*The Scavenger Hunt does not start until August 30 at noon EST. We are testing the links to make sure we are ready for you tomorrow.*

Welcome to the inaugural Back to School Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. We hope that throughout this hunt you discover some new books and get to know a little more about us.

A few things before you begin:

This hunt is a blog hop. Collect the “clues” (pieces to the longer phrase) at each stop. Enter the individual giveaways along the way, then click on the link to the next stop and repeat until you reach #28, where you will input the full phrase as your entry to the grand prize drawing.

The hunt begins August 30, 2023, at noon EST and ends September 4, 2023, so you have plenty of time to visit each stop. If you need to step away and come back later, make a note of the last stop you visited, and go to this post with the list of all stops on the hunt.

If you are having trouble viewing the posts, you may need to switch browsers. Chrome and Firefox sometimes work better than Microsoft Explorer or Edge.

Welcome to my blog! I hope you’ve enjoyed collecting all the clues so far on our Blog Hunt!

Today, I want to talk about a subject that isn’t always top-of-mind when we think of “back to school”.

Back to school memories are bittersweet for me. I’m old enough to remember when school yard bullies stole your lunch money and gave you black eyes. And going to the principal’s office for “fighting” got you a phone call to your parent’s office and then a meeting with the principal.

In middle school, I was a skinny-minny kid and prone to being bullied. I was in the “accelerated” class, which means I was a grade ahead of my age, and some older kids who were a lot bigger than I was took exception to it. I spent a couple of years getting “beat up” on my way home from school. My parents expected me to stand up for myself and fight back. I was furious with them because I thought they didn’t care about my bruises and scrapes. Eventually, I learned to physically fight back. No more scratches or stolen lunches.

That’s an unheard of proposition these days. When my own children were in grade school, people thought that bullies had disappeared by magic, fighting wasn’t allowed, and everyone had to get along. There was (ha-ha) zero tolerance for bullying, even though any kid with a brain knew bullies lurked outside at recess.

My children have Down Syndrome so were supposed to be in a different part of the school yard under supervision. However, I had always told them that if any kid hit them, they were to hit back. One day at lunch hour, a “regular” boy decked my son. My son, who was about 9 yrs. old, got up and hit him back, except the other boy ran away. The teacher couldn’t catch him, so only my son was dragged into the principal’s office. I was called to the school and asked to explain my stance on allowing “bullying” behavior.

When the principal said he might have to suspend my son for a day, I shrugged my shoulders and said I’d take him home right then, along with his sister. I had already stated that if someone hit my kids first, they would hit back and explained why I thought it was beneficial for special needs children to know how to defend themselves. I suggested he might want to question the teacher about her lack of supervising skills, and he backed down on the one-day suspension.

I’m grateful that despite how scared I was of the bullies who terrorized me in middle school, my parents taught me how to stand up to them, and to stand up for myself. However, bullying has taken a much darker turn nowadays than simply stealing lunch money or your backpack.

Bullying now includes cyber-stalking/bullying/extortion. It’s not true that “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”.

If your own child, regardless of age because high school is a dangerous place for bullies to lurk about, shows signs of anxiety, withdrawal, unexplained headaches, injuries they can’t explain, etc. please speak to them about being bullied.

Don’t let the symptoms go by or shrug them off. Cyber-bullying can lead to self-harm and suicides. Let them know that they can tell you *anything*, even if they’ve been conned into sending compromising photos of themselves to someone via their cell phones.

Here are some resources to read and share with your child/teen:

https://www.stompoutbullying.org/helpchat

https://www.cyberbullying.ca

https://www.cybertip.ca

https://www.crisistextline.org/topic/bullying

I hope these are helpful for your school year.

Here is my book, NORTHERN DECEPTION (Heroes of the Tundra Book 1) which is part of the Grand Prize package:

Reunions can be deadly.

After a savage attack in university, Kira Summers fled to the safety of northern Canada and her work as a polar bear scientist. But when her whistleblower brother dies in a mysterious car crash, she must return home to bury him and pack his belongings. Unaware she’s carrying explosive evidence someone’s willing to kill for, she has no choice but to rely on the one person she never thought she’d see again.

Lukas Tanner, a widowed single father of a special needs toddler, moved to Churchill five years ago. As the proud owner of Guiding Star Enterprises, a wilderness tour company, he and his daughter lead a simple life. But when Kira comes crashing back into his world, he realizes God has other plans. Now, Lukas and Kira must confront a merciless killer as their past and present collide in a deadly race – a race they must win if they have any hope of a future together.

If you can’t wait to see if you win, you can buy it here: https://amzn.to/3Iq6EsT

NORTHERN HEARTS (Heroes of the Tundra Book 2) is here: https://amzn.to/33CFJeE

NORTHERN PROTECTOR (Heroes of the Tundra Book 3) is here: https://amzn.to/32qDKK4

AND the next book in the series, NORTHERN REDEMPTION (Heroes of the Tundra Book 4) is coming out October 10, 2023! Here is the blurb:

Runaway bride Lise Dumont has escaped back to Churchill, Manitoba to reclaim her job as a Conservation Officer. She’d rather face down polar bears than marry her abusive ex-fiancé. Once she’s back home in the small town, the peace of the tundra soothes her spirit.

Northern Lights Helicopter Tour owner, Rory Gallagher, isn’t looking for any relationship deeper than the one he has with his pet cat. He enjoys being single and footloose, despite his family’s desire for him to settle down and produce grandchildren. Scarred by memories of not being able to save his father from drowning seven years ago, Rory’s fine with being alone.

Until Lise blazes back into town and helps talk him down from a helicopter crash. When two hardened escaped convicts take them hostage just as a blizzard closes in, it forces the two to rely on each other to survive. They each must face their past before they can have a future.

Can a relationship born out of life and death stakes be enough to last for a lifetime?

I have a Canadiana Gift Giveaway especially for you! Here is a photo of your Prize Package, available only from me.** This is open to US and Canadian readers:

INCLUDES:

Polar Bear Unisex Socks (because all of my books have a polar bear in them!)

Canvas Book Tote Bag, 14.5″ high, 12.5″ wide

Book Journal for those of you who love to record your book reading! 8.5″ x 11″ soft cover

Genuine Canadian Tim Horton’s Maple Flavoured Coffee 300 gm bag

A print copy of NORTHERN DECEPTION

**Book cover may be the original green cover.

Please fill out the Rafflecopter at: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/38979fb2342/

Thank you SO much for being here today!

Here is your next clue: SOMEONE ELSE,

Next stop: 

https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/2023/08/29/back-to-school-christian-fiction-scavenger-hunt/

The post BACK TO SCHOOL CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the seventh blog in this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway, which runs July 12-23, 2021. At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the secret words. Write them all down and provide the provide the entire answer on this Google form. See below for a list with links of all participating authors!

Note: You must grab all the secret words from every author in the Christmas in July Reader Giveaway to be eligible to win a $400 Amazon gift card. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (20 in all). At each blog stop, the author will also give away copy or copies of their featured Christmas book.

My publisher came to me with the idea of doing a special Christmas novella for my Heroes of the Tundra series, because Book 1, Northern Deception, ends in November, with an epilogue at the end of the winter in March. They thought putting a story within my tundra world at Christmas time would be a great idea and I agreed with them, even though I’d never tried to write a Christmas story before – never mind a novella!

I was already writing Book 2, Northern Protector, which is set in the following summer right after Northern Deception. It was a challenge to switch horses and think about Christmas and what that might look like in Churchill, Manitoba, which is a real town. I decided to make it as similar to a Hallmark story as I could, with a simple but interesting timed mystery, and a budding romance. I knew that the town of Churchill does an annual Santa Claus event at their Town Centre so that every child in town receives at least once present for Christmas, so I used that as my ending and wrote backwards.

It was fun to come up with my own twist on Christmas traditions, as I made my hero and heroine complete opposites: Jake Miller is an older chef who’s used to running the business and settled into his career and life in the northern wilderness. Kali McIntyre has dreams of opening her own dessert bar in the big city, and is a firecracker with visions of how to completely re-do everything that’s been “working” for The Great Northern Lodge up until her arrival. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but I had a ton of fun coming up with her wacky methods of changing Christmas traditions that had stood the test of time in the north.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Wealthy socialite Kali McIntyre dreams of opening her own dessert bar, Sassy Sweets, in downtown Winnipeg—until her father crushes that dream when he cuts her off financially. He’s determined to get her to use her law degree to join the family’s high-powered law firm. She’s determined to do anything but that. And when an unknown-to-her aunt dies in Churchill, Manitoba, leaving her an unbelievable inheritance, Kali’s on the next flight up north to make her dreams a reality. Chef Jake Miller has lived in Churchill for the past ten years, working hard to keep The Great Northern Lodge afloat through some tough times. But then his business partner dies unexpectedly, without telling him that she’d changed her will or that she had a niece who is set to inherit everything. Now, Jake and Kali have thirty days to work together and decide—who will stay and who will go—before Christmas rolls around. Secrets, attempted murder, and a new menu all add up to a Christmas unlike any other.

For your chance to win 3 E-book copies of NORTHERN HEARTS, please leave your family’s favourite Christmas tradition in the comments. Is it something baked? Something decorative? A family activity?

(I’m giving away E-books because I value all of my national and international readers!)

Now, it’s time to for the secret words: the guilty 

Save the secret words, and when you reach the final blog, enter all the secret words on this form for a chance to win a $400 Amazon gift cards!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Carol Stratton and her Christmas book “The Littlest Bell Ringer” – a middle grade novel . You can find it at this link. Remember, this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway will end on July 23 at 8 PM EST!

Here’s a list of all participating authors with their links, just in case something goes wonky. Enjoy!

1. Sarah Hamakerhttps://sarahhamakerfiction.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway-dangerous-christmas-memories/
2. Jill Kemererhttps://jillkemerer.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
3. Dennis Baileyhttps://dennisbaileyfiction.com/2021/07/08/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
4. Peggy Sue Wellshttps://singlemomcircle.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
5. Terri Weldonhttps://terriweldon.com/blog/
6. Jennifer Chastain https://jenniferchastain.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
7. Laurie Wood’s secret words: the guilty, (her blog isn’t working right now)
8. Carol Strattonhttps://www.carolgstratton.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
9. Terri Reedhttp://www.terrireed.com/2021/07/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway.html
10. Anne Greenhttp://anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com/
11. Pam Greenhttps://pamgreenwrites.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
12. Izzy Jameshttps://enotsilent.wordpress.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
13. Nancy J. Farrierhttps://nancyjfarrier.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
14. Dana Mentinkhttps://dmentink.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
15. Hallee Bridgemanhttps://www.halleebridgeman.com/christmas-in-july
16. Susan Lyttekhttps://sajlyttek.com/blog/1526-Christmas-in-July-Reader-Giveaway?sel=1-0
17. Zoe McCarthyhttps://zoemmccarthy.com/activities/christmas-in-july-reader-give-away
18. Sherry Kylehttps://www.sherrykyle.com/forever-yours-this-christmas-christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/

The post CHRISTMAS IN JULY READER GIVEAWAY: NORTHERN HEARTS (Heroes of the Tundra Novella) appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

Constable Ben Koper is still healing from the polar bear attack that almost killed him. Nine months after it happened, he returns to Churchill, Manitoba, a changed man—scarred more than just physically. PTSD is his new shadow, haunting his every step, and he can’t seem to kick the pain meds he shouldn’t need anymore. He’s determined to prove, to himself and his colleagues, that he’s still up to his job. Failure isn’t an option.

ER nurse Joy Gallagher spent the entire last winter texting with a healing Constable Koper. What started as friendly concern from this single mother has grown into full-fledged romantic feelings, and she’s eager to level up their friendship and introduce him to the idyllic comfort of small-town life. Until a teenager is murdered at a summer party. The crime is strikingly similar to the cold case murder of Joy’s foster sister, stirring old trauma Joy has never fully dealt with.

When another victim is snatched in town, Ben and Joy must confront their own demons, and join forces to track down an elusive killer. The race to rescue the next victim before it’s too late will test Ben and Joy to their limits. Can they survive their encounter with this heinous killer, or will the past destroy them.?

NORTHERN PROTECTOR releases December 8, 2020 but you can pre-order it here:

Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/3femV6Y

Amazon.ca:    https://amzn.to/2KfyoYq

Anaiah Press: https://bit.ly/3pGPrD6 (Print copies)

Here is the Tour List of Participants:

December   3:   Rhonda Starnes     https://rhondastarnes.com/

December   4:   Rosie Somers         http://www.rosiesomers.blogspot.com

December   7:   Sally Shupe            http://www.sallyshupe.blogspot.com

“              7:   Toni Shiloh            https://tonishiloh.com/

December   8:   Preslaysa Williams   https://www.preslaysa.com

“                8:   Melony Teague:       http://www.melonyteague.com/

“                8:   Jenn Pierce                http://www.jenniferpiercewrites.com

December   9:   Christina Sinisi          https://www.christinasinisi.com/

December 10:   Sherida Stewart       http://sheridastewart.com/

December 11:   Sharee Stover          https://shareestover.com/

December 14:   Patti Jo Moore         http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com

December 15:   Nola Lorraine          https://www.nolalorraine.com.au/

December 17:  Joy A Melville          http://www.joyaverymelville.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is open to the US and Canada. A winner will be chosen 48 hours after the end of the Blog Tour and must respond to their notifying email to claim their prize. Otherwise, another winner will be chosen.

The post Announcing the Blog Tour for NORTHERN PROTECTOR (Heroes of the Tundra Book 2) appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.

The post Summer Loving Blog Tour appeared first on Laurie Wood Author.