Tag Archives: Forsaken Island

Sabbatical for a New Year

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Devotional Musing: Sabbatical
 
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31 (NIV)
 
Over recent months, I’ve resonated with Jesus’s call to get some rest. My normal response to challenge is usually to “push harder.” But as I confronted worsening health issues, I heard God’s gentle invitation to try a new way to respond. Trust and rest. So 2023 is going to be a year of sabbatical for me. I hope to focus my limited energy on relationships – with God, family, and friends.
 
A friend recently sent me an interview I did for her blog in 2006, and I was amazed how deeply my own old words spoke to my heart, and hope they might encourage you, as well. In part, I wrote:
 
“We live in a hyper-success-driven culture. We try to measure up to crazy unrealistic models of doing it all and doing it perfectly. We’re also very number obsessed and measure success by income, or degrees, or amount of activities. We lose sight of God’s upside-down measuring system—how a cup of cold water given in love is a precious act of ministry in God’s eyes, and how a widow’s mite is treasured by Him.

The theme of God working MORE powerfully through our lives when we DON’T have it all together developed as I wrote novels. It wasn’t part of my original intent—just one of those threads God kept bringing in.

I so much want to give God a strong, shiny, gifted person for Him to work with. Instead He’s called me to come to Him in all my quirks, flaws, and fears and let HIM be my strength. Each thing He is able to do (in spite of my emotional weakness, spiritual wobbles, and physical limitations) is a true miracle. In many ways I feel more frail the longer I go in my Christian walk – yet that isn’t a bad place to be because I have deeper trust in God’s mercy and strength. It’s much smarter to rely on Him than on myself!”

I pray that whatever form it takes, 2023 will be a year of rest and refreshing for all of us, as we trust ever deeper in our Savior.

Secret Project

Although I’m sabbaticalling (sabbaticalizing?) – okay, ON sabbatical – I have had a special project in the works for several years that I’ll share with you soon. So stay tuned! As soon as I am ready to say more, you’ll hear about it in my next newsletter.

Photo of a Miracle

There were years I didn’t think I’d ever be able to write another novel, and that if I did write, it would be as clunky and as difficult to read as it was to write. Yet God guided me day by day, and strengthened me to write word by word, to complete Hidden Current, Forsaken Island, and Windward Shore. Our Savior is so faithful! And then to my total shock these past three years, The Dancing Realms Series was awarded an unprecedented Christy Award for each book in the trilogy. A total miracle of God. The themes of freedom and grace and the beauty of art all ministered to my heart as I wrote, and I hope they resonate with you as well! If you haven’t read them yet, I pray these stories will provide a great adventure as well as encouragement for whatever impossible tasks you are facing. You can find them all HERE. and anywhere you buy books. 🙂

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Forsaken Island Christy Award

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I’m so stunned and grateful. Last night’s Christy Awards was a lovely evening of inspiration and terrific speakers. It reminded me of how much my life and faith walk has been shaped by authors of novels over the years–even more so than non-fiction. Their stories encouraged and challenged me. It’s a huge honor to be part of this amazing family of writers.

I’ll confess that when they read the first line of Forsaken Island, there was a roaring in my ears and a disoriented confusion, and if not for my hubby and daughter cheering, I would have forgotten to turn on my camera and mic and accept the award.

This was especially sweet because I was able to dedicate this to my mom. She taught me to read at a very young age and instilled a passion for books that led me to becoming a writer. She recently went ahead to heaven, and being able to acknowledge her was a very tender gift to me.

Thank you to everyone who has supported my writing over the years!

Blessings!

Sharon Hinck

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Forsaken Island Villages

Book Buzz, Forsaken Island, The Dancing Realms Series, ,

Which Forsaken Island Village Would Be Your Hometown?

(contributed by Caitlin Eha)

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.

Forsaken Island Cover

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.

Discover these villages and more in Forsaken Island, releasing September 15, 2020 and now available for preorder!

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Forsaken Island Cover Reveal

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Forsaken Island

I’m so excited to share the Forsaken Island cover 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!

Stay tuned for more info! Blessings!

Sharon Hinck

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