Meet Sharon Hinck - Interview & Book Giveaway

It was my great thrill to meet Sharon Hinck at the ACFW Conference last September. This woman has such a sweet, gentle spirit, and her books have really ministered to me. Her latest,The Restorer’s Journey (Sword of Lyric) is the conclusion of her Sword of Lyric Series. Let’s meet Sharon!

THE BIO

Sharon’s undergrad degree is in education, and she earned an M.A. in Communication from Regent University in 1986. She spent ten years as the artistic director of a Christian performing arts group, CrossCurrent. That ministry included three short-term mission trips to Hong Kong.

She has been a church youth worker, a choreographer and ballet teacher, a home-school mom, a church organist, and a bookstore clerk. One day she’ll figure out what to be when she grows up, but in the meantime she’s pouring her imagination into writing. She’s published dozens of articles in magazines and book compilations, and released her first novel in 2006. In April, 2007, she was named “Writer of the Year” at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

When she isn’t wrestling with words, Sharon enjoys speaking to conferences, retreats, and church groups. She and her family make their home in Minnesota.

THE INTERVIEW

JA: Your latest book is The Restorer’s Journey. Tell us a little bit about it.
SH: This is the third in the Sword of Lyric Series. A new, young Restorer has to confront the temptation to flee his destiny, while Susan, our modern-day heroine, faces her most challenging adventure yet. The story was more difficult for me to write, because it goes to some darker places. But as always when the One shows up amid our struggles, we find He’s doing more things than we could have imagined.

JA: The Sword of Lyric Series is such a wonderfully unique idea. How did you come up with it?
SH: A combination of influences and ideas. I looked at my favorite aspects of the “hero journey” kind of tale, and put a relatable “mom next door” character at the heart to see how the journey would look from her perspective.

JA: The Restorer’s Journey is the last book in the series. As a reader, I’m always a bit sad when a series I love comes to an end. As the author, how do you feel with the completion of the final book?
SH: The stories haven’t ended in my head. All the characters are happily continuing their adventures, and I still pop in on them from time to time.

JA: What do you hope people take away when they finish reading the Lyric books?
SH: Our lives, even when they seem ordinary, are really part of God’s epic adventure that He is unfolding. We can dare to bring Him our doubts, our fears, our questions . . . even our anger. We loves us enough to invite us to be part of His story – and can use even the most weak and inadequate of us when we are willing.


JA: What’s next for you in the writing arena?
SH: Symphony of Secrets is a light mystery set in the professional orchestral world and also releases in February. I’m excited about it because it was such a fun story to write and I fell in love with Amy – the cranky, obsessed musician who is the single mom of a teen daughter and struggles with parenting, family secrets, and an unwanted romantic attraction – all while being wooed toward God by the beauty of music.

Then in September, Stepping Into Sunlight is coming out – a novel about Penny Sullivan, a Navy chaplain’s wife who witnessed a violent crime and is struggling with post-traumatic stress during her husband’s first deployment, while living far from family and friends. Penny begins a project of doing something kind for a different person each day as an effort to help her move toward healing.

JA: Your tag line is “Stories for the hero in all of us.” What do you consider heroic in your own life?
SH: I have a group of friends who consider themselves “ordinary.” Yet they confront battles every day as they serve their husbands and children and seek to live for Christ. I’ve never had any doubt that they are heroic. They inspire me daily. I think the woman who whispers praise to Jesus through her tears of discouragement – alone in her car – is a hero. I think the husband who turns away from the lewd billboard and rack of magazines and chooses to be true to his wife is heroic. My friends who battle deep depression, but still get through one more day are heroic. My friends who are afraid of something God has called them to, but do it anyway, are heroes. I think so many brave battles are fought in the small daily choices that no one sees.

JA: What’s something that people would be surprised to know about you?
SH: I was once a fairly accomplished tap dancer.

JA: Scenario: You’re alone on a beautiful tropical island. You have all the necessary creature comforts, including a Gideon’s Bible (because the Gideons are everywhere!) But you can only take two books with you. Which ones do you take and why?
SH: Sally Stuart’s Christian Writer’s Market Guide, so I’ll know how where to address the bottles that I toss into the sea with all the articles and books I’d write. And the Encyclopedia Brittanica (because my husband once sold them, and because I love reading on random topics, and because I love the full-color illustrations).

JA: Last but not least, how can people keep up with the latest Sharon Hinck publishing news?
SH: Please pop by my website, www.sharonhinck.com, and explore. I have lots of fun pages including articles to offer encouragement, schedules of upcoming events, links to all my books, and to my blog where I post my musings about God, writing, and life on a regular basis. You can also sign up for my quarterly Book Buddy ezine (my Book Buddies are dear friends who pray for my work, and also get insider info and opportunities for special prizes and gifts).

Thank you, Sharon, and continued blessings on your writing journey!

WIN THE BOOK

The Restorer’s Journey is in stores now, but you can win a copy here. Just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll combine the responses of my Blogger and ShoutLife blogs to pick a winner at random on February 28th. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) ShoutLifers will be contacted via ShoutMail. Good luck!