Friday, May 17, 2013

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #24

 

Welcome to the 2013 Summer Scavenger Hunt! (Beginning noon, Mountain Daylight time and not before.) This hunt has 32 stops and runs 5/17-5/19/13. 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 going. 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 . . .
 

Introducing: John W. Otte

 
I am excited to host John W. Otte, an author of YA "weird stuff," otherwise known as Speculative Fiction! His debut novel, Failstate, combines reality TV and superheroes.

Didn't see that one coming, did ya?

But, seriously, how much fun is that? Mr. Otte is garnering notice for his clever, humorous, suspenseful writing, and his debut novel has even been nominated for the prestigious Christy Award (YA Fiction category). So you know you want to check out his work. Or, if YA is not  your genre, think of the young people in your life who would love this story of an unlikely hero in an outrageous circumstance. (Personally, I'm a YA fanatic, so this story is right up my avenue!)

Here's a little more about John Otte:

John W. Otte leads a double life. By day, he’s a Lutheran minister. He graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a theatre major and then from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. By night, he writes weird stories. He lives in South St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife and two sons.


Today, John Otte is going to talk to us about superpowers. It's a great piece, and I hope you'll enjoy it. So allow me to present to you:

FIVE SUPERPOWERS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BIBLE

By: John Otte
 

In Hebrews 11, we have a list of heroes of the faith. Well, I got to thinking. Heroes usually have superpowers, right? I mean, except for Batman and Iron Man (unless you count stacks and stacks of money). And yet, if you know where to look, there are a lot of what could be called superpowers in the Bible. I did some digging and found what I think are five superpowers that come straight out of the Bible:

5) Super Strength – This one is the obvious one. If you’re building a superhero, you’re probably going to reach for superior strength. Just think of all the heroes who boast this power: Superman, the Hulk, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Colossus,  or Power Girl. I could keep going. When I was creating heroes for my first novel, Failstate, you’d better believe I gave one of them super strength.
Gauntlet
 
And if you’re thinking superpowers in the Bible, this is the one that you probably thought of first because of Samson. He of the perpetual Nazirite vow, empowered by God to take on evildoers and smite them, especially when he brought down the house on the Philistines in Judges 16:23-30. When people think Biblical superhero, their first thought is usually this guy. Hence why he’s here.

4) Teleportation – If you’re familiar with Nightcrawler from the X-Men, you know he’s hard to keep in one place. Nightcrawler has the special ability to teleport himself instantly from one spot to another, disappearing in a cloud of smoke only to reappear somewhere else almost instantly. Believe it or not, someone in the Bible beat Nightcrawler to that by two thousand years, namely the evangelist Philip.

We usually remember Philip for the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, how he happened to be in the right place at the right time to share his faith. But then, at the end of the story, Philip just vanishes from the Ethiopian’s chariot, only to reappear in Azotus (Acts 8:39-40). I can’t help but wonder if he made a “BAMF” sound when he did.

3) Heavenly Fire – One of the most memorable comic book fights I’ve seen was between Superman and Captain Marvel  in the epic “Kingdom Come.” The two of them were pretty evenly matched in terms of strength with Superman eking out a small advantage. And yet, Captain Marvel was able to level the playing field with the one power he has that Supes doesn’t. He can summon lightning, a devastating assault that almost let him win.  It’s the same reason why Thor was such an important part of the Avengers. Both can call fire from heaven.

And that’s what we see the Old Testament prophet Elijah do on more than one occasion.  When he faces off against the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel or he’s dealing with King Ahaziah’s men (2 Kings 2:9-16), he too can call power out of the heavens to deal with his foes.

2) Cognitive Abilities – This is an umbrella terms for fancy mental powers. Think Professor X, who can read minds. Or Isaac Mendez from NBC’s “Heroes,” who could paint the future. I even made sure to include a few heroes like this in my stories, like Veritas, who can see the truth in any situation.
Veritas

We see the same sorts of abilities in folks throughout the Bible. Joseph, for example, could interpret dreams. Ezekiel, Daniel, and John were given strange visions. And countless prophets foretold the future (although, technically, it’s more accurate to say they “forth-told” the Word of God and revealed one possible future if God’s people didn’t repent. But that’s getting nit-picky). It’s hard to pick just one example.

1) The special gifts he gives us! That’s right, folks. God doesn’t just give special abilities to a select few. God gives all of us special gifts and abilities by the Holy Spirit for the greater good (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

Now that may seem daunting, but let’s remember an important detail: God doesn’t call the perfect. Those men and women listed in God’s “hall of fame” in Hebrews 11 aren’t there because of how awesome they are. They were all messed up people. No, what made them heroes was God and His grace, the same grace He shows us through His Son.

So maybe you don’t have super strength or the ability to teleport from point A to point B. But God has given you some pretty cool powers to use for His glory.
 _________

John Otte's new release, Failstate: Legends, continues the coming-of-age trials of young hero Failstate (aka Robin Laughlin) as he faces the trials common to teenagers--girls, sibling rivalry, friendship issues, zombie apocalypse--all the while coming to grips with his new role as a licensed superhero and a superpower that is acting a little . . . strange . . . .

Will Failstate survive to become a true legend among heroes?

You should pick up the book and find out. (And pick up the first one if you haven't read it yet!)

Failstate: Legends is available at bookstores or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christian Book Distributors.




AND NOW, YOUR NEXT STEPS:

 
Write down this clue: THINK

Have it written down? Great! Now head on over to John Otte's blog, stop #25 for your next clue.

Godspeed, scavenger hunters!

BONUS PRIZE!

Or, before you move on, take a moment to add your name to this extra raffle.

I am offering an exciting giveaway: signed copies of the first FOUR novels in the Tales of Goldstone Wood series, Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood, and Starflower! If you'd like a chance to win this four-in-one grand prize, simply follow the instructions below. (This bonus giveaway is a US giveaway only.)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd5249/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway


183 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really enjoy any books by Colleen Coble, but my favorite of her books are her Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter series. Spunky heroines, a little bit of mystery, and some sweet romance are my favorite kinds of books.

Hayden said...

Wow...this is a really hard question...so I'll stick with "series" books and go ahead with the Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery- although The Chronicles of Narnia comes close! :)

Unknown said...

I Love the Author Mary Conley and her book Swept away I'm waiting on he next book in that series. :D

Faith F. said...

Ooooooh Noooo!!! You asked me for my favorite book! I can't answer that! Ok, I will: The Ollie Chandler series by Randy Alcorn!

Maria said...

Hmm that is a hard question.... I think all the Red River series by Lauraine Snelling are my favorite. She writes so well and realistically. But the Rocky Mountain Memory series by Lori Wick is a very very close second. :-)

dandelionfleur said...

Oh, my goodness, how could I begin to choose???

Stephanie365 said...

love this scavenger hunt!!! it's my first one, and it's so much fun!!!

chappydebbie said...

Would love to win!!

chappydebbie said...

Didn't answer the raffle copter's question. My favorite author is MaryLu Tyndall....all series....because they are wonderfully written Christian fiction that take you on great adventures!

Teish said...

I love the Firebird series by Kathy Tyers. Space opera is my favorite fiction genre, and Firebird is wonderful Christian science fiction!

strgth4yu said...

Another new author...Awesome! Looking forward to reading this author, also.

Linda Ortiz
strgth4yu@hotmail.com

Shadowwolf said...

My favorite series is the Jerusalem Undead Trilogy by Eric Wilson because of the masterful interweaving of biblical history, human lore, and our desire as people to be more and do more then we ever thought possible.

Anonymous said...

My favorite book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I love the dialogue, the love story, and the fact that Jane sticks to her morals instead of giving in to her wants, which she ultimately ends up getting in the end as well.

Anonymous said...

This question is impossible! I can't pick a favorite ANYTHING when it comes to books because I've read so much awesomeness. :(

My all-time favorite author is G.K. Chesterton because he is so profoundly funny and brilliant.
My favorite book is a toss-up between like 20 different books, so I'm not even going to try.
Favorite series? Goldstone Woods. :D

Anonymous said...

The Tales of Goldstone Wood series looks so amazing! I never really read any Christian fantasy before, but I never found any that caught my attention. But these books are! I love this scavenger hunt because I'm learning so much about these cool authors! I really hope to win this giveway if not any other giveaways. These books are really finding themselves on my NEED TO READ list!

Erika said...

I love Colleen Coble & Terri Blackstock! I'm a huge mystery/suspense fan :)

Anonymous said...

I found you via the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

Ashley said...

This is a hard question because there are just so many authors and books that I love! But I think my all time favorite series is the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn, mainly because this series is what started my lifelong love of reading!

J. L. Mbewe said...

My all time favorite series is the Harry Potter series. (But The House of Power & The Land of Elyon by Patrick Carmen are awesome, as well as Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer) (There's just so many good books, I can't just say one, and I won't be cheesy and say Tales of Goldstone Wood. ;-) )

As far as why I love HP, its the creativity, the use of familiar and turning it on its ear, the growth of the characters, the setting, the red herrings, all the different plot threads that are woven together within one book yet through all of them as well.

Cindy Regnier said...

Favorite book? Surely you jest - ok if I have to say it's Pride and Prejudice (after the Bible of course)
Cruel question :)

Paula Oliver said...

I think my favorite book is probably whichever one I am reading at the moment, although I do re-read only a select few- Narnia, The Hobbit, etc. Although I have been a Christian for many years, I couldn't say the Bible was my favorite book until recently.

Notes from Karla's Korner said...

Have a great day! Enjoying this trip through all the authors and new books. Thank you.

Shay said...

I abolutely love your books! Thank you for joining in the scavenger hunt!

Bookishqueen said...

Anne Stengl! And all her books.

Anonymous said...

Yay! I already love your books, and I'm so excited to meet all the new authors!

Anonymous said...

I love books by Cornelia Funke because she's got such a unique voice and ideas about fairy tales. :)

LuAnn said...

My favorite author/series is Ted Dekker's Circle series.

Candy Feathers said...

My favorite book series is The Mitford Series by Jan Karon. I started listening to the series on dvd's at night in order to go to sleep right after my husband died. It's been 3 1/2 years and I am still listening every night.

Bethany said...

My favorite series is karen kingsbury even now/ever after, she is the reason i started reading Christian fiction!! Ive become a book nerd now at 32!!! lol, thanks for doing the hunt its been fun!!

Unknown said...

This looks really cool! I love me some fantasy, but my family loves superheroes! We are huge Marvel fans, so this story looks awesome!

Anonymous said...

Cathy Marie Hake is my favorite author; she got me into Christian fiction.

And PS: I love superheroes!

~~~Dee

Emma Engel said...

I'm going to have be unoriginal and say my favorite series is Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. I find so many new things with each reread, and even if they weren't such amazing books, they'd hold a special place in my heart as they were the first adult fantasy I read.
However, I'm a huge fan of your books Anne, and my kids will be reading them long before they get LOTR!

Katelyn Wiler said...

Favorite book??? Hmmm... That's really hard.. I LOVE all the books I read.

Hannah said...

One of my favorite authors is Terri Blackstock...love the mystery and thriller!

Cheri Schueller said...

PLEASE don't make me have to choose a favorite author or book or series!! I just CAN'T!! =) I love reading and have really enjoyed being introduced to all these "new to me" authors in the Scavenger Hunt!

Anonymous said...

I have so many authors that I love to read. Right now, my top favorite books are Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck and Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund.

Andrea Cox said...

Hi Anne! My favorite series is the O'Malley Chronicles by Dee Henderson. I love how complex, action-filled, witty, and romantic they are. Did I mention suspenseful? Yeah, that too. :)

Blessings,
Andrea

Sharon E said...

Love your books! Thanks for the contest. Would love to win.

MeganW. said...

Thanks so much for the contest! :D

Unknown said...

My favorite author is Cidney Swanson because hers is the strongest, most realistic, and most gripping YA fiction I've ever read. :)

NatureFairy said...

Favorite book/series/author?? Is it possible to have just one? Let's see, hmmm... I don't know. I really like The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson, and Judge by R. J. Larson. But favorite.... I think I'll have to say the Wings of Refuge series by Cheryl Wyatt.

Anonymous said...

My favorite...hmm...so hard to choose!

Right now I'd have to say that my favorite book is I'll Always Be With You by Brianna Mitchell.

Emma said...

I really love your series, of course. But apart from that, I like the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters, The Jeeves series by P.G. Wodehouse and the Surrender to Destiny series by MaryLu Tyndall. The Ballantyne Legacy by Laura Frantz looks like it will be a lovely series as well. I loved the first book!

Hannah said...

Appropriately enough, my favorite books are 'The Tales of Goldstone Wood' by you, Anne!

This was such a great article by Mr. Otte. When I first saw his books a while back, I thought, "Teenage-superhero-grahic-novels in the Christian Market? What next?" But then I found out they were actually just novels. Still, I thought "Zombies???" Nevertheless, these books have started to intrigue me. They sound like a wacky, but fun and encouraging ride. And personally, I hope the guy on the cover in the background, you know, Mr-Looks-Really-Mean-As-His-Shredded-Dark-Cloak-Billows-Around-Him, is a a good guy, because that would be so cool. Just saying...

moodymolly said...

I'm not sure I could actually name a favorite book, author, or series. Right now I'm reading mainly historical novels, not always Christian in nature. My most recent Christian read was A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund. I enjoy many, many Christian authors and follow several of them on Facebook. I've never read any Christian fantasy, paranormal, or time travel books and admit I'm hesitant to do so as I'm not sure I'll like them.

Lauren said...

Favorite author??? That's really, really hard, but I'll have to go with Jane Austen!

JackieW said...

ONe of my all time favorite authors is LaVyrle Spencer.
I have read all her books. They had wonderful stories with endearing characters. She is a great writer.
JFWisherd at aol dot com

Faithful Acres Books ~ Linda Marie Finn said...

Oh that is a hard one... Murray Pura lately.

Jalynn Patterson said...

I LOVE Cindy Woodsmall. I can't just pick one series, one book, or even one chapter. I love them all!!!

Bethany said...

Well, some of my favorite authors include Lisa Bergren, Mary Connealy, Karen Witemeyer, Tamara Alexander, Melanie Dickerson, etc. I love historical fiction, and most of these authors write in that genre, so that's why I like them so much. :) Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win!
Bethany

John said...

Favorites? I hate picking!
Favorite author has to be Michael Stackpole. He's a lot of fun!
Favorite book? That changes a lot. I'll have to pass on that one, there's too many to list!

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

Way too many to list... Christy Barritt lately. :)

Anonymous said...

My new favorite series is the Staff and the Sword series by Patrick W. Carr. I like fantasy genre.

delpgang said...

my favorite author is Katie Ganshert. I find her books full of realistic characters with true to life issues. Plus, she's a great facebook friend :) michelle delp delpgang@npacc.net

Unknown said...

So excited that the Scavenger Hunt has brought me to your page - can't wait to read your work!!

Unknown said...

Oops - forgot to say that my favorite series of all time (ever since I read it way too long ago)is the C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Brilliant...

Anonymous said...

Anne, I love your books! Christian fantasy/allegories is one of my favorite genres of novels. Your books are definitely at the top of my list of fantasy favorites, :)
I would LOVE to win these four books, I've read them all and love them!!
Favorite authors: Laura Frantz, Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Marylu Tyndall, Lisa Tawn Bergren... (many more!)
Some of my all-time favorite novels are: Courting Morrow Little, Starflower, Forsaken Dreams, and Waterfall.
Thanks for this contest!!!
-(shantelle@trueveine.net)

Unknown said...

Hinds Feet on High Places, and Mountain of Spices - they are so moving!

June said...

Looking forward to reading your books so I can add you to my favorite author/books/series list. Too many great ones to pick from. I guess I would have to go with....really? Just one? I would have to go with Janette Oke. And Dee Henderson. And Irene Hannon. Yeah, that's my one (at a time).

I love the remaking of fairytales. In the last couple of years I've read several authors who did this and though the story is already known, they do such a great job of making it a whole NEW story.

Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance said...

That is a hard question. I love to read so it's hard to choose just one. I would say the Harry Potter series has to be my favorite. The way the characters grow in the series and all the different plot lines. I also enjoy a lot of the Love Inspired Lines

Anonymous said...

If I had to chose one series, I love the Anne of Green Gables series - it's a classic :o)
twomainecats (at) msn (dot) come

Nettie said...

I like so many books it's hard to choose... I guess I'm going to go with On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigth. I guess it is kind of a predictable book but I love the characters and the world she creates.

Kim F said...

My favorite series is "Anne of Green Gables" because it is set in an area that I love to visit and because I got to grow up with Anne and experience her adventures over and over.

Teresa Mathews said...

I have a lot of favorite authors that I couldn't dare say just one so I'll have to say the Chronicles of Narnia. ;) Loving this great Scavenger Hunt!

Beth Gillihan said...

I can't choose my favorite book! There are so many that I love! Thanks for the chance to win!

KJ2bible said...

Favorite book series - Lord of the Rings

Unknown said...

The Left Behind Series by Time LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, because it helps me to more fully understand the book of Revelation in the Bible.

CentralEast2 said...

I like the Restoration Series by Terri Blackstock

Larn said...

Tell me the name of your favorite book/author/series and why it's your favorite.

Tracie Peterson/Strike a Match series - I just started it, but I absolutely love it! It's set in my favorite state- TEXAS and in my favorite era.

Roses said...

Glimpses of Paradise by James Scott Bell because it is set in the 1920s. And I really enjoyed The Northern Lights Trilogy by Lisa Tawn Bergren. The characters go on a journey and have to overcome struggles.

harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

hmm... hard to pin down a favorite book, currently Ted Dekker dominates my bookshelf, with his Circle books being my favorite series. I find the mix of sci fi/ fantasy and good vs. evil keeps me turning the pages in the quest for what happens next :)

Kendra E. Ardnek said...

My favorite author is C.S. Lewis, but his Narnia series and Space Trilogy tie in my opinion. They're both amazing.

Karla Akins said...

My favorite books are Joel Rosenberg's political thrillers, but I also like just about anything as long as I'm reading!

Judy Vandiver said...

So many favorite authors, but Robin Lee Hatcher and Terri Blackstock are two of my favorites. I like the Christian messages of Robin and the plots of Terri.

Cortney said...

My favorite book is Jane Eyre because it's a classic, but my favorite author is Karen Witemeyer. Her books are sweet and have everything I love. I am very glad to be finding all of these other great books in the scavenger hunt, though, and my favorites may change after I'm done reading!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

my favorite books are the Binding of the blade sires by L.B. Graham, I love these books because they show a redemptive plan even when things do not work the way they seem they should. His books always kept me on the edge of my seat.

Jessica Lorenzini

Cindy said...

these should be fun reads with spiritual undertones. Thanks for combining seemingly science fiction with Biblical truths

Jennifer said...

The Protection Specialists by Terri Reed! They have a lot of action!
jennydtipton[at]gmail[dot]com

bjhuss said...

Oh, this is SO hard to pin down. I think one of my favorites is Tamera Alexander and A LASTING IMPRESSION, OR I could say a series: Mercy Hospital Series by Candace Calvert; OR perhaps the author Lynn Austin - I have many but am so excited to learn of new ones! THANKS! Barb

Anonymous said...

These books are new to me and I'm excited to start the series. Can't wait!
mimiladybug[at]Verizon[dot]net

Anonymous said...

Wow, I have a virtual "library" of my own ....so many books and I can't choose just one as a favourite! Love them all!
Marie Ferland
mariefluffy@yahoo.ca

Anonymous said...

Wow...it depends upon the season I'm in. I love SO many authors. One of my favorite authors is Stephen Lawhead. My 5 year old even loves his books (the ones for kids). My favorite series is the Pendragon Cycle--incredible!

Kris (kmj09)

Courtney said...

I have considered trying his first novel. I am glad you got to interview him. =) Also this extra giveaway is great!

Anonymous said...

My husband and sons are bigger fans of fantasy, but you tempt me since you are a Christian author. Winning would mean I would not be the only one to read.

beth_rumbaugh@yahoo.com

Daphne Self said...

Oh WOW!! Favorite series?? That would be Simon Lang's series. Written back in 1974 starting with All the Gods of Eisernon and The Elluvon Gift, then picked back up in 1992 (?) with Trumpets of Tagan, Timeslide, and Hopeship. Faith and culture are woven throughout the series, characters rich and full, and all the sci-fi goodness! :-)

Therru Ghibli said...

Wow! Thank you so much for this amazing giveaway! I love your books, you have to be my favorite author, I love your characters and plots and fairytale feel! I'm really hoping to get my cousins into this series soon. I'm a fan on Facebook.

WinterRose said...

what a fun interview :D

enter me please

winterrose(at)comcast(dot)net

WinterRose said...

I didn't see the question. My favorite series is the two Darkness books by Frank Peretti. They were some of the first Christian fiction novels that I had ever read and they captivated me from the first page. After that, I would have to say the Left Behind books and then Dee Henderson's O'malley series. I just love good stories and great characters.

Anonymous said...

I love a variety of authors and genres

Imblest said...

Your books are my favorite, Anne, not only because they are an encouragement to me, but they are an encouragement and inspiration to my teenage daughter. She shares her love of your books with the whole family by reading aloud with unique voices for all the characters. The unconditional love and grace that you impart to the reader total reflects the heart of our Savior.

Jenny said...

I have so many favorites, but two of my main people are Dee Henderson and Ronie Kendig. They are both wonderful writers in their own ways, and I love the suspense that is in each book!

LeFevre Family said...

My favorite series is. Terri Blackstock's Last Light Series. She does such a good job of drawing you in and bonding the reader with the characters.

Anonymous said...

My favorite book series is The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker!

-Caitlyn

Sharma said...

Thanks for being in the scavenger hunt. Sharma Darby

Abbi Hart said...

Hard to pick one favorite series but one I always seem to be mentioning and raving about is Lisa T. Bergen's River of Time Series! They have everything, adventure, action, romance, humor, time-travel, and more!

Kathleen said...

I think my favourite author is Tolkien and my favourite book is Lord of the Rings. This is because he was a influence into all my other favourite books and basically he wrote amazing books.

Sara G said...

I'd have to say, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Just classic and mesmerizing genius!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for being apart of the Christian fiction scavenger hunt. I am really enjoying it.
Kali Powell

Anonymous said...

I forgot to tell about my favorite books. Sorry
One of my favorite series is The Great War Series by Maureen Lang. My Favorite in that series is probably Whisper on the Wind.
Kali Powell

Platypus Pianist said...

My favorite book is "Today I will Fly" by Mo Willems and "Shadowhand" by AE Stengl. :p

Molly said...

Yikes I don't believe I've ever had to scroll down so far before!! ;)
I love the series Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. I'm re-reading them as of now, in fact!

Also I do adore Tales of Goldstone Wood; I thought you'd be delighted to know, Anne Elisabeth, that I recently got my friend to read them! She stayed up until 1:30 to finish Heartless.

This is such a fun scavenger hunt!! Thanks so much!!

Cherie Hamby Kasper said...

My favorite books in a series are the ones made into movies The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the others that follow. I'm trying to think of the author and his name does not come to mind, you can tell how old I am from that statement. I would love to read your books.

kym91163 said...

I am so excited to find these books. They look wonderful and I can't wait to start reading them.

Adeline Petross said...

I think my favorite book series is the Thorn in My Heart series by Liz Curtis Higgs. I absolutely love historical fiction and love Scotland. Liz is also one of my favorite authors, she has a way of capturing and keeping her audience! I am also a big fan of yours, I really enjoyed Heartless and cannot wait to get the others!

Adeline
smile_13_03@hotmail.com

Amy, a mom trying to make cents of it all said...

Wow. What a tough question. I have to admit that I am an avid Ted Dekker fan, and I love his Color series.

Unknown said...

J. R. R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings Trilogy (plus all the other books he wrote about Middle Earth). Did you even have to ask? XD But I'm up for just about any type of fantasy, baring a few personal boundaries.

rbooth43 said...
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rbooth43 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rbooth43 said...

My favorite author is Lilly Gayle and her books are OUT OF THE DARKNESS and Her sequel is EMBRACE THE DARKNESS. They are vampire romances with a very unusual twist that kept me spell-bound!

Ginger Solomon said...

It's so sad that I don't do twitter, but I'll take my chances with the few entries I get from FB and commenting.

Ginger Solomon said...

Just commented, but forgot to answer the question. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Ronie Kendig's Discarded Heroes series. It's a set of books I will keep for a long, LONG time to come. :)

Rhonda said...

I like Tamera Alexander. Her book Rekindled from the Fountain Creek Chronicles series is one of my favorites. It made me cry every few chapters!

Unknown said...

I have many favorite authors but one is Francine Rivers - Redeeming Love.Always reminds me of God's everlasting love for me.

Meredith said...

I loved the article by Mr. Ott. If i could choose a superpower, I'd probably want teleportation. I'm always getting lost, so it'd be fantastic to just think of a place and instantly be there! I'd also like cognitive abilities, too, although seeing the future might be a daunting experience. Loved how Mr. Ott included the individual gifts God gives us as the number one superpower. So true and beautiful. Really cool to look at instances from Scripture in superhero ways. Hope to one day read his book because it sounds really interesting.

God bless you all, and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.

Meredith said...

A favorite book? What a cruel, cruel question! If I really had to choose, one book that I've never, ever been able to forget is an allegory entitled The Singer, written by Calvin Miller. It's a book written in free verse and contains one of the most vivid Christ figures I've ever encountered as well as one of the most heart-wrenching sacrificial scenes. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, has to be my favorite historical fiction book of all time. Atticus Finch's quiet heroism always brings me to tears, and I love the humor in the book. Finding out about Boo Radley's true nature is a scene that never leaves me. It's also one of my absolute favorite movies.

And, I'm not just saying this to flatter you, Mrs. Stengl. I honestly have to say that every single Tales of Goldstone Wood book has imprinted itself upon my heart. I think it's because Aethelbald is so very approachable and he's such an incredibly amazing hero. Love the versatility of his character: how he is in every book though in different ways reaching out to every character. Also, I've always been so grateful for the inclusion of Eanrin as a strong protagonist who just happens to be blind. That touches me so much. It's the only series that has ever inspired me to speculate about every character and to write both speculative fan fictional pieces for every book and also more fictional pieces of my own. Starflower definitely has to be my favorite so far, and it actually inspired two stories.

Sarah Pennington said...

My favorite book/author/series? That's a hard one, but I think I'd have to say J.R.R. Tolkien and The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings (you can't really separate them, in my opinion). They're absolutely incredible books that helped pave the way for High Fantasy to become popular. That being said, there are lots of authors whose books I absolutely love.

I'd like to say thank you to Mrs. Stengl for the giveaway, Mr. Otte for the very interesting post (I'd never thought of looking for superpowers in the Bible like that), and both of you for being part of this scavenger hunt!

Tammy said...

I really like Marta Perry...I love reading stories that involve the Amish and also glorify God. I also got to meet her one time. Very nice lady.

Teresa Gonzalez said...

One of my favorites is Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. You're books look very interesting. Thanks for the contest!

Liz Ford said...

Hmmm. My favorite book/author/series changes, but currently it is R.J.Larson and her "Books of the Infinite" series.

Glenda said...

I would love to win one of your books! Love the scavenger hunt and meeting new authors!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for being a part of the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! I would LOVE to win one of your books.

Erin said...

Thank you for the contest! I would love to try out some of your books, so I'm hoping I win the contest! =)

Unknown said...

My favorite author is Karen Kingsbury and I absolutely LOVE her Baxter family series of books because they are so true to life and I felt like the Baxters were my family!! I love this contest and am so excited about it!!!

Unknown said...

Right now, I'd have to say that Colleen Coble is my favorite author. I love the suspense in her novels. I also enjoy Karen Kingsbury, Lori Wick, and Jeanette Oke. I love the opportunity this scavenger hunt gives me to become familiar with authors I've never read... Perhaps by this time next year I'll have a new favorite author...or two...

Unknown said...

I'm sorry but I cannot access Rafflecopter when it's posted to a page and I did not see any instructions. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the contest.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

J Smith said...

So far, my favorite has been Whence Came a Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs, book 3 in the Lowlands of Scotland series. She's such an incredible author that transports me to new places by her rich stories!

Georgina said...

That is a REALLY impossible question! I suppose my favorite series overall, the one I might take with me on a desert island, is A Life of Faith: Millie Keith. I relate to the main character and those books have encouraged me through a lot of my growing up years.

Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway and participating in the scavenger hunt! It's lots of fun and I'm meeting so many new (to me) authors!

Rachel Joy Victor said...

Very hard question, but I'd have to say Narnia, because it introduced me to fantasy.
racheljoyvictor(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love all authors who write Amish Christian novels, especially Beverly Lewis

Litany L said...

I am loving all of the authors in this scavenger hunt!! and discovering new christian authors that I have never known.

Kari said...

First time doing the scavenger hunt and absolutely loving it! Hope to win the series of books!

Kari said...

Lisa T. Bergren is my favorite author with Waterfall, cascade, and torrent. Seriously looking forward to her next series of books coming out!

Lois said...

Wow..this is hard my favorite book is "the Message version of God's word. I am also a huge Terri Blackstck fan and enjoy books by Frank Perreti and Ted Dekker and Karen Kingsbury and the matriarch of Christian Fiction, Grace Livingston Hill and....

bn100 said...

Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code books for the mysteries

Jennifer F. said...

I have so many ... um, ONE of my favorite series is the "DragonKeeper Chronicles" by Donita K. Paul -they re-introduced me to Christian fantasy and helped me find authors such as Wayne Thomas Batson, Bryan Davis, and Mrs. Stengl! =)

ContestCrazy305 said...

Tell me the name of your favorite book/author/series and why it's your favorite.
I would have to say The Dark Tower" series by Stephen King. Every time I read the series, I get more out of it and see even deeper symbolism of the fight between good and evil.

Anonymous said...

Anne Elizabeth Stengl: I loved your comparison between Star Wars and Cinderella. I agree there is "nothing new under the sun" and yet everyone thinks every new book needs to be 100% original. It was very refreshing to hear your view on the subject.

Never heard of John W. Otte before so thanks for introducing him to us. As the mother of 3 boys superheroes are definitely a household theme. Love all the Bible superheroes. My favorite has always been Superman as a type of Jesus.

Lynda E. said...

My favorite author is Julie Klassen, especially "The Girl in the Gatehouse." I'm a huge Regency fan. But I love discovering new authors and series, so thanks for participating in the scavenger hunt and for the bonus giveaway!

Wanda (A Book Lover's Retreat) said...

The McKettricks by Linda Lael Miller. I LOVE me some cowboys and Historical westerns. Linda's books are so well written you get lost in them. Or at least I do!

Wanda Barefoot
flghtlss1(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jorie said...

My favourite historical series is the Daughters of Boston series by Julie Lessman! I was swept away into the O'Connor family at first meeting, and they surely have enriched my life ever since! I am eager to see this Saga continue through the next trilogies: Winds of Change & Heart of San Francisco! What drew me in is that their a passionate Irish Bostonian family whose faith, courage, and strength in each other enable them to reach out to others in need as much as give each other the ability to live a life true to who they are! :) It's simply one of the best multi-generational family sagas I've come across! :)

Thanks for hosting this extra giveaway, as although I have seen a few of your books in passing, I have not yet had the pleasure to read them!

inkand-bookaways(at)usa.net

Anonymous said...

I really like reading Tamera Alexander's books. Most recently read Lasting Impressions and I have difficulty putting her books down and going to sleep. I just keep reading.

Ronnell Kay Gibson said...

I have so many...my ultimate favorites are A MAN CALLED BLESSED & BLINK both by Ted Dekker. James Patterson's MAXIMUM RIDE is my favorite series. I also love Angela Hunt (she's such a sweet lady), Jerry Jenkins and Erin Healy.

Anonymous said...

I have several favorite series, but one of them is The Begotten by Lisa T. Bergren. They inspire me to have a much closer walk with the Lord...one where I'm listening to Him closely instead of doing all the talking. ;)

Jax said...

Wow, that's a difficult question for me. I love to read, so I have a lot of authors and series I love. One author is M L Tyndall. Her books about pirates and heros are wonderful.

Debora Wilder said...

This is an absolutely horrendous question to ask. I have so many authors/series that I love it is impossible to pick one as a favorite. I'll list a few: L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, Debbie Macomber, Beverly Lewis, Jody Hedlund, Jack Cavanaugh, and many, many more.

I'm finding a lot of new authors through this scavenger hunt that will probably be added to the list too.

Joanna Stricker said...

Love lots of series, it's hard to choose! Loved the O'malley series by Dee henderson...Lynette eason has a series I have to re-read periodically but can't remember the name of it (yellow bindings--I can see them in my mind)...and there are tons more!

Becca said...

I really like Erynn Mangum. and i'm currently reading a Siri Mitchell book.

but i like a lot of authors/books! So that's so hard to really answer.
So many books. So little time!

Jasmine A. said...

To be honest I have waaaaay too many favorites to list here and I can't really choose one over another. It really depends on what I am reading at the moment, right now I am reading Wedded To War by Jocelyn Greene (just barely started it). A couple of recent favorites have been Vannetta Chapman's Pebble Creek Amish series, and MaryLu Tyndall's newest, Forsaken Dreams book 1 in the Escape To Paradise series.

Jasmine A.
montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's a very hard question. One of my favorite authors and their series is Neta Jackson's Yada Yada books. They are very unique in that the setting is Chicago and from one incident, it leads several women with very different backgrounds to form a prayer group. I love the diversity of the group, but also how it shows we can be different and still love God and worship him together.

Anonymous said...

The comment about the Yada Yada series by Neta Jackson was left by me, Laynah Medders lmedders@annistonal.gov (Sorry, can't get my Google account working :( Thanks

TheAtticGirl said...

I'm a Jane Austen fanatic so I love all of her books.

Jaime said...

Favorite??? Ahhh it's such a hard decision for me. I suppose I HAVE to go with The River of Time books by Lisa T. Bergren. Not only is it full of action and high stakes, but there is romance, humor, and just characters I can relate to. Also, who doesn't like Medieval knights from Italy??

Amy said...

Not sure about picking just one favorite series... but I really enjoy the Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins...and the Divergent series by Veronica Roth...

Anonymous said...

SO many are my favorite ~~ love Terrie Blackstock but I have many favorites ~~
Sheila Boling

Coralie said...

Gor...that's a very unfair question to ask an avid reader...well, I love Terri Blackstock's books, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Shannon Hale, and Gail Carson Levine's books always make me giddy with joy. I love Pride and Prejudice and other tales told in that time period like Little Women. I loved Christopher Paolini's Eragon books. I love fantasy and fairy tales. I love suspenceful and thrilling mysterious tales. Oh, and I can't forget Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys!!! I loved the Trailblazer books when I was younger, and the Boxcar Children are still a favorite of mine. The Magic Tree House series, Animorphs, Alex Rider, etc. Gosh, there's just so many!!! I'll stop there to spare you the boredom, but I'm very excited about finding a copy of one of your books too!

Anonymous said...

I loved Anne of Green Gables and the Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke. There was also an older Orphan Train series, that I was very fond of, but I cannot remember the author. there are so many!

Anonymous said...

I loved Anne of Green Gables and the Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke. There was also an older Orphan Train series, that I was very fond of, but I cannot remember the author. there are so many!

Celita

(grrr... didn't leave my name the first time... so sorry)

I'm All Booked said...

My favorite author has been Terri Blackstock because I love Christian mystery & suspense!

Anonymous said...

I love so many types of books, but if forced to pick a favorite book or author, I'd have to say Ted Dekker books are my favorite.
castenir@bbtel.com

Gena said...

I love fantasy novels from Tolkien to Robert Jordan. I also like sci-fi. Think you'll try that sometime? :)

Anonymous said...

My Favorite book is Full disclosure by Dee Henderson. I love Ann's relationship with God.
Thank you,
Sydney Fletcher

Jon and Vicki Marney said...

My favorite series are actually several series, all about the same family & their friends--The Baxter Family, written by Karen Kingsbury. I LOVE Karen's writing and how she deals with things that are dealt with by everyday people all the time, and how God is waiting to help us through, if we only listen. It would be fun to get acquainted with a new-to-me writer. Thanks for participating in this scavenger hunt & offering your own contest.
Vicki

Unknown said...

Wow that's hard, I love the Discarded Hero's series by Ronie Kendig and The River of Times series by Lisa Bergren. Thanks for this opportunity. SO excited to meet new authors. God bless!!

Glenda said...

I love to read, favorite would be Christian Fiction. I love most Christian Fiction authors, each one writes differently so to me it's impossible to pick one. I think Randy Singer writes an excellent book, Bill Myers keeps me on my toes-love his books and James Rubart books are so very intriguing and we cannot leave out Ted Dekker, I assure you I can keep on naming authors I just named a few of the male authors. The list is much longer for the females. My hobby is reading I have been with some authors from their first books and have collected them all up until the last few years when retirement and a limited income and space prevents the collecting part. I have been blessed to have some of the collections signed by the authors, I love to go to book signings when they are in the area. So all I can say is I love to read and I love the scavenger hunt because I have met a few new authors and really look forward to reading their work.

Thanks again for the Scavenger Hunt and the opportunity to win everyone's books, that by itself is very exciting to me!

bonton said...

My favorite author is Liz Curtis Higgs - I enjoy her humor & attention to detail, makes me feel as if I am in the company of her characters. I have all of her books - with the exception of her children's books & those out-of-print that I haven't been able to locate on ebay or Amazon.

However, I must say that the Scavenger Hunt has introduced to some really wonderful authors & interesting books & I will be expanding my horizons.

Thanks for the opportunity to win your books!

bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

tickmenot said...

I like so many authors, and series it is hard to choose. I like the Yada Yada Prayer Group books by Neta Jackson. The characters seem like real people! I like the books that have been sort of spin-offs from this series, too.

margie said...

Totally enjoyed this scavenger hunt. Thanks!!!

Anonymous said...

I love you and John W Otte!!!!!!!!!!

Cheyenne said...

Francine Rivers Redeeming Love is my all time favorite novel. It is just such a beautiful story of unfailing love and redemption.

Unknown said...

Diana Wynne Jones! Or....Madeline L'Engle!

Emily Bennett said...

I have a lot of favorite books, but Heartless is probably my favorite. :) Another one of my favorite authors is Robin Jones Gunn, who writes Christian books geared towards teenage girls.

Meagan @ Blooming with Books said...

I have so many that I love that I can't pick out one as a favorite. the weather, my mood, the music I'm listening to all determine what I like for a particular day.

But a few of my favorites are
The House of Winslow by Gilbert Morris and any of Michael Phillips' series when I'm in the mood Christian Historical fiction.

I like Tales of Goldstone Wood and Melanie Dickerson's books when I want fantasy/fairy tales.

I like Robin Parrish's books when I'm listening to Celtic Thunder music.

I like Stephen Lawhead's Spirit Well series when I want a book that really makes me think.

Unknown said...

Its really hard to pick just one, but ONE of my all time favorite authors is Mary Connealy. I love the way she mixes the old west and her spunky characters :)

Deb Kastner said...

My favorite is whatever I'm reading. I have a number of favorite genres and authors. It would be impossible to choose.

Renee S said...

I agree with another poster, I have so many favorite books, series, and authors, it's impossible to choose a favorite. I do have a list, though, of authors that if they have a new book out it is instantly on my wish list, without even knowing what it's about.

Shopgirl said...

I still love one of the first adult series I read by Lori Wick, the Californians, especially AS Time Goes By. I could relate to the main character a lot and loved everything about it.

Judith said...

Thanks so much for having this giveaway. Judy

Audra Silva said...

It's really hard to pick, so I'll just choose one that pops in my head: Dee Henderson's O'Malley series. Loved it, and can't wait to read the new small book about one of the characters from the series. :)

kam110476 said...

I've fallen in love w/ Lisa Bergren this year and both her Gifted series and her River of Time series will be faves for years to come!

Bonnie R. S. said...

Thanks for having this giveaway!

Molly said...

Going through and reading some comments--i just wanted to say, Miss Jeanette and Miss Meredith have pretty much what I was thinking all in the comments.

Clara said...

GAH!!! What a shame I was in a wi-fi- less campground when this contest took place!!! :(