I was shocked when I heard Hidden Current was a finalist for a Christy, and so grateful and honored. But mostly shocked. So during the online award presentation, when it was announced as the winner, everything became a bit of a blur.
What I tried to express (and I hope it came out even though I was very choked up) was this:
“Thank you to the ECPA for this honor. The authors who have been Christy nominees over the years have written the stories that inspired me, mentored me, and changed me. I’m honored to be beside Morgan and Lindsay and want to thank them for all they have done to create and share visionary fiction.
Thank you to my husband Ted who has supported me every step, my children and grandchildren, and to all my family and friends (the church ladies, my writing group, the Book Buddies) and every reader who encouraged me throughout a variety of challenges. Their prayers and love kept me writing.
Thank you to my agent Steve Laube for suggesting drawing from my background in dance for this new series, and his support and guidance over the years.
Thank you to the wonder folk at Enclave who made this book possible, and my talented editor Reagen Reed.
That this book exists is a testimony to God’s faithfulness. I’ve always said that our Savior is so awesome and multifaceted that we need a variety of ways to communicate with Him and about Him. Billions of stories will still only reflect glimpses of who He is. But it’s worth spending a lifetime trying. Thank you.”
There you have it! I’ve witnessed over and over in my life that in spite of struggles and challenges, our Savior is able to do beyond what we could ask or imagine. May He reassure You of His presence with you today!
Many years ago, I had to buy a new dress because The Restorer was a finalist for a Christy Award. I didn’t have dressy shoes with heels, so my hubby kindly took the taps off of my shiny black tap shoes and I wore those. I remember being too excited to eat, sitting in a room filled with authors and editors I admired. I had often looked at the list of Christy finalists to build my “to read” pile, knowing that these stories represented quality Christian fiction. To be a part of that legacy was a huge blessing.
Shortly after that, my life changed dramatically. Health issues shrank my world, affected my memory and word-finding ability, cut my functional minutes of each day by ninety percent. When I was able, I tried writing short devotions, and eventually finished the fourth Sword of Lyric book. But I had little hope of ever writing another fantasy series.
A few years ago, my agent encouraged me to draw from my experience in dance to craft a new fantasy world. My imagination lit up, and slowly, tediously, with huge self-doubt, I began the new series.
That’s why my eyes stung with tears when I learned that the first book in that new series, Hidden Current, was recently named a finalist for a Christy. This year, I won’t need my tap shoes, because the award ceremony will be online. But my feelings of gratitude and appreciation are even huger than the first time, along with feeling so honored to be among the other amazing writers.
Joel 2:25 says, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (ESV)
God held me close during the locust years, and still does. And holding Hidden Current in print was like touching a miracle. It could not have happened without friends and family who prayed specifically for my writing life. Not just a quick one-time prayer, but faithful prayer support year after year after year when I wasn’t sure I’d ever see a book in print again.
Are you facing locusts of any kind? Or do you have a friend who is being eaten up by illness or broken relationships or poverty? Pray, pray, and pray some more. Our Savior will not only carry us through, but restore what feels lost. He is amazing that way!
The Forsaken Island book features a lush, tropical landscape filled with verdant plant life. The tutorial below teaches you how to make scented soap inspired by this fascinating environment!
Note: When I first started making my own soap, I learned from this blog post tutorial in addition to reading the product packaging instructions.
Materials:
I found my soap-making supplies at a Hobby Lobby store and bought some of the crafting utensils at a dollar store. Your local craft store or an online retailer should be good places to find the same or similar materials.
You will need:
A microwave-safe mixing bowl
Note: You want this bowl to be big enough that hot soap won’t splash over the sides when you stir the mixture.
A soap cutter OR a large kitchen knife
A flat spatula
A rubber spatula
A large mixing spoon
A cutting board
An oven mitt
A block of soap base (I like to use a shea butter soap base, but there are other options!)
A soap mold (these are usually silicone or plastic)
Soap fragrance and/or essential oils in the scents of your choice
Note:If you want your soap to have the same fragrance as mine, I used:
Country Lane™ Liquid Candle and Soap Fragrance: Cucumber Melon
Crafty Bubbles™ Cedar Wood Essential Oil
Soap dye/coloring
Measuring spoons
Note: Check the instructions on the packaging for your soap scent(s) and dye(s) to see if you’ll need these. Some products tell you to use a certain number of drops and others give you measurements.
Optional: A dropcloth or paper grocery bags (to keep your workspace clean)
Instructions:
PLEASE NOTE: Soap fragrances and soap dyes can be skin irritants. Only use fragrances and dyes in your soap that specifically say they are for soap making.
Be careful to follow the packaging instructions and don’t exceed the maximum amount of fragrance and dye for the volume of soap you’re working with. If you’re combining scents, you’ll have to do some math. For example, if you’re using two scents, don’t exceed half the maximum amount of each.
After your soap is made, it’s a good idea to try it out and make sure it agrees with your skin before using it on a daily basis.
Without further ado, let’s make some Forsaken Island soap!
1. Start by setting up your work area. I usually put the soap base, cutting board, and soap cutter in one area. Then I put the mixing utensils and oven mitt near the microwave and set the soap mold, fragrance bottles, and dye bottles nearby.
2. Remove the block of soap base from the package and place it on the cutting board.
3. The soap base should be pre-sectioned. Use the soap cutter (or kitchen knife) to cut the desired amount of soap base into cubes. (The base I buy is 2 pounds and I only make 1 pound at a time.)
4. Put the soap cubes into the mixing bowl.
5. Microwave the soap for short intervals to melt it. Check the packaging instructions on your soap base for microwave temperature and time. I microwave my soap for 30 second intervals. (You may need the oven mitt to get the bowl out of the microwave, especially as the soap heats up.)
6. Between each interval in the microwave, take the soap out and start smashing and stirring it. Then keep putting it back in the microwave and repeat the process until it becomes a liquid. I typically start by chopping the soap up with the flat spatula. As it becomes more fluid, I stir it with the mixing spoon and use the rubber spatula to get any extra soap off the sides of the bowl.
7. Once the soap is liquid, you’re ready to start adding the fragrance. Following the measurement instructions on the fragrance packaging, add the fragrance to the melted soap and stir it in. (You don’t have to use the maximum amount of fragrance; you may find that you prefer a lighter scent.)
Note: Many fragrances come in dropper bottles, and not all dropper bottles are created equal…some barely let a single drop out, and some will pour out a dozen drops in half a second. You may want to experiment with the dropper bottles before adding the fragrance to your soap.
8. Microwave the soap as needed to keep it in a liquid, easy-to-stir state. (The soap cools off very quickly.)
9. Once you’re happy with the fragrance, follow the measurement instructions on the dye packaging to add the soap dye. I combined two colors to give my Forsaken Island soap a light blue-green color.
10. Microwave the soap again to make sure it’s in a fully liquid state. Then carefully pour the soap into the molds.
11. The packaging for your soap base should tell you how long to let the soap harden. The recommended time I’ve used is 40 minutes.
12. If, at the end of the recommended cooling time, your soap still feels warm through the mold, I usually pop the mold in the freezer for a few minutes to complete the cooling process.
13. Once the soap has hardened, turn the mold upside-down and carefully press the soap out of the molds.
In Forsaken Island, Carya travels to a mysterious island where each village is identified by color—the color of a star rain phase, to be exact. Each village has a culture as unique as its color identifier.
Curious which village you’d belong to? Take the short, no-spoiler quiz below to find out! Simply keep track of your answers and add them up when you’re done, then scroll down to discover your results.
1. Which pastime is most important to you?
A. Art
B. Sports
C. Invention
D. Exploration
2. When you encounter a kind stranger, how do you respond?
A. I invite the stranger to have a meal with me.
B. I challenge him or her to a competitive game.
C. I don’t have time to deal with strangers.
D. It depends on the situation.
3. Choose a favorite color.
A. Green
B. Red
C. Blue
D. None of these
4. How do you feel about dancing?
A. I’ll dance all day and night!
B. Dancing? You mean a duel?
C. Dancing is a waste of time.
D. Dancing sounds like fun.
5. Which quality is most important?
A. Creativity
B. Strength
C. Ingenuity
D. Independence
6. Where is your favorite place to be?
A. An arts and crafts festival
B. A gym
C. An electronics store
D. Wherever the road takes me
7. If you could only keep one memory, what would you choose to remember?
A. How to create my greatest work of art
B. How to win a duel
C. How to build my greatest invention
D. How to recognize my loved ones
Now, add up your responses for each letter:
A______ B______ C______ D______
Check below to find out your village!
If you got mostly As…
Your village is…GREEN STAR RAIN VILLAGE!
You value creativity of all kinds and have a knack for arts and crafts. You tend to be generous and welcoming to strangers, but you may find it hard to accept their foreign ideas.
If you got mostly Bs…
Your village is…RED STAR RAIN VILLAGE!
You value strength and measure others by their ability to best you in all kinds of challenges. Your competitive spirit can drive you to do great things, but it can also make you a little too reckless.
If you got mostly Cs…
Your village is…BLUE STAR RAIN VILLAGE!
You value invention and are always looking for ways to improve the world around you by building something new. You pour your heart and soul into your projects, but you rarely have time for anything else.
If you got mostly Ds…
You are…A REMNANT!
Remnants don’t belong to a specific village and therefore aren’t bound by the same restrictions as villagers. You value independence and the ability to chart your own course. You are free to explore, but sometimes you wish you had a place to call home.
I’m so excited to share the Forsaken Islandcover reveal – the second book in the Dancing Realms Series – and let you know about the story.
Forsaken Island
On an uncharted world, happiness is effortless and constant … but can true joy exist without sacrifice?
The people of Meriel have long believed their island world floats alone in the vast ocean universe, so they are astonished when another island drifts into view. With resources becoming scarce, Carya and Brantley quickly volunteer to search the new land for supplies. After navigating a barrier of menacing trees, the pair encounter a culture of perpetually happy people who readily share their talents and their possessions. But all is not what it seems. At the core of the island is a horror that threatens everyone, including Brantley and Carya.
Freeing the villagers of the bondage they’ve chosen may cost Carya and Brantley more than they could have imagined. Even if the two succeed, they’ll have to find a way to return to Meriel quickly … or be cut off from their home forever.
There you have it! This is a story of exploration, adventure, a bit of romance, sinister secrets, and grace breaking through. Authors are often asked to come up with a list of stories that are similar to the new book, and I really struggled to find other titles to help describe Forsaken Island. There is a bit of the feel of Sea Wolf by Jack London with a man and woman being stranded together on an island. There is a hint of the mind control of Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. The wonder of exploration and danger has a flavor of The Lost World by Conan Doyle. And there is a tiny similarity to Pilgrim’s Progress (though in a much more contemporary high-fantasy style) where a journey takes the characters through unique places – each with their own “bent” and potential hazards. But those are just a few slight influences. And the story is also very different from any of those. Maybe after you read it, you can let me know what it reminds you of. 🙂
Beloved characters from Hidden Current return – particularly Carya, Brantley, and Navar. And there are fascinating new people to meet. You’ll probably enjoy this book more if you’ve read Hidden Current, but it isn’t necessary.
Because of the pandemic, Amazon had the “pre-order link” up, then removed it, then put it back up. I understand there are more vital things to provide in these times. If you don’t happen to be able to pre-order, don’t fear. Even if the Forsaken Island pre-order link is down, you can still order Hidden Current – great escapist and inspiring reading for trying times. 🙂
And yes, this is another hard-cover, limited-edition book. Hooray!
In celebration of the release of Hidden Current, my new fantasy novel in the Dancing Realms Series, I’m going on a blog tour. The book will be featured at a number of lovely blogs over the next few weeks. Please pop by to visit and chat. I’ll answer questions in the comments, and would love to see you!
Be sure to visit the Celebrate Lit home page for the tour – because you can enter for two great prizes! You’ll see the box of goodies when you scroll down the page. I created a special tea blend called “tsalla,” which characters in the story world drink, and also made packets of “star rain.” You can also win a Hidden Current book bag, with a couple of my other titles. Free books! Who doesn’t love that? When you add in a bookmark, an autographed bookplate, and chocolates (yes, chocolates!) it’s a box of fun that you can enjoy while reading the story.
Which Pattern in Hidden Current Would Be Your Favorite?
In Hidden Current, the dancers of the Order use specific dance patterns to control their floating world of Meriel. Use this short, no-spoiler quiz to find out which pattern would be your favorite!
Keep track of your responses to each question, then add up the number of responses you had for each letter. The letter you chose most often will reveal which pattern. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to read your results!
1. How would you best describe yourself?
A. Reliable
B. Graceful
C. Powerful
D. Mysterious
E. Caring
2. How would you prefer to spend your time?
A. Completing
items on my to-do list
B. Working in a
garden
C. Walking in
the rain
D. Stargazing
E. Cooking
3. What’s your favorite color?
A. I can’t
choose
B. Green
C. Blue
D. Gold
E. Brown
4. What do you value most?
A. Stability
B. Nature
C. Emotion
D. Beauty
E. Food
5. Where would you prefer to live?
A. In the city
or suburbs
B. In the woods
C. On the coast
D. On a distant
planet
E. On a farm
6. Someone offends you. How do you react?
A. Remain calm
and work out the problem
B. Avoid the
person and find better company
C. Fight back
D. Respond with
a compliment
E. Let it go;
the person is probably just hungry
7. What causes you to dance?
A. Being at a
party or other situation where dancing is expected
B. Spending time
in nature
C. Listening to
powerful music
D. Seeing
something awe-inspiring
E. Hearing that
it’s time for a meal
Now, add up your responses for each letter:
A______
B______ C______ D______
E______
Check below to find out your dance
pattern!
If you got mostly As…
Your dance is…TURNING
PATTERN!
The turning
pattern must be danced daily to keep the world of Meriel in place. You like the
pattern’s steadiness and reliability—and you’re probably a morning person,
since this is always the Order’s first dance of the day.
If you got mostly Bs…
Your dance is…FERN
PATTERN!
Fern pattern
involves a beautiful series of turns, unfolding from a central point like the
fronds of its namesake. You love the gracefulness of this pattern and probably
enjoy spending your free time in the gardens.
If you got mostly Cs…
Your dance is…LEEWARD
STORM PATTERN!
Leeward storm is
a long and demanding pattern, requiring great effort to work properly. You,
however, have the strength to dance this pattern and aren’t afraid of the power
your dancing brings to the world.
If you got mostly Ds…
Your dance is…STAR
RAIN PATTERN!
Star rain
pattern is as beautiful and ethereal as the phenomenon it creates. You enjoy
dancing this pattern beneath the night sky as the stars burst overhead.
If you got mostly Es…
Your dance is…FURROW
PATTERN!
A slow and
steady pattern, furrow coaxes food to grow from the earth. You not only enjoy
this pattern for the dance itself, but because you know it brings provision for
your people.
Which Hidden Current character are you most like? Take the short, no-spoiler quiz below to find out who you’d be in the Dancing Realms! My friend Caitlin Eha put together this fun quiz (without spoilers) that you can enjoy while you wait for your copy of Hidden Current to arrive. Enjoy!
How do you feel about dancing?
A. It’s my passion!
B. I don’t dance.
C. I love to watch, but I’m not a skilled dancer myself.
D. It’s fun!
E. Dance? I wouldn’t dare.
F. I love to dance, but I’m not as good as I’d like to be.
What’s your preferred mode of transportation?
A. Dancing. Or at least, keeping my feet firmly on the ground.
B. Traveling through the ocean.
C. Unfortunately, I’m not up for traveling.
D. On horseback.
E. I’d rather stay in my own town, where it’s safe.
F. I don’t have anywhere to go.
You encounter a wild animal, and it looks angry. What do you do?
A. Carefully try to calm the animal so it won’t attack.
B. Grab your weapon and get ready to fight.
C. Pray it goes away.
D. Approach and try to befriend it.
E. Run away as fast as you can.
F. Stay very still and wait for it to move on.
Visitors show up at your home unexpectedly. What do you do?
A. Say hello, then return to your work.
B. It depends—are they friend or foe?
C. Invite them in and share a meal.
D. Ask if they’d like to help you in the garden.
E. Tell them to go away.
F. Sit down with them for a good conversation.
Pick a favorite kind of pet.
A. A land animal with fluffy fur.
B. A sea creature you can ride.
C. All animals are lovely in their own way.
D. Anything that will play with me.
E. An animal that helps with my work.
F. A land animal you can ride.
You have reached the island’s rim and the ocean is spread out before you. Do you…
A. Enjoy the view but keep your feet safely on the land.
B. Dive right into the water and go for a long swim.
C. Take a drink of the sweet-tasting water.
D. Splash and play in the ocean.
E. Go back to work like a sensible person.
F. Stare in awe.
What is the purpose of life?
A. To dance for the Order.
B. To protect the people I love.
C. To follow the Maker.
D. I don’t know yet.
E. To survive.
F. I thought I knew, but now I’m not so sure.
Now, add up your responses for each
letter:
A______
B______ C______ D______
E______ F______
Which Hidden Current character are you? Check below to find out your character!
If you got mostly As…
You are…CALARA!
You love to
dance and long to use your gifts to benefit the world around you. You have a
strong sense of purpose, although life doesn’t always turn out the way you
planned. Then again, maybe that’s a good thing…
If you got mostly Bs…
You
are…BRANTLEY!
You are strong
and down-to-earth. You know the world can be harsh, and your mission is to
protect those you love. Although you tend to come across as gruff, you care
deeply about your people.
If you got mostly Cs…
You are…GINERVA!
You are a caring
person who looks after the people around you—even if that means working for a
regime you disagree with. Your subtle advice and tenderness have a way of
reaching even the most confused or hardened hearts.
If you got mostly Ds…
You are…NOLANA!
You view the
world with child-like wonder and excitement, but you also tend to surprise
other people with your wisdom and insight. You’re not sure what the future
holds, but that excites you more than it scares you.
If you got mostly Es…
You are…VARNEY!
You keep to
yourself and try not to get on anyone’s bad side—especially anyone who could
arrest you. You sometimes struggle to do the right thing, but you’re a good
person at heart.
If you got mostly Fs…
You
are…STARFIRE!
Your friends are
the most important thing to you, and you’d risk a lot for them. You want to use
your gifts to help others, but you’re not sure if you’re capable enough. Still,
your future may involve greater things than you ever expected…
Discover these characters and more in Hidden Current, releasing January 2020
and now available
for preorder!
In the novel Hidden Current, star rain is a beautiful phenomenon in which multi-colored starlight transforms, then bursts to release a shower of golden dust. The light show is fleeting and the dust turns to sand once it reaches the ground…but what if you could bottle some star rain to keep for your own?
My friend Caitlin Eha created these instructions for you! You can visit her author website HERE.
Materials you’ll need:
A bottle with a lid (This can be
any bottle you like, as long as the lid can be glued on without possibility of
leaks. Your local craft store probably has an abundance of uniquely-shaped
bottles!)
A funnel (the stem needs to fit in
the bottle’s opening)
Corn syrup (the amount will depend
on the bottle’s size)
Blue food coloring
Gold/yellow food coloring
Gold fine glitter
Hot glue gun
Water (a little bit from the sink
is fine!)
A mixing bowl
A small mixing spoon (tongue
depressors or popsicle sticks also work)
Instructions:
Pour
some corn syrup into your mixing bowl. (You can measure this based on the
volume of your bottle, or you can just estimate.)
Add
a drop or two of blue food coloring and stir with the corn syrup. If you want
the shade to be darker, add more drops of food coloring and stir until you like
the hue.
Optional:
Add a drop of gold or yellow food coloring. Star rain is described as having
green and blue lights, so I made the corn syrup a combination of those colors.
However, you’ll want to use less gold coloring than blue.
Once
you’re happy with the color, add the gold fine glitter to the corn syrup. Be
generous with the glitter, and stir it into the corn syrup as you go. The more
glitter you use, the more your finished bottle will sparkle.
Add
a little bit of water to your corn syrup and glitter mixture. The water won’t mix well with the corn
syrup, but stir it together anyway. Because of its thickness, the corn
syrup keeps the glitter suspended in the bottle, but it will still separate to
the top and bottom eventually. The water adds some fluidity to the mixture so,
even if the glitter separates, you can shake and spin the bottle until the
glitter spreads out again.
Put
the funnel in your bottle and carefully pour in the corn syrup mixture. Leave a little bit of space at the top of
the bottle—this empty space will make it easier to shake the bottle and
spread out the glitter as needed.
Once
your bottle is filled with “star rain,” use the hot glue gun to seal the lid in
place. (For instance, if the bottle closes with a cork, just put some hot glue
around the cork and then insert it into the bottle.) Once the hot glue dries,
it should prevent any leaks.
You
now have a bottle of star rain! If the glitter starts to separate, just shake,
twirl, and turn the bottle upside down until it spreads out again.
Optional: I finished off my star rain
bottle with a wax seal on the top, just to make it look extra artsy! If you
want to do this, too, pour your melted sealing wax right on top of the lid,
then press in the seal. The extra wax will spill down the sides as it dries and
create a nice effect!
I’m so excited about the upcoming new fantasy series, The Dancing Realms, that I created a unique pre-order gift in anticipation of the first book’s release. If you have already ordered the hard cover edition of Hidden Current (book one in The Dancing Realms series) or order it during September or October, just contact me with a proof of purchase.
I’ll email you a pdf file. It’s an annotated version of the first chapter of Hidden Current, full of my notes, doodles, and insider info about how the story grew. Later, readers will have opportunities to enter drawings for other prizes. But this gift is for EVERYONE who pre-orders this new hard cover edition!
This unique annotated chapter will be an exclusive gift for those who pre-order the hard cover limited edition of Hidden Current, so don’t miss your chance.
You can contact me – sharon at sharonhinck dot com. An easy proof of purchase is a screen shot of your order confirmation. Looking forward to hearing from you! I’m delighted to share this special pre-order gift with you!
