L.B. Graham — author of the series "The Binding Of The Blade"

This week, we get a chance to visit with Sharon Hinck, another of the fantastic Fantasy Fiction Tour '08 authors. I met Sharon for the first time this past July in Orlando at ICRS for a FFT '08 kickoff event. She's from Minnesota, so she and I were the 'Midwestern' contingent on the Tour.

The following excerpt is from Sharon's webpage, and it gives a brief introduction to Sharon's writing. "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 the humorous contemporary fiction, The Secret Life of Becky Miller (Bethany House, 2006), Renovating Becky Miller (Bethany House, 2007), and Symphony of Secrets (Bethany House, 2008), along with the standalone women’s fiction Stepping into Sunlight (Bethany House, 2008), and the ground-breaking Sword of Lyric fantasy series (NavPress, 2007-2008) which include The Restorer, The Restorer’s Son, and The Restorer’s Journey.

She was named 2007 “Writer of the Year” at Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. Her debut novel, The Secret Life of Becky Miller was awarded second place in the 2007 ACFW Book of the Year - Lit Category. Renovating Becky Miller was named a finalist in the 2008 Audie Awards, Inspirational Fiction category. The Restorer was named a finalist in the 2008 Christy Awards, Visionary category. The Restorer’s Son received a 4.5 star recommendation from Romantic Times and a Reviewer’s Choice award from Road to Romance reviews."

Now, in keeping with my stated aim from the beginning of this FFT '08 blog tour, here in the form of questions I posed to Sharon, is a unique, lbgraham.com exclusive...

LBG: In the realm of fantasy fiction, you have a somewhat unique protagonist in the “Sword of Lyric” series. What led to this choice?

Sharon: The lives of the women I know are heroic, adventurous, courageous, and fraught with challenges. A mom who battles for the best care for her parent with Alzheimers, or is pulled into a “new and unexpected world” by a child with a learning disability, or is forced to rise to a heroic role for her friend with cancer and learn the “rules” of this new universe she didn’t want to visit . . . All could use a story of courage when the road is more difficult than expected. While sometimes that courage is shown in riding into battle, it’s also shown in building relationships, diplomacy, forgiveness, and wise counsel.

So I decided to experiment with the classic adventure story, but allow a mom to take the journey (much as Deborah did in the book of Judges) -- someone my women’s fiction readers would be able to identify with.

LBG: What’s the story of your own connection to fantasy fiction – what work(s) and at what age did it draw you in?

Sharon: Like many, I was captivated as a child by Chronicles of Narnia (and all things C.S. Lewis) as well as some of his influences (E. Nesbitt and George MacDonald), and in high school and college grew to love Tolkien, Donaldson, Lawhead, McCaffrey, and others.

LBG: What was it like on the Fantasy Fiction Tour being one of two women and being surrounded by all those men?

Sharon: Like having a bunch of wonderful big brothers. Of course, there were times I sat back and observed and thought, “men are all basically ten years old.” ;-) But ten-year-olds are fun to be with, so I enjoyed seeing the exuberant, playful, creative hearts of the men on the tour. This was also a group of men who write chivalrous characters, and modeled that in real life, too.

LBG: Any favorite moments or memories from the Tour?

Sharon: For me, there were small individual encounters that meant a lot: Meeting in person, and praying with a blogger who had followed my work. Praying with a store-owner’s wife who was an instant “kindred spirit.” Chatting with a shy little girl at the literacy event. Singing “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” with a boy at the children’s hospital. Talking “shop” with the various writers on the tour – each one a gem. Sharing my heart at the Calvary Chapel devotions the last night. And each quiet conversation with someone who’d read one of my books and been blessed by it.

Click here to access more information about Sharon and her work.