Writing When You Don't Have the Words by Sharon Hinck

Sharon Hinck

“Honey, could you hand me that… that thing… you know…the round thing. It’s red. People eat it.”

“You mean an apple?”

“Yes!”

Aphasia (difficulty remembering/finding words) can lead to some funny conversations. But it’s a bit of a problem when you’re a writer.

Several years ago, (after loads of fun and the publication of seven novels) I was sidelined from my writing work by health issues that included some memory problems and cognitive loss. For quite awhile I wasn’t able to write at all. Slowly, I improved enough to begin writing short devotions. Then I wrote bonus material for the first three Sword of Lyric books as new editions were released with a new publisher.

Gradually, I resumed work on The Deliverer, a story I’d begun before I got sick. Now the book is finished—seven years after beginning the manuscript. That wasn’t the pace I had in mind when I began the story. I couldn’t have imagined the interruptions that would come. But I’m so grateful God allowed me to complete the book.

In that wonderful way God has of making use of our trials, part of Linette’s journey involves her loss of memory. I was able to draw from the fear and frustration of my experiences to depict her struggle—not just with the loss of memory, but the loss of her vocation. I hope her story will encourage anyone who has faced the painful question, “If I can no longer do this, then who am I?”

This book, The Deliverer, releases July 25, 2015. Be sure to check out the summary and links below.

About the Author

About Sharon Hinck
Award-winning author Sharon Hinck writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary women on extraordinary faith journeys. She has been honored with a Christy finalist medal, and three Carol awards for her previous books.

Sharon’s undergrad degree is in education, and she earned an M.A. in Communication from Regent University. 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.

Information about her novels as well as her devotional writing can be found at her sharonhinck.com website

Social Media:
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About The Deliverer

A lost songkeeper must lead her people to a long awaited Deliverer

The Deliverer
by Sharon Hinck

Eager to serve the One, a young songkeeper travels to the dark and foreign nation of Hazor, but her confusing, rough-edged companion has lost his Restorer gifts. As danger rises against them both, she loses her freedom, her memories, and her hope. Now even the very music of her soul is threatened.

In our world, Susan Mitchell no longer feels at home in the carpool lane. Burdened by the unhealed scars from her trips through the portal, she fights to suppress her worry about her son, who remains out of contact in Lyric. But when a mysterious message hints Jake is in danger, she and her husband are swept away—to the place they least expect.

Clan rebellions. Lost Restorers. Has the One turned away, or will the face of the Deliverer bring light to the darkness?

The Deliverer releases on July 25 and can be pre-ordered here.

Sharing Faith in Fiction: The Beauty of the Body of Christ by Sharon Hinck

Sharon Hinck has returned with her final installment on sharing faith in fiction. This week, it's all about resources. Enjoy! ~ Annette

The Beauty of the Body of Christ*

by Sharon Hinck

When you begin to find the writing choices that fit your unique approach, you become freed from the pressure to “do it all.” Mother Theresa and Billy Graham had two different approaches for sharing their faith – and so do writers. One novelist might explore the depth of God’s mercy through the symbol of a character’s sacrificial service. Another might share the truth of salvation through a scene of overt and specific dialogue where one character tells another what she believes.

My personal view is that we need it all. We need variety. God is so awesome and multifaceted that we need a variety of ways to communicate about Him. We need authors in many genres. We need authors who focus vibrantly on spiritual themes, and those for whom the spiritual threads are subtle. We need authors who write characters who are sturdy Christians who live out their faith in identifiable ways, and characters who are seeking and questioning, and characters who (perhaps like some of our readers) rarely think about God.

I look at Psalms 145-150 and the way they list a zillion ways to praise God, and I rejoice that we have Christians who write in a variety of genres and styles, and focus on various audiences and different ways of sharing faith through fiction.

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*This article is an excerpt from Sharon Hinck’s ACFW course on Sharing Faith in Fiction. Used with permission. Next week, Part III.

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The Restorer-Expanded Edition

 

Susan Mitchell thought she was an ordinary homemaker. She was wrong. When she’s pulled through a portal into another world, she finds a nation grappling for its soul and waiting for a promised Restorer to save their people.

She has always longed to do something important for God, but can she fill this 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.

This new expanded edition of The Restorer includes an in-depth devotion guide for readers who want to dig into the spiritual themes of the book, bonus scenes providing glimpses of the story through a variety of characters, and fun extras including links to songs and recipes.

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Sharon writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include contemporary fiction such as The Secret Life of Becky Miller or Stepping into Sunlight and the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric fantasy series which includes The Restorer–Expanded Edition. She’s been a Christy finalist and won three Carol awards.

Sharon’s undergrad degree is in education, and she earned an M.A. in Communication. When she isn’t wrestling with words, Sharon enjoys speaking to conferences, retreats, and church groups. She loves interacting with visitors at her website and blog: sharonhinck.com

Sharing Faith in Fiction: The Challenge by Sharon Hinck

Dear Christian writer, are you ever challenged by your faith thread? Sharon Hinck is here this month with a series on sharing your faith in your writing. Read on! ~ Annette

The Challenge* 
by Sharon Hinck

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:15-16)

Your mouth turns dry, sweat pricks your forehead, and you lean on the backyard fence with a sudden awareness that your next words could make a huge difference. Your neighbor has shared a painful struggle she is facing. Clearing your throat, you manage to say, “I’ll pray for you.” Should you say more? Should you offer words of assurance of God’s love, or will that sound trite? Maybe invite her to come to church with you? Or will that seem pushy?

Sharing our faith isn’t always easy in real life, so it’s no surprise that expressing our faith within the art form of the novel can also be challenging.

I shared my thoughts about this challenge in an introductory essay about the power of fiction in the book, “A Novel Idea.”

“As Christians, we constantly struggle to utter the unutterable. We long to share concepts beyond our human ability to understand—the transcendence of God’s holiness, the potency of forgiveness, the depth of God’s love for us. Fiction helps us find ways to express those truths of magnitude because it is relatable, symbolic, and engages the emotion – unique qualities that make it a vital art form.”

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*This article is an excerpt from Sharon Hinck's ACFW course on Sharing Faith in Fiction. Used with permission. Next week, this series continues with Part II.

~~~~

The Restorer-Expanded Edition

Susan Mitchell thought she was an ordinary homemaker. She was wrong. When she’s pulled through a portal into another world, she finds a nation grappling for its soul and waiting for a promised Restorer to save their people.

She has always longed to do something important for God, but can she fill this 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.

This new expanded edition of The Restorer includes an in-depth devotion guide for readers who want to dig into the spiritual themes of the book, bonus scenes providing glimpses of the story through a variety of characters, and fun extras including links to songs and recipes.

~~~~

Sharon writes “stories for the hero in all of us,” about ordinary people experiencing God’s grace in unexpected ways. Known for their authenticity, emotional range, and spiritual depth, her novels include contemporary fiction such as The Secret Life of Becky Miller or Stepping into Sunlight and the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric fantasy series which includes The Restorer–Expanded Edition. She’s been a Christy finalist and won three Carol awards.

Sharon’s undergrad degree is in education, and she earned an M.A. in Communication. When she isn’t wrestling with words, Sharon enjoys speaking to conferences, retreats, and church groups. She loves interacting with visitors at her website and blog: sharonhinck.com