Sharon Hinck

Sharon Hinck has been with us before, and you learned to love her writing. The book we're featuring today is a departure from the other books we talked about.

Sharon, why do you write the kind of books you do?

I read in a huge variety of genres, and so I tend to blend favorite things from various genres in my stories. I write the kind of story I want to read.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

My wedding day, and the birth of each of my four children.

How has being published changed your life?

In the past year since my first book released, I’ve been incredibly blessed by letters from readers that have given me glimpses into how God can use our simple stories to encourage and uplift. I’ve met amazing people. I’ve also felt the pressures of my own expectations, the challenges of the industry, and the multitude of choices that need to be made… not just in the writing work, but in how a writer spends her time. It’s stretched me way past the point of comfort and kept me running into God’s arms each day asking, “are you sure you want me here?”

What are you reading right now?

Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith

What is your current work in progress?

Penny’s Project – a contemporary fiction about a woman’s path toward healing from the anxiety created by her experience with violent crime while her Navy chaplain husband is away on his first deployment.

What would be your dream vacation?

Snorkeling in Hawaii.

I'd take anything in Hawaii, wouldn't you?

Sharon, tell us about the featured book.

The Restorer (NavPress, 2007) is a blend of women’s fiction with fantasy/adventure. Susan, a modern-day soccer mom, is pulled through a portal into another world, where a nation grappling for its soul waits for a promised Restorer to save their people. Can she fill that role? While she struggles to adapt to a foreign culture, she tackles an enemy that is poisoning the minds of the people, uncovers a corrupt ruling Council, and learns that God can use even her floundering attempts at service in surprising ways.

Link to amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1600061311/

What was the inspiration for The Restorer?

I’ve always been fascinated by the story of Deborah in the book of Judges, and wondered what a modern woman would look like in that role. The fantasy genre provides a powerful way to look at a familiar story in a new way. I loved the challenge of creating a completely relatable character, and then inviting the reader to follow her into an imaginative journey.

What kind of reader did you have in mind as you wrote the book?

I wrote this story for my friends – ordinary women who are sometimes called on to fill extraordinary roles that they don’t feel prepared for. We may not be literally yanked into an alternate universe, but the idea of being pulled into an unexpected challenge is very real to most of the people I know. I wrote this book for my friends who receive a diagnosis of cancer, or the news that their child has a learning disability, or their parent is battling Alzheimers, or their spouse has lost their job. They suddenly find themselves in a foreign world, facing new rules, and being asked to fill a role they don’t feel ready for. My prayer is that as well as being entertaining, this novel can inspire courage and determination for those facing daily battles.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I LOVE for folks to visit my website and blog – www.sharonhinck.com

Sharon, thank you for spending time with us again. The Restorer is near the top of my to-be-read pile. Unfortunately, my reading has had to take a back seat to speaking engagements and the birth of my first great grandchild.

Readers, leave a comment on the interview for a chance to win a copy of The Restorer. Also, check out our other interviews with pending drawings.