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!
But don’t dash off! Put yer feet up and sit a spell. It’ll be worth your time, I promise.
Si-goggle, Over Yonder and Downright Afreard
Ever heard of those expressions? They belong to Appalachia’s mountain dialect. To our modern ears, this ‘mountain talk’ might seem simple, quaint or uneducated, but it’s far more complex than you might think. It resembles an Elizabethan English dialect spoken centuries ago, sprinkled with Scotch-Irish, with a rhythm, a flow, even an eloquence. Many of the words, expressions, phrasing and framework date all the way back to the time of the first great English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote Canterbury Tales in the fourteenth century. Six hundred years later! Now, that’s what I call…hangin’ tough.
Here’s a few more:
Collywobbles: digestive troubles
A mite: a little
Cousined-to-death: nepotism
Haint: ghost
Pert-near: almost
Parts: neighborhood
Poke: bag
Tolable like: good enough
Wampish: wiggle
Jasper: stranger
Gaum: cluttered up
Nothing Never Stop: unending
Dialect is tricky. It can be overused and become annoying to the reader, making them…well, right smart tetchy. It can be underdone—a missed opportunity for the author.
But done well? Dialect can be a wonderful opportunity for the author to sprinkle color and credibility onto black and white text, to help bring a story to life. In other words, it can make readers think a sight of a book.
Below is a short excerpt from The Moonlight School that shows a bit of Appalachian dialect…hopefully written with a deft hand.
First, some background: The Moonlight School is based on a true story about Kentucky educator Cora Wilson Stewart, who came up with the idea of opening 51 rural schoolhouses on moonlit nights to teach illiterate adults (who made up 1/3 of her county) how to read and write. On the first night, she hoped 150 might attend. Over 1200 adults, ages 18-86, came out of the hills and hollows. In two years, Cora wiped adult illiteracy out of the county.
Such an amazing and little known piece of U.S. history!
In this scene, Cora has talked her cousin Lucy Wilson into coming to Rowan County to help her with the moonlight schools. Lucy, raised in refined Lexington, struggles to adjust to the sights and sounds (and smells!) of Appalachia. Cora sends Lucy to take dictation from Mollie McGlothin, an old, bent-over mountain woman who needs someone to take down her dictation and write a letter to her daughter in Chicago.
A perfect recipe for confusion.
“Mebbe you can teach me to read.” The old woman leaned forward in her rocking chair. “Cora’s too busy, but you gots time. What else ya gots to do?”
The eagerness in Mollie’s voice caught Lucy by surprise. “Oh my goodness…I’m no teacher. I’m here to help Cora with her work as superintendent of the county schools. And I’m sure that will keep me quite busy.” Lucy wasn’t really sure what work that might be, but she hoped it would be significant. For a moment, she forgot she wanted to leave Rowan County as soon as possible.
Clearly disappointed in Lucy, Miss Mollie leaned back in her rocker. “I’m feeling a little tarred.”
Not the actual Miss Mollie McGlothin…but close!
Cora Wilson Stewart (1875-1959)
A moment from an actual Moonlight School.
“Tarred?”
“Tarred,” Miss Mollie repeated with a yawn. She turned away from her to stare into the coals, and it wasn’t long before Lucy heard a whiffling snore. Lucy folded Jane’s letter and tucked it in an envelope to mail from the Morehead post office. Quietly, she tiptoed to the open door, longing for fresh air. Mollie’s snoring deepened and Lucy suddenly realized what “tarred” meant. Tired!
Outside, she took several gulps of cold, clean air, eager to get the smelly stink of chickens out of her nose. She felt as if she had stepped off the train this morning into another country, separated from the world she had known.
Want to know what happens next? I hope so! This novel is based on a true story, with an ending that will leave you feeling lifted up, inspired by humanity…jes’ plumb happy. And you can put that in yor poke and tote it, my friends.
The Moonlight School has already hit the ECPA March bestseller list! If you’re interested in a copy of your own, you can find it on Amazon, BN.com, Christian Book Distributors (best price!), Baker Book House (free shipping!), or your favorite bookstore. If you do buy a copy, email me here and I’ll send you a bookmark and a signed bookplate.
CLUE: fresh
Link to Stop #3, the next stop on the Hunt: Sarah Sundin’s site.
But wait! Before you go, I’m offering an autographed copy of The Moonlight School to three entrants. All you have to do is follow me as an author on Bookbub! It’s a free service that lets you know every time that the authors you enjoy have a new release, or a book on sale.
After you’ve followed me on Bookbub, please just fill out the Rafflecopter below.
Don’t forget your final stop back at Lisa Bergren’s site!
My personal contest below is open to US residents only (I’m sorry, international readers!).
*Photo credits: Morehead State University archives
Thanks so much! Enjoyed reading more about your new book! I have it on my wishlist. Be blessed
Thanks so much, Phyllis! Hope all your wishes comes true. 😉 Suzanne
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing!
Hi
Jwvoitl5@hotmail.com
Great scavenger hunt! Love the excerpt I’ll be reading the Moonlight School.
Thank you, Joyce!!! Have fun on the hunt! Suzanne
This book sounds so good. How did you find out about Cora Wilson Stewart?
Hi Sue–I heard about Moonlight Schools in such an accidental way…was listening to the radio and the host mentioned, “Today in history, the Moonlight Schools began.” I stopped what I was doing and found out more! Thanks for swinging by. Good luck on the hunt! Suzanne
Thank you
I loved The Moonlight School.
This expert is hilarious. I am having flashbacks to the first two years that I knew the guy I ended up marrying. The confusion was endless. My all time favorite was when he showed up in the cafeteria and, seeing his brother, asked, “j’et yet?” To which his brother replied, “Nah, j’u?” Everyone there stared hard, looked at each other to see if anyone else was enlightened, and then demanded an explanation. Translation was: Did you eat yet? No, did you?
I’m a longtime follower of yours on BookBub!
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/1524844311
I love what you did before The Moonlight School was released with The Free Libraries!
The moment you realize “tarred” isn’t part of everyone’s vocabulary …
CutePolarBear
Funny!
LOL, I didn’t even need the word translations because I have Scots/Irish ancestry and my parents are originally from Appalachia. They don’t use all those words but I’ve run into people who do when we visit their families. I’m extra interested in your book since it’s about the region where my family comes from. 🙂
Your book sounds fascinating! It’s on my wish list!
Thank you! It’s in my wish list!
This is one I’ve been wanting to read!
Thank you for the opportunity. I enjoyed reading about the book.
Book sounds very interesting. I love authentic history especially in novels.
Love the sample! Looks like my kind of book!!! My family history (Scotch-Irish-English) made all those sayings easy!
Blessings on your day….
I love hearing about little known history tidbits. What a great woman and mission.
Thank you for sharing the excerpt, I enjoyed reading it. Have a Great weekend and stay safe.
After reading this page I added your book to my TBR list. It sounds very interesting. I especially enjoy reading novels based on actual people and events. I live in the South so I was able to decipher some of the words listed. I am looking forward to reading your novel!
I love that you shared how to research the individuals you write about. I’ve read a few of your books & become increasingly interested in the details of the characters & their lives. Thanks for sharing. Be thankful in all things.
Thanks for your kind and encouraging comment, Betty!
May your books be Nothing Never Stop!
What a wonderful topic for a story! I’ll be reading it!
Love the hunt! Books sounds super interesting.
I appreciate stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Thank you for making history about ordinary people come alive :).
Wow, I look forward to reading this book. I am following on bookbub
This book intrigues me! I will look forward to reading it!
I am from the foothills of NC, and this sounds so interesting! I grew up hearing people use some of these phrases, and still say a couple myself!
This book sounds very interesting. I’m always on the lookout for good books that take place in Kentucky.
My mom and I got quite a chuckle out of your list of words and phrases. We have used (or heard) most all of them…and a few quite recently even. (Yes, we are from Kentucky and–depending on who you ask–on the outskirts of the Appalachian region).
Thank you for sharing about the moonlight schools.
Hi Suzanne, I was trying to go to stop #20 on the scavenger hunt, but the link on stop #19 doesn’t work. I guess I’m not sure how to proceed. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Laurel–I’m just seeing your comment now. I’m so sorry about #19…did you refresh your page and try again? Lisa Bergren, the organizer, is on top of everything. If you’re still having trouble…go to Stop #1 or #31 and let her know. Suzanne
Hi! I’m reading The Moonlight School now, and I’m loving it!
We Texans have some humdingers too.
The book sounds amazing and I love the mountain dialect!
Oh my goodness, I’m so glad I checked this email/contest out and read about your book! I was reading over your list of “terms” and I was thinking, you mean everyone don’t talk like that? I knew what they meant! Lol. I moved to the Smoky Mtn area in TN back in 1984 and the locals around these parts always talked that way! I would go to the grocery store and hang out in the produce dept just so I could listen to them talk I loved it so, and now I have picked up a lot of the same terms, and still proud of it. 😉 Sad to say, with so many outsiders moving in you don’t hear a lot of the local talk or slang like you use to. I love to read about such history and our nearby neighbors, so will definitely look into your book!
Good morning Suzanne,
Loved reading your post!! Loved the pictures and absolutely love the book cover! Thank you for the chance to win!!!
Following you on Bookbub 🙂
Love these scavenger hunts. I read all your books and I love them all. Thanks for entertaining me with great books.
Thanks, Tish! So glad you enjoy these hunts. Great feedback! Suzanne
I LOVE this book! I have already read it twice and I sent it to my sister to borrow while she recuperates from foot surgery. I know she will love it too!
Thank you so much, Peg! Means a lot to me that you shared it with your sister. Hope she’s mending! Warmly, Suzanne
This looks fantastic, thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for participating in this Scavenger Hunt!