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 30 stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
• The hunt BEGINS on 3/1 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, 3/4 at midnight MST)! So take your time to read the unique posts
along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books.
• 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 Stop #30. (Pssst….many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!)
It is my honor to host the multi-award winning author Jody Hedlund. The first book of Jody’s that I read was The Preacher’s Bride. I LOVED IT. She’s an excellent writer, and oh! her subjects! Awesome choices. Jody finds untold stories and brings heroes of the faith to live in a refreshing and relevant way. I mean this very genuinely: Jody Hedlund is an author for whom I have enormous admiration.
Here’s a summary of Together Forever, Jody’s newest release.
Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children’s Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks her sister as well. As she teams up with Andrew Brady placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.
30,000 Abandoned Children by Jody Hedlund
Imagine a city where 30,000 abandoned and homeless children live on the streets.
Sounds like something from a futuristic dystopian novel, doesn’t it? Or something that might happen after a war or apocalypse or major disaster, right?
This exact thing actually happened in the 1850’s. And the city was New York City. It’s hard to believe, but an estimated 30,000 homeless children roamed the dirty city streets and alleys of New York City.
30,000. Children. Let that sink in for a minute. That’s the size of a town.
Historians look back on that time and try to make sense what led to such horrific conditions for children. Of course, the influx of immigrants was at an all time high. Jobs and housing were scarce. Diseases were rampant. Hunger and poverty became a norm. (Orphan Train Depot)
As more and more people became aware of the enormous problem within the crowded slums, courageous heroes rose up and attempted to do their part to make a difference.
While we may not always agree with the methods that were used to save the thousands of homeless children, we can admire the men and women who could no longer sit idly by.
The Children’s Aid Society was started by Charles Loring Brace as one such attempt to help the hordes of homeless children. His “Emigration Plan” is better known today by the term “Orphan Trains.”
My latest series tackles various elements of the orphan train movement. Together Forever, releasing in May, highlights the placing agents, those devoted people who rode the trains with the orphans. The agents spent weeks and months on the road caring for the children, all the while trying to place them in loving homes.
(If you’d like to try out the series, start with my FREE novella, An Awakened Heart.)
Like the brave men and women who came before us, may we always strive to do our part to make a difference!
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Here’s the Stop #9 Skinny:
You can order Jody’s book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD or at your local bookstore!
Clue to Write Down: to read
Link to Stop #10, the Next Stop on the Loop: Jody Hedlund’s own site!
But wait! Before you go, sign up to get my e-newsletter HERE and receive Amish Proverb coloring sheets FREE! I’ll also be giving away five (5) copies of my new book Phoebe’s Light! Sign up below.
—Suzanne
Is there supposed to be a link to Jody’s site?
I can’t find a link to Jody Hedlund’s web site w/ the Scavenger Hunt on it! Help!
http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/
Hello, Barb! I’m sure they’ll get the link added here soon. Lisa is amazing! But in the meantime, here’s the link so you can jump to Stop #10 on Jody Hedlund’s site. 🙂
I couldn’t either
Link to stop #10 does NOT work–HELP!
http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2018/02/christian-fiction-scavenger-hunt-stop-10.html
MS. Barb-I held in Jody’s name and then clicked on her blog site and it took me to her post. I hope this helps you. 😊
I have never read a book of yours I did not like!
Together Forever sounds like a must-read. I didn’t realize homelessness was a problem for so many children in the 1850s! Such sad history.
I love your books. Thanks for letting me be a part of the Scavenger Hunt!
I found it and subscribed.
I love Jody Hedlund’s books! 🙂
Me too, Carol!
I love every book of Jody’s that I’ve read! Right now I’m enjoying learning more about such a sad but interesting part of our country’s history. I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for the children.
Oh, my goodness! Another MUST READ! Another new author! No one will see me for six months at this rate! LOL
Grinning, Teresa!
I love your books! I just posted about Phoebe’s Light on my Facebook page.
Sounds like a great book I’ll have to pick up.
All done!!! I did everything!!! Thank you for the opportunity!!! God bless!!!:)
I’m a big fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher and Jody Hedlund but like the others I couldn’t find a link to Jody.
Ladies I found a list of all the sites. Good luck.
Our amazing scavenger hunts only come around twice a year…don’t miss this one!
Stop #1 Lisa T. Bergren
Stop #2 Laura Frantz
Stop #3 Heidi Chiavaroli
Stop #4 Roseanna White
Stop #5 Carrie Turanksky
Stop #6 Angela Hunt
Stop #7 Jill Eileen Smith
Stop #8 Connilyn Cossette
Stop #9 Suzanne Woods Fisher
Stop #10 Jody Hedlund
Stop #11 Sarah Sundin
Stop #12 Beth Vogt
Stop #13 Carla Laureano
Stop #14 Becky Wade
Stop #15 Lynette Eason
Stop #16 James Rubart
Stop #17 Patrick W. Carr
Stop #18 Terri Blackstock
Stop #19 Susan Sleeman
Stop #20 Elizabeth Goddard
Stop #21 Kristin Billerbeck
Stop #22 Karen Witemeyer
Stop #23 Pam Hillman
Stop #24 Patricia Bradley
Stop #25 Susan May Warren
Stop #26 Lynn H. Blackburn
Stop #27 Mesu Andrews
Stop #28 Kristi Ann Hunter
Stop #29 Mindy Starns Clark
Stop #30 Enter for the prizes!
Thanks for the opportunity. I’ve not read any of your books yet and appreciate Connilyn’s intro. Beautiful cover! Thanks for the recipe.
You’re so welcome! Hope you enjoy making those muffins. We love them! Warmly, Suzanne
Cannot wait tomread Jody’s latest. And that cover…..love it!
Suzanne, I have several of your books and enjoyed reading them. I also follow Amish Wisdom.
I have had you in email for quite some time, and follow on facebook. I do not do Twitter.
Thank you for bringing Jody Hedlund to us. I have been aware of the “Orphan Trains” before, but it was new to my daughter. I think Jody’s new book, TOGETHER FOREVER, will be one she & I need to read together.
Thanks, Donna, for such a sweet comment! And I’m eager to read Jody’s newest book, too. She’s an excellent writer.
I AM OPEN READER I GET BOOKS I READ AND BLOG ON THEM AND THEN DO TUBE ON THEM DONT MIND THE LARGE LETTER MY COMPUTER IS MESSING UP
I keep finding more books that I want to read! So exciting!
thank you
The first book I read by Jody Hedlund was also The Preacher’s Bride! I have read them all since. Like you, her books inspire me to dig deeper into her subject matter, such as the orphan train! Thanks for participating and good luck with Phoebe’s Light, I know it will be a hit.
This sounds amazing and so sad. I have heard a little about this time. Thank you so much and look forward to reading
Release the hounds, I’m on the hunt for Day 2!
Thanks for hosting on this scavenger hunt, Suzanne! Definitely interested in “Phoebe’s Light” and the Quakers of Nantucket!
THANK YOU SO MUCH LOVE YOUR BOOKS!
CN’t wait to read your book! I also love Jody Hedlund’s books!! Thanks for participating in the Scavenger Hunt!
Hi Suzanne, I bought Crasins last I shopped thinking I would make Orange Cranberry Scones !!!, I think I will try using some in your recipe !!! I so love Jody’s Books and Historical Fiction ! One reason I am so wanting to read Phoebe’s Light ! Can’t wait
Thank you for a chance to win a copy !!!
Blessings
Linda Marie Finn
Faithful Acres Books
Faithful Acres Body Soul Spirit
I’m already a subscriber. Thank you!
Love your books
I’ve read Jody’s first book in the Orphan Train series and am looking forward to May when the new one comes out. I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that 30,000 children were orphaned and most of them from immigrant families! WOW! That’s a hard thing to believe but I know it happened. I’m just glad that some people stepped up to try to help these children who couldn’t help themselves.
Thank you for participating in the hunt & the extra giveaway for Suzanne Woods Fisher new book. It also has a fascinating time in our history & I’m excited to learn more about the Quakers through her story.
P.S. I am already a newsletter subscriber 🙂
I love these scavenger hunts. Thank you for being part of this one.
Subscribed .Thank you!
I Love your books. I believe I am in the middle of one as I have a few to read your book. I may have read a few of your books as well and review some. I believe I got one to read but I love to have more to read of yours.
Had heard of the orphan trains but hadn’t known about the numbers of children who were homeless. Thank you for bringing that to light.
I’m already a subscriber. Thank you!
I am a subscriber.
I did the rafflecopter form. I am already subscribed to your newsletter.