Welcome to the 2013 Summer Scavenger Hunt!
This hunt (which begins at noon Mountain Daylight Time and not before) has 32 stops and runs May 17 through May , 2013.
You can make the loop, reading unique content from 31 different authors, and if you complete the loop, and fill out the Rafflecopter form at Stop #32, you’ll be in the running for an iPad Mini (loaded with all our books), or one of two runner-up prizes—all 31 of our new releases in paperback.
In addition, some authors are offering additional prizes, so be sure to read each post thoroughly to be in the running for all that are available. The contest is open internationally.
If you’ve JUST discovered the hunt, I recommend you begin at the beginning, Stop #1, found at LisaBergren.com.
But you can also begin here, and keep on rolling.
Just be aware that you have to have the COMPLETED phrase in order, which you construct gathering the clue at each stop, within 24 hours of email notification from Lisa Bergren that you won.
If Lisa doesn’t hear back from you with the correct phrase within the time limit, she will move on to the next winner Rafflecopter draws.
Ready? Here we go…
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Christian Fiction Scavenger with Stephanie Grace Whitson
Quilts and Story Inspiration
“I hate this. I’ll never be a quilter.”
I was about nineteen years old and had come up with the idea of making a quilt for my best friend’s wedding.
I persevered through embroidering blocks (pink and white), setting the blocks and, with my mother, quilting (with pink quilting thread) all the way to the last few inches around the edges.
And then I quit.
Ten years later, I mentioned that unfinished quilt in a casual conversation, and within a week a few women arrived on my doorstep with everything necessary to finish the quilt.
We raised our children together (oh, the dust bunnies they collected crawling beneath the quilt!) and when my husband lay dying, those women prayed me through one of the worst times of my life.
To this day, my quilting buddies own a big part of my heart.
They became part of my life when we founded a quilt pattern design company together (called Mulberry Lane) and when my family began an inspirational gift company founded on a little bear holding a quilt.
Antique quilts have also become part of my story, and as I’ve stared at them and handled them and repaired them and bought/sold them and learned about them, I’ve wanted to know their makers’ stories.
Why did she use that awful shade of yellow? Did she dye these sacks on the back with walnut shells?
Was her husband off fighting the Civil War? Does this scrap represent a maternity dress? And so it goes.
Wanting to know the stories (and making some up) resulted in the three-book Quilt Chronicles series.
In The Message on the Quilt, my hero treasures a quilt made by his mother, who embroidered critters and symbols on the pieces and told him stories about those symbols.
When Noah Shaw takes it upon himself to investigate the stories, he discovers an unknown past that not only changes how he sees himself, but also seems to make it impossible for him to marry the girl he loves.
The story involves a Chautauqua, a retired soldier, a girl reporter, a ladies’ trio, a baseball team called the Bugeaters—and it all began with a quilt.
Here’s the quilt I own that I still have questions about.
It’s newer than the one in the book, but this is what I pictured as I wrote The Message on the Quilt.
Quilting finds its way into many of my stories, sometimes as a major activity, sometimes just as something the ladies do as part of their routine.
My other novels which feature more prominent quilt themes include Walks the Fire, Sarah’s Patchwork, The Key on the Quilt, The Shadow on the Quilt, and the novella,
A Patchwork Love which appeared alongside novellas by Judith Miller and Nancy Moser in our 2012 Christmas release, A Patchwork Christmas.
I hope to tell more quilt stories … stay tuned.
SPECIAL GIVEAWAY: I’d love to share a copy of the poem “The Patchwork Quilt” which appears in my novel Sarah’s Patchwork with you.
To receive yours, just e-mail your request to Stephanie@stephaniewhitson.com noting “poem” in the subject line.
If you’d want to like my Facebook page or subscribe to my newsletter or one of my blogs, that would be grand, because I’d love to stay in touch … but you don’t have to do ANY of that to receive the poem.
Just ask.
BONUS GIVEAWAY: Spend a day with a prince. Win a copy of Once Upon A Prince!
And now, your next steps…
Write down this clue: expand
Have it written down? Great!
Now head on over to Stephanie Grace Whitson’s blog, Stop #3, for your next clue!
Thanks for stopping by!
Comments 24
This is a great format to introduce us to cool new Christian authors. Thanks!
Author
Thanks for playing, Julie!
Steph, you’ll akways be my favorite author!
Talk about making a writer’s day. BLESS YOU.
Love the scavenger hunt! Thank you!
I love this! I love the “Bugeaters”, that a son has a boy quilt made for him by his mother, and I love to hear I have a questioning-and-wondering about- the-stories- kindred spirit… Thank you. I will definitely be contacting you about the poem. I love quilts, though I’ve never made one. Maybe someday.:)
Believe it or not, the Nebraska Cornhuskers were at one time called the Bugeaters. I just had to take this chance to use it. And it was fun to have the quilt belong to a GUY for a change 😉 Bless you.
What fun – many quilters in my family.
I would love to know what you suggest in learning how to quilt? Like websites or books or personal advice and help… I’ve always loved quilts and wanted more homemade ones, so your story inspired me to look into making my own. Thank you.
Brpchristiangirl@charter.net
Oh and I love this scavenger hunt… it’s allowing me to find new authors so I’ll definitely be checking your books out.
A local quilt guild or quilt shop would probably offer some beginning classes. That’s the best way, because that will introduce you to other quilters and the fellowship makes this an even sweeter pastime.
I love quilts, but I have yet to make one. Maybe someday. 🙂
I love quilts, and think its really cool how they are added to so many of the books. 🙂
I don’t quilt but find them fascinating. I played Sarah in the theatre production of QUILTERS.
Patricia, I made the Secret Drawer block for a local production company a very long time ago. That’s a very moving play.
So many good books to read, so little time. No wait, it’s summer, I have all the time in the world…NOT! But I will make time. Loving this blog hop and the many great authors and books being introduced. Thank you for participating.
Blessings.
Ms. Hauck, Ms. Whitson,
I was so absorbed into this interview that I promptly emailed Ms. Whitson about the poem, her writings, and the fact that I decided to join her NL, as her books on quilting remind me so very much of my cherished Elm Creek series which is penned by Jennifer Chiaverini! 🙂 You can never not want to find another author who knows how to pen history, sisterhood friendship, and curious antedotes of life into their stories!! I am very thankful to have participated in the Hunt on Friday/Saturday this weekend, as if not for the Hunt, I might not have come across Ms. Whitson’s writings!! Bless each of you for encouraging the other, and for promoting the art of reading to all of us on the Hunt!
Author
Thanks Jorie!
Thank you SO much. It was fun chatting.
Author
Thanks for coming by, y’all. Stephanie won the Romantic Times book of the year in Historical Romance.
She is always fun to hang with!
Can’t wait to read the Wedding Dress…and Once Upon a Prince. I love reading stuff about William and Kate, too. I’m coming in on the scavenger hunt on the last day…so I hope I’m able to finish in time : ). God bless!
Author
Stacey, I’m sure you will!! Thanks for stopping by!
Author
Thanks to all who entered and stopped by!!
Rafflecopter picked Claire Anderson and Julie Smith as Once Upon A Prince winners!!
Congratulations!
Hooray! I’m a happy, happy, happy girl! Thank you, Jesus & Rachel!!!