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Tuesday, October 02, 2012

THE RESTORER'S JOURNEY-EXPANDED EDITION - Sharon Hinck - One Free Ebook


ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Restorer’s Journey-Expanded Edition

His choices have the power to save or destroy.

With a loved one’s life at stake, Jake charges through the portal into Lyric to stage a dramatic rescue, trusting that the signs that mark him as Restorer will guarantee success. But everything familiar in Lyric has vanished, swept away by deadly lies and a corrupt king. As inexorable forces conspire to turn him from his purpose, Jake finds his path leading to places beyond his courage.

While he confronts the temptation to flee his calling, Susan struggles in brutal captivity. Can she gain freedom before the enemy destroys her spirit, and will Jake choose to follow his destiny before everything is lost?

(Book three in the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric series, The Restorer’s Journey won a Carol Award for speculative fiction. This new expanded edition includes bonus scenes, a ten week devotional guide, and links to audio and video extras.) 

Welcome back, Sharon. Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was blessed to learn about Jesus from a young age. Some of my earliest memories are of playing on a swing while singing songs to Jesus, looking up at the clouds and loving Him. In my early teens, I felt God’s challenge to me to truly surrender my life to Him more deeply as my Lord. My Bible still holds the yellowed paper of my letter to Him at that time. One line reads, “I know I am a dumb little lamb and it takes a lot of Your patience to keep me in the right direction, but You have all patience. Teach me, Lord, I pray, to be a better child, and I will try my best to learn.”

He truly has guided my steps – through some very difficult life experiences as well as joyous ones.

You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Since I write fantasy, I’ll indulge in the belief that I can invite some time-traveling authors. I’d like to invite Francis Schaeffer (a deep thinker with helpful ideas on faith and arts), C.S. Lewis (so I can share with him how much of an impact his books had on me), Madeleine L’engle (because I’ve appreciated her books about being a writer and would love to learn more from her), and the apostle John (so I could ask him what it was like being DIRECTLY inspired by the Holy Spirit in his writing, and also of course, talk to him about his personal relationship with Jesus.) But as I look at that group, I don’t think I’d get any writing done at that writing retreat. The conversations would be much too fascinating.

I like the way you think. I’d have to sneak into that meeting. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
I love speaking to groups and used to do it quite a bit. I have taught at writing conferences and spoken to writing groups, visited book clubs, facilitated retreats, spoken for various church groups, guest lectured at colleges, done book tours, etc. In recent years, I’ve had some health challenges, so I’ve done a few creative speaking activities instead. I’ve spoken to a retreat group via Skype, done radio interviews, and blog interviews, and participated in a video series on faith and the arts. The extrovert side of me enjoys interacting – even if I have to do it via Skype or phone.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
This isn’t writing related, but once I had a low tire on my bike, so I walked it over to a local gas station that had an air pump. I unscrewed the knob, and tried to attach the nozzle and pump air in. Instead, all the remaining air bled out of the tire and it flattened completely. I kept fumbling with it, trying to attach the air hose correctly. The most embarrassing part is that I felt so inept – and humiliated that I couldn’t figure it out, that instead of asking someone for help, I just left. I realized later how strange it must have looked. I wheeled my bike in, attached it to the air pump, drained all the air out of one tire, and walked away. Too silly! It reminds me that asking for help is a good skill.

People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?
We make time for the things that matter for us. If writing a book matters deeply to them, they will eventually begin to do it. If it matters enough, they will keep going and eventually finish the story. If they love the characters with a passion that won’t let go, they will be willing to endure the challenges of getting the book published so others can meet those characters, too.

Tell us about the featured book.
Restorer’s Journey-Expanded Edition is the third (and hopefully not last) book in the Sword of Lyric series.

It was the most difficult to write. Although I’ve gotten reader mail from people who say this book was their favorite of the series, I’ll be honest, it wasn’t my favorite. It’s a bit darker in tone, and I think Susan’s struggle with captivity and mind poison hit a bit too close to home for me. Reading the book, you experience her suffering over a few days, but writing it, I had to spend many months with her in that Rhusican prison, and that was tough.

However, Jake’s storyline was great fun. He’s an idealist, as am I. Seeing him confront the disappointments in his quest, and also watching him overcome his weaknesses, was inspiring to me. I have a lot of young readers, and I think they appreciated watching Susan’s 18-year-old son grow into his Restorer role.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
www.sharonhinck.com

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for the opportunity to get this book

    Lyndie Blevins Duncanville Tx

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  2. Sharon Moore5:27 AM

    Sharon - Loved all the Restorer books. Every time I hear "The Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns I think about The Restorer series. How important it is to listen to scripture. Looking forward to reading the bonus chapters. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book.
    Sharon from Eagan, MN

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  3. Hi, Lyndie! Thanks for stopping by!

    And Sharon M, I LOVE that song, and never thought about it before...how the themes of that song are so similar to a main theme in the Restorer book. Thanks for sharing that!

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  4. Teresa6:47 PM

    Your book looks exciting. Teresa Haugh, Juneau, Alaska

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  5. Can't tell you how much The Restorer ministered to me. I've given away copies to friends who say the same. So glad they're being published again! Please enter my name for a chance to receive a copy.

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  6. thanks for chance to win
    live in ND

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. Hi, Teresa! Thanks for popping by! I visited Alaska once - it's truly breathtaking.

    Hi, Lynn... Just this morning I was grappling with God again about the "is it worth all the effort?" question about my writing, and then found your comment and rejoiced at what you shared. THANK YOU!!!

    Apple blossom - you're a near neighbor (I'm in MN). Thanks for entering the drawing!

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  8. Sharon Richmond11:57 AM

    Enter me!!
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch,NC.

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  9. Lady DragonKeeper3:26 AM

    I love Christian fantasy and read "The Restorer" a couple of years ago --unfortunately our state library system only had the first book! Thanks for the chance to win --I'm so glad these books are back in print!

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

    (P.S. I'm from Hawaii)

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  10. I'm a neighbor too and have visited Minnesota many times! I look forward to reading this book.
    Beth from IA

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  11. Hi, Lady Dragonkeeper! That's a good reminder - libraries are often responsive when you ask them to order books into their systems. For anyone who likes the books, ask your local library to order the new expanded editions (they are available through the major distributors that libraries use). Oh... and since northern Minnesota got a foot of snow, could I come visit you in Hawaii? :-)

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  12. Hi, Sharon from NC!
    On an eastcoast book tour, we visited various cities in NC - BEAUTIFUL area!

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  13. Hi, Ladette! One of my best friends lives near Atlanta, so I love GA!

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  14. Hi, Beth from IA! Haven't we had GREAT fall colors this year?

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  15. Hi Sharon,
    I adore the Restorer books! As a stay-at-home Mom I could completely relate with Susan. It made me want to go up in my attic and see if I could find a portal. It also made me realize that my life is exciting and adventurous. I just have to latch on to what Christ challenges me to do everyday and take joy in it. Thanks!
    Sarah from Canada

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  16. Looking forward to reading this books and would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

    Brenda from GA

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  17. Sarah, that was beautifully put!
    Life IS such an adventure - it just doesn't always look that way to us sometimes. When we can catch glimpses of ways God is at work, the hard roads feel more worthwhile.

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  18. Hi, Brenda! Thanks for stopping by!

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  19. I'd love to get my hands on this book, sounds great!

    Liz R in Al

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