Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #21

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 333 Comments

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 6/15 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, 6/18 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

Hi, I’m Ann H. Gabhart and I love being called a storyteller. I’ve gone down plenty of story trails in my home state of Kentucky. I’m sort of a nut for nature and dogs and my grandkids. Oh, and books too! Most of my books are historical fiction but I have some cozy mysteries as well. You can find out more about me and my books here on my website and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and BookBub. I like dropping my characters down into some interesting historical times or settings,  but for my newest novel, In the Shadow of the River, I told my characters “All Aboard” and set my story on a river showboat. Here’s a little more about the story.

When Jacci Reed was five, someone tried to steal her from her mother who was badly wounded in the confrontation. Jacci and her mother find refuge on the Kingston Floating Palace, a river showboat. Fifteen years later, Jacci loves being an actress and singer on the showboat, but the memory of her mother’s death and the events leading up to it has shadowed Jacci through the years. When her life is threatened, she knows she must search for the answers she needs. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows . . . and the answers she craves will not come easily.

Have You Ever Had Stage Fright?

Acting? On Stage? Not me! I loved getting into character with Jacci but I want to stay backstage doing the directing. Not on stage in the lights.

An actress, I’m not, but that’s the fun of writing fiction. My characters can be way different from me. I could say different than I can imagine being, but that doesn’t work for a writer. My characters do things I can’t  do all the time.

Me at the first stage fright age

But what about that stage fright? When I was five, I had a part in a church play. A speaking part. I practiced my lines until my sisters were ready to throttle me, but I had it down pat. Then, when my big moment came, I looked out at the congregation, opened my mouth, and nothing came out. My vocal cords froze. I knew then acting wasn’t for me.

That dread of being on stage stayed with me all through school. Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is a common phobia shared by three out of four people. Maybe you are one of the three. I used to be, but after my first book was published years ago, I agreed to speak to a group of librarians and discovered stage fright wasn’t fatal. At least not for me. Now I even enjoy speaking about my books. However, I’m not about to try acting!

In my book, In the Shadow of the River, I could have let my character, Jacci, have stage fright, but that wasn’t Jacci. From the time she first went on stage at age five, she loved the spotlight. She is a true showboat actress who likes nothing better than rolling downriver to a new landing each day to put on a show.  When the music starts and the curtain goes up, an actress like Jacci is ready to take the stage to say those first lines and entice the audience into the magic of story.

How about you? Ever have stage fright or do you love performing?

 

Here’s Your Critical Stop #21 Info:
If you’re interested, you can order In the Shadow of the River on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com, Baker Book House, or your local bookstore!

Clue to Write Down: hammock,

Link to Stop #22, the next Stop on the Loop: Leslie Gould’s site!

But wait! Before you go, I’m offering some prizes here on my site. One entrant will win an actress make-up bag and a choice of one of my books. Two other winners will get their choice of one of my books. All you have to do is leave a comment here that you signed up for my e-newsletter on the form in the margin here on my website or note you’re already a subscriber. For fun, you can say if you suffer from glossophobia or if you love performing the way Jacci does.

Giveaway starts June 15, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time (2:00 p.m. EST)  and deadline for entries is June 19, 2023 12:00 a.m. Mountain Time (2:00 a.m. EST.)  Winners will be picked by random and notified by email.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hunt!

Comments 333

    1. Post
      Author

  2. I’m a subscriber. I would say that I used to suffer from stage fright, but I discovered I enjoyed acting in plays even though speech was *not* my favorite subject. Years later I found myself teaching and in front of an audience all of the time and God graciously helped me overcome it.

    Reply
    1. Post
      Author

      I’ve heard from several teachers like you who mentioned being in front of an audience all the time, Hicole. I never really thought about teaching that way, but all of you have opened my eyes a little to how yes, you are in front of an audience. An important audience as you teach them subjects they need to know. Thank you for choosing to be a teacher. Hope you enjoy acting in more plays. Thanks for being a subscriber to my newsletter. Very appreciated.

      Reply

  3. Ann, I am a subscriber and one of your biggest fans! I used to be in church plays and I was very nervous but I don’t think I’ve ever had an extreme case of stage fright. Some of my job duties included speaking in front of crowds so I’ve managed to get by! Thanks for being a part of this fantastic giveaway!

    Reply
    1. Post
      Author

      And I so appreciate you, Connie, and how you help get the word out about my books. It’s good you were able to conquer your nervousness and not freeze up the way I did way back when. But now I enjoy talking to people about writing and my books. I hope you enjoyed the Scavenger Hunt. It’s always fun.

      Reply

  4. I’m already a subscriber! I am not an actress, but it’s not due to stage fright – more of an inability to “lie”. 🙂 I do sing in front of audiences on a regular enough basis that I don’t suffer from glossophobia. I do still get nervous butterflies though.

    Reply
    1. Post
      Author

  5. Ann, I already receive your newsletter, and I enjoy following you on Facebook. I’m currently enjoying In the Shadow of the River!

    Reply
    1. Post
      Author
  6. Post
    Author

    Thanks to all of you who have signed up for my newsletter and thanks to those of you who were already signed up as subscribers. I appreciate each and every one of you. Also, I’m glad many of you have checked out my book, In the Shadow of the River, and think it might be one you’d like to read.

    Reply

  7. I signed up! I’m a totally performer. I have been from a child, just ask my brothers. 😂 very dramatic child.

    Reply
    1. Post
      Author

      Maybe as a girl with brothers, you needed to add in some drama, Marina. Maybe they were secondary players in some of those dramas. 🙂 But it’s good to hear from a total performer. And thanks for signing up for my newsletter. I’ll get a new one out in a couple of weeks. Busy with edits right now and this fun scavenger hunt.

      Reply

  15. Signed up for your newsletter a moment ago. I definitely have stage fright and a fear of public speaking. I had speech problems as a child, and when I’m nervous I think the problems are back.

    Reply
    1. Post
      Author

      That is certainly an understandable reason that you might have had stage fright, Michelle. I had a lisp when I was a little girl which I got over, but I still remember the other kids making fun of me and my first grade teacher embarrassing me by badgering me about it. Of course, that might have been motivation for me to learn to say words the correct way. May the Lord give you confidence when you need to speak in front of people these days. Thanks for subscribing. You will get an email asking you to confirm your signup.

      Reply
    1. Post
      Author

      Hackers are such a pain, Amber. But glad you took time to resubscribe. That’s why I have the double sign up where you have to confirm you really want to get my newsletter. That helps block out those spammers and people who just want to be an aggravation online. You aren’t alone with that glossophobia. But I’ve had a lot of responders who say they love being in that spotlight too.

      Reply
    1. Post
      Author
    1. Post
      Author

      I’ve been surprised at how many people who have responded and said they like that spotlight like you, Jeanette. Of course, there are more that said they didn’t. Thanks for being a subscriber already.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.