Congratulations!

Cheers and confetti-from-the-ceiling for the two winners!

The grand prize winner of the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt (who will receive 23 autographed novels from all the authors who participated) is:

Elisabeth Scherer

And the winner of the Restorer book bag drawn randomly from those who signed up for my free Book Buddy newsletter is:

Sherri (aka soccerkidsmom)

Hooray!!!! I hope you all had as much fun as I did, in getting to know other authors and discovering their featured content at the various blogs.

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

Scavenger Hunt - Stop #19

This is STOP # 19 on the Hunt!

Welcome to the first ever Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! Make the loop to discover 23 new or upcoming novels, and write down the clue at each stop (clue #19 will be somewhere in this post). When you know what the clues say, fill out the Rafflecopter form by June 4, 2012 (midnight EST) at www.LisaBergren.com, and you could be in the running for the grand prize of 23 new, autographed books (if you live in the USA; unsigned if international). Note: if you're the winner, you must email the complete statement within 24 hours of notification in order to claim the Grand Prize...so don't miss a stop! Be ready with your answer if you're the lucky winner! No need to email it unless you receive the good word on June 5, 2012.

My guest for the Scavenger Hunt is lovely author

Yvonne Lehman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

YVONNE LEHMAN is an award-winning, best-selling author of novels in many genres such as historical, contemporary, romance, mystery, women’s fiction, mainstream.  She earned her Master’s Degree in English Literature at Western Carolina University and has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level. She founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years and now directs the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat held at Ridgecrest NC in October. She is a mentor with the Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild. 

Other novels to be released in 2012 are A Knight to Remember in April (Heartsong, second in a series set in Washington DC) and Let it Snow in December (Heartsong, third in the DC series). 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic (Abingdon) is her 50^th novel, released in time for the 100^th anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

Is Love more powerful than the pain of loss?

Lydia Beaumont and her new friend Caroline Chadwick plan Lydia's wedding aboard the "grandest ship ever built." Yet their lives take a tragic turn when the "unsinkable" Titanic goes down. This epic tale of faith and perseverance follows their lives and the lives of their descendants as they struggle with all that was lost on that fateful night and what the future holds for those brave enough to face it. 

Of all the unbelievable things that occurred, the strangest thing took place. The floating half of the ship began to melt like a dollop of butter on a hot roll. It just melted smoothly into the ocean and the hoard of people were in the water. Their hair didn’t get wet. No water splashed on their faces. For an instant they didn’t scream. They couldn’t. A communal gasp went out over the sea, produced by hundreds and hundreds of terrified people who unexpectedly stepped into icy water up to their necks.

The ship of dreams vanished, disappeared as it sank into the sea.

In its place emerged a nightmare.

The sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic was not the end of the story for the 2207 passengers, plus the crew. It was the beginning of an unforgettable event that changed history, changed culture. There were only a few hundred saved in the 20 lifeboats. Not only were hundreds and hundreds of souls lost that night, but the event touched people throughout the world. Each person had family, friends, acquaintances and their lives too were touched and changed. Being saved was not the end, but the beginning for those who struggled not just to survive, but to live again.

Read this incredible story of

ONE SHIP… TWO FAMILIES… THREE GENERATIONS.

EXCLUSIVE MATERIAL FROM YVONNE FOR THE SCAVENGER HUNT:

 

Interview with the heroine of Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic

1. My name is Lydia Beaumont. Others behave and speak as if the most interesting thing about me is that I’m heiress to the Beaumont Railroad Company and my father is fabulously rich. However, I think the most interesting is that I’m sailing on the Titanic, the greatest ship ever built and am on my way to America where I expect my life to really begin. And yet, if anyone else knew the secret known only to me, I suspect that would be of incredible interest.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Before John, I was escorted by Craven to the finest establishments in cities like London and Paris. After John, fun was escaping from those who watched my every move, and sneaking out to run around town with friends as if I were a commoner. Now that I’ve matured considerably in the past few weeks, nothing is more fun than exploring this ship with John or just talking and laughing with him.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I dread revealing my secret because if it were something that would not cause distress, decisions, and uncertainty to many, then it would not be a secret.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

Never being free to live and love the way I want, but having my life dictated by others.

5.  What do you want out of life?

What I want most is to marry John and live happily ever after.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

            Marrying John.

7.  Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

Oh yes, my favorite book is a best-selling one titled Once Upon an English Garden. The author is aboard this ship, in second-class unfortunately but that doesn’t bother John. The two of them have become friends.

8.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about me it would be my former naïveté about my own susceptibility to temptation which led to indiscretion.

9.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

Why have a pet when you, yourself, are a pet to your own father, eligible and ineligible bachelors, friends of the family, servants, governesses, tutors, and guards. In a sense, I feel like a pet who is pampered and trained and has every moment scheduled. If I want something fetched I simply speak to a servant and I never fear any disobedience. Were I to have a pet however, I think it would be a little songbird in a cage, so I could set him free.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

Oh, when one is in a palace on the sea, aboard the grandest ship ever built, one simply could not desire to travel elsewhere. We sail on a glassy smooth sea, with only hope and beauty ahead of us and my dear love is walking toward me. The grandeur of this ship is a world of its own. I cannot imagine traveling back from this or being more fortunate than to be aboard this magnificent “unsinkable” ship of dreams.

You can pick up a copy of Yvonne’s book at
Amazon,
Barnes & Noble,
ChristianBook.com
or your local bookstore.
Find out more about Yvonne at her website.

THE SCAVENGER HUNT SKINNY:

Now mosey along, Hunters, to STOP #20 Sibella Giorello, (sibellagiorello.blogspot.com), to pick up your next clue.

But before you go, write down this STOP #19 clue: enough

BONUS: As an added treat, subscribe to my free "Book Buddy" newsletter to be entered to win a free Restorer book bag. To subscribe, visit the first page of my website, and enter your name and email in the Book Buddy sign-up in the right hand column. Then leave a comment here so I know you entered! Have fun!

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

Clash of the Titles

The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition was selected to be featured at "Clash of the Titles," a site that highlights new Christian fiction titles. Please stop by to see the various titles and vote for your favorite.

Today is the last day for voting.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

Like Christian fiction? There’s a fun event coming up…I'm part of a scavenger hunt for upcoming or just-released novels from some of your favorite authors, including exclusive content from each one.

Make the rounds to 25 blog stops, fill out a form (that will be posted on 5/31), and you could win 25+ new novels!

The scavenger hunt runs from 5/31-6/4 noon MST.

Authors taking part: Judy Baer * Lisa T. Bergren * Colleen Coble * Carol Cox * Margaret Daley * Sibella Giorello * Winnie Griggs * Robin Lee Hatcher * Rachel Hauck * Tracy Higley * Sharon Hinck * Angela Hunt * Jenny B. Jones * Maureen Lang * R.J. Larson * Yvonne Lehman * Bonnie Leon * Gail Gaymer Martin * Nancy Mehl * DiAnn Mills * Marta Perry * Cara Putman * Deborah Raney * Kim Vogel Sawyer * Janice Thompson

Teen Readers

When I began writing the Restorer books, the readership I had it mind were my friends: Other moms, struggling to find the courage for some hard roads. Asking questions about the unexpected turns that life sometimes takes. Wondering how to draw closer to God instead of pulling away from Him.

I didn't anticipate how many younger readers would embrace the stories. What a fun bonus! I hear from teen readers often, and love their enthusiasm and ability to embrace an imaginary world and travel to creative places.

My friend Renee just posted some beautiful thoughts from a teen reader, Alissa. You can read about it here.

I'm so grateful when I hear of someone who has been blessed by these stories.

Now, time for me to stop blogging and get back to work on The Deliverer (book 4 of the Sword of Lyric series). The story is taking some interesting turns.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Infinite Beauty

I cut the last of the tulips from my garden, and they elicited a reflex of praise:

Creator Lord, you've designed infinite variety and beauty. You are amazing. Thank you!

I stayed (mostly) away from social media this past week to focus on writing, and made significant progress on my current manuscript. Even better than reaching a word-count goal were the fun surprises. New things happened in the scenes that I hadn't expected. The story is taking on its own life, and that's always encouraging to me. I also took time to write a short interview with Kieran that will be part of the upcoming Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt...so stay tuned!

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt coming soon!

I'm so excited to be part of this fun upcoming event. Watch for more news about it as we get closer to the date.

o   Upcoming event! WIN 25+ new Christian novels (autographed if in USA).

o   Mark your calendars! Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! 5/31 noon MST - 6/4 noon MST

Click HERE for more information.

Bookshelf Wednesday - Prayer

Prayer by Philip Yancey has been on our coffee table for the past year.

(I know this series is called "Bookshelf Wednesdays" - as I share treasured favorites from my shelves. But I figure the coffee table counts, too.)

My husband and I are reading it together. It's the sort of book that deserves to be read slowly.

We often sit side by side and read a few pages, then discuss the issues. I've always loved the way Yancey confronts honest questions with compassion and intelligence, and this book is a great example.

If you want to delve deeply into the who, what, when, where, how and why of prayer, this book will be a challenging companion on the road.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Bookshelf Wednesdays - The Christian Imagination

This week's pick from my shelves is The Christian Imagination, edited by Leland Ryken.

This book is packed with insightful essays about arts and the Christian faith. It was a textbook when I was in grad school, but unlike some textbooks, this has kept a cherished place on my shelf. Any other artists out there who have discovered it?

Here are a few tidbits:

"Art is a means of renewing our eyes and our hearts...I am talking of a way, and I think a God-given way, for us to recognize his voice and his world."

"The greatest artist of all, the greatest imaginer of all, is the one who appears at the opening of Genesis."

"Christian freedom also is freedom from the sinful lust for money, from seeking man's praise, from the search for celebrity. It is the freedom to help a neighbor out and give him something to delight in."

"Art is here because God meant it to be here."

Dive in for thought-provoking essays by a range of Christian artists.

Blessings,
Sharon

Book Buzz for Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition

I'm so excited for the release of this special expanded edition of one of my favorite stories.

Various readers and bloggers are chatting with me about the book, and I'll post links here as they go live. Feel free to drop by, ask questions, or comment!

Jill at Radiant Lit (April 12)

Hoosier Ink (April 12)

Darren at Realms of Infinity (April 12)

Michelle at Scarlet Inkwell (April 13)

Cheryl at Writing Remnants (April 15)

Brenda at Spire Reviews (April 17)

Cara at The Law, Books, and Life (April 17)

Lena at A Christian Writer's World (April 24)

Val Comer at Live Simply (April 27)


Find the book in paperback here.

Find the book for Kindle here.

Find the book for Nook here.

Bookshelf Wednesdays

A friend with a new baby recently asked me about some favorite children's books. I shared one that few people seem to have discovered, but I think is terrific. It got me thinking that I have some treasures on my bookshelves, and it would be fun to incorporate recommendations once a week into my posting on Twitter, Facebook, and my blog. After all, most of the folks who follow me are readers. :-) So here is my first installment of Bookshelf Wednesday.

Today I want to highly recommend Rootabaga Stories by Carl Sandburg. Sandburg may be best known for his poetry ("The fog came in on little cat feet...") but his children's stories have a beautiful blend of poetry, silliness, word play, imagery, and fun.

Has anyone else discovered Rootabaga Stories? What other children's books are your favorites?

Blessings,
Sharon

There Will Be News

I'm working on my next Book Buddy newsletter, which will be released soon.

As always, there will be a devotional thought, exciting updates on writing projects...plus a little bit of fun personal news.

I try to send out the Book Buddy update about four times a year. If your email has changed, be sure to resubscribe with your new email.

Also, I use a double-opt-in service, to protect you from being signed up to anything you don't want (and to make it easy to unsub at any time). So if you signed up and never received newsletters, it may be because you missed the confirmation email. Be sure to take that second step and also add the newsletter to your address book so your program recognizes and accepts the newsletter.

Subscribe for free at my website.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Lots of Visits

Recently I've enjoyed visiting with several blogger friends on various topics.

Lisa gathered children's book recommendations from author friends - and I shared some of my favorites HERE.

Dona Watson posted a lovely three-part series about The Sword of Lyric Series -
HERE
HERE
and
HERE

And the winner of the January/February contest for a Restorer Book Bag full of goodies, shared a photo when her prize arrived:



In April, I'll be visiting a book group in Atlanta - via Skype. Although technology is sometimes a mixed blessing, I'm delighted for these ways to interact with friends.

I'm also working on my next Book Buddy newsletter. If you aren't signed up for it yet, you can opt-in in the right-hand column of my website.

Blessings!
Sharon

Recent Theme of My Life

Do you have times when you've made your plans, and see the road smooth and straight in front of you...and then God invites you onto a detour?

I think the theme of my life lately has become. "God has another plan."

When I finished the year-long job of writing new material and preparing the new editions of all the Restorer books (I turned in the 3rd book's material to the publisher the end of December) I planned to begin work on the 4th unfinished Restorer book.

A few weeks into my carefully organized year, I was delighted by an interruption. Apparently Mornings With Jesus has been well received, and the editor invited me to write for a 2013 edition they are planning. I've been quiet here on the blog, because it's taken most of my coherent words of the day to work on those.

But for friends who stay in touch through checking on my blog, I felt I needed to take a moment to post an update.

I'm hugely excited that The Restorer's Son-Expanded Edition releases in one month! Part of my work time each day has gone into gathering "influencers" (people who help spread the news when the book releases) and gearing up for the release. And I've continued to work with my assistant Jamie to let libraries and bookstores and readers know about The Restorer-Expanded Edition. Thank you to all of you who have helped spread the word!!!

My new plan is to resume work on book 4 in May. I feel terrible leaving Mark and Susan trapped in an assassins enclave in Kahlarea all this time...and Linette... well, I don't want to give away spoilers, but I'm eager to get back to her and help her story along to a happier place. :-)

Has God taken you on any zigzags lately? Are you finding His grace in the detour?

Blessings!
Sharon

So Many Ways to Measure...

...and not measure up.

It began innocently enough. When my first book was published in 2006, I visited the amazon page, just to see the book at the same site with so many of the books I've loved over the years. There was a number posted by the listing. 50,000. Wow! I'd sold 50,000 copies? What an adrenaline boost.

A closer look showed me that the number actually meant I was 50,000 spots from the top. 50,000 other books were selling better than mine. For months, watching that number rise and fall became a daily habit.

Seeking to build community with readers, I began a blog. Stat Counter cheerfully informed me on a daily basis how few people were interested in what I wrote. Oh, it was fun seeing the IP addresses from various countries who dropped by, but Stat Counter also told me how few seconds they spent visiting. And when I visited the blogs of friends, I saw dozens of animated comments. My sense of inadequacy built.

I also began sending out regular Book Buddy newsletters. The double-opt-in service I use is able to inform me exactly how many people on my list actually open the email, and how many click through a link in the newsletter.

I became an affiliate at a couple online bookstores, and was given the information of exactly how few people actually clicked through from my website to order books.

Information is power...but for me, it simply had the power to discourage me.

Now, following advice of industry professionals I trust, I've migrated my facebook profile to an author page. One of the "benefits" is that facebook now inserts little graphics of down-trending arrows and percentages - showing me how "less friended" and "less talked about" and "less shared" I am week by week.

Yikes!

Our culture is sure skilled at measuring. Digital scales, financial analysis, social media "likes," clicks, comments and shares. Useful tools, perhaps. But most of those measures just keep telling me I can't measure up.

I'm so grateful for the love of God. He measures so differently.

^"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

What a gift to know that we don't have to struggle to measure up to earn God's love. Through Christ, we have forgiveness, grace, and love beyond measure.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Ask and Imagine

Happy New Year, dear blog readers!

Our family has had a tradition of spending New Year's Day in a sort of at-home mini-spiritual-retreat. We worship, share, talk about the past year, go off for quiet time alone with our Bibles and ask God for a theme or direction for the coming year... perhaps an area of our character He is working on, or a new direction for our focus.

With our children grown, this year Hubby and I held our mini-retreat as a couple. It was fun looking back over the year and remembering our themes.

My word for 2011 was HOPE. That wasn't an easy theme for me. I entered the year feeling rather hopeless. Health setbacks had been discouraging for several years, which also led to career and ministry being on the shelf, and also brought a lot of isolation and loss in relationships. However, nudged by God, I agreed to write bonus material for the three Restorer books in preparation for new releases - so I was leaning on God as I hoped to be able to do the work.

Then in the spring, God also led me to an opportunity to write devotions for Mornings with Jesus. Each day was difficult. There wasn't energy or strength to spare. But somehow as I kept hoping in Him, He enabled little steps each day that would have been impossible without His grace.

For 2012, the theme that He brought to mind is "Ask and Imagine." I remembered how Jesus told the disciples that ,"You have not, because you do not ask." And also how He delights in giving us beyond what we ask and imagine. Since I'm beginning work on full-length fiction again after several years away, I'm also praying for God to enliven my imagination. So there are several ways the theme applies to my life.

Here's my verse for the year, and I share it also as a prayer for each of you reading this:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." --Ephesians 3:20-21

Blessings in 2012!
His,
Sharon Hinck

New Contest for Readers in 2012

A new contest to celebrate the re-release of the award-winning Sword of Lyric series!

The first book, The Restorer--Expanded Edition, released in October 2011 and The Restorer's Son--Expanded Edition, releases in April 2012.

In thanks for your support for these books, we are holding a giveaway to get a FIRST PEEK of the all new bonus material in The Restorer's Son--Expanded Edition!

And that's not all--ONE grand prize winner will receive a canvas Restorer Book Bag full of goodies like: 4 other Sharon Hinck books, a Restorer t-shirt transfer, clavo tea, and other treats.

Sounds great, right? So how do you enter?

1) Post a review of The Restorer--Expanded Edition to 3 major review sites (such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Good Reads, Shelfari, etc.) between January 2st and February 28th, 2012.

2) Email your review links to Sharon's literary assistant at jamie.words (at) gmail.com. For each review posted to a major site, your name will be entered in the drawing once.

3) On March 3rd, 5 winners will be randomly selected from the pool of contestants. And of those 5, ONE will be randomly drawn to receive the grand prize.

Put on your writing hat and enter the contest today!

* Please note that the contest begins January 2st and runs through February 28th. No reviews posted before or after those dates will be considered in the contest. The winners will be randomly selected from the pool of contestants who email their links to Sharon's literary assistant at jamie.words (at) gmail.com. Reviews that are not emailed to Jamie will not be entered in the contest. Once announced on the Facebook page, it is the winner's responsibility to contact Jamie with his / her contact information. In order to receive the PDF file of the bonus material in The Restorer's Son--Expanded Edition, the winner will also have to supply his / her email address. The grand prize winner of the Restorer Book Bag shall also have to supply a physical mailing address. Should any of the winners not respond to Jamie by March 10, 2012, new winners shall be selected. For any further questions, please contact Jamie at: jamie.words (at) gmail.com.

Speculative Fatih

There's a wonderful group blog, made up of Christian writers and readers with a heart for beautiful, skilled, artistic fiction. It's called "Speculative Faith," because they particularly blog about "speculative" fiction that explores themes of faith - meaning the kind of stories that imaginatively ask, "What if?" These may be fantasy tales of amazing creatures and foreign worlds, or science fiction novels set in far off planets or the distant future. I know several of the bloggers personally, and they are faith-filled and thoughtful folk.

On Friday, I visited the blog to talk about The Restorer-Expanded Edition.

I even shared a secret about one character in the comments section.

Please stop by and feel free to post your thoughts, too!

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

Christmas Decor for Book Lovers

Over the weekend, I saw a great Christmas decorating idea that appealed to the "book person" in me, and decided to copy and adapt it.

Create simple jackets for books of various sizes, printing "titles" on 8 1/2 x 11 paper or cardstock.

Stack, and tie with a decorative ribbon.

I chose John 1:14, because as a writer, I love that one of Jesus' titles is "The Word."

May the Incarnate Word reveal His glory to you this Christmas season!
Sharon Hinck

Begonia Blossoms

It may be close to zero outdoors, but inside, my begonia plant has two new blossoms!