reading a book that takes me to another land is enjoyable and a great escape from everyday life.
All your books sound amazing!
I have always loved Merryweather in Becky Wade’s books. That historic park would be so fun!!
So, I know it’s technically for kids, but I love Aerwiar in Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga books!
The Wingfeather Saga is a FAVORITE in our family!!
I enjoyed reading about the people in Bider’s Clump in a series by Danni Roan. I bugs me if I can’t find a place on the map so I appreciate knowing a town is fictitious or extinct before I start reading.
Yeah, it can be a bummer when you really want to “see” the place 🙂
I’m signed up! Would love to win one of your books.
Awesome!! Good luck!
Your books look so good. I can’t wait to read them.
Hi Peggy, I hope you get the chance!
I love your video! A fictional place I love to read about is Huckleberry Hill in Jennifer Beckstrand’s Amish romance series.
Hi Heidi!! Great addition to the list!
Excited to read one of your books!
Thanks so much!!!!
Skymar sounds lovely. I’ve never been to Europe, but my sister loves that region. I hope to go someday.
I hope you can go also. It’s lovely.
I’m a big fantasy novel fan. Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere novels have really wonderful world building. I really loved Authentically Izzy!
Thanks so much, Stephanie! Brandon Sanderson has so many amazing worlds he’s created. What a writer!
I commented last night, but I don’t see it now. I must have failed to push “Submit Comment” :-D.
Thank you for being a part of this fun hunt, Pepper and thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
I enjoyed your video tour of Skymar! It makes me even more excited to read “Positively, Penelope”!! Of course I’d love to go to Skymar and also see Brody’s house.
A few other imaginary places I’d love to visit: MIDDLE EARTH!, Narnia, Neverland, Toni Shiloh’s Oloro Ile, Julie Klassen’s Ivy Hill…
I’d love to visit SKymar too, Laura. IRL!!
Kara Swanson’s Neverland was incredible. Definitely a favorite of mine!!
I love other “universes” — from Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series to Narnia! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love “visiting” Melissa Tagg’s Maple Valley and Jan Karon’s Mitford, and I loved Skymar in “Authentically, Izzy” and can’t wait to return in your next book!
There are tons to choose from but I would choose Becky Wade’s Merryweather.
I’ve not read much fantasy, so I don’t have any favorite “worlds” yet.
This sounds like a great story.
Positively Penelope looks like drama I need to be a part of! Judging the book by its cover is love at first sight! Sign me up for tickets to this literary masquerade!
Narnia and Middle Earth are my two favorite. Mitford is cute too. Thanks for the opportunity
no way could I pick just one! books take you to so many amazing places!
I loved all the locations in your books, as well as many other contemporary authors already mentioned. My recent favorite was the mountain community in Laurel’s Dream and The Heart of the Mountains, loved the mountain people and I learned a lot.
I LOVED writing those books and bringing people into “my world” and family history to see 🙂
One of my friends raves about your books! But I haven’t had the chance yet. You are on my “to read list”.
Definitely Skymar!!! I loved it in Authentically, Izzy and in the arc I read of Positively, Penelope!
I also loved Becky Wade’s book Memory Lane and the island in it (I believe it was in Maine)!
YAY!! Love hearing this! I loved creating Skymar so much!!
I love all of your books and can’t wait to read Penelope’s story! There are so many places I love to visit. I just returned from Blackbird Mountain from Joanne Bischoff. I love Christy Barritt’s Lantern Beach.
I’m pretty much a “realist” & don’t enjoy fantasy, but your discussion of Skymar has intrigued me!
Obviously Narnia and Middle Earth. But I also enjoyed Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon and Suzanne Fisher’s Three Sister’s Island. Tari Farris fictional town.
I absolutely adored the e-book of Postively Penelope. Skymar has become a favorite fictional location of mine, along with Avonlea and Narnia.
Narnia comes to mind. I like settings in small towns too.
I enjoy fantasy books. I’m so happy there are Christian author who writes them. I love Middle Earth.
Harry Potter
I love being transported to magical places via books! My favorite is Wonderland!
From one Appalachian girl to another, I can say that I understand you pretending the surrounding woods were somewhere else as a child, I did the same. I was mostly a historical or comtemporary fiction reader as a child. I never read fantasy until I was an adult. But I fell in love with the Harry Potter universe, and Hogwarts is always there to welcome me back.
Michelle,
I didn’t read fantasy until an adult either. It wasn’t something that was part of my family reading or interest, but once I was old enough to explore more books on my own, I fell in love with certain fantasy worlds too!
I would love to read your book, thank you for the giveaway.
I don’t have a favorite I would like to read Positively, Penelope
One of my recent favorites is Tari Faris’ Heritage, Michigan. A town that has a metal Hippo that moves around town…awesomely quirky! But I will say having visited Biltmore last year I’m loving my Appalachian home 🙂
I think I’ll have to go with the Shire. It’s so peaceful. And feels…. happy.
I’ve loved reading all of the suggestions in the comments. I’m definitely looking forward to Skymar!
One of my top favorite make believe places was the Hundred Acre Wood by Milne. My mom used to read me those stories while I sat on her lap looking at the illustrations in our big arm chair and watching them come to life in my mind. There’s nothing like the places we imagine from books in our childhood. Along the same lines is Narnia OF COURSE which my dad used to read to us before we went to bed.
As far as a fictional place I fell in love with when I was older, I’d have to say Alagaësia by Paolini in the Inheritance Cycle was one of my favorites 🙂
This was a fun comment question. Thank you!
I’ve always loved Narnia. I’m sure if I sat long enough and thought about it, I could come up with a lot more, but that is the one that immediately comes to mind.
What a cool map. It has whimsy which I lv. I am a budding writer and am drawn into any imaginary portal I can find. I have a Narnia like lamppost out my kitchen window and it turns pretty magical here when it snows 😉
I would have to say I really enjoyed reading about Sharon Hinck’s Dancing Realms.
I love Skymar as introduced in Authentically Izzy and now, Positively Penelope! It is fun and escape-worthy! Can’t wait for Luke’s story, too!